Decorating Ideas for Lake Cottages
First and foremost, lake cottage decor should be a sea of tranquility. Furnishings, fixtures and accessories should achieve a harmonious balance between form and function. You can achieve this look by determining your needs for your living space, setting a budget, and then prioritizing which rooms or pieces can be focal points. Because lake cottages tend to be small, it makes more sense to emphasize one or two focal points per room, and allow smaller accessories and details to continue your design theme.
-
Palette
-
Lake cottage decor begins with natural materials in rustic finishes. Lightly stained and even unfinished wood give a rustic look suitable for a vacation home. Tighter interior space may tempt some people into leaving walls white, but there is no need to keep things this plain. Instead, try a neutral such as sunny yellow, pale blue or antique white. You can add more color by painting the trim, baseboards, door frames or window frames brighter hues, such as lime green, lavender, mustard yellow, pumpkin orange or, in the French cottage style, black.
Furniture
-
Furnishings may be dictated by space constraints, but that doesn't mean they need to be basic. Use two small end tables as a coffee table, paint them with a shabby-chic finish, and dress them up with floral or paisley fabric. Cottage decor often integrates stripes, so try navy-and-white-striped cushions on antique white wicker chairs, or even a striped love seat. Use small spaces creatively. For example, create impromptu seating by setting floor cushions around a low ottoman. Use smaller, lighter outdoor furniture, such as a French bistro set, in a kitchen corner to transform it into a breakfast nook.
Textiles
-
Lake cottages are often defined by their textiles. Window dressing should allow light to come in and for people indoors to see outside landscape and views. Connect your natural environment with your cottage's interior by hanging plants by doorways or planting wildflowers in window boxes. Use vintage, faded and repurposed fabrics as cafe curtains, dish towels, tablecloths, cushion covers and even art, wrapping swatches around canvases and hanging them on the wall. Throw rugs, rattan mats, sisal rugs, oriental carpets and cushions give plain wood floors a dash of color and texture.
-
