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  4. Lake House Decorating Ideas You'll Love

Lake House Decorating Ideas You'll Love

Southern Living May 2021 Cover
By Southern Living Editors Updated November 10, 2021
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Focus on the View
Credit: Helen Norman
There's something so nostalgic about lake houses—memories of hot summers spent by the water, autumn getaways to see the rich fall foliage. Lake houses are the de facto settings for big family gatherings, girlfriend getaways, and celebratory weekends. So shouldn't a lake house be a place that draws people in, wraps them up, and invites them to stay a while? Over the years we've seen a variety of lake house decor—some is stunning, some is serene, some functional, and some opulent.  But no matter your style (or need), we've gathered more than a few tips and ideas for lake house decorating. Whether you want a fresh and sophisticated update, need to brighten up old ceilings, or aim to create a rustic oasis, these lake house decorating ideas will help expertly blend the beauty of nature all around.
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White Lake House Decor

White Lake House Decor
Credit: Photo: Alexandra Rowley

Give your lake house decor a fresh and sophisticated look with a bright white palette. Simple curtains add an element of softness to the room.

  • See more of this Cottage Lake House

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Play Up the Views

Family Room
Credit: Photo by: Tria Giovan, Styling by: Matthew Gleason

Sliding pocket doors can be tucked away for seamless indoor-outdoor living.

  • See more of the Texas Idea House

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Focus on the View

Focus on the View
Credit: Helen Norman

Keep the beautiful views the primary focus. A neutral palette devoid of area rugs or window treatments blends this living room with its surroundings.

  • See more of this Lake House in the Trees

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Choose Durable Seating

Choose Durable Seating
Credit: Photo: Helen Norman

Pick furniture that can withstand wet swimsuits for minimal worry and upkeep. Keep the color palette in tune with the surroundings to blur the distinction between indoors and out.

  • See more of this Natural Georgia Lake House

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Create an Effortless Look

Create Effortless Style
Credit: Photo: Lisa Romerein

Lake living should feel laidback, so keep the color scheme simple. Here, blue and green accent pillows channel the outdoors.

  • See more of this Casual Chic Lake House

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Make It a Hybrid

Make It a Hybrid
Credit: Photo: Laurey Glenn

The homeowners wanted both a lake cottage and a mountain cabin. With the help of a designer, they came up with a comfortable hybrid of charming architectural elements and classic Adirondack-style furniture. Pair favorite pieces with a crisp background of white walls for a comfortable look that is all your own.

  • See more of this Lake House Makeover

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Bring Light In

Bring Light In
Credit: Photo: Nancy Nolan

In the dining room of her Arkansas lake house, interior decorator Heather Chadduck Hillegas installed skylights to flood the space with more sunlight. She painted the original dark-stained ceilings pale gray to open up the space.

  • See more of this Nature-Inspired Lake House

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Add Extra Seating

Add Extra Seating
Credit: Photo: Lisa Romerein, Styling by: Rebecca Omweg

Choose furniture or accessories that can double as extra seating to accommodate a crowd. This deep fireplace hearth is outfitted with custom cushions, and portable woven cubes can be used for seating in a pinch.

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Work With the Architecture

Work With the Architecture
Credit: Photo: Lisa Romerein, Styling by: Rebecca Omweg

Incorporate the existing architecture to give your lake house an easier update. Here, the original brick flooring is refinished with a sheen for an updated look. A few coats of white paint took the former dark wood walls from drab to fab.

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Mix Motifs

Create Texture
Credit: Lisa Romerein

Blend patterns and styles without reservation for an informal look. Grass cloth wallcovering keeps in line with this lake house family room's coastal look.

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Create Cohesion

Trick of the Trade
Credit: Photo by: Lisa Romerein, Styling by: Rebecca Omweg

Keep the paint on walls, trim, and paneling monochromatic for a seamless look. For color relief, leave the ceiling white.

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Make It Feel Rustic

Natural Lake House Kitchen
Credit: Photo: Helen Norman, Styling: Rebecca Omweg

Give your lake house a rustic feel with dark, woodsy hues. Here, walls and trim are stained bark brown and cabinets are painted driftwood gray.

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Design 180° Views

Design 180° Views
Credit: Photo: Helen Norman, Styling by: Rebecca Omweg

If you're remodeling or building, consider designing a bump-out bay of windows. It creates a cozy sitting room with a panoramic view of the landscape.

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Add a Personal Touch

Add a Personal Touch
Credit: Photo: Helen Norman, Styling by: Rebecca Omweg

In the kitchen, framed family photos with thin plywood and hinges act as cabinet doors.

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Connect Living Spaces

Connect Living Spaces
Credit: Photo: Helen Norman, Styling by: Rebecca Omweg

Connect the outdoor living area to the main house with a walkway or dogtrot like this vine-covered portico.

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Create a Calm Retreat

Create a Calm Master Suite
Credit: Photo: Nancy Nolan

Keep the main bedroom a serene oasis with a soothing palette like this grey and white scheme.

