Feel like you’re always in vacation mode, when you set up your home like a lake house! Learn about this style and how you can include it in your space.

Imagine a slow paced life, where you enjoy all the little things you do – reading a book, drinking coffee, listening to music, chatting with friends. Now imagine a space that enables you to do this – and you have the essence of lake house decor!

Decor Styles 101: Lake House

In today’s fast paced world, we often look for those moments in our day when we can slow down and really savor living. If you often find yourself wishing that you had a holiday home you could escape to, you’ll love the lake house style!

A lake house is considered a place where you can get away from the fast pace of modern life, slow down with friends and family and enjoy doing what you love the most. It is a retreat and holiday home rolled into one, and there is no reason you can’t set up your home to reflect this vibe!

Since this decor style is not as well known as other types, it helps to get an idea about what the lake house decor style actually entails. It is actually a combination of the nautical, cottage, cabin and chalet styles. Here is a quick guide to the characteristics of the lake house decor style.

Characteristics of Lake House Style

• A lake house generally has a good view; in fact it is usually built around that view
• There are lots of wooden elements, ranging from light to dark colors
• The entire aesthetic is relaxed and casual
• There is a lot of focus on entertaining and dining spaces

6 Ways to get the Lake House Style in your Space

1. Use Colors found in Nature

In a lake house, the colors used are generally what you find in nature. This means that you can include blues, greens, oranges and browns. It helps to keep those in muted shades that are not too saturated, like sky blue, olive green, rust orange or chocolate brown. To keep it balanced, use light neutrals as a base and then add one or two other colors as accents.

2. Bring in Wood

Wood is very warming, and it adds to the overall comforting nature of a lake house-style home. You can use any shade of wood, depending upon the kind of look you’re going for. Use wood in furniture, finishes, or beans and pillars. Wood paneling is also a common feature found in lake house style.

3. Focus on Seating

Seating plays an important role in the lake house style. For one, it’s perfect for sitting by a good view and reading or enjoying some coffee. Additionally, the lake house style is all about spending time with loved ones, and this requires some cozy and comfortable seating in the form of couches, floor cushions, pouffes and lots of cushions.

4. Make use of the View

In the lake house style, the view has great significance. If you have a good view – of the sky, greenery or a water body – celebrate it! Make it the main point in your room around which you arrange the remaining furniture. Some people also get rid of the TV and direct the seating towards the view, to further put the spotlight on slow, mindful living. Another great idea is to place a mirror opposite the view to get a beautiful reflection.

5. Play with Window Treatments

Since the view has so much importance in the lake house style, you can do away with curtains and drapes to open it up. If you really need privacy, install blinds that roll up – bamboo is a great option. You can also decorate the windows in other ways, like adding string lights or banners.

6. Let Decor tell a Story

There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to decor accents in a lake house home, and the general consensus is to avoid going overboard while still displaying more than a minimalist style would allow. Let every piece tell a story of its own, and reflect your hobbies, memories or travels. Stick to the color scheme you’ve chosen to avoid things from standing out.

There you go; now you can create your very own holiday home right where you live! This is a style that works in almost any kind of home. However, if you live in an apartment that has absolutely no view from any direction, you may have trouble including the elements of this style. Yet, if you can find a way around this, there is no reason you can’t enjoy the beautiful, slow paced life in the middle of a bustling city!

This post is a part of the Blogchatter A2Z Blogging Challenge 2021.