Lake houses are usually summer residences, places where people retreat for vacations or long weekends to get away from the daily grind of their jobs and busy lives. Therefore, comfort and practicality should be foremost in your mind when decorating your lake home, as well as versatility. Since you will probably entertain houseguests from time to time, you'll want a relaxing place for both you and your guests to kick back. Some interior design ideas for your lake house follow.
Paint
Paint your lake house interior with muted neutral tones or pastel shades. Various hues of white, beige and taupe will give your house a light, airy, relaxing feel and will open up the interior space.
Decor
Keep the lake house clutter-free. The more simplistic your decor, the better. The goal is to give your home the feeling of the outdoors. Decorate using wooden, hand-carved sea gulls and sailboats for a nautical theme, or consider an animal theme using prints of animals such as deer.
Furnishings
Lake house furniture should be comfortable and functional. Living room couches often double as a guest room, so purchase a good-quality sofa bed for your guests' comfort. Purchase practical furniture pieces such as end tables and coffee tables that have drawers for storage and can keep hidden extra bedding.
Floors
Think practical when it comes to floor space. Linoleum and easy-care tile and wood floors work well in lake houses. If you want to carry your decor theme to the flooring, but don't want to use throw rugs, consider stenciling a design on your floors or painting floors for a rustic, aged look.
Light Fixtures
Lake houses often utilize vintage-look decor, so extend this look to your light fixtures, wall sconces and lamps. Use wicker, rattan and weathered-looking pieces to create a casual, warm ambiance.
Walls
Walls should not be "busy," with lots of floral wallpaper or too many pictures. Add wallpaper borders with a cozy pattern that matches your decorating theme, or add wainscoting or bead board to enhance your painted walls. Use framed pictures or photos of lake and forest scenes to bring the outdoors indoors.
