Tag: interior design

5 DIY Lake House Signs Project

Posted on Camille Smith
Photo courtesy of Pinterest.

When it comes to decor for your lake house, there’s no shortage of DIY projects. Whether it’s a homemade fire pit, chalkboard paint, or driftwood decor, it’s empowering to take interior design into your own hands. One classic staple found in many lake homes is the lake sign. These cute “go jump in the lake” or “rules of the lake” pieces are a fun way to customize your home with lake-specific decor. But if you want a lake sign, there’s no reason to spend money on a design sold on Etsy. Plenty of bloggers have shared their secrets for creating a DIY lake house sign. Check out our top 5 favorites! 

“Go Jump in the Lake” Sign

From Uncommon Designs, this DIY lake sign has a unique vintage flair. The fire-engine red tone against cursive letters resembles a classic cola logo, evoking a familiar feel. The distressed paint especially stands out against a textured wall.  

Supplies: 

  • One canvas 
  • Chalk paint 
  • Vinyl lettering cut or pre-made vinyl stickers 
  • Acrylic craft paint 
  • 150 grit sandpaper 
  • Stain and water 

Instructions: Purchase a blank canvas or use an existing art piece that you don’t mind painting over. Cover the canvas in a base coat of chalk paint (this blogger used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Country Grey). Using the vinyl lettering cuts or stickers, place the letters spelling “Go Jump in the Lake” onto the canvas. Paint over the vinyl letters with a simple acrylic red craft paint and pull the letters off once they’re dry. For the vintage look, rough up the canvas with sandpaper and wipe the canvas with the 1:1 strain and water mixture. 

Rustic Lake House Sign

If your lake house decor has a rustic cabin vibe, this sign is perfect. From Funky Junk Interiors, Canadian blogger Donna uses old items to decorate her home. She’s all about repurposing what others may call “junk,” and this DIY lake sign is no exception. 

Supplies: 

  • Wooden boards 
  • Stencils for a word or phrase of your choosing 
  • Paint (three colors)
  • Tape 

Instructions: Lay any number of wooden boards out. Then, take your chosen stencils and tape them to the wooden boards for security. Using a paint color of your choice (this blogger used a combination of turquoise, white and black fusion mineral paints), tap each letter with a dried brush. Then remove the stencils! 

Lake House Driftwood Wreath

If you own a Cricut Joy machine, this DIY lake sign is the perfect excuse to dust it off. Without this appliance that prints adorable labels, you can still create the driftwood wreath to add a nautical flair to your front door. Tanya from Dans Le Lakehouse blogs about several other DIY projects you can check out, too!

Supplies: 

  • Cricut Joy 
  • Cricut Joy Smart Vinyl 
  • Other Cricut supplies (Weeder Tool, scraper tool, transfer tape, design space)  
  • Driftwood 
  • Air nailer and compressor 
  • 1” and 1.5” nails
  • Rope for hanging
  • A sheet of Lexan, plexiglass, or plywood
  • Screws and drill 

Instructions: Start by collecting small pieces of driftwood around your lake house! Once you have enough for the lake sign, set down a bucket the same circumference as your desired wreath. Create the bottom layer, then add more layers of driftwood pieces, air nailing them as you go. Then, cut a small rectangle of plexiglass and use the Cricut Joy tools to create your customized lake sign in the wreath’s center. Tie a rope at the top for hanging. 

Faux Wood Lake Sign

This simple DIY lake sign from The Happy Housie blog is elegant yet rustic. When Krista, the blog’s creator, noticed that most lake signs featured arrows pointing towards the road rather than the lake, she created a sign. While Krista makes her piece from faux wood, you can use either real or faux wood for yours. 

