A Designer’s Guide To Crafting the Perfect Lake Home Interior
You’ve found your dream lakeside home, a place where you can truly embrace and enjoy everything the beautiful setting has to offer. You might be wondering how to design your home to mirror the scenery and capture the relaxing atmosphere that surrounds you.
With so many interior design choices available, it can feel overwhelming to decide which options will come together to create a truly stunning home.
In this article, we’ll highlight key elements to help you create a thoughtful lake home interior design. You’ll find inspiring ideas that can spark your creativity and help you design your dream space.
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6 Key Elements of a Thoughtful Lake Home Interior Design
Designing the interior of your lake home involves utilizing both functional and beautiful elements to bring your vision to life. Understanding the balance between comfort, durability, and style can give your home a sophisticated, long-lasting interior.
#1: Designing for the Setting
A home located on a lake provides you with natural beauty that you can enhance and incorporate into your design. The light, water reflections, landscape, and vegetation are all elements that you can use throughout your space.
When you begin planning the details and style of your home, take a moment and look around. Write down details that you see in the natural elements around you. Integrate these surrounding colors, textures, and materials within your design so your home complements its backdrop.
#2: Finding the Right Aesthetic
When most people think of a lake home, “cabin style” or “rustic” might come to mind. However, design trends are shifting towards a more modern, understated aesthetic for lakeside homes.
Discover your style by blending warmth and sophistication to help balance the comfort and elegance of your space. Merging contrasting materials, such as wood and metal or matte and woven, can add depth and texture while keeping your home cozy.
Ideas to help guide you to the right aesthetic for your home include:
Creating mood boards of different styles
Thinking through how you want to use the space
Choosing a color palette inspired by your home's natural surroundings
Kali Buchanan Interior Design has the knowledge and experience to create the perfect aesthetic for you and your home. Let us help you design, from start to finish, a space that is uniquely you, while focusing on the details that signify a lakeside home.
#3: Making the Most of Natural Light and Views
Designing your home to highlight and celebrate the beauty of the outdoors flowing in can enhance both the atmosphere and the finer details of your space.
Here are some ideas for ways to make the most of the natural light and scenic views:
Keep treatments lightweight
Use finishes to reduce glare
Place windows in strategic locations to bring in the light and scenery
Utilize skylights
Orienting furniture and walking paths towards windows to enhance the focus on the lake view
#4: Choosing Materials Built for Lakeside Living
Using materials that will withstand the lakeside environment and lifestyle will provide lasting performance while you incorporate your chosen aesthetic. Living by a lake will subject your home to water, humidity, temperature changes, wind, and sun exposure.
Materials to consider using in your lakeside home might include:
Flooring – Use materials such as tile, vinyl, or engineered hardwood to endure the heavy foot traffic, dripping towels, and wet feet.
Fabrics – Selecting water-resistant and durable fabrics such as Sunbrella, Crypton, Olefin, and Marine Vinyl will help protect your furniture from moisture, fading, and wear.
Countertops – Durable countertops like quartz, granite, and quartzite can resist heat, stains, and scratches, standing up to the wear and tear that comes with enjoying summers by the lake.
Windows – Double-paneled windows are a great option to help negate the temperature changes and lower the UV rays entering your home.
#5: Prioritizing Proper Ventilation and Dehumidification
As your home is situated next to a large body of water, the humidity levels are higher, especially in the warmer months. Your design should prioritize functionality and durability, as well as style and beauty. Ensuring your home has proper ventilation and moisture control will prevent damage, protect finishes, and improve comfort.
#6: Planning Functional, Flexible Spaces
Oftentimes, lake homes host guests to enjoy the perks of living by the water. Creating an adaptable layout that includes convertible guest rooms, bunk areas, and versatile living spaces can allow you to use your space in whatever form is necessary.
Creating smart storage throughout your home can support an active, lakeside lifestyle while keeping your home organized.
5 Best Lake Home Interior Design Ideas That Bring Your Space to Life
#1: Bring Nature Indoors
Drawing inspiration from nature in your design can reflect the lake’s calmness and bring that serene feeling into your home. Elements such as water, stone, wood, and light can blend to create a beautiful interior. Thoughtfully choosing subtle blues, greens, soft neutrals, and organic textures like linen, jute, and rattan can add a touch of nature to your sophisticated, yet warm, space.
#2: Curate Art and Accessories with Intention
Selecting subtle, meaningful art pieces that connect to the lake setting will tie in your design to the natural atmosphere of its location. Decor should feel collected and sophisticated rather than staged or cliché.
#3: Incorporate Functional Décor
Thoughtful decoration can also serve a purpose. Gorgeous woven baskets for storage, decorative hooks for towels, or artisan ceramics for everyday use can add a touch of beauty and practicality to your space.
#4: Choose Personal Touches That Tell a Story
Adding decor and touches that reflect who you are will create a space that is uniquely yours. Decor that flows with your design — such as vintage finds, framed sketches or maps, heirloom textiles, or local art — can add elegance and personality.
Tastefully displaying memories by the lake or items that reveal your family history can tie the design together, bringing warmth and meaning to your space.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lake Home Interior Design
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Along with the beauty of lakeside living comes the desire to keep your home feeling fresh and easy to maintain. Choosing durable materials that are easy to clean will help simplify upkeep.
Practical, low-maintenance solutions that make home upkeep simple may include:
Wipeable finishes
Well-planned storage
Moisture-resistant paint
Slipcovers
Performance fabrics
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Yes, a sophisticated design comes from balance and restraint when choosing the details of your space. Featuring high-quality natural materials, layered lighting, and cohesive color palettes can make a space feel refined yet remain comfortable and relaxing.
As a high-end interior designer in Kansas City, Kali Buchanan Interior Design enjoys designing a sophisticated, yet personalized space for our clients. Let us help you in the journey of creating a home that is refined and entirely your own.
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Subtle, nature-inspired tones can bring an elegant touch to your space while beautifully complementing your scenic surroundings. Using shades of muted blues, warm grays, sandy neutrals, and greens will tie in the lakeside environment to the inside of your home.
Choosing these palettes reflects natural light and creates a calm, cohesive flow throughout the home. The soft hues open up each room, bringing an elegant, bright, and inviting atmosphere. With the emphasis on natural light, as the sun rises and sets, the tones of the room will shift, forming a connection between the outdoors and your indoor space.
Crafting Spaces That Feel Like Home — With Kali Buchanan Interior Design
Designing a space that balances elegance with the cozy feel of home can be a challenge. Kali Buchanan Interior Design's expertise and experience will bring your lakeside home to life while maintaining a refined and stylish look. Our team holds an appreciation for each client's vision and style, creating a space that is distinctly theirs.
Contact us today to discuss your project and take the first steps towards your dream home design.