In some areas of the country, residents are lucky to enjoy beach season year round. People who live in Jacksonville or San Diego, for example, have beaches nearby and warm weather throughout the year. In most areas, however, we find ourselves longing for the warm sunny days on the beach during the heart of summer. That’s part of the reason coastal decor is so popular. You can create the feeling of being in a beach house all year long with the right home decor.
The first key to creating a coastal vibe in your home is to pick a color theme based on what you would see at your favorite oceanfront or lakefront hangout. Neutral shades like the colors of sand, boardwalk planks, and many corals are great options for a base, while blues (water and clear skies), greens (seaweed and palm leaves), and yellows (sunshine) are pleasant accent colors.
After you have decided on your wall colors and accent colors, you need to bring in items to fill the space. Start with the bigger focal points. If you are decorating a bedroom, for example, this would be the bed, the window curtains, and the dressers. In a living room, family room, or den, the most eye-catching items would be your seating -- whether it be a sofa, large sectional, or even bean bag chairs -- and your entertainment center. In your bathroom, it would be your shower curtain and vanity. Your furniture, no matter what space you are redecorating, could benefit from distressed woods like you would see at an old shipyard.
You have a ton of flexibility when it comes to your home textiles, such as bedding, curtains, accent pillows, rugs, throws and more. Tastefully mix and match various coastal patterns like anchors, sea life, buoys, coral reefs, palm trees, and more with solids that work with your color theme. These will really emphasize the coastal feel in your space.
When you have completed adding furniture and all your home textiles, complete the space with plenty of lighting and decorative accents to pull the whole space together. You could do an accent wall featuring wallpaper, decals or even a beach-themed mural. Or, more simply, you could add knickknacks like ship wheels, lighthouses, compasses, seashells and more. But be wary of overdoing it. Too much will make your space look cluttered instead of well designed.
Coastal decor is not just for summer decorating. Creating a peaceful and soothing space, which is especially easy with coastal decor, can help reduce stress. That’s something you can benefit from all year long.
