Coastal decor no longer merely consists of anchors, rope, boats, and the colors red, white, and blue. People often think of a room decorated in a nautical or coastal theme; they picture a place where they can relax and recover from a long tiring day, much like they may feel after returning from an outing to the beach. The trick is subtly incorporating nostalgic coastal accents without destroying the laid-back atmosphere. Now, let’s talk about dos and Donts of coastal interior design.
What Constitutes Contemporary Beach Decor?
Connor Prestwood, an interior designer at home décor company Dowsing & Reynolds, has said, “There is no need to display shells and “beachy” stuff around to create a coastal inspired area with modern coastal decor.”
Choose softer, more neutral tones to maintain a soothing atmosphere. Finally, to enhance interest and provide natural landing spots for the eyes, integrate earthy textures like linen and rustic wood finishes.
These are a few unpretentious dos and don’ts to remember if you want to update your home with a coastal motif without trailing its unique charm.
Base Colors
Do
Maintain a positive and upbeat tone. Interiors designed with a nautical or beach motif should be airy and light, with a blend of neutral colors to convey a sense of comfort and relaxation. To enhance dimension and visual appeal to a neutral space, try layering various textures, merging cool and warm whites, beiges, and sandy tints.
Don’t
Never use gloomy or dismal colors. Avoid using dark paints and ultra-modern, high-gloss furniture and fixtures for this decorating scheme. Nautical decor should be modern and airy, using natural light and creating a sense of openness rather than warmth or gloom. The only exceptions are shades of blue and navy.
Pro-tip
Look at the image up top and notice how the interior has added depth and mystery by combining several neutral tones and fabrics. Plants, jute decoration, and high-quality materials in coastal living room all create a calming and distinguished ambiance.
Accent
Do
Use an unbiased hue palette of earth tones, cool blues, and lively greens as your preliminary actions. Simply picture and breathe in the type of home you’d like to live in. The color scheme of a coastal-themed room should reflect a laid-back sense of style, so anything too cluttered or garish should be avoided.
Don’t
Use every color in the rainbow; choose carefully. Interiors with a nautical or beach theme typically use a limited color palette of white, blue, and sometimes a touch of red. Boys’ and kids’ rooms often take on a nautical theme, with the primary colors red, white, and blue employed more strikingly.
Pro-tip
Try balancing 60% neutral with 30% blue and 10% red to give your work a more modern feel. It’s all about balance; therefore, the neutral would dominate the walls, furniture, and flooring, while the blue and red accents came in via accessories and wall art.
Sailor’s Stripes
Do:
Experiment outside the box and utilize stripes in eccentric ways to accomplish a picturesque coastal impression. Stripes, in any room either if it is bedroom, dining room, or bathroom, are a classic nautical accent because of their association with the sea footprints. Still, they can also make a modern statement, add charisma, and serve as a center of attention in any decor.
Don’t:
Go zebra-crazy (pardon the pun), but use discipline when determining where to utilize stripes; the spirit is in the details, and you need to think about the space. If you want to provide the illusion of taller ceilings in a room, the more conventional choice would be vertical stripes; however, if you’re looking for a more modern take on producing repetition and motif, the more effective choice would be horizontal stripes.
Pro-tip
Stripes effect can be attained using paint or wallpaper. Experiment with changing the width of the stripes, as this will affect the room’s proportions and liveliness.
Materials
Do:
Preserve natural-looking textures. Go for natural fibers like jute, sisal, rope, bamboo, and wicker when shopping for furniture, rugs, and decorative accessories. There is contrast and something to touch and feel, thanks to the use of various materials. Wishbone chairs, especially when they are white with a natural-fiber base, add a modern touch to coastal decor.
Don’t:
Try to emulate a glossy finish. Avoid anything that looks too glossy, shiny, or reflective; these elements give off a too-modern vibe and won’t permit you to achieve the tarnished, textured, collected look that typifies coastal decor.
Pro-tip
The headboard is the showpiece of this bedroom, bringing a sophisticated and modern touch to the room’s otherwise weathered, beachy decor. The blue throw rug washes over the bed like a gentle, soothing wave, and the color scheme is neutral overall.
Light and Breezy
Do
Keep things airy, bright, and open. If you are privileged enough to have access to an outdoor space, you can turn it into an extension of your house by picking outdoor furniture that has a coastal appeal, for instance, rattan and wicker are excellent options in this regard.
Don’t:
Shut yourself in with thick curtains. Instead, pick translucent and airy textiles to adorn your windows to let in as much light as possible.
Pro-tip
Do you have a vintage wooden patio set? You could sand it down, paint it white, and decorate it with blue and neutral throw pillows and other accents to give it an oceanic look.
Accessories
Do:
Consider coastal settings while selecting accessories for this design scheme. Choose items that have texture, are weathered and rugged, and have a muted natural color. You can decorate with found trinkets and collections with a beachy vibe, or you can use items you purchased specifically for this purpose. Many natural materials, such as driftwood, coral, seashells, textured wood, and dried grasses and flowers. You can also consider using abstract coastal artwork on your walls.
Don’t:
Strive to combine found objects with purchased goods to prevent an overly groomed, store-bought look. Don’t overdo it with the cliche “beachy” decor. Instead, think about the overall feeling you want to convey and remember to use a wide range of textures, sizes, shapes, and tones.
All these Dos and Donts of coastal interior design are to make sure your design represents your dreams.
In a Nutshell
- Use a color scheme in your design.
- Don’t go overboard with the beach setting.
- Make optimal use of natural illumination.
- Don’t put the carpet down.
- Put in plenty of organic materials.
It is impossible to dislike anything reminiscent of a beach holiday because it is new, adaptable, and uplifting. One easy approach to creating a beachy vibe in your home is to decorate with blues and whites. But just don’t go crazy with it.
Moreover, don’t forget to warm up the space by incorporating those neutral colors into the seating, flooring, and wood trims. Sail your home with these dos and don’ts of coastal interior design.
So, follow these Dos and Donts of coastal interior design and you are good to go.
