If you’re looking to take your laid back, comfy and casual lake house decor to the next level, look no further! Updated lake decor is so easy to find these days.
Now you’re just steps away from clear blue skies, spectacular water views and the relaxation you’ve been craving – and you’ll have the lake house interior design to match!
Luckily, lake house decor has moved far beyond the traditional, heavy and often campy style of decades past. It’s stylish and sophisticated, elegant and beautiful, but still relaxed enough to be stress free.
Find all the beautiful lake house decorating ideas and inspiration you need as you head into summer. Lake living has never looked so good!
When we bought our little home on the lake several years ago, we knew that it would need a lot of work. This modern lake house has turned out to be the perfect home for us, with great views, an idyllic location and the right floor plan for our little family.
Lake Decor
While we knew that much of our time would be spent dockside, we also wanted to make the home itself more updated, family-friendly and up to date. We enjoy splitting our time between both homes and we needed the spaces to work for our family and entertaining guests.
Lake house decor of years gone by was often dark, woodsy, lodge-inspired and yes… even a little kitschy. While the rustic style is part of the charm for many, I knew that I wanted a more Coastal Modern look for this home.
While our home in St. Louis is more traditional, the lake cottage has evolved into a home with clean lines, plentiful textures, and modern, simple styling. It’s contemporary but still so inviting and comfortable… exactly what we always dreamed it could be!
It’s a relaxing, neutral backdrop free of distractions, and it works beautifully to help us take a break from our busy lives… like a vacation every time we walk through the door! Learn more about how to get a vacation vibe at home.
Lake House Decor Ideas
Long gone are those days of dark, rustic lake house decor! Now there are fabulous options that are light and bright, fresh and modern.
With a nod to nautical elements and lots of warm whites and cool blues, new lake decor is anything but dark. It’s full of cozy textures, natural wood and rattan elements, and of course… all the stripes your heart could want!
Try a White Backdrop
Paint your walls in a beautiful warm white for the prettiest lake house decorating backdrop!
Clean whites look fresh and crisp while serving as a beautiful backdrop for pops of color. They feel clean, welcoming and spa-inspired.
Paint Colors, Tutorials & Tips
Warm Whites
Cozy up your home with the prettiest warm whites on your walls, trim, furniture and more! These warm white paint colors are some of my very favorites. Read More
Add Coastal Inspired Wallpaper
If soft white walls are feeling too safe, why not add a pretty wallpaper? We love the block print wallpaper in our guest bath, and we just added a new pattern in our primary lake bath.
When we bought our 90s lake cottage, we decided to keep a couple of the vintage-inspired floral patterns in the bedrooms, and we are still enjoying them to this day. See our guide to working with dated wallpaper for more!
If you’re looking for a more affordable option, don’t skip our guide to the prettiest Amazon Wallpaper!
Home
Serena and Lily Wallpaper
Looking to create subtle interest in a room, or perhaps you’re hoping to add a dramatic, colorful style statement? Wallpaper is such a special way to personalize a space! Read More
Add Scalloped Decor
Reminiscent of waves on the water, this design trend is whimsical and it’s the sweetest nod to nautical decor.
Design Guides, Decor & Tips
Scalloped Home Decor
Are you loving scalloped everything as much as we are? Well, you’re in the right place! Find all the prettiest scalloped decor pieces – from scalloped trays to scalloped baskets, furniture, accents and so much more. Read More
Rattan Mirrors
The texture of rattan can add so much to coastal, beach and lake house decor. You can do more than just rattan furniture – it’s wonderful for walls and accessories, too.
Design Guides, Decor & Tips
Rattan Mirrors
Rattan is having such a big moment in interior design right now! Learn all about rattan mirrors, including what styles they work with and where to buy them. Read More
Nautical Bathroom Touches
Bathrooms are so much fun to decorate, aren’t they? This is the perfect place to use a little nod to nautical elements. Come take a tour of this space and see how we did it!
Bed & Bath
Nautical Bathroom Decor
See how we transformed a dark, dated bath with fresh new nautical bathroom decor. Take a tour of our fresh, modern nautical bath refresh. With a beautiful navy blue vanity, rattan mirror and charming decorative touches, you’re sure to leave feeling inspired. Read More
Use a Teak Dining Table
Teak is wonderful for indoors and out! In fact, you can see our guide to teak outdoor furniture here, with a peak at our pretty vinyl deck.
