How to Create a Coastal Theme so Your Home Doesn’t Look Long? John Silver
Rent a vacation home on or near any coastline in the country (including the surrounding lakes) and chances are the décor will be nautical in nature. But that’s not all. It’s not uncommon to see interior designs with coastal themes and completely landlocked areas – just because there is no boat within 200 miles doesn’t mean you can’t make your home look like a sailing ship.
On top of that, after being stuck inside more than we ever imagined during the pandemic, many people decided to freshen up their homes a little. For some, this included adopting a coastal theme to at least help them feel like they were on vacation at a time when travel was not an option.
While some coastal-themed sets are timeless, other times they can deviate dangerously toward reminiscent of Long John Silver’s dining room, with the exception of the quiet puppies. To help us avoid this, design expert Amanda Lauren shared some tips on how to get the marine look you want – instead of throwing seashells into a dish and leaving things off. Here’s what you need to know.
Types of coastal decor
There are several different approaches to coastal décor, some more literal than others. Some of the nautical-style rooms are noisy and proud. As soon as you enter the doorway, you will realize that you are in a space designed to remind you of the coastline. This is primarily because there are real beach and boat related objects all over the place – think of fishing nets, nautical flags, perhaps a captain’s bell, anchor print fabrics, and of course the abundance of seashells.
Other coastal-themed rooms are much more sophisticated, using a palette of blues, whites and other neutrals, with a few key touches that will transport you to your friend’s wealthy cousin’s country house. After all, it’s the difference between decorating your home as a fresh beach house rather than a real beach.
How do I get the coastal view?
Of course, interior design is subjective, so end up filling your home with things that make you comfortable and happy. But, if you’re aiming for a coastal theme but feel like you’re not doing it – or overdoing it a bit – here are some of the decorating strategies Lauren discussed in an article for Forbes :
Error on the side of the thin
Instead of aquariums filled with sand and then topped with (hopefully artificial) starfish and a collection of seashells from your last trip to the beach, put it back a bit and let your furniture, color, and other designs speak for themselves. …
“Add details like striped rugs or natural fiber rugs, blue and white pillows, decorative boxes covered in grassy fabric, sea glass beads, bamboo photo frames, and more,” Meg Young, founder of Cailini Coastal , told Forbes .
Choose a soothing color scheme
One of the hallmarks of coastal-themed décor is the use of a palette of mostly blues and neutrals, but that still leaves you with plenty of options.
“Currently, we are constantly seeing trends in color palettes: light, earthy tones with color accents, while maintaining minimal color palettes and playing with textures to add depth and sensation to coastal life,” – Samantha Gallagher, founder of IG Workshop told Forbes .
Add some wood
Despite the fact that few new boats are made of wood today, we still associate nautical decor with wood because we tend to depict old wooden boