Skip to content
April 27, 2026
  • About Better By The Lake
  • Privacy Policy
  • DCMA
  • About Better By The Lake
  • Privacy Policy
  • DCMA

Better By The Lake

The Joy of Cottage & Cabin Life and Sandy Toes.

  • Camping
  • Fishing & Hunting
  • Food
  • Home
  • Resorts
  • Travel
  • Camping
  • Fishing & Hunting
  • Food
  • Home
  • Resorts
  • Travel

Category: Home

Home at Better by the Lake

Cottage

Enhance Your Lakeside Living Space

Create the perfect lakeside home with Better by the Lake’s Home category. Whether you own a cabin, cottage, or are considering building your dream retreat by the lake, our resources and guides will help you design, maintain, and enjoy your lakeside property. From rustic charm to modern comforts, find inspiration and practical advice to make your lakeside home a sanctuary of relaxation and style.

Why Focus on Lakeside Homes?

  • Design and Decor: Tailor your lakeside home with décor and design tips that reflect the serene and natural beauty of your surroundings.
  • Maintenance Insights: Protect and maintain your property with our expert advice on dealing with the unique challenges of lakeside living, such as moisture control and weatherproofing.
  • Sustainable Practices: Learn about eco-friendly options and technologies that minimize your environmental footprint while maximizing efficiency and comfort.

Featured Topics:

  • Interior Decorating Ideas: Explore decorating ideas that blend functionality with aesthetic appeal, perfect for a cozy lakeside setting.
  • Exterior Upgrades: Enhance your outdoor living spaces with landscaping, decks, docks, and more to make the most of your lakeside view.
  • Seasonal Care: Get tips on preparing your home for different seasons, ensuring it remains a haven year-round.

Join Better by the Lake to transform your lakeside home into a perfect blend of comfort and natural beauty. Whether you’re upgrading, decorating, or building from scratch, our Home category is here to guide every step of your journey.

Plug and play solar for cabins – what works, what doesn’t, and what it costs – 8 scenarios
Home

Plug and Play Solar for Cabins – What Works, What Doesn’t, and What It Costs – 8 Scenarios

Michael Hardyby Michael HardyApril 27, 2026April 27, 20260

Plug and play solar cabin systems promise easy power for remote cottages. Here’s what they actually do, what they cost, and where they fall short.

How to open up your great lakes cottage this spring – checklist
Home

How to Open Up Your Great Lakes Cottage this Spring – Checklist

Michael Hardyby Michael HardyMarch 9, 2026March 9, 2026

Opening your cottage Great Lakes after winter takes planning. This step-by-step guide on how to open up your cottage covers inspections, utilities, and spring cleaning so your lake season starts smoothly.

10 joys of a cottage life in minnesota
Home

10 Joys of a Cottage Life in Minnesota

Michael Hardyby Michael HardyNovember 23, 2025November 23, 2025

Experience the charm of rustic living with our exploration of the top 10 joys of a cottage life in Minnesota. Nestled between the serene Boundary …

What it takes for off-grid cabin living – thrive in style remotely
Home

What It Takes for Off-Grid Cabin Living – Thrive in Style Remotely

Annette Hinshawby Annette HinshawNovember 5, 2025November 5, 2025

Take a tour through a fully off-grid cabin in Northern Florida, where independence meets comfort. Discover how solar energy, rainwater collection, and composting bring freedom from utilities.

7 simple wildlife photography tips for late-fall – a cottage season guide
Home

7 Simple Wildlife Photography Tips for Late-Fall – A Cottage Season Guide

Michael Hardyby Michael HardyNovember 5, 2025November 5, 2025

Late-fall brings calm light, steady wildlife, and quiet shores. These simple photography tips help cottage guests capture birds, deer, and small animals as the Great Lakes settle toward winter.

Cottage reading list – warm hearth books for off-season lake life
Home

Cottage Reading List – Warm Hearth Books for Off-Season Lake Life

Michael Hardyby Michael HardyNovember 4, 2025March 9, 2026

Cold months at the cottage call for quiet mornings, warm fires, and a good stack of books. This reading list brings novels, history, and gentle nature writing that pair with off-season lake life across the Great Lakes.

Cottage maintenance before snowfall – last-minute checklist
Home

Cottage Maintenance Before Snowfall – Last-Minute Checklist

Michael Hardyby Michael HardyNovember 4, 2025November 4, 2025

Before the snow flies, spend one last weekend getting your Great Lakes cottage ready for winter. This easy checklist covers p

How to winterize your great lakes cottage – 7 must-do steps before winter strikes
Home

How to Winterize Your Great Lakes Cottage – 7 Must-Do Steps Before Winter Strikes

Michael Hardyby Michael HardyOctober 2, 2025October 2, 2025

Winter is brutal on lakefront cottages. This step-by-step guide helps you winterize Great Lakes cottage properties—covering plumbing, pests, heating, and structural prep.

