Asked on Feb 07, 2016

I need decorating help

Sally
by Sally
I have a lake house and I want to make the rooms all coastal, so I need ideas on colors and how to decorate.
  29 answers
  • Lee Govan Lee Govan on Feb 08, 2016
    White, pale blues or greens, even soft greys would look good, although I would try a creamy white rather than a blue or green based white to keep the warm feeling on winter days. Have fun decorating.
  • Karen Cook Karen Cook on Feb 08, 2016
    I would milk paint the dark entertainment center in soft grey and white and accent with yellows
  • Country Design Home Country Design Home on Feb 08, 2016
    WoW- What a room! I think you are well on your way, judging by the accents you already have displayed. I am with the folks above, painting it a soft white or pale gray will soften up that whole wall, with one exception. When you have a large black TV in the middle of a white wall it will stand out alone and be the focal point. I would paint the back walls of the bookcases a deeper, darker color - either grays or blues- to help minimized the black TV. You already have a lot of white pieces so they would be accented as well.
    • See 4 previous
    • Sally Sally on Feb 09, 2016
      Perfect !!! Thanks again
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Feb 08, 2016
    For a coastal feeling I would white wash the unit to make it appear to look like driftwood.Then I would paint the walls a soft gray or blue Possibly accenting one of the larger walls.
  • Jacalyn Jacalyn on Feb 08, 2016
    I like what Sue@CountryDesignHome said. I wonder if you could find a large coastal picture and hide the TV behind it when not in use. I would also be sure to paint the woodwork around the high windows. I bet the room will look great. Be sure to post after pictures.
    • Sally Sally on Feb 08, 2016
      That's a great idea about covering the tv !! Thank you!!
  • Donna Marie Herzwurm Donna Marie Herzwurm on Feb 08, 2016
    I agree with Janet, and ur Lake House will turn out AWESOME!!!
  • MN Mom MN Mom on Feb 08, 2016
    I'd use light grey and white, shades of blue and add yellow, coral and red as accent colors. Paint out that wall unit if possible and use a dark tone on the inside back of the shelves. My opinion is to group your accent pieces on the wall unit. To me they seem lined up and too much like they're on display . You want your eye to move around and seek not necessarily go " oh there are the seahorses". Beautiful room
  • Ranger Ranger on Feb 08, 2016
    Not keen on the unit, seems quite big, and if I lived by a lake I wouldn't want a TV. lol Your colour palette is all around you with the water, surrounding lakeside shubbery etc. Plus a dash of highlight from the colour of local birds or other animals. Furniture with a weathered or sun bleached texture would also look great, and an eye-catching piece of wooden sculpture or a large photograph of your sunset/sunrise. Perhaps a very large glass vase of pumice rocks or something similar, something organic. Hope we see a picture of the finished room(s). Have fun...
  • Lindy Lindy on Feb 08, 2016
    There are magazines out there with many ideas. One comes to mind, Coastal Living. Yes as was mentioned blues, white, not large and brown.
  • Larrie Larrie on Feb 08, 2016
    Find a used boat oar. Paint it one of ur selected colors. Stencil welcome on it and place it at front door.
  • Larrie Larrie on Feb 08, 2016
    Find coordinating fabric napkins or placemats. Stitch three sides together. Stuff with pillow stuffing. Stitch up fourth side. Repeat several times. Now u have decorative throw pillows.
  • Mary Hill Mary Hill on Feb 08, 2016
    You could always find a piece of art or fabric that you love and use it as inspiration!
  • Ginger the farm gal Ginger the farm gal on Feb 09, 2016
    i would remove the panels off the back of the shelves, so the walls show. Maybe paint the cabinet a light color blue, when tv is not in use, cover with a fun fabric shade to prevent glare and lighten up the room. Maybe even paint the walls a light blue, with a little darker blue accents on the tv stand, or even light sand color. Maybe a fun rug in front of tv and place the sofa in the center of the room towards the tv, more like a theater style.More or less make the shelf look more like a wall unite instead of furniture. New seashell knobs might be fun too
  • Meem Kaplan Meem Kaplan on Feb 09, 2016
    Just saw this and am going to use it on our beach house! http://www.refreshliving.us/2016/02/budget-renovation-create-a-whitewashed-plank-wall.html You could use this technique on the brown cabinet, too.
  • Marion Nesbitt Marion Nesbitt on Feb 09, 2016
    Not a fan of painting decent wood furniture, but with your theme in mind, I think I would paint the cupboards in a driftwood tone, and the window trim a warm white. Bamboo or rattan chairs would go with your theme.
