If you own a Michigan lake house, or you're thinking about buying one, you can experience the beauty of nature right at your doorstep. A lake house with waterfront views, lush landscapes, outdoor activities, and a tranquil lifestyle may just be the perfect place to call home.

Whether you prefer a lake house that's your permanent residence or a weekend retreat, our real estate agents suggest decorating with things that showcase the natural beauty of your surroundings and create all the comforts of home.

• Focus on the View
  When you buy a lake house, you're likely drawn to the beautiful views and lush landscapes that showcase nature, so make the outdoor views your primary focus. If you're fortunate enough to have large windows and views of the lake, don't obstruct the view with heavy draperies, furnishings, and decorative items that get in the way.
  
  
• Choose Durable Furnishings
  Living at a lake house means lots of outdoor activities like swimming, boating, fishing, and hiking. It's important to choose sofas, chairs, and tables that can withstand wet swimsuits, life jackets, fishing gear, and muddy hiking boots. You don't want to spend your time worrying about upkeep and cleaning, especially if the lake house is only used for weekend getaways.
  
  
• Provide Extra Seating
  A lake house is a great place to entertain friends, family, and invited guests for special events, dinner parties, and weekend excursions. To accommodate everyone, choose furniture like benches, chairs, and ottomans that can double as extra seating. 
  
  
• Plan for Sleepovers
  When you have a lake house, you can bet on occasional overnight guests, especially if you have children, teenagers, and kids in college. To make things easier, plan for sleepovers in advance by adding bunk beds, futons, and movable cots to your list of essential furnishings. If you don't have room for permanent beds, chose futons and cots that fold up.
  
  
• Create a Casual Look
  Keep the interior decorating and color scheme simple. Focus on soft colors and materials that create a relaxing ambiance. Fitted slipcovers on sofas and chairs can be removed and washed as needed. Soft colors and patterns in shades of mint green, blue/green, turquoise, lilac, and butterscotch will keep the look casual.
  
  
• Go Nautical
  Creating a nautical theme can be fun in a lake house. Using area rugs and fabrics in navy and white stripes will keep things looking fresh and inviting. You can enhance the themed look by incorporating decorative accessories like a rowboat or kayak paddles, life preservers, anchors, old wall lanterns, and brass ship bells around the house.
  
  
• Compliment the Architecture
  Whether your architecture is new and contemporary or old and rustic, working with the existing style will make design updates easier. If the floors are wood, keep them and give them a new coat of stain. If you have original brick flooring, give it a sheen for an updated look. Sometimes, a new coat of paint or a change of color can quickly take the look from drab to fab.
  
  
• Prioritize Indoor/Outdoor Living
  Part of the lake house appeal is indoor/outdoor living spaces where you can freely move through open doors. Focus on indoor-outdoor transitional spaces like decks, porches, patios, and sunrooms. If you have a screened-in porch, think about converting it to a year-round space that you can enjoy, even in the winter.

If you're interested in lake house properties, contact us for available homes that fit your financial and lifestyle needs.