5 ways how to get rid of ticks around your cottage or cabin – a guide for the upper great lakes – free checklist
Home

5 Ways How to Get Rid of Ticks Around Your Cottage or Cabin – A Guide for the Upper Great Lakes – Free Checklist

Annette Hinshawby Annette HinshawJune 19, 2025June 19, 2025

Ticks are a growing threat in the Northwoods and lake country of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. These parasites transmit serious diseases like Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, …

Improve cottage energy savings by line drying clothes
Home

Improve Cottage Energy Savings by Line Drying Clothes

Michael Hardyby Michael HardyMarch 12, 2025March 12, 20253

Switching from electric dryers to air drying could save cottage owners thousands while cutting emissions, a new study finds. Why Cottage Owners Should Rethink Their …

Posts pagination

1 2 … 4 Next

Follow Us On Google News

Cottage energy savings

Improve Cottage Energy Savings by Line Drying Clothes

March 12, 2025March 12, 2025
Best practices using an ozone generator in your cottage or cabin

5 Steps For Using An Ozone Generator In Your Cottage or Cabin – Quickly Zap Musty Smells

September 16, 2024September 16, 2024
Brainerd cabin

Where Are The 7 Top Areas and Lakes in Minnesota to Own or Rent a Cottage?

June 21, 2024July 9, 2024
Log cabin on isle royale

How To Chink A Log Cabin – Seal the Deal With This 4 Step-by-Step Guide

May 12, 2024May 12, 2024
Grilled hot dog

How To Grill The Perfect Hot Dog – 8 Tips For Grilled Perfection

April 2, 2024July 22, 2024
Plug and play solar for cabins - lake shot

Plug and Play Solar for Cabins – What Works, What Doesn’t, and What It Costs – 8 Scenarios

April 27, 2026April 27, 2026
Michigans inland waterway

First-Timer’s Guide to Michigans Inland Waterway – Crooked Lake to Lake Huron – 2026

April 26, 2026April 26, 2026
Family walking to lakeside cottage

How to Open Up Your Great Lakes Cottage this Spring – Checklist

March 9, 2026March 9, 2026
Dunes at port cresent state park

Slow Travel on Michigan’s Sunrise Side – A Relaxed Lake Huron Road Trip

March 9, 2026March 9, 2026
Beaver island lighthouse

5 Beautiful Great Lakes Islands to Explore

November 23, 2025March 9, 2026
Diane Bolzman Ellicott - How To Chink A Log Cabin – Seal the Deal With This 4 Step-by-Step Guide

Peggy HellwigRich IgnatowskiJayne Estelle WhiteRobin ZurekElkton Historical Society Port Austin Area Historical Society Bad Axe Historical SocietyNancy BitterlingDeborah MartinSusan Peterson…

Michael Brown - How To Grill The Perfect Hot Dog – 8 Tips For Grilled Perfection

Media: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2356420998167679&set=p.2356420998167679&type=3

Erin Hagman Jones - Improve Cottage Energy Savings by Line Drying Clothes

I don't have cottage money, but I hang my laundry outside every summer.

Lynn DesRochers - Improve Cottage Energy Savings by Line Drying Clothes

Except you probably can’t in a HOA.

D Koch - Improve Cottage Energy Savings by Line Drying Clothes

My Grandmother is probably laughing out loud! She never used her dryer. She put everything out on the line to…

a frame tiny house Activites Airbnb Au Gres Autumn Scenic Drives Batteries Bay Port BBQ Beach beach books Beaches Bees Burt Lake travel Cabin cabin care tips Cabin Life cabin rentals cabin safety cabins Camping Canada Catskills Chinking Solutions Chinking Techniques cold weather preparation construction Cottage Cottage Country Cottage Life cottage living cottage maintenance cottage opening cottage rentals cottage tips cottage upkeep Cottages cozy cabins Crooked River boating DIY DIY Log Cabin Docks Drummond Island eco-friendly lifestyle fall getaways Fall Road Trips fall season Fish Florida Games Gatlinburg Great Lakes Great Lakes cottage Great Lakes living Great Lakes pests Great Lakes tourism Great Lakes Travel Grilling Handmade Chinking heritage historic homes Hocking Hills home energy savings homesteading Hornets Hot Dogs Illinois Kids Lake lake cottage life Lake Huron Lake Huron road trip lakefront living lakefront retreats log cabin history Log Home Log Home Maintenance Maintenance Meal Planning Michigan Michigan boating rules Michigan coastal towns Michigan Inland Waterway Michigan outdoors Michigan travel Minnesota mobile tiny homes Mold Musty New York NJ Northern Michigan waterways Odor Off Grid off grid living off-grid sustainability Ohio Ohio Cabins Ontario Ozonator Ozone Pan Fish pest control Pests photography Poconos Property Real Estate renewable energy Resorts Restoration Romance rustic cabins Saginaw Bay seasonal checklist seasonal cottage checklist seasonal property care second home maintenance Shenandoah slow travel Michigan Smells Smoked Fish Solar solar power Southern Illinois spring cleaning spring cottage prep Starved Rock Summer summer outdoors Sunfish Sunrise Coast Michigan sustainability Swimming Texas Things to Do tick prevention Tiny Homes Tiny House tranquil getaway travel Upper Thumb vacation vacation home tips Video Virginia Water wildlife winter prep Winterizing cabins Wisconsin Yellowstone lodges

ThumbWind Video Channel

Copyright © 2026 Better By The Lake.
  • Thumbwind
  • Michigan4You
  • TwoVerbs
  • OutdoorSkillz
  • iGuestPost
  • Spice2vice
  • Mitten Expedition
  • Michigan Live Positively
  • Ora Labora
Go to mobile version