Supplies: 

  • Foam tools (foam sheet, smooth finish, foam knife, and tuck & scribe tools)
  • FloraCraft Styro Cutter Plus 
  • Putty knife 
  • High grit sandpaper 
  • Wood stain wipes 
  • Acrylic paint craft in two colors (blogger used Martha Stewart “Summer Linen” and “Summer Haze” 
  • Ruler
  • Printed lettering and arrow 
  • Carbon tracing paper 
  • Twine 

Instructions: Apply 2-3 coats Make It: Fun Crafts® Smooth Finish with a putty knife onto the foam. Allow it to dry and sand lightly with sandpaper. Measure 4” strips of foam and mark at intervals using a ruler to mimic a wood plank look. Use the “tuck and scribe” tool to smooth it out. Apply wood stain around the outside edges and faux plank edges. After it dries, apply a coat of white paint. Then, line up lettering, trace it, and fill in the lettering using the other paint shade. Hang with a rope. 

Live Love Lake Sign

You’ve probably seen plenty of ‘live, laugh, love” wall art (or even own some), but this one from My Porch Prints is more fun and a lake-specific version. If you’re looking for a simple, vintage sign that isn’t excessively colorful, this is the project for you. 

Supplies: 

  • 1×1 wooden boards (for the frame)
  • Flat pieces of wood for the sign
  • Screws, nails, or nail gun 
  • Picture hanging hardware 
  • Paint stain for the frame 
  • Acrylic craft paint for the words 
  • White latex paint for the background 
  • Paintbrushes 
  • Willow charcoal or pencil 

Instructions: Assemble the wooden frame by cutting and nailing the side pieces together. Cut the flat wood panel, but do not nail it to the frame quite yet. First, stain the frame by lightly brushing the stain across the wood. Then, use white latex paint for the panel. Using Microsoft Word or other software, print out the words “Live, Laugh, Lake” and use it as a stencil on the panel. Trace the words using a pencil or charcoal. Finally, paint the words in black using a dry brush technique. Attach the panel to the frame, and hang on your wall. 

Which DIY lake sign are you going to choose for your next project?

Top 3 DIY Design Trends for Fall

Posted on Camille Smith
Photo courtesy of Cottages & Bungalows Magazine.

At the end of October, we’re finally in the thick of autumn. It’s the perfect time to relax on your back porch, gaze out at the lake, and enjoy a warm beverage. In preparation for this season characterized by hygge, many lake home residents decorate their houses with the latest fall trends to ring in the season. But this doesn’t necessarily mean traveling to the store or hiring an interior decorator. There’s plenty of ways to create these trends with DIY projects. From vintage decor to pumpkin centerpieces, we’re here with some advice on DIY design trends for this season!

Incorporate Natural Decor

To complement the scenery around your lake home, try incorporating natural decor into your interior designs. This style is especially popular during autumn when the colorful shades outdoors are incredibly vibrant. “From the lakeside, any decor you choose should be complementary to the area as well as to the season,” says Sarabeth Asaff, home design expert at Fixr. who lives on the lake. “That means a lot of natural decors – mums, pumpkins, corn stalks – things that fit in well with the natural feeling of the space, while still highlighting the season.” 

If there’s a local farmer’s market near your lake house, it’s a great place to pick up pumpkins, flowers, and other decorative items. For a specific DIY project that incorporates natural elements, check out these homemade fall decor crafts. Sarabeth also advises looking directly to your backyard for the best DIY inspiration. She urges, “Don’t be afraid to bring the outdoors inside. If the leaves are changing color, why not snip off several twigs with leaves in vibrant colors to create a centerpiece that’s natural and colorful at once.”

Embrace Hygge

Hygge, the Danish concept of being comfortable and cozy, is completely aligned with the lake lifestyle. And this fall, this life philosophy is trending. “Both inside and outdoors, put an emphasis on the cozy this year”, Sarabeth says. “It’s about comfort, so line your outdoor chairs and benches with soft pillows in fall hues. Swap out your window treatments for something a little heavier, and make sure to include plenty of candles and throws throughout your living spaces.” If you don’t have candles at home, candle making is a quick, simple hobby you can take up. It’s also a fun science lesson about how wax burns and consolidates! 

Another component of hygge is embracing warmth and familiarity. As such, a related trend is vintage, nostalgic items. Jen Stark, the founder of Happy DIY Home, recommends mixing vintage plates, frames, or vases with fall decor like pumpkin displays. She says to use these items as a “throwback on your mantle or coffee table with brown-hued bottles surrounded by faux fall flowers.” Get inspired by these fall centerpiece ideas to create your vintage table spread.

Dark Accent Colors

Photo courtesy of House Beautiful.

While pastels and floral prints characterize springtime, dark tones are in season this fall. Think mustard yellow, a “mulled wine” shade of reddish-purple, and copper. Jen Stark comments, “This year, we’re seeing pops of dark accent colors being really popular for fall decor. Bring in evergreen foliage in deep green with navy tones that mimic the crisp, night sky.” 

If you’ve adopted a sewing hobby during quarantine, this would be a great opportunity to sew window curtains or a pillow cover with a dark purple or burnt orange fabric. You could also try reupholstering a chair with a velvet fabric to add a sense of warmth and texture. These DIY sewing projects will certainly capture the essence of fall at your lake home. 

Happy decorating!

What is Wabi-Sabi Design and Why it’s Perfect for a Lake Home

Posted on Camille Smith
Photo courtesy of Mademoiselle Claudine via The Spruce.

In recent years, concepts from various countries have become trendy in U.S. interior design like the Swedish idea of hygge, meaning comfort and coziness, which has grown in popularity. From further east, the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi has made its way into U.S. architecture and interior decor. Before diving headfirst into this trend, it’s important to understand its meaning and cultural context. For wabi-sabi specifically, this meaning happens to be aligned with the lake lifestyle. Let’s take a deep dive into this concept and why it’s perfect for a lake home. 

What is Wabi-Sabi?

Photo courtesy of Joelle Magazine.

Although the trend is relatively new, the concept is rooted in ancient Japanese culture. Specifically, it comes from Buddhist tea ceremonies where the tea masters used simple, rustic, and irregularly shaped utensils. When you break the word down, “Wabi” refers to understated elegance that is often found in nature. “Sabi” is a celebration of the imperfections that come with aging. Wabi-sabi describes something humble, authentic, and beautifully imperfect. In other words, it’s appreciating the way something is rather than how it should be. 

Wabi-Sabi in Design

Photo courtesy of My Modern Met.

In keeping with this definition, wabi-sabi design is typically asymmetrical, modest, and intimate. A classic example of these characteristics is kintsugi, the Japanese art of mending cracked pottery with gold and silver resin. Instead of trying to hide the ceramics’ flaws, this technique celebrates them. 

Photo courtesy of Wallsauce.com.

In 1994, Leonard Koren’s book Wabi-Sabi for Artists, Designers, Poets, and Philosophers garnered more widespread attention. The work of architects like Tadao Ando made wabi-sabi into a lauded design trend. For the interior decorator, wabi-sabi design techniques include mixing and matching, embracing and repurposing old items, artisanal decor, and homemade projects. However, just because it’s an eclectic style doesn’t mean it’s full of clutter. A wabi-sabi space should also be highly organized and peaceful.

The Appeal of Wabi-Sabi

Photo courtesy of DECOR8.

In a world where the latest trends are aiming for perfection and newness, wabi-sabi is refreshing. Helen White, design lead at House Of, says, “I think the main appeal of this style is that it appeals to the unpretentious and whimsical among us. There is so much beauty in the weather-beaten, cracks, and bumps in items as there are in meticulously crafted, smooth edges.” Further, this style offers permission to pick decor that simply brings you joy, even if it doesn’t match a specific aesthetic. Instead of showcasing a particular trend, wabi-sabi design introduces the people who live there. 

Invoking Wabi-Sabi at Your Lake House

Photo courtesy of dwell.com.

Wabi-sabi is evident in nature. Flora and fauna are not engineered to look a certain way– they simply are what they are, even as they age. At the lake, you’re surrounded by wabi-sabi. More broadly, the idea of leaving the city behind and retreating to nature with your loved ones is in itself, wabi-sabi. Since the lake lifestyle already adopts this concept, why not reflect it in your decor?

