Although the weather cannot quite make up its mind this summer, millions of us have been heading off on our holidays – in the UK or abroad. If you are heading to the seaside, you may be looking forward to relaxing on the beach and enjoying long walks by the sea. The holiday accommodation we stay in tends to embrace the seaside theme in their décor and includes local accessories and decorations. These in turn often inspire us to try and recreate this in our own homes when we return – to try and relive our holiday memories. Styling this design in your own home, however, can sometimes prove tricky and not achieve the look you crave, which is why Alle Interiors are here to help with our 10 Coastal inspired Ideas for your home.
In our homes, the room we tend to relax in the most is the living room, and this is therefore, often the room we want to recreate our seaside memories in. When we think of seaside themes, you tend to think of quaint little fisherman’s cottages, bright blues, and colourful beach huts. However, modern coastal style is more about incorporating simple lines and materials like cotton and wood to create a rustic space with a laidback vibe.
1. Use texture – for a relaxing look, try mixing weathered coastal colours with unfussy reclaimed wood furniture and seaside motifs. Choose furniture that celebrates natural materials with wood grains and try pairing it with a woven jute rug and arrange accessories in loose groups to create an informal, laid-back look.
2. Add panelling – if you want to get the look of a coastal cottage, adding vertical wooden panelling can instantly add a beachy element and can be even more of a feature if you paint it a rich shade of blue. If you want to keep things rustic though, just leave the wood in its natural, untreated state.
3. Use coastal blues – Blue is the colour we typically associate with coastal design, and it can have a positive effect on your mood, as it connects us to a blue sky or ocean coastline to help you feel relaxed. Try adding a dark blue feature wall or incorporate blue cushion covers or curtains in a nautical theme (see number 7).
4. Team with neutral colours – although we think of blue as the main seaside colour, neutral shades are just as important and will give your space a sense of tranquillity. Use natural, lighter colours of beiges, greys, and whites as they bring a calm feel.
5. Wooden flooring – by adding wood flooring to your space, it will give it a coastal feel and you can then soften the look with a blue rug. Light oak is a popular choice as it has driftwood vibes, but if you cannot afford real oak flooring, opt for oak effect vinyl flooring tiles – which nowadays are high quality and just as natural-looking.
6. Whitewashed wood – whitewashing brightens the look of wood surfaces without covering the natural grain and creates a light and natural look within a coastal design. This can be via lanterns, photo frames or alternative decorative accessories.
7. Incorporate maritime patterns using nautical fabrics and wallpapers – These can help create a fresh and relaxed look, and we particularly love these Mulberry ‘In the Navy’ crisp blue and white fabrics and wallpapers which add effortless, chic nautical style to your room. From classic navy stripes to crisp whites and hints of maritime motifs, their fabrics and wallpapers will infuse your space with nautical style and capture the essence of coastal living at its finest. Another inspiring collection to consider is the Live Beautiful collection from the Sanderson Design Group which features a stunning choice of nautical fabrics and wallpapers to choose from.
8. Try a blue sofa – adding a pop of colour with a blue sofa can add colour and calm and stability to your living space and works well with a variety of tones. There are so many shades to choose from though, so, find the one that suits your home.
9. Add Shutters – a wonderful way to add instant style to a room is by adding shutters as they give a modern look to a room, whilst making a striking statement from the outside. Louvolite offer their brand new Urban Shutters collection of striking Polysilk vinyl window shutters which offer functional styling with a contemporary flair. You can choose from a stunning range of Full Height, Tier-on-Tier, and Café Style dressings to make that all important impact within your home.
10. Coastal accessories and plants – this is where you must be careful to not go overboard as too many accessories can ruin the look. Instead of choosing decorative seahorses or a ship in a bottle, go for less is more and choose chunky seashells to add a subtle coastal touch. Add striking foliage to create a relaxing style which can either be via tall potted plants (real or fake) to replicate palm trees or use houseplants that are heavy in green foliage, as they will create interesting shadows and shapes when they hit the light.
With so many coastal theme options to choose from, it can be tempting to try and incorporate as many as possible, however, your room could then become an overwhelming mix of rustic wood, nautical stripes, boats, rope, lighthouses, and artwork. Choose the ones that work for you and compliment your room. Natural materials are key for adding texture, depth, and tactility, so, try beige and sandy tones in your upholstery, and bring stripes in via cushions or curtains for a subtle nautical stripe. The important thing to remember is that modern coastal decor uses maritime colours, patterns, and textures, but try to keep it contemporary by using clean lines and a few carefully selected pieces.
If you would like to find out how you could feature Coastal design in your house, or need help with another room, please do get in touch. You can check out www.alle-interiors.co.uk to view our products and collections and the services we offer.
Notes:- Alle Interiors is a small creative team providing a one-stop-shop for all your interior design and soft furnishing requirements with customer service their utmost priority.
Image credits: Clarke and Clarke; GP&J Baker; Louvolite; Bright Bazaar; Dmar Interiors/Bethany Nauert; Cass Design Co; Mackenzie &Co
Suite VT80, iCentre, Howard Way, Newport Pagnell MK16 9PY
Tel: +44 (0)1908 299 358
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Email: alle@alle-interiors.co.uk
