Summer is fast approaching and for many of us in Minnesota and throughout the Midwest, that means, lake cabin season! Whether your favorite part of cabin season is fishing on the lake, cooling down on the water, outdoor cookouts or just lounging with a good book on comfy outdoor seating, now is the time to get the cabin ready for summer relaxation, entertaining and fun.

While cottages, cabins and lodges can run the gamut of styles, we love cozy, rustic lodge furnishings and decor that celebrate what’s unique about your space while still making your cabin feel like home. However, designing your cabin interior requires more than just picking a style. These small spaces are used for many purposes—from indoor dining and entertaining on cloudy days, a break from the sun when it’s warm, and rest and relaxation in the evenings and throughout the night. To accommodate all the necessary tasks—and guests—it’s important to select key pieces that can serve multiple purposes and offer the necessary flexibility, in addition to bringing big style to small spaces.

Add rustic style where it counts

Weekends at a lake cabin are often as much about rest and relaxation as they are about outdoor fun. That’s why we suggest focusing your décor first on the master bedroom. Choose bedroom furniture that lends a cozy, relaxed feeling to the room, without sacrificing on style! Gorgeous cedar beds and log bedframes provide a stunning appearance and can help you relax so you can wake up feeling refreshed and restored. Cedar log and barnwood bedroom suites give you a mix of everything needed for a functional home-away-from-home bedroom, at one affordable price.

Get outdoors

The move to outdoor living spaces is happening all over the place—from rooftops in New York to outdoor kitchens in Chicago. Perhaps no space is more set up for outdoor entertaining than lake cabins in the Midwest. From boating and fishing to hiking and outdoor games, weekends at the cabin center around outdoor living; and cooking, dining and outdoor lounging is no exception.

Cabin kitchens are often cramped, and moving cooking outdoors frees up space inside while also allowing you to spend more time soaking up the sun. For those who plan on frequent meals at the cabin, an outdoor grill—and perhaps an outdoor smoker or outdoor oven—are solid investments. You can also select an outdoor multi-cooking tool to allow you to cook everything from bread to burgers.

Flexible seating and sleeping options

During the weekends and long summer holidays, cabin doors are often revolving with a frenzy of guests, including friends, family, extended family and more. Plan for an expanding head-count by incorporating furniture designed for efficient and flexible seating and sleeping options. Benches, side chairs and stools can be used to accommodate any number of seating arrangements in the kitchen and elsewhere—even when space is at a premium.

For extra sleep surfaces, consider purchasing a sofa sleeper or even a chair sleeper (yes, that’s right, a chair!) for your cabin living room or den. A futon or klik-klak can also convert from sofa to bed, accommodating guests during the day as well as night.

Extra storage

Furniture and accent pieces for a cabin should also be selected to perform double duty. A platform bed with storage drawers can actually provide as much space as a stand-alone dresser, making it a great fit for small bedrooms. In living spaces, a storage ottoman can serve many roles: footrest, bench and storage unit—and all without taking up too much space.

Go big on style, even in small spaces

You can add big style without taking up much space with compact accent pieces. Also, consider rustic décor pieces that double as functional items in your cabin. For instance, choose lamps that emit rustic charm as well as soft cabin lighting. Enhance the warm glow and be prepared for power outages resulting from summer storms with trendy candles. Organize trinkets in cabin/lodge themed baskets or trays. You can even stay plugged in while enjoying your rustic cabin style with a handy book/iPad holder.