Photo courtesy of theuppers.com.

Jeneva Aaron, founder, and CEO of The House Wire, describes, “Wabi-sabi design is also about bringing nature inside your house. This is very much possible when designing a lake house… I believe the wabi-sabi concept is used in most lake house designs because of the natural effect. People are now more into fulfillment over materialism.” In practice, you may incorporate earthy tones and organic materials into your decor, such as driftwood. The bottom line is that it should reflect something you genuinely love, even if it’s not in vogue. After all, lake homes should be welcoming, and a wabi-sabi style expresses that sense of warmth.

What do you think? Would you consider incorporating wabi-sabi into your lake house decor?

From Colors to Crafts: Using DIY Nautical Decor in Your Lake Home

Posted on Camille Smith
Photo courtesy of Down East Magazine.

For lake homes and beach houses, decor in nautical themes is a classic look. A blue and white color scheme with boating motifs evokes a relaxed, cheerful feel. However, this style can sometimes go awry. Too often, lake homeowners go overboard– pun intended– with sailing-related paraphernalia. The result is more junky than sophisticated. When designing a nautical room for your lake house, it’s important to remember that a little boat-inspired charm goes a long way. Thankfully, achieving this whimsical, yet polished balance does not have to be complicated. There are plenty of DIY nautical decor projects that you can begin right now, in quarantine, to revamp your room in time for summer. Check out some of our tips below!

Painting Your Walls

Photo courtesy of Maine House Interiors.

Painting — or repainting– your walls is a basic, yet often overlooked tip for designing your nautical room. Although we associate shades like blue, white, red, and yellow with boating, combining these bold colors on one wall may look chaotic. Kate Diaz, interior designer and owner of home DIY website SwankyDen.com, comments, “Stick to a simple color palette for a classic look. For a more modern look, use bolder, darker shades of blue to offset bright whites. Doing so will create a stunning contrast while maintaining an elegant appeal.” Katie Mills, a writer for Poshh Living Magazine, agrees, adding, “About 80%-90% of the space should be neutral.” Besides blue and white, you can opt for wood tones to lean into a more rustic vibe. As for those bright yellows and reds that we associate with nautical flags– they work best in smaller doses. While an entirely red accent wall could be overwhelming, painting a single chair in red can add a fun pop of color.

Picking Nautical Items

Photo courtesy of Pinterest.

Finding nautical accent pieces is easier than you think. Often, the best sailing-inspired items are miscellaneous objects found both indoors and outdoors. Katie Mills advises, “Try finding genuine nautical items to use as decor. Oars are the obvious choice and are easy to paint and repaint.” If you have old canoe paddles, try painting a few and hanging them on your wall. While you’re at the boat dock, grab a few twists of rope or nets. Using these nautical objects, you can create plenty of designs. Kate Diaz suggests wrapping natural colored ropes around plant pots or using burlap to create a nautical footstool with glue and a stapler. You may also find nautical objects in other rooms of the house. For instance, if you have a round mirror in the foyer, try moving it to the nautical room, as the circular shape will resemble a ship’s porthole.

Choosing Crafty Projects

Photo courtesy of Tori Grant Designs.

In addition to repurposing boating items as decor, you can also get crafty with everyday materials. Everything from glass bottles to pieces of wood has creative potential. If you have sewing equipment, you can create nautical pillows. With old wine and sauce bottles around the house, you can paint them, wrap twine around, and place them on a bookshelf or patio table. Using driftwood, easily found in the lake, you can make these small sailboat figures. For a more personal touch, paint a picture frame with nautical shades and feature a photo of your family on the boat. While your paints are out, consider painting a welcome sign for your house. Each of these DIY crafts will instantly add a warm, lakeside feel to your room. 

We hope these ideas help you brainstorm DIY nautical decor projects you’d like to undertake. Picking one or two projects is best. Katie Mills reminds us: “It’s fine to have the occasional ship in a bottle, decorative anchor, or painting of a ship, just keep them within reasonable limits!” So, pick the craft that interests you most and get started. You’ll be surprised at what a single DIY nautical item can add to your lake house! 

