Lake Life Décor with Wood Water Skis
There’s nothing quite like the feeling of gliding over the water on a sunny summer afternoon, your water skis skimming across the glassy surface before cutting over the wake for that exhilarating rush. It’s the epitome of carefree lake life, inspiring my latest venture into lake life decor.
Imagine being greeted by those cherished memories every time you walk up your stairs. I wanted to capture that nostalgic lake life vibe in our home, blending it seamlessly with my signature coastal style. This unique DIY gallery wall project, featuring wood water skis and black-and-white family photos, brings a touch of lakeside charm and coastal flair to our space.
Let’s dive into how you can recreate this look and infuse your home with the spirit of sun-soaked days by the water.
Lake Life Décor: Project Inspiration and Planning
Waterskiing has always been a part of my life. As a teen, I loved those summer afternoons when my dad, younger brother, and I would sneak off to a nearby lake for a few hours on the water. We’d take turns skiing, driving the boat, and spotting for each other. The water has always been my happy place.
Fast forward to now, and we live near that same lake. My kids have grown up skiing on it too, keeping the tradition alive. Over the years, we’ve collected quite a few sets of skis, handed down from my parents and even my grandpa. They’ve been sitting in our garage, and every time my husband does a big garage decluttering, he asks if we really need all these skis. I’ve always held onto them because I had a vision of doing something special with them someday.
Then it hit me—I decided to give our basement stairway a little lake life makeover. The walls were recently painted in Sherwin Williams Silvermist, a beautiful coastal shade that set the perfect stage for my idea. I wanted to combine the nostalgic feel of our water skis with some black-and-white family photos from our time on the lake. It’s a great way to blend our love for lake life with our home’s coastal vibe.
Looking for more tips on blending color schemes in your home? Read my guide on home color schemes for coastal interiors.
3 Key Elements of This Lake Life Stairway
1. Wood Water Skis
The heart of this project revolves around hanging old wooden water skis on the stairway wall. Here’s how you can bring a bit of lake life nostalgia into your home, just like we did.
Water Ski Arrangement
I hung the skis vertically in a stepped layout to create visual interest and a sense of movement along the stairs. Odd numbers work best for a balanced look, so I chose three skis: one set of skis and a single slalom ski.
Wood skis, with their vintage charm, perfectly capture that classic lake life feel. The more modern-looking fiberglass skis would also work, providing a touch of contemporary flair to the design.
Preparation
These wood skis have definitely seen better days, but that’s what I love about them. Their weathered, vintage appearance tells a story of many fun-filled days on the lake.
I decided to keep this character intact rather than sanding them down or painting them. Additionally, removing the bindings was essential to ensure they fit neatly on the wall in our busy stairway without protruding and making the area feel cramped or narrow.
Customization Ideas
If your skis need a refresh or don’t match your desired aesthetic, here are some creative ideas:
- Paint each ski a different shade of the same color. This creates a harmonious yet varied look.
- Paint all but one ski the same color; make the final ski an accent color. Draws attention to a specific ski, making it a focal point.
- Choose 3-5 colors and paint stripes in varying thickness on each ski. Adds a playful, dynamic element to the display.
- Add personalized touches like stenciled or painted letters, words, or designs. Think of including your last name or a special date. Or choose a lake-life phrase, or the name of a lake to make it truly unique.
- Decoupage Design. Use decoupage techniques to cover the skis with scenic images of lakes and beaches, or with your own photos of lake-life activities. This adds a whimsical and personalized touch while celebrating the spirit of adventure and exploration.
- Rope Accent. Wrap sections of the skis with colorful or natural rope to add texture and visual interest. You can create patterns, such as spirals or crisscrosses. Or even weave the rope between the bindings for a unique look that enhances the nautical theme.
By incorporating these elements, you can transform a simple stairway into a gallery that celebrates your love for the lake and keeps those sun-soaked memories alive every day.
Why It Works
Those old wooden water skis aren’t just decor; they’re pieces of our family history. Hanging them up brings back memories of sunny days on the lake, creating a warm, nostalgic vibe in our home. Each ski tells a story of summers past. We didn’t just buy art; we created it, infusing our space with our own stories and personality.
Mixing the vintage skis with our modern coastal decor isn’t just about looks. It’s about honoring where we come from while embracing where we are now.
2. Wooden ‘Water’ Wall Art
To complement the lake life style and add depth and visual interest, the “Water” wooden art from Joyfully Said was just the thing! This simple piece perfectly evokes all the fresh and clean vibes of a day spent by the water.
Choosing the Right Piece
Joyfully Said is a favorite source for wall décor. Their designs are exquisite, and they offer customization options to suit your space perfectly. You can choose everything from size to color, making it a fabulous source of inspiration!
Personal Touch
For this project, I chose a white background with a dark brown stained frame. The white brightens up the space, while the brown stain coordinates beautifully with the wooden skis. The 18”x36” size, slightly wider but shorter than the skis, provided a perfect offset to the long length of the skis.
Why It Works
This piece not only adds a visual focal point but also ties in the lake life décor theme, creating a cohesive look that’s both charming and nostalgic. It’s a simple addition that brings a lot of character to the stairway, making it a welcoming entrance to our basement rec room.
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3. Gallery Wall on Stairs: Framed Photos
Opposite the wall featuring the water skis and ‘Water’ sign, I created a gallery wall with five 14” square white frames. The square frames nicely balance the long, thin length of the skis and fit well above the stair railing.
Why five frames? Again, odd numbers work well visually. With plenty of wood tones coming from the skis, I wanted to bring in more white to keep the space bright and airy while also tying together the white ‘Water’ sign.
