As our winter clothes get packed away, school ends for the young ones, gardens start growing and we are all preparing for the summer season ahead, many of us dream of coastal vacations and beach time. Whether it be you are one of the lucky ones to travel to the shore this year or you are just a day dreamer like me, we all can relish in coastal inspired designs in our own homes to help us relax and recover from the long winter and spring. Just because you may not live on a salty shore doesn’t mean you can’t have beachy accents in your home to lift your spirits. We are crushing on the coastal designs below and hope you find some inspiration for your own relaxing retreat.
Driftwood – Nothing says coastal living like that of driftwood. We all have an attraction to the rustic wood that washes ashore and what better way to bring in some beachy flair into your home décor? Driftwood inspired designs can be found in nearly every design store these days and when used in your own home, are sure to bring a sense of serenity and nature into your space. Find driftwood built into lamps, wall art, pendent lighting, statues and/or decorative bowls like those of the Palecek or Uttermost designs to the left. Some companies even build case good furniture out of the seaside element – why not have your cocktail table be beautifully built out of driftwood pieces? It is sure to be a conversation starter if you do.
Lighting – Light your home with accent lamps and lanterns that remind you of the washed ashore treasures. Find unique pieces like the blue coral based lamp shown left from Palecek or the lanterns from Light & Living. Hang seashell inspired pendant lamps and use woven lamp shades to create a peaceful, natural environment – sure to relax you almost as much as your feet in the sand would.
Coastal Colors – Create a soothing vibe by incorporating nurturing blues, greens, and creams into your space. Pull inspiration from the deep blue sea or the transparent waters and swaying palm trees of the tropical south. Dream of the sandy beaches and tie in muted creams and whites for a serene and simple façade or opt to create a more vibrant scene by integrating in bright yellow or coral pink. Work the color palette into your linens, wall décor, furniture and accent pieces. We particularly love the Seaside Glass and Toasted Coconut printed patterns from Stanley Furniture shown at the left and are fans of furniture painted in a calming shade of light blue or teal.
Accent Pieces – One of the easiest ways to incorporate the beachy lifestyle into your home is to do so by the use of accent pieces. Without dramatically changing the color scheme or architectural designs of your space, emphasize your designs in coastal pieces that can be interchangeable or versatile for any time of year. We love the Arteriors Home circular wall motif for just that purpose – for the summer season it can be used to fit the coastal blue print but come another day, it can be reinvented to fit a more modern or chic city inspired design. Subtle accents can also be exchanged for table runners or mirrors and artwork in the coastal colors mentioned above. For a more intentional seafaring look, anchors and coral are widely loved.
Bedding and Linens – Incorporate the coastal scheme into the most relaxing rooms in your house – the bedrooms. Replace the winter flannels for true blue sheets and striped navy and white pillows. Or make your bathroom resemble the boating industry by simply replacing the old shower curtains with the nautical Eastern Accents one shown at the left. One of our favorite designs is the coral reef motif print from Stanley Furniture as it can be used in a number of fashions – as the neutral bedspread in a colorful room filed with tropical hues, or as a comfortable throw or pillow for a maritime designed room.