Top 3 Fabric Trends of 2020– And How They Reflect Lake Living

Posted on Camille Smith

While spending more time inside during the quarantine, perhaps you’ve considered redecorating a room in your lake house. After all, if you’re going to be home all day, you might as well enjoy your surroundings. A vital element of any room’s decor is fabric choice. From upholstery to pillowcases, a well-selected fabric has the power to tie a room’s aesthetic together. As we reach the halfway point of 2020, we’re taking a look at the top fabric trends of the new decade. To get more insight, we spoke with some of the best in the business, Sunbrella, and Perennials. Fortunately for us, this year’s fabric trends merge seamlessly with the appreciation for nature that lake lovers share. 

Textured Looks

Consistent with the styles described in our previous post on 2020 outdoor furniture trends, textured looks are fashionable for fabrics this year. Materials with intriguing, tactile patterns evoke a sense of comfort as well as style. Jordan Murphy, public relations manager at Perennials, explains, “Textured fabrics such as outdoor cushions bring a few indoor comforts out. No longer are outdoor fabrics relegated to only canvas and linens.” Perennials’ newest collection, In the Mix, features elements of this texture play. Inspired by the Japanese wabi-sabi style of finding beauty in imperfections, it highlights detailed patterns and a sense of movement. 

Nature-Inspired

This year, designers are meeting customers’ interest in natural beauty by turning to the outdoors for inspiration. Murphy mentions that Perennials’ top colors are always neutrals and blues — shades that are common in nature. Sunbrella’s designs feature natural colors as well. Lauren Blaskie, manager of brand research at Sunbrella, comments, “A flower garden or an evening sky offer great color combinations. Bring these contrasting hues onto a porch with a classic blue bench or boldly patterned chair.”

Further, just as nature is dynamic and bold, so is Sunbrella’s recent collection, Dimension. By layering vivid colors with detailed textures, the collection showcases a sense of movement. Combining colors like “sunset orange” and “dark night” reflect the same brilliant mix of hues found in nature. 

Cultural Influences

When looking at trends, it’s not only important to consider “what’s in” but to also examine the mindset behind the specific styles. This is why Blaskie uses cultural observations to create new patterns for Sunbrella. Some significant cultural shifts that have impacted fabric trends in 2020 are mindfulness and sustainability. These mindsets impact both the way fabrics are created as well as their designs. Lauren Blaskie mentions that Sunbrella’s designs also reflect customers’ values of originality and comfort. She explains, “unique, hand-spun looks and novelty yarns provide a personal, lived-in feel to our favorite outdoor spaces — from a peaceful and cozy porch swing to a bright and welcoming patio furniture set.” Beyond simple color and texture trends, buyers want their decor to evoke a peaceful sense of home. 

For Lake Homeowners

As lake lovers who enjoy relaxing outdoors, we appreciate this year’s trends that celebrate the natural world. Textured looks reflect the variety of textures found in surrounding flora and fauna, and natural colors blend seamlessly with the lakeside atmosphere. Finally, the behind-the-scenes emphasis on mindfulness, sustainability, and comfort is already present in the lake living mentality. We hope you embrace these fabric trends and create indoor and outdoor designs that suit you this year!

New Year, New Styles: Lake Home Interior Design Trends in 2020

Posted on Camille Smith

It’s hard to believe that 2019 is almost over. We hope it’s been a year full of boat rides, bonfires, fishing, and generally enjoying all the seasonal luxuries that your lake house has to offer. As the new year approaches, you might be brainstorming exciting interior design ideas. Maybe you’re thinking of redecorating your living room with a nautical theme or finally buying new curtains for the guest bedroom.

Regardless of the project, we’re here to help inspire you with the latest interior design trends that are on the horizon in 2020. To get a sneak peek into these up-and-coming trends, we consulted Anne Mueller, a residential interior designer and co-president of Briar Design based outside of Boston. She told us about three specific trends to be on the lookout for next year!