Kitchen & Dining
Teak Dining Tables
Get the details on our modern teak table in our little eat-in kitchen space. Teak dining tables can be so much more than traditional outdoor furniture! Read More
Incorporate a Rattan Headboard
We like to incorporate rattan into our lake decor in elements like a rattan headboards, rattan bar stools, lighting, seating, accent furniture and more. It adds instant interest to any space, while still remaining light and bright, and so functional!
Bed & Bath
Rattan Beds
Add instant charm and a unique personalized style to your home with a rattan bed. With rattan’s natural ability to invite serenity and relaxation, it could be the perfect choice in your next bedroom makeover. Read More
Add a Rattan Bar Cart
Texture adds a lot of interest and laid back vacation style to your lake house decor. Think of elements like grasscloth, rattan and raffia. These traditional, natural textures speak to the outdoor and of course, a little nod to the water and the islands.
Design Guides, Decor & Tips
Rattan Bar Carts
Add a charming rattan bar cart to any space in your home for entertaining in style! These vintage inspired rattan carts instantly transport you to the tropical side of summer. Read More
Teak Outdoor Furniture
We love our teak furniture pieces and can’t get over how well they’re aging with time. Read about our love for Serena and Lily outdoor furniture as well.
Gardening & Outdoors
Teak Outdoor Furniture
Teak is a resilient wood that is resistant to water damage and rot. While often used in ship-building because of its incredible durability, teak is also an excellent choice for long lasting patio furniture! Read More
Wicker Sofas
Indoors or out, a wicker sofa can add so much texture and charm to your lake house decor! We used one on our lower patio, thanks to the underdecking we had installed when we redid our deck!
Home
Wicker Sofa
A classic wicker sofa can speak to a variety of different design styles. In fact, the Pacifica sofa from Serena and Lily can actually be used as an outdoor wicker sofa, or use it indoors – that’s for you to decide! Read More
Bamboo Blindes
These are such a pretty, inexpensive way to add a textural touch to your lake home. Affordable, light filtering privacy – what’s not to love?
Design Guides, Decor & Tips
Bamboo Blinds
Custom fit Bamboo Blinds elevate a space and add texture. They fit coastal traditional and transitional homes and make your space feel breezy. You can purchase and install them in just a weekend. Read More
Create a Bunk Room
Is there anything more fun than hosting friends and family for a slumber party at your home away from home?
Home
Girls Bunk Beds
An inexpensive children’s solid wood bunk bed room makeover, without a lot of effort! Perfect solution for families with multiple… Read More
Add a Pop of Coastal Blue Paint
While I love our backdrop of Benjamin Moore Simply White on the walls, we also enjoy a pop of blue to reflect the sky and water at our lake house.
Paint Colors, Tutorials & Tips
Coastal Blues
Get the prettiest paint colors in soft, relaxing coastal blues. You don’t have to have a water view to soak up those calming vibes. While these are incredible beach house colors, they make beautiful accents no matter where you live! Read More
Tips
Get all the fun of kitschy lake house decor without taking it quite so literally! A few nods go a long way.
- Try a wooden oar or heavy duty nautical rope as your stair railing or even to hang curtains!
- Add stripes – Stripes are a quintessential reference to everything nautical! They speak to summer and have such a happy, preppy feel that works beautifully in lake house decor.
- Incorporate natural, soft wood tones like our white oak floors to embrace the rustic lake setting.
- Personalize wall art with inexpensive photos of family time at the lake, or personalized maps that reference your location.
- Create a nook under your stairs or anywhere – perfect for overflow guests and a great space for the kids to read on a rainy day!
Sources
Here are the direct links for some of the most asked-about elements in our modern lake home!
I have a lake house. What color white would you suggest for the walls? Thanks.
Hi Sherri, check out these paint guides for my favorite white paints: Warm Whites and Best Cream Paints I hope you find one you love as much as I do!
Hello! Where are your hooks from? Where is your shower rod from?
Hi Lisa!
If you’re talking about the white and navy bathroom, you can find all the details in this nautical bathroom decor post.
I hope that helps – enjoy!
Julie