How to Build Your Dream Lake House Cabin
With summer on the horizon, many outdoor enthusiasts may be looking for a lake house where they can enjoy the warm weather. You may find that searching for a pre-built lake house is difficult, so build your own instead! Trailside Structures’ modular cabins are perfect for designing a dream lake house that meets all your needs. From cabins to furniture, we have all you need to create a lake house cabin that meets all your expectations. Here is everything you need to know to build your ideal lake house cabin.
Choose the Right Location
The location of your cabin is the most important consideration when building by a lake. Choose a location that is near the shore but not too close to it. Consider views of the lake, distance to the water and the nearby town, and the accessibility of where you want to build. In our experience, a land that has direct water access, clean water that is deep enough for activities, and a stable shoreline is ideal for building a cabin.
Building and Zoning Regulations
You will need to address zoning and building regulations before you build your cabin, as there may be restrictions on where you can build. There will also be some requirements on the location of your cabin for electricity and plumbing to be connected to it. Contacting the area’s local municipality is the best way to help you determine the exact location where you can build your cabin.
Shorelines
The lake’s terrain must be suitable for the foundation of the cabin. You’ll need to choose a stable shoreline that will withstand the weight of the entire cabin. We’ve found that sandy shorelines are better than rocky or muddy ones.
Assess Flooding Risk
With proximity to the shoreline, a lake house cabin has a higher risk of being flooded. The lake water can also rise and fall naturally, especially during heavy rainstorms. You’ll need to consider that when you’re building on the land. We recommend building your cabin a hundred yards from the shoreline so it is safe but still provides access to the lake. We also recommend getting insurance for any damage that may happen to the building from flooding.
Choose Your Cabin Style
At Trailside Structures, we have many different cabin styles that would be perfect for a lake house cabin. Our cabins, made in Montana and Pennsylvania, come in a large range of sizes to accommodate your specific needs. For hot summer days, we wire all our cabins with electricity to install fans or HVAC units for your relaxation. Here are some cabins that are perfect for the lake:
Abrasokee Log Cabins
Our Abrasokee Cabins are perfect for a lake house vacation. This cabin blends a rustic atmosphere with modern amenities. They have an open concept living space that perfectly incorporates the outdoors inside. These cabins also have multiple bedrooms, perfect for accommodating multiple sleepers.
Tiny House Log Cabins
Our Tiny House Cabins are ideal for people who follow the “less is more” lifestyle. These cabins are perfect for a romantic getaway to the lake that is focused on the connection to the outdoors. With a spacious living room, cozy bedroom, and two lofts, you’ll be able to make the most of this space for a memorable vacation.
Teton Log Cabins
Our Teton Cabins are great for nature lovers who want a weekend retreat. It has a spacious porch to enjoy beautiful sunrises and sunsets, and watch your children as they’re playing in the lake. This cabin has a warm and inviting charm to it, perfect for family gatherings with its spacious living room and bedroom for comfortable living.
Have a Designated Wet Area
Have a designated wet area in the cabin for any wet equipment, toys, and clothes so you don’t get the rest of the cabin wet. Get a storage area for all your water toys, like floaties, kayaks, paddleboards, and more. Our cabins are fully customizable so that we can build a designated storage area with ventilation for all your wet items. We offer proper ventilation for general wet areas, like bathrooms, and can include it in a storage area as well. Additionally, we recommend having a mudroom or entryway, like in our Tiny House Cabins, as they are great for removing sandy clothes and shoes before entering the main cabin.
Enhance Your Outdoor Living Space
When at your lake house, you’ll be spending most of your time outdoors. The outdoors is the heart of your lake house cabin. Enhance your outdoor living space to better connect yourself with and enjoy the lake and the surrounding scenery. We’ve found that the best way to enhance your outdoor experience is to build a patio with a fire pit. It lets you enjoy cool summer nights, and you can enjoy the outdoors year-round. We also recommend having a dock on the lake for boating and swimming activities.
Utilize Your Front Porch
Your front porch will be very useful near the lake. It can help enhance your outdoor living space, as it allows you to socialize with your family outside. If you want to watch sunsets on your porch, build your cabin facing west for an additional outdoor activity. Your porch will also allow you to hang wet clothes and towels from the railings so they can dry without getting the inside wet. Our Glacier, Tiny House, Teton, and Bridger Log Cabins all have front porches for added convenience and aesthetic appeal.
Lake House Decorations
Make your lake house cabin uniquely yours by adding personal touches through decorations. You can use nautical decor to embrace the by-the-water lifestyle, or enhance the lakeside views of the cabin by using large windows in ideal spots (like the dining or living room) to showcase the outdoors. Nature is the best decoration, and the best way to add natural decor to your cabin is to utilize the views outside. For colors, we recommend using earthy tones like whites, grays, and light browns to reflect the nature outside, and use some pops of color like blues and greens to add more character.
Rustic Indoor Furniture
We offer two rustic furniture collections for your cabins. Using wood in your decor and furniture will add dimension to your cabin, perfect for creating a welcoming space. Our Hickory Collection embraces the look of the wilderness and makes a statement in any space. Our Aspen Collection embraces the look of Colorado’s aspen trees, providing an elegant touch to your lake house cabin. Both of our collections are equipped with bedroom, living, and dining room pieces to beautifully furnish your cabin.
Trailside Structures’ modular cabins are perfect for lake getaways. Whether you want a simple structure for one or two people or a spacious building for large family gatherings, we have what you need. View our cabin styles to find the perfect building for you and your family, and check out our project gallery to see our recent builds. Contact us today to get started!