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Master Privacy and Light

Master Privacy and Light
Credit: Photo by Nancy Nolan

While being mindful of beautiful views and light filtration, opt for soft linen draperies for privacy.

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Set a Rustic Table

Set a Rustic Table
Credit: Photo: Nancy Nolan

Pair a wood table with iron chairs for rustic lakeside dining. Fill hurricanes with river rocks and pillar candles of varying height for a touch of elegance.

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Add Extra Beds

Add More Beds
Credit: Photo: Nancy Nolan

To carve out more sleeping space, build bunk beds into the wall. Here, three bunk beds stack all the way up to the nearly-20-foot ceiling.

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Intensify Paint Hues

Intensify Paint Hues
Credit: Photo: Helen Norman

The designer and homeowner of this lake hose added black to deepen paint colors, making the hues on the walls more intense.

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Keep It Essential

Keep It Essential
Credit: Photo: Helen Norman

Open shelving in the kitchen will help pare down a lake house's dishware to only the essentials.

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Bring Nature In

Bring Nature In
Credit: Photo: Helen Norman

Designer Richard Tubb advises, "Surround yourself with nature indoors by filling vases with things you've cut from the yard."

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Design a Dreamy Bedroom

Create a Cozy Bedroom Nook
Credit: Photo: Helen Norman

Create a cozy bedroom nook by hanging curtains. If you're not comfortable mixing patterns, try using varying textures instead, like the designer did here.

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Connection to the Outdoors

Connection to the Outdoors
Credit: Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

"I always design floor plans to pull visitors toward the daylight," says architect Bill Ingram. Here, the elevated entry and foyer give guests a straight view to the lake upon entering the front door. There are also three outdoor living spaces: a rear terrace, a screened side porch, and an open-air porch.

  • See more of the Bill Ingram Lake House

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Twice as Nice

Heather Chadduck Hillegas Blount Springs, AL Lake House Living Room
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

In her Alabama lake home, interior decorator Heather Chadduck Hillegas relied on her favorite design trick: symmetry. She centered the room around the concrete fireplace and then outfitted the space with pairs: two built-in bookcases flank the fireplace, a couple of slipcovered swivel chairs from Lee Industries sit in front of them, and matching floor lamps rest at each end of the sofa. The sleeper sofa hides another bed, and linens can be stored in the trunk. Tall French doors with transoms enhance the connection with the outdoors.

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Bring In Something Old

Heather Chadduck Hillegas Blount Springs, AL Lake House Kitchen
Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

A French antique trestle table serves as an island, prep station, and dining table in this kitchen. Slipcovered stools can be pushed out underneath the table and out of the way.

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Balancing Act

Heather Chadduck Hillegas Blount Springs, AL Lake House Master Bedroom
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Combine beautiful and functional elements for a dreamy bedroom retreat. Plush curtains add softness as well as privacy. An iron canopy bed has an airy feeling, while a braided-jute rug lends warmth. A slipcovered headboard and matching bed skirt add a dose of pattern. Blue vintage nightstands add more storage and provide extra color.

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Natural Style

Brown Front Porch
Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

At this 1,000-square-foot lake house, the porch lives like another den. Woven rugs add warmth while designating the dining space from the sitting area. Choosing furnishings made of natural materials provides another earthy element to the alfresco room.

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Comfort Is Key

Modern Living Room in Alabama Lake House with Wood Paneled Walls
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Kiera Coffee

Sunlight pours into the living room of this Alabama lake cabin through a wall of windows. While the house's main focus is the outdoors, the homeowner wanted the interiors to feel easy and comfortable for afternoon naps.

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Built for Company

Modern Lake House Bunk Room
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Kiera Coffee

When it's time for light's out, kids can pile into bunkbeds, topped with mismatched vintage quilts from Etsy. Lining the beds against a wall freed up floorspace for playing games on rainy days. A small reading lamp is clipped on each bunk for late-night stories. Fuss-free flooring stands up to water and mud tracked in.

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    1 of 30 White Lake House Decor
    2 of 30 Play Up the Views
    3 of 30 Focus on the View
    4 of 30 Choose Durable Seating
    5 of 30 Create an Effortless Look
    6 of 30 Make It a Hybrid
    7 of 30 Bring Light In
    8 of 30 Add Extra Seating
    9 of 30 Work With the Architecture
    10 of 30 Mix Motifs
    11 of 30 Create Cohesion
    12 of 30 Make It Feel Rustic
    13 of 30 Design 180° Views
    14 of 30 Add a Personal Touch
    15 of 30 Connect Living Spaces
    16 of 30 Create a Calm Retreat
    17 of 30 Master Privacy and Light
    18 of 30 Set a Rustic Table
    19 of 30 Add Extra Beds
    20 of 30 Intensify Paint Hues
    21 of 30 Keep It Essential
    22 of 30 Bring Nature In
    23 of 30 Design a Dreamy Bedroom
    24 of 30 Connection to the Outdoors
    25 of 30 Twice as Nice
    26 of 30 Bring In Something Old
    27 of 30 Balancing Act
    28 of 30 Natural Style
    29 of 30 Comfort Is Key
    30 of 30 Built for Company

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