Mountain Home Decorating Ideas

Hello everyone! I thought I’d focus this month’s post on mountain home decorating ideas. The inspiration came as I was viewing RH’s past unveiling of the RH Ski House, a curated concept inspired by the world’s epic alpine destinations. The collection reflects the brand’s distinctive point of view on mountain living. Aspen to Sun Valley, Tahoe to Taos, Courchevel to Cortina, RH Ski House is defined by a rustic yet refined aesthetic with modern and contemporary influences. It debuts with a dedicated print and digital Source Book.

The images are stunning, and I loved how these homes that are surrounded by nature benefit aesthetically through the use of natural elements. Here you see stone fireplaces, reclaimed wood furniture, rustic pottery, massive wood beams, wide wood plank flooring, and cozy textures.

How to Decorate a Mountain Home

When you think of a home in the mountains, the first image that comes to mind is a rustic log home or cabin. Yet, mountain homes can also be modern and contemporary. Regardless of your style of design, there are a few things to consider when designing a mountain home.

Work from the Outside in

If you are in the process of designing a new home, it’s always a good idea to start with the exterior design. Mountain homes typically reflect not compete with the beauty of nature.

Frank Lloyd Wright originally coined the phrase “organic architecture.” The iconic architect is famous for designing structures that blend into their surroundings in ground-breaking, innovative ways.

Consider the View

Mountain homes typically feature large picture windows that allow homeowners and guests to take full advantage of stunning mountain vistas. Large windows frame the views and provide natural light throughout the home.

To make the most of these spectacular views, you can leave the windows uncovered or use a rolling natural fiber to block out the sun and create privacy. Window coverings are often used as well as distressed finished wood shutters.

Furniture choices should be made with these views in mind—think neutrals in the dining room to complement the mountains, and greens in the master to match the forest.

Keep it Warm and Inviting

A snowy retreat in the mountains should be cozy and inviting, with a roaring fire, earth tone colors, plush fabrics, and unique artwork. The best way to achieve this is by layering textures. Think upholstery, area rugs, throw pillows, blankets, and window treatments. All of these components add up to creating a room that you’d like to curl up in and relax.

Soft layers don’t only work to create a cozy space, they also work to soften the acoustics. Try to use local materials such as timber and stone that instantly create a homey feel.

Search for textiles that have texture to them, such as a chunky knit throw, rough wooden surfaces, and deep pile area rugs. Texture comes from a wide variety of sources – from soft fabrics and textiles to harder materials like wood and stone.

Texture can also be added through the use of natural materials such as seagrass, leather, and linen. Effective layering includes everything from textiles (pillows, area rugs, throws), lighting (overhead, table lamps, ambient features), furniture (sofas, chairs, coffee tables, accent tables), wall hangings (artwork, mirrors, photos), wall treatments (paint, wallpaper) and décor (vases, floral arrangements, books).

Earthy Colors

Go au naturel with earthly colors and materials in their purest forms. Neutral colors work well with the natural materials used for mountain homes. Mix and match different neutral shades and layer with contrasting textures. Think faux fur, wool, and rough linens.

Make your Fireplace a Focal Point

Photo Credit: RH Ski House

A roaring fire is a must in any luxury mountain home. Rugged stone adds texture and brings the outdoors in. Stack up logs up the side to add interest and create a winter look.

Don’t Forget Antlers

No mountain home would be complete without an antler or two. Antler chandeliers have been a highly sought-after lighting fixture for many styles of interior design. Gone are the days where they were considered only for rugged and dark trophy rooms in rustic lodges or log homes. Now they are used anywhere; from a home in the Hamptons to mountain style living rooms and high-rise apartments.

Whether you choose real or faux, antlers add the perfect touch. They can be hung on the wall, placed in decorative wooden bowls, displayed on fireplace mantels, or used as unique racks to hold hats or coats.

Invest in Oversized Comfy Sofas

A mountain home should be comfortable, warm, and inviting. Oversized furniture layered with pillows and throws create a space that promotes relaxation and great conversation. It’s important to anchor the furniture with area rugs that will define the seating area. It’s also a perfect way to introduce color and texture – from lanterns and candles, to picture frames, rattan baskets, mirrors, and blankets.

Make the Bedrooms Havens

Photo Credit: RH Ski House

Photo Credit: RH Ski House

The bedrooms in a mountain home should be luxurious and provide peace and relaxation at the end of the day. High-quality linens, cozy duvets, and comfortable pillows enhance the feeling of wellbeing. Add a faux sheepskin throw over the end of the bed for additional warmth.

Photo Credit: RH Ski House

RH Ski House

Rh Ski House is beautifully illustrated over 130 pages and was designed for high style at a high altitude, encompassing more than 60 new furniture collections by a range of designers.

The heart of this line pays homage to Aspen. A gem of the Rockies set by the roaring Fork River amid soaring, snow-capped peaks, an iconic retreat, renowned for skiing and chic apres. Rich in history and a mecca for music, from the silver boom to symphonies of Stravinsky, Aspen is relaxed mountain living.

RH Chairman and CEO Gary Friedman commented, “Whether you ski, or just enjoy being in the mountains or snow, RH Ski House was designed to make anyone feel warm, comfortable, and relaxed. It’s a collection that is the result of curating the best people, products, ideas, and inspiration we’ve come across, then carefully integrating each, where the whole becomes more valuable than the parts.”

RH Ski House was inspired by many trips to Aspen, where they were developing a new gallery, the second RH Guesthouse, and they realized that no one was presenting a clear and compelling vision – they believed they could. 

Added to the mix are grand antler chandeliers, reclaimed rustic oak tables, Italian cocoa leather chairs, and hand-chiseled wood coffee tables.

Rustic-inspired lighting products include dramatic chandeliers and sconces, where translucent and faceted slabs showcase the mineral’s natural beauty and Natural Antler, an homage to the majestic wildlife of the American West.

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SOURCES

Mountain Living. Mountain Home Makeover February 12, 2020

Cochran, Samuel. Gary Friedman Talks Shop About RH Ski House, RH’s Uber-Cozy New Brand. Architectural Digest. November 7, 2019.

Businesswire RH Introduces RH Ski House. Inspired by the World’s Epic Alpine Destinations, New Concept Debuts with Dedicated Source Book Showcasing Distinctive New Collections by Acclaimed Global Designers.

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