Arranging the Gallery Wall
When building a gallery wall on stairs, it’s important to work with the angle of the stairs. In this case, that meant arranging the frames in a slightly stepped pattern along the wall. The frames are spaced six inches apart, with the top of one frame lining up with the bottom of the previous frame.
Selecting Just the Right Photos
To add a unique touch and a trip down memory lane, personal family photos were just the thing to fill the frames. I searched my vast archive of snapshots for photos of our family having some fun-in-the-sun with lake activities.
Tips for Choosing Photos:
- Choose photos with clear resolution and a somewhat close-up range (not always easy to achieve from a speeding boat!).
- Feature a person doing an activity without a distracting background filled with people, boats, docks, etc.
To achieve the vibe I had in mind, I went with black and white photos. This choice gave the design a cohesive and timeless feel, adding a playful contrast to the rustic charm of the skis.
Why It Works
This gallery wall not only adds a personal touch but also enhances the lake life décor theme. The black and white photos create a striking contrast against the coastal shade of the walls, making the memories stand out beautifully. It’s a perfect blend of nostalgia and style, making the stairway a cherished part of our home.
Drawing further inspiration for personalized décor projects, consider exploring my guide Create a 5 Photo Collage: Tips on Hanging Pictures Over Bed. It offers valuable insights into arranging photos to reflect cherished memories, ensuring each element complements the overall aesthetic seamlessly.
Creating the Layout
The goal was to position the skis in a stepped format, mirroring the stair angle. The photo frames also follow the same angle. Here’s my tried-and-true process for hanging multiple pieces of wall art:
- Measure the Wall Space. Start by measuring the length of the wall where you’ll be hanging your items. For this project, I measured the length of the wall for the skis. (Which was the same measurement for the gallery wall.)
- Layout the Design on the Floor. Find an open floor space in your home to lay out your design. Mark off the size of the wall you measured in Step #1.
- Arrange the Art Pieces. Place your intended pieces of art on the floor, experimenting with various spacing and arrangements.
- Take Photos. Snap photos of each layout design to compare later.
- Choose a Favorite. Review the photos and select your favorite arrangement.
- Measure Distances. Measure relevant distances in your chosen design, such as the spacing between each piece and their distance from the wall or ceiling.
- Create Paper Mockups. Cut out true-to-size mockups for each element using paper (old newspapers, paper bags, wrapping paper, or flattened cardboard boxes work well). For this project, I cut out paper skis, the ‘Water’ sign, and five frames.
- Tape to the Wall. Tape these mockups to the wall using your measurements from step #6.
- Adjust as Needed. Shift and adjust the mockups as necessary. *See note below!
Note: Because the water skis were heavy and being attached to drywall, we screwed them into studs. This meant our layout had to consider stud spacing. If your wall art weighs more than 10 lbs, it’s wise to anchor it to a stud when possible. If studs don’t align with your design, use wall anchors.
This process might seem tedious, but it’s incredibly helpful for ensuring you’re happy with the final placement. It’s much easier to reposition tape than to move nails in the wall after the fact!
Tools Needed for the Lake Life Project
- Paper or cardboard
- Scissors
- Tape
- Drill
- Stud finder
- Level
- Mounting hardware:
- Screws for the water skis (2 each)
- Screws or nails for the ‘Water’ sign
- Nails or Command hooks for the photo frames
Other Water Ski Décor Ideas:
I hope this has inspired you to undertake your own DIY project that reflects your personal interests and family memories! If lake life is your jam, here are a few more water ski ideas to spark your creativity:
Height Marker. Hang a water ski vertically and use it as a height marker for your child(ren) as they grow up.
Towel or Coat Rack. Attach hooks to a horizontally hung water ski and use it as a towel rack or coat rack.
Window or Door Frame Décor. Hang a water ski horizontally above a window or door frame for a unique decorative touch.
Functional Accessory Holder. Turn a water ski into a functional art piece by attaching hooks and using it as a key holder, sunglasses holder, or jewelry organizer.
Headboard. Repurpose a pair of water skis as a headboard for a coastal-themed bedroom. Attach them horizontally to the wall behind the bed for a charming and rustic touch.
Outdoor Wall Art. Use water skis as outdoor wall art on a patio, deck, or garden wall. Seal them with outdoor varnish to protect them from the elements while adding a pop of color and personality to your outdoor space.
More Lake Life Décor Inspiration
As you embark on your lake life decor journey, draw inspiration from other home improvement projects to enhance your space. Here’s where I suggest heading next:
- Explore the calming blues reminiscent of ocean hues in Coastal Blues Inspire this Small Bath DIY Makeover.
- For budget-friendly upgrades, delve into Affordable Home Improvement: Easy Home Bathroom Facelift to discover practical tips for transforming your bathroom into a coastal oasis without breaking the bank.
- When it comes to personalizing your space with meaningful touches, our guide Create a 5 Photo Collage: Tips on Hanging Pictures Over Bed offers valuable insights into arranging photos to reflect cherished memories.
- As you curate your decor, consider implementing 7 Simple Shelf Styling Tips for a Home Décor Makeover. You’ll infuse your space with coastal charm and functionality.
- And if you’re trying to figure out what colors to build around your skis—or just want a palette that gives off instant lake life vibes—I’ve got you. My Lake House Color Palette includes three color combos (with paint names!) that pair beautifully with coastal wood tones, soft orange, and yes… even vintage skis.
Please share your own lake life-inspired projects – I’d love to feature you! And be sure to subscribe to my blog for more DIY ideas and home decor tips!
