Whether you live by the beach or just dream about it, you can bring the beach into your home with a few decorating ideas. The underlying theme of a coastal home is comfort. The elegant factor comes from the simplicity and the clean aspects of coastal living.
Buy pieces that are comfortable for sitting, dining and living, but also will be easy to clean and maintain.
Think crisp white living rooms with nautical blue pillows, airy light linen curtains, mix up various furniture styles, rustic, cottage or contemporary with rattan pieces. Then carry out the nautical theme with accents like model sailboats, shell mirrors, coral-inspired chandeliers, sand filled lamps, wicker baskets and glass floats. Mix and match textiles and tie them together with a common color or print and use them liberally throughout your home.
For the dining area try mixing different colors of chairs and benches with a wooden farm table, or try a shabby white dining table and add hints of beachy colors. Break out that shell collection to put on display on your hutch or side table.
Linens are a great way to carry out your theme in the bathroom too. Think seashell prints or carry out the pops of accent colors you have chosen for other areas of your home. Bead board wainscoting can give your bathroom a coastal feel.
Be sure to break up the neutral palette by adding pops of accents colors in unexpected places, turquoise, blues, kiwi or ocean greens and corals. This will allow your eyes to be drawn around the room.
Use rugs in coastal colors, yellows, blues and whites or sisal.
Pick end tables and coffee tables in unfinished natural shades, pickled or worn wood, or use a crab trap as a side table.
Keep schemes simple and choose accents carefully to maintain the easy effortless nature of beach-inspired décor.
Even if you don’t want a full beach inspired theme you can still coordinate with hints of seashells around your home. Think of a stunning piece of coral on a table in your hallway. Display your sea finds on the mantel even if it is only during the summer months.
Whatever you decide go with a relaxed look as that is what being at the beach is all about.
