Your dreams of owning a lake house have finally come true. Now that you’ve closed on the property, it’s time to decorate your new place. We’ve prepared tips and advice to help you choose the best outdoor furniture to suit your lakefront lifestyle.
Whether you’re planning weekend getaways or long summer vacations with your kids, we can help you transform your lake house into a lake home.
In This Article
1. Elevate Your Porch With Cozy Seating
Your lake home’s entrance sets the tone for your weekend getaway. Because most front porches are long and narrow, seek furniture that mirrors this shape—think benches, hanging swings, and rectangular coffee tables. These styles offer plenty of sitting and serving space, but still leave room to walk by in slimmer areas.
Rocking chairs and gliders are also great additions for front porches. If space is tight, place them at an angle to allow room for movement without bumping into walls or railings. Add a side table or two to hold your drinks, snacks, and sunscreen.
2. Focus on the View
The waterfront is the focal point of any lake house. Keep windows and sliding doors free of heavy draperies to let in nature’s beauty. Consider sliding pocket doors or industrial glass-panel garage doors to enjoy uninterrupted views of the horizon from the comfort of your living room.
3. Draw Inspiration From Nature
Whether your style is French farmhouse or coastal chic, there are endless ways to instill lakeside vibes in your home. Incorporate natural elements and earth tones throughout your decor to honor the surrounding landscape and create a seamless connection between your indoor and outdoor spaces. For example, try weathered wood finishes, woven textures, and soft, sun-washed hues.
Try Varying Textures and Earth Tones
Textured fabrics in earthy hues, such as a tan deep seating sofa, moss green outdoor pillows, and clay-colored woven rugs, are fantastic options for lake house decor. Combining different textures in a similar color palette will add depth and variety to harmonize your aesthetic.
Use Water-Inspired Shades of Blue
If you’re craving a pop of color, dreamy hues of aqua and nautically navy tones are the way to go. Make a splash in your outdoor living room with a few cobalt blue pillows on the sofa or a turquoise Adirondack chair set.
Tie Natural Elements into Your Decor
You can seamlessly integrate stone, greenery, and exposed into any space. Hang fragrant eucalyptus garlands, grow a tabletop herb garden, or top a wooden tray with glowing candles and a few grey pebbles to enhance the earthy energy.
4. Add Personal Touches
Your lake house is where your family will create some of their fondest memories. Capture those sentimental moments and put them on display. Combine decorative maritime knots and ornamental anchors, as well as photos of your family swimming, sailing, and fishing, to create a picture-perfect gallery wall in your summer home.
5. Amplify Light and Space With Soft Neutrals and Mirrors
To make your outdoor spaces feel more expansive, start by layering soft neutrals like white, ivory, and champagne. Then, let mirrors do the rest of the work. Hang ivory outdoor curtains on an eggshell-colored pergola to soften the look, style a white Adirondack set on a creamy outdoor rug, and use mirrored trays and wall mirrors to reflect the sunlight. This casually elegant approach will open your space, enhance natural light, and create a bright and breezy ambiance.
6. Choose the Right Outdoor Furniture for Your Deck
Waterfront decks are the social centers of any lake house. Because you’ll be spending endless hours soaking up the sun, grilling, and watching the kiddos splash on the shore, you’ll want to make sure you choose the right outdoor material for your lakeside space. Look for durable patio furniture that can withstand wet bathing suits, barbecue sauce stains, muddy paw prints, as well as sporadic rain showers.
High-density polyethylene (HDPE) lumber is ideal for lake house decks. HDPE is a durable plastic that’s nonporous and strong enough to handle offshore winds, lake-effect snow, and other seasonal weather conditions. Furniture made with this durable material generally requires little to no maintenance because it’s easy to clean and resistant to fading, moisture, stains, and mold.
7. Create a Cozy Conversation Area
Spend summer nights enjoying the company of loved ones from the comfort of an intimate conversation area. Place Adirondack chairs around a fire pit table on your deck where you can swap stories under the stars.
If you plan on hosting the entire family at your lake house, a larger seating area may be more appropriate. Arrange a deep seating sectional to provide optimal comfort as you catch up with your cousins. Your family will never forget the special memories shared in this open-air haven.
8. Invest in a Fire Pit Table
Making s'mores around a bonfire is a lakeside tradition. However, starting a fire can be tricky because the soil and tinder near bodies of water tend to be wet. With a fire pit table, you can light a fire by simply pressing a button. It’s a stylish and convenient solution that eliminates the need for wood, soot cleanup, or the smell of smoke on your clothes.
