Lake Home Decorating Ideas

Use the outdoors for inspiration for your decorating.

For many people, a lake home is a second home -- a weekend or summer getaway for the family. Lake home decor should reflect the aesthetic of the owners while recognizing nature and the great outdoors. Whether you love the old country cottage feel or enjoy more modern lakeside luxury, you can find creative solutions for all of your lake home decorating needs.

Paint

If you have a small lake home, consider lighter colors for your walls. Light colors make a room feel larger and airier, while dark colors make a space feel closed in and small. If you have a favorite dark color, use it for moldings, doors or architectural accents. Combine sunny yellows, light blues and greens with more neutral earth tones for a dynamic space that reflects the water and the foliage outside.

Furniture

For a traditional French Country feel, opt for wicker furniture, old wooden antique pieces and painted iron. Out in the country, natural materials bring the outdoors inside and create a continuity that makes a lake home feel like a real rustic getaway. For some simple luxury, look for pieces that celebrate natural wood and bark with lightly lacquered trunks for table legs and visible knots for added interest.

Vintage Fabrics With Handmade Designs

Visit antique stores to find hand-crafted textiles like hand towels, wall hangings and tablecloths. These items are often sold cheaply and feature hand-sewn patterns or kitsch sayings that bring texture and tradition to the kitchen, bedroom or dining room table. Frame a particularly skillfully sewn piece for any wall in the house.

Retro Recreation

Consider retro items, like an old-fashioned soda machine or a vintage foosball table, to add a little relaxing charm to your space. If you have kids, these items will keep them entertained while adding the flavor of traditional Americana to your lake-front home. They will also remind you of a simpler time, and will help build indelible memories.

References

• Painting Techniques and Decorating Ideas: Lake House Decorating
• Go Lake Hartwell: Decorating Tips

Resources

• My Lifetime: Shore Thing Lake House Decor