In most parts of the country, it may not be warm enough to keep fresh flowers thriving. That doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the joy of decorating with florals in your home. Dried flowers can add a beautiful spring-like touch to your lake home, even when the weather hasn’t quite caught up yet. It would help if you didn’t have to compromise when it comes to spring florals, and by drying your flowers and stems, you don’t have to sacrifice your aesthetic. We have some advice on how to select, dry, and arrange your dried florals to add an element of joy to your lake home that will carry you through to summer.
The leaves have begun to change, pumpkin spice lattes are back and it’s time to pull out your plaid and scarves. Fall has arrived, which means lake season is officially over, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy your lake home in the autumn! And, you can start by updating your fall décor.
It’s often difficult to choose just how to decorate your lake home for any other season but summer, especially in a way that reflects your personality and the latest trends.
However, there are a few basic guidelines you can follow to help get you started decorating for fall on the lake.
Color Comes First!
To begin, consider what color palette you want to work with.
Incorporate on statement color; this should be most prominent in your design. Popular statement colors include wine tones and emerald greens and burgundy. Also popular in the fall are navy and muted oranges.
Next, you will want to choose accent colors. These will complement your statement color and add depth to your design.
Generally, you will want to pick at least two accent colors, but be cautious of the number of secondary tones you choose to incorporate.
An excess of secondary colors could result in a loss of cohesion in your design, meaning your vision will no longer be clearly present.
Rather than having a cute, well-put-together door decoration, the end result might start to resemble something along the lines of abstract expressionist art… or something a toddler threw together.
A base of three colors, one statement, and two accent colors, is a good starting point for beginning designers. At the lake, a great combination would be a base of navy, accented with silver and perhaps orange.
Add in the Accents
Once you have decided on a color scheme, you should begin thinking about how you will accent these colors in your design.
One thing to consider is patterns. Plaid, gingham, houndstooth, and paisley patterns not only add to the color in your design but also give it texture and dimension.
A textured design has more impact, and is more aesthetically pleasing, than a flat one. Different materials, such as lace and burlap, also help with texture.
Additionally, think about what iconic autumn symbols you want to feature. Pine cones, pumpkins, acorns, hay bales, and leaves are all common accents. If your lake home is located in a wooded area, you could easily find a few items in nature to use for free!
A wreath of pinecones, pumpkins resting on hay bales and garlands of acorns can all add depth to your décor.
Don’t be afraid to mix and match patterns and accent pieces. Just because they don’t match doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t work well together.
After you have your accents, patterns, and colors determined, now comes the task of putting them all together.
If you have no idea what you want the final product to look like, start by looking up fall décor for ideas on Etsy, Google, or Pinterest. Here you will find pictures of what other home decorators have done in the past, so you can see what works together and what best resembles your lake home’s style and personality.
For a log cabin-style lake home, you could choose to feature red, greens and black plaids, burlap, and metal accents.
Additionally, you could incorporate twigs, pinecones, and small logs into your outdoorsy design. Adding a pop of gold, with ribbon or beading, can give your decorations a little extra pop, as well.
If your home is more modern, houndstooth, silvers, and burnt orange might look best. Pumpkins would look good with this color scheme, as well as fall leaves, acorns, and brushed metals.
Should you not find any leads worth pursuing online, you can always just find your style through trial and error.
Since you’ve already decided on colors, textures, and accents, you can try a number of different design combinations until you find the right one.
Don’t get discouraged if your vision doesn’t come through on your first try. Your perfect fall décor design is in there somewhere.
Sometimes some distance will teach you to love your first try. And if it doesn’t, waiting a few days can often show you exactly where your problems with the designs lie.
Finishing Touches
In the future, you can think about adding extra features beyond that which you already have. This might include changing porch lights to different colored bulbs, adding a bench or bike to your porch. Or, incorporate string lights and colorful mums or other living decorations.
As years go by you’ll learn what works and what doesn’t, and you can add to your decoration cache over time. Eventually, you will find the perfect balance for your fall décor.
And when in doubt, just keep it simple, as lake living should be.
For more tips and ideas, enjoy our other seasonal decorating articles here.
These room themes can help accent your lake views using indoor design!
With each theme you choose, there are certain items that can be purchased.
Wall Décor
Trinkets
Throw Pillows
Quilt
Rugs
Picture Frames
Furniture Color
Fishing Theme
If you are an avid fisher, then this theme is perfect. From fishing theme throws and pillows, to a large stuffed bass on the wall, you can add to the view of your lake. A great idea to add to this theme is to find old fishing poles onto the wall for an added sense of being on the water.
Another wonderful idea is to use canoe paddles for wall decoration. To add to the warmth of this theme, use a quilt to put over the back of your sofa and other fishing related items.
Old Fishing Poles
Fish Netting
Stuffed Fish on Plaque
Paddles
Painting of Fishing Boats
Anchors
Underwater Theme
The underwater theme is a simple theme that will add to the view of your lake. Keep the theme to any aspect of being under the water like fish and underwater plants. Although this theme incorporates parts of the other themes, the main aspect of this theme is shades of blue and sparkling pieces.
Blue Throws
Blue Pillows
Water Scene Painting
Trinkets of Fish or Water Animals
Sea Side Theme
If you love the sun and the beach, then decorating your home with a seaside theme would be great to add to the view of the lake. There is decor you can purchase to add to it like visions of dolphins, crabs, and more.
This includes orange colored items, as well as yellow, blue, and other colors that offer a sense of being on the beach. It will allow you to feel refreshed and relaxed, all while looking through your window and the open water. There are different ideas that will help you add to this theme.
Paintings of the Beach
Decorative Bottle of Sand
Trinket of Children Building a Sand Castle
Star Fish Wall Decor
Fish Netting
Coral
Sea Horses
At times finding water related items can be difficult. One great way to add to the theme you choose is to visit a fabric store. They have a lot of different patterns that will match your theme. You are able to hand make pillows and cushion covers to ensure that your furniture matches the theme.
The one aspect to remember when redecorating is that if the item does not have a specific theme, at least make sure it is of the same color as the rest of the furniture or décor.
Small do-it-yourself projects can be fun and offer pieces to display. Adding to the view of your lake will help you take advantage of the great view that you have at your disposal. It will also give your friends and family a comfortable and relaxing area to bond and spend time with one another!
If you own a home with a beautiful view of the lake, then decorating your home to match the area is a great way to add to the ambiance. 
If you love the sun and the beach, then decorating your home with a seaside theme would be great to add to the view of the lake. There is decor you can purchase to add to it like visions of dolphins, crabs, and more.