Learn how to style a summer mantel with a lake-themed decor! This reveal includes vacation photos, a trash-to-treasure DIY, and simple decorating tips to bring a coastal-lake vibe to your home.
With summer just around the corner, I refreshed my mantel to reflect a lighter, breezier feel. I wanted something that reminded me of lazy days by the water, so I chose a lake-inspired palette and layered in a few beachy accents. The result is a relaxed lake/beach mantel that feels coastal without being over the top.
My husband’s family has a lovely lake house on Smith Lake in Alabama, which inspired the overall theme. The two photographs I used, however, are from seaside vacations we’ve taken—so it’s a mix of lake and beach memories. I love combining personal photos with found pieces to tell a story on the mantel.
Here’s the finished look—clean, summery, and full of texture. What do you think?
The striped backdrop is a simple DIY made from pallet boards. I liberated the planks with a reciprocating saw, sanded them lightly, and painted alternating stripes in Wythe Blue (Benjamin Moore) and Antique White (Sherwin-Williams). I screwed the boards together using hardware from Lowe’s to form a lightweight panel that leans on the mantel. It’s an easy project that adds instant color and a farmhouse-coastal texture.
I sourced a few accent pieces to complete the vignette: a ship wheel and a small sailboat figurine, both from Hobby Lobby, and wooden SEA letters also picked up there. I debated painting the letters but decided to live with them for now—their natural finish complements the weathered pallet backdrop.
On the left is a photo taken at Phi Phi Island, Thailand, from a trip in 2000. It remains one of the most breathtaking places I’ve seen. I do know that much of the area was severely impacted by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, so the landscape has changed since that visit.
A tall black lantern anchors one side of the mantel—it’s an IKEA find and adds a touch of contrast and structure among the lighter pieces.
The central candle started as a plain jar candle from around the house. To make it fit the theme, I wrapped the jar with 3/4-inch sisal rope and secured it with hot glue. It’s a low-cost detail that adds nautical texture and ties into the buoys and rope accents.
I also made the weathered wood buoys myself from reclaimed materials—the kind of trash-to-treasure DIY that’s budget-friendly and full of character. If you enjoy upcycling, buoys, rope-wrapped jars, and repurposed wood are great places to start for summer coastal decor.
Altogether, this mantel is a simple blend of DIY projects, sentimental photos, and a few store-bought accents. It’s easy to change up for different seasons by swapping colors or photos, but right now it feels perfectly suited for summer and lake-house vibes.
So—what do you think? Have you started bringing out your summer decor yet?
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