White Kitchens are Out the Window

Warm natural toned kitchen with exposed beam ceiling

For several years, white kitchens have been a popular interior design trend for lake homeowners. They create a clean, fresh look in contrast with the rugged outdoors. However, new kitchen trends are moving away from purely white kitchens because this minimalist look can evoke a cold, sterile feel. To add a sense of warmth, Mueller notes that “designers and lake homeowners alike are opting for richer finishes such as “off-white” colors like beige, light gray and bone or even taking a bolder approach and going for more saturated colors like navy that used to only be relegated to the island.” So before painting your kitchen counter white, keep in mind that slightly darker tones may make your space feel a little warmer and inviting.

Green is the Color of the Year

Smith and Vasant Architecture lake house in Vermont with green paint and view of the lake interior design trend
Photo courtesy of Smith and Vasant Architects.

Although Pantone named “Classic Blue” as the color of the year for 2020, Mueller comments that in fact, the real winner is actually green. Especially for lake homes, the idea of “bringing the outdoors in” is a staple interior design trend. As such, integrating different shades of green in your interior decor will seamlessly extend the natural look of the outdoors into your home. Mueller advises against using only one shade of green. She notes, “Green pairs very well with other shades of the same color. The rule of thumb is any combination you find in nature, works in interior design.” Just as the trees in your backyard have different colored leaves at any given time, don’t be afraid to venture beyond forest green tones in your home.

Wallpaper is Making a Comeback

Striped navy blue wallpaper with paintings and vibrant pillows on daybed interior design trend
Photo courtesy of One Kings Lane.

The days of subtle, muted toned painted walls are over as 2019 comes to an end. Instead, wallpaper is back in style and designers are seeing it everywhere. While overtly lake-printed wallpaper of sailboats and canoes might be too on-the-nose for a lake house, Mueller recommends that lake homeowners select long-lasting colors or graphic patterns. She comments that patterned walls “offer a sense of texture and warmth.” While Mueller does not advise selecting lake-themed wallpaper, this rule of thumb does not extend to accent pieces. She offers, “Go ahead and get the duck pillow and the tray with the hand-painted harbor scene. These decorative touches are easy to swap out after a season should you get tired of them!”

We hope these tips inspire your own interior design endeavors in the upcoming year! In the meantime, you can follow Anne at @briar_design on Instagram to keep track of the latest looks.

For more home improvement advice and tips, take a quick look at “Top 5 Lake Home Upgrades That Can Backfire on Sellers“.

5 Tips for using Driftwood Décor in your Lake Home

Posted on Camille Smith

One of the many perks to being on the lake is the abundance of wildlife, foliage, and other elements of nature just outside your back door. For lake homeowners, a common experience is noticing pieces of driftwood floating by your boat dock. Some may dismiss these fragments of fallen trees as a common, unremarkable aspect of lake life. However, driftwood is a widely popular material for interior design. Whether you make a DIY driftwood craft or showcase a piece that you found on the shore, this material is sure to heighten the comfortable, classic ambiance of any lake home. To get more insight on how to best incorporate driftwood into lake house décor, we spoke with Anne and Jessica from Briar Design, an interior design firm based outside of Boston. They recently completed a project on a 5,000 sq. home on Lake Winnepauske in New Hampshire and had some advice for lake homeowners when it comes to driftwood art.

A Little Goes a Long Way

Planed driftwood shelves

One of the best parts of driftwood art is that every piece of wood is unique. Especially if you’re displaying a piece that you found on your own lakefront property, it can add a nice personalized touch to a mantle or coffee table. However, since it’s a trendy and distinctive material, too much driftwood can overpower the room and create a 60’s and 70’s vibe that you may not be aiming for in your design. Anne and Jessica recommend pairing driftwood with other materials to create diversity in the look. “We layer it in bookshelves which is beautiful and functional—often next to pottery and greenery. It can be very sculptural,” they advise.

Keep it Natural

Photo courtesy of relianceveneer.com

It’s easy to see why pieces of driftwood art are in high demand – it’s a widely beloved classic material that evokes both earthiness and sophistication. However, its popularity means that most purchasable driftwood art is manufactured, which can often detract from the authenticity of a room. One benefit of having a lake home is prime access to driftwood hunting. Anne and Jessica note, “If you’re lucky enough to find an awesome piece of driftwood, it would never look like too much because you have a story behind it.”

Follow the Shape 

Photo courtesy of SouthernStateofMindBlog.com

Once you have your authentic pieces of driftwood, the next step is to start thinking about decor. If you’re unsure of its best placement in the room, one easy way to start is by considering the size and shape of the piece. “If you’ve found several small pieces, group them together,” Anne and Jessica comment. One idea is collecting these tiny pieces together in a clear jar or lamp base. Smaller pieces can also add a fresh look to coffee tables.

On the other hand, a large piece of driftwood could serve as a mantelpiece or a decoration that extends down the center of a dining table.

DIY is Always an Option

Photo courtesy of TheLearnerObserver.com

Maybe you’re the kind of person who is full of creative ideas, and you feel right at home with super glue and paint. If so, driftwood is an amazing material for DIY projects. When done right, a driftwood decoration project can add the perfect personal touch to your lake home. From creating candle holders to embellishing the outside of a mirror, there are so many ways to use this natural material to put your crafting expertise to work. For inspiration, check out Sustain my Craft Habit’s site for some step-by-step projects.

Make it Front and Center

Photo courtesy of Decor Pad.

If you happen to find a particularly bold and dynamic piece of driftwood, consider using it in place of a piece of artwork. “You could put it over a mantle,” Anne and Jessica suggest, “It could be in place of a painting or mirror. If it’s branchlike, it can be beautiful hung on the wall.” Sometimes, simple choices are best. Especially if you’ve found a unique piece with a backstory, don’t be afraid to consider it art and include it in a prominent place in the design.

Regardless of how you use it in your home, finding unique pieces of driftwood is an experience that is emblematic of lake life. We hope you enjoy discovering this natural material and finding ways to incorporate it into your interior designs!

Life in Living Coral: Using the 2019 Color of the Year in Your Home

Posted on Staff
Pantone Color of the Year 2019 Living Coral

Pantone hit it out of the ballpark with their 2019 Color of the Year, Living Coral. This vibrant, brilliant hue is a dreamy complement to all things nautical and shore-side.

Here are five tips for using the Pantone Color of the Year in your lake home.

Textile Touches

Living Coral Furniture Decor Lake Front Home
Photo courtesy of ComfyDwelling.

The beauty of textiles is they allow you to make bold or subtle statements with color.

For a low-key look, why not stock your bathrooms with some sumptuous coral-toned bath towels?

Some luxury throw pillows in coral will brighten up your living room, and at the very least some coral placemats or napkins can spice up the dining room table.

Be careful with bright draperies though–your view is one of the most precious things your lake home has to offer, and bright drapes can pull the eye away from it!

Accent Walls

Adding an accent wall in coral is one way to celebrate this color loudly.

While some homeowners may say, “Go big or go home,” with a color this boisterous, prevailing wisdom holds that less is indeed more.

Perfect for warming up any space, Living Coral speaks to us most when used as an accent in a breakfast nook, bathroom, or mudroom.

Statement Pieces

Adirondack Chairs in Living Color
Photo courtesy of Fifthroom.

For a bold furnishing set for those with no fear of commitment, these Adirondack chairs in coral will give your outdoor lounging area a delicious burst of color.

Some retro appliances in Living Coral can also brighten up a kitchen dramatically. A classic coral bedspread will give you or your guests an exciting feature to sleep on for years to come.

Wall Art

Consider a piece of art featuring the pigment. An abstract painting or a vintage print can give you just the right amount of coral flair you need to feel like your home is on-point with this trend.

Sometimes, a tiny amount of color will tie a room together in a sophisticated way. Wall art featuring some coral accents will really shine when incorporated with some textile touches nearby.

Floral Accents

Maybe you find the idea of committing to Living Coral long-term a little daunting. If so, consider adding some living touches to your living space.

A few stems of amaryllis, coral roses, and tuberose look great in a vase and can add just a touch of the color to the room on a short term basis.

There are also many beautiful orchids whose coral blooms are great for warming up your home’s interior.

Outdoor flower gardens are becoming more trendy as homeowners to improve curb appeal and increase the value of their homes and vacation houses.

Creating a garden can do just that and will give you a lovely outdoor hobby, as garden maintenance is a must for thriving blooms.

Try planting a Coral Wings Rhododendron or a Knockout Rose in Coral. These gorgeous bloomers will add some seasonal flair to your yard and can even provide some stems for indoor bud vases.

Whether you’re a slave to trends and can’t wait to paint the lake house coral, or you prefer to keep things more subtle, these five tips for using the Pantone color of the year in your lake home will freshen up your 2019 look with very little work.

For more home improvement or DIY tips, read more articles here.

Article Contributed by: Sarah Miller, Lawnstarter.com

Sarah Miller is a writer, self-claimed nutritionist, and CrossFit junkie. She spends most of her time meal prepping and actively trying to beat personal records in the gym, but always enjoys a meditative walk through a nearby woodland area or near a lake.

What to Expect From Home Design in 2019

Posted on Staff

The new year is the perfect opportunity to give your home a fresh look. Check out the home design trends experts predict will gain popularity in 2019 and help increase the value of your lake home!

Dark Exteriors

In 2019, expect to see more dark home exteriors   in combinations of navy, steel grays and flat, deep reds, accented with contrasting colors like white door frames and/or natural wood shutters.

Photo Courtesy of Studio McGee by Xo Mrs Meacham

In choosing paint or material colors to work with, consider the personality you want your home’s appearance to communicate.

Dark blues are often associated with integrity and power, while dark reds communicate vigor and leadership. Charcoals and steel-gray tones often represent sophistication and masculinity.

Such combinations will help create a stark and compelling new look to your lake home, as well as yield as much as 43 percent return on investment.

Mismatched Metals

Uniformity has its place, but not in 2019.

When you’re working with metals, Invaluable.com advises homeowners to mix no more than three metals in a room, and to choose one dominant material and one to two accents.

Photo Courtesy of Invaluable.com

Aluminum is a cool-toned metal that works well as a room’s dominant material and is often seen in kitchens, particularly those with stainless-steel appliances. Copper and gold make the best accents to use with silver.

If you want your kitchen to feel warm, incorporate gold and copper in drawer pulls and cabinet handles, lighting fixtures and counter-top baubles.

Or keep your kitchen cool with cast iron fixtures. Replacing these small details can have an almost 90 percent return on investment, according to USA Today.

Also consider using textured metal finishes. For example, if your kitchen appliances are stainless steel and you choose copper as your accent color, swap your coasters with hammer-finished copper ones or replace your backsplash with hammered, bronze sheets.

Spa-Style Landscaping

Simply living at the lake can help reduce your stress thanks to the “blue mind effect,” which is responsible for the feelings of relaxation and peace people experience near the lake. But spa-style landscaping, which is expected to become an emerging trend in 2019, can take these feelings to the next level.

Enhance your shore appeal with a small zen garden under a big pergola. Enclose the area with warm-toned wooden benches and airy drapes, or feature a quiet, miniature reflection pond or tricking waterfall wall.

Photo Courtesy of MyNorthMedia

For something simpler, landscape with aromatic plants along your waterline or retaining wall, such as rosemary or lemongrass.

Gardenias, jasmine and lavender are also calm-inducing plants to include in your landscaping. These flowers fare poorly in consistently moist soils, so try planting them closer to your home than the water.

And be sure to include some stabilizing vegetation too to protect your shoreline, like blue flag irises, lemongrass and cardinal flowers.

In fact, USA Today also reports these small upgrades can more than double your money in resale value.

Interested in more lake home decorating tips and ideas? Read our articles “Lake Home Decor: Living in Style“ and “Unique Landscape Designs for Lakefront Properties.“