So your dream log home has finally been built, and all those hard, long hours of planning and construction have been completed. Or maybe you're the owner of a log cabin that has been with you for many years and you are just looking to play with some current design elements. Whether your log home is brand new or a rustic relic, decorating and proper home maintenance are the keys to making your cabin into a home you will cherish.

Decorating can be the highlight of any log homeowner's experience, or it can be a nightmare full of frustration. You can take the anxiety quotient out of any restoration or new log home furnishing if you simply remember some basic elements of decorating, which are particular to the needs and style of the log home.

Although decorating is the fun part, first there is one very vital rule to consider that is critical to the health of any log home?keeping any and all moisture away from your home. Maintenance of the health of the wood is certainly rule #1. Water and any moisture buildup will destroy the structural integrity of your home and will cost you dearly. It is best to seek the advice of a local contractor or log home refinishing services company, who can help you to keep your log home healthy and well-cared for. Although you can attempt to apply finishes and stains to the wood to protect it as well, you certainly need the advice of a building professional specializing in log homes who can best assess the log content and stains and finishes that will best protect your home. They can then advise you on what products you yourself can apply to moisture-proof your log home.

Now that you have assured that your home is strong and healthy, it is time to get busy with decorating your log home.

To get started on pulling together your decorating ideas, it is valuable to take time and look through magazines or books that offer ideas and color schemes that you admire. Then think about the wood and style in your home?will these colors accent the wood or would another color be better to contrast the wood and bring out its true beauty? Don't be afraid to explore new colors. Variations of blues, purples, and greens are all colors that nicely compliment the warm, rich browns of the natural wood in log homes.

When choosing accessories for your new design, look first at the pieces that you already own. What colors or fabrics for pillows would enhance the furniture you already have? What well-placed lighting might offset the blinds or drapes already used on your windows? At times furniture, drapes, and other furnishings are the exact elements that you want to change, but sometimes these are the things that you love in your present design and it would be wise and could save money and time working them into your log home's new look.

Most importantly, look inside yourself when choosing your new design. What colors do you feel good around? What fabrics are cozy and make you think of home? If you think of your own preferences, and not those of the latest trend, your newly decorated log home will be the perfect fit for you.