Inspirational Lake House Decorating Ideas

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Lake houses are really having a moment. Here are some really great inspirational lake house decorating ideas for you to create a nautical home with a coastal feel.

There’s something undeniably peaceful about a lake house—the still water, the gentle breeze, and the sense of escape it offers from the hustle of everyday life. When it comes to decorating such a retreat, the goal is to create a space that reflects the natural beauty outside while offering comfort and relaxation inside.

Whether your lakefront getaway is a rustic cabin, a modern cottage, or something in between, the right design choices can enhance the serene atmosphere and make every visit feel like a true vacation. In this post, we’ll explore a range of lake house decorating ideas to help you craft your perfect waterside haven.

A deck space with tons of seating and a fireplace at the end.
Source: Sweet Shady Lane

Lake House Decorating Ideas

I live in Ohio, nowhere near an ocean. But we have tons of lakes! So we can still have that enjoyable feel of living near water but lake houses are decorated a little different than beach houses.

Lake houses are more nautical than coastal. For beach houses, I think the colors are more blue-green and light beige what you would see at the beach.

Lake houses are more nautical, think blue and white. They can be very rustic too with stone or brick fireplaces, wood stoves, or exposed beams.

Here are a few examples with some features that are classic lake house.

Bunk Room

A bunk room with white shiplap walls and blue and white bedding.
Source: Pottery Barn

Sleep space is important in a lake house. Having a bunk room is key! It allows lots of family and friends to come and visit and enjoy the lake comfortably.

Dining Space

A dining room with a black table, black chairs, white walls and a view to the outside.
Source: House and Home

No matter how big your home you need a dining space. I love how this dining room is set up with a view outside. Maximize those views!

Fireplace

We live in a colder climate and when the snow is falling it’s wonderful to have a fireplace or gorgeous wood stove like in the photo below.

It gives a lake house a wonderful 365 day a year coziness that makes a house a home.

A wood burning stove in the corner of a room with fireplace tools hanging on the wall behind it.
Source: Kelly Elko
A stone fireplace with black sconces flanking it and a round mirror on a black mantel.
Source: One Kings Lane

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Add some Rustic Elements

A bathroom with wood on the top third of the wall and white tile at the bottom.
Source: HGTV

Rustic features are awesome in a lake house! I love exposed wood beams or exposed shiplap, like in this bathroom photo.

Outdoor Rooms

An outdoor space with seating in red white and blue and a view of the lake.
Source: HGTV

Another key element in lake house decorating is the outdoor space. You need a comfortable seating arrangement with a wonderful view.

Nautical Color Scheme

A blue and white bedroom with a small white dog on the bed and a great view of the lake through the windows.
Source: Lilly Pad Cottage

When you think of a beach house, it’s more of a beige, blue-green look. But with a lake house, the color scheme is more blue and white with touches of beige. This bedroom above is a wonderful example of the lake house color scheme.

Capitalize on the View

A family room with a stone fireplace, white shiplap wall with exposed beams and a wall of windows overlooking the lake.
Source: Lilly Pad Cottage

No matter what you are doing inside, the number one rule of lake house design is to capitalize on that view! This family room has an entire wall of windows to view the lake.

Lake House Decorating Ideas Recap

There are certain key elements to a lake house. Here they are again:

  • have a bunk room
  • good dining space
  • fireplace
  • rustic elements
  • outdoor rooms
  • Nautical color scheme
  • capitalize on the view

I hope you have gotten some really good ideas from the inspirational photos shared here today. Having a lake house is great, and you can really host a lot of family and friends both during the summer season and winter!

Other Decorating Posts You Might Like:

A grid of several views of a lake house with text overlay.

As a licensed Real Estate Agent and an avid home decorator, I strive to give my clients the very best I can when it comes to staging, selling, and decorating their homes. I have lots of experience with paint color choices and love to DIY my home so I can have everything just the way I want it. I share my ideas and projects with the world in the hopes that I can help others have their homes just the way they want as well.

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