Navigating the Essentials: Lessons Learned from Stocking & Decorating a Lake House

Navigating the Essentials: Lessons Learned from Stocking & Decorating a Lake House

Decorating a lake house can be a tough but necessary task. Finding and buying new furniture, choosing and hanging lake house wall art, arranging everything just how you like it—it’s a lot of work! As a realtor and lake homeowner myself, I know first-hand what a major undertaking moving into a waterfront getaway can be. But, of course, it’s worth every second!

A few years ago, my husband and I embarked on a thrilling journey—we became the proud owners of a charming lake house. The allure of lakeside living, with its promise of tranquility and adventure, captured our hearts from the start. However, as we settled into our new retreat, we quickly realized that the process of equipping our lake house was filled with unexpected challenges and discoveries. 

We started Lake House Must Haves so fellow lake homeowners can have a go-to, one-stop shop where they can find everything needed to turn their lake house into a home. Besides offering a carefully curated selection of high-quality lake house necessities, we strive to be a valuable source of information, covering everything from decorating a lake house to hosting and entertaining guests. We hope this blog is insightful as you navigate the steps ahead!

Discovering the Essentials

As we began the process of setting up our lake house, we soon realized that there were a multitude of items we needed to ensure our comfort and convenience. There’s a whole lot more to furnishing a lake house besides just buying new furniture!

From basic kitchenware like dishes, utensils, and cookware to linens, towels, and toiletries, the list seemed endless. We spent countless hours scouring stores and online shops, carefully selecting each and every item to create a welcoming and functional space.

While decorating a lake house can be a whole lot of fun, it’s important to consider the practical side, too. Despite our best efforts, we soon discovered that there were many items we hadn't even considered. 

Easily overlooked lake house accessories like bug spray, sunscreen, and first aid kits became essential additions to our inventory as we spent more time outdoors. Extra surge protectors, a tool kit, and spare flashlights may not be the most glamorous items on your shopping list, but once you need them, you’re glad to have them on hand.

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Choosing Furniture

A lake house living room

Few would argue that furniture is the most important part of decorating a lake house. We quickly learned the importance of investing in high-quality contemporary outdoor furniture (and protective covers) that are durable and able to withstand the elements.

Choosing lake house furniture for the interior space is even more challenging! Your furniture sets the mood visually, but style isn’t the only consideration. When buying new furniture, you need to think about your own needs, as well as the needs of guests, like convertible sofa beds for extra guests who may stay over and shoe storage benches for all that muddy footwear! You have to track down furniture that’s comfortable, functional, and made to last.

After going through a painstaking process, we decided that buying furniture for your first home shouldn’t be a chore. We know what works, so we decided to open up shop. Lake House Must Haves is the store we wish existed when we were decorating our lake house!

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Decorating the Space

After choosing our furniture, we still had to pick out decorations to make our lake house feel, well, like a home. We understand that lake home decor is a very personal thing, but there are certain aesthetics that really pop in a waterfront retreat. Rustic, nautical, and modern interior design styles all work wonderfully.

Lake house wall art is a great starting point. Once you have that first piece hanging, you can build upon it. For example, if you adore a framed print of a boat, an anchor wall hanger would complement it quite well. From there, you could stick with the nautical theme. 

Try to stay focused when decorating a lake house. Choose cohesive pieces that really speak to you and capture the aesthetic you have in mind. This is your dream, after all, so make your decor count!

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Creating Memories

A family on a boat

As we settled into our lake house and began to explore our surroundings, we realized that our journey was about more than just buying new furniture and stocking up on supplies—it was about creating memories. From lazy days spent lounging on the deck to adventurous outings on the water, every moment became a cherished memory that we would carry with us for years to come. Try not to get so caught up in decorating a lake house that you forget to enjoy it!

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Lessons Learned

Looking back on our journey, we learned many valuable lessons about the joys and challenges of lake house living. We discovered the importance of preparation and planning, as well as the flexibility and adaptability. Most crucially, we learned to embrace the unexpected and find beauty in the simplicity of life by the water.

Make Your Lake House a Home

Our journey to stocking our own lake house was filled with surprises, challenges, and countless moments of joy. Undoubtedly, yours will be the same. Fortunately, you’ve found us! Whether you’re buying furniture for your first home or sprucing up your well-loved cabin, you can depend on Lake House Must Haves to be a source of both products and expert guidance.

Decorating a lake house is the first of many challenges to come, but believe me when I say that I wouldn’t trade lakeside living for anything—I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat! Follow our lake house blog for more guides, and shop our lovingly curated collection of essentials!

Chrissy Harsin

Chrissy Harsin is the co-founder of Lake House Must Haves—the ultimate one-stop shop for high-quality lake house necessities. As a realtor who owns a lake house with her husband and business partner, Chrissy brings unmatched expertise and experience to the table.

Her passion for helping people turn their lake houses into homes shines through in Lake House Must Have’s lovingly curated inventory, as well as the in-depth guidance she so enthusiastically shares with the lake homeowner community.

Lake House Must Haves has proven to be an incredibly valuable resource for new and established waterfront property owners. The future is bright!

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