  • Louise Adkins Louise Adkins on Feb 09, 2016
    Paint-paint-paint...furniture and walls Possibly white walls/trim high gloss white and furniture pale distressed blue or reverse and do walls pale blue and furniture white. The driftwood furniture idea is cool...basically you could try the watered down white chalkpaint over the existing wood to achieve the look. I would also group like items into three's for maximum impact along with finding beachy/shell fabric for pillow and a seascape painting. I agree with the bamboo idea or wicker/rattan-like a rocking chair. These are just some thoughts. Best Wishes!
  • Rae Rae on Feb 09, 2016
    Like all above paint! Something light and airy. Bring in some colors with your fabric choices
  • The Redesign Habit The Redesign Habit on Feb 09, 2016
    You are definitely on the right track with your blues, yellows, and whites. I would paint your big shelving unit white, maybe your walls a soft yellow, blue, or green (depends on your preference) and bring in a little of the other colors through your fabric and other decor items such as vases, candles, pillows, etc. If you do some window treatments, think soft, and billowy (maybe white) to make the interior feel almost breezy. Actually looking at your pics again, I think your wall color is fine. Paint out your wall unit and maybe remove the backs and let the wall color come through the white of the shelving unit. Good luck!
  • P.chatty P.chatty on Feb 09, 2016
    What about starting out with new knobs shells, light color at lowes, called Sandy beach, I have a lake house also, the color is like when you see the sand in the sand it's like that and put a little bit of gold and silver after awards
  • P.chatty P.chatty on Feb 09, 2016
    Start small on redoing it then slowly go more , I had my kids and grandkids, after I painted the walls, draw sea animals etc and i went back with paint and did it. With the stuff I already had, like the star fish, mine used the fish and used it as a pattern etc other places, like border
  • Pjakin61 Pjakin61 on Feb 09, 2016
    I love using ticking fabric---red or blue for slipcovers or drapes-----good luck....you can't go wrong doing what appeals to your taste
  • Jacalyn Jacalyn on Feb 10, 2016
    Someone mentioned grouping items, and I think that makes a lot of sense. Maybe group the starfish, or the sailboats. Something we often forget is that "coastal" isn't just certain colors or items, such as anchors. It is a laid back, easy living kind of vibe; kind of weathered, worn, and comfy. You might want to pare down some of the things you have on the shelves. They look a little too busy, and they will require dusting. And dusting just isn't coastal at all. 😎 Enjoy the process.
    • Sally Sally on Feb 10, 2016
      Thank You Jacalyn That is exactly what I needed to hear 😀 I did go to the goodwill and found some vases and candles to break it up a bit !!!! Also I painted some sea shells to make new knobs Thinking of ...... Light yellow walls grey entertainment stand ( with no backs) and white trim How does that sound ?
  • CK CK on Feb 10, 2016
    What you have going is really nice. I'd say your best friend is going to be several gallons of white paint :-) Doesn't have to be pure white; could be a softer, creamier white if pure white is too much for your taste. Then add in some books to your built in, remove a few of the smaller items, group things together rather than sort of 'parading' them across the shelves and you've got a great start! Don't get too caught up in what seems like "iconic" accessories. Sometimes less is more. I'd love to see your entire house. ....A lake house.....{sigh} what a dream! :-) Here are some other great ideas. http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/5-ways-to-bring-modern-surf-style-to-your-bedroom-226046
  • Jacalyn Jacalyn on Feb 10, 2016
    It sounds lovely to me!
  • Mot4302287 Mot4302287 on Feb 11, 2016
    Sea glass is a great place to start to find colors. Think sand sky water. Light and airy.
  • Marcia Bleier-Kitten Marcia Bleier-Kitten on Feb 23, 2016
    My boys have a website on etsy,com, 2RustyNails, that may give you some ideas.
  • Annie Doherty Annie Doherty on Jun 08, 2016
    I prefer your idea of light grey for the entertainment unit, or a greigy blue colour to fit your theme. Softer than white. I agree with Jacalyn too many small items, also I personally would paint your coffee table the same shade to give a laid back beachy feel. Good luck you have a beautiful light room to work with.
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  • Holly Lengner - Lost Mom Holly Lengner - Lost Mom on Aug 28, 2021

    I would paint the entertainment area white for starters. The brighter the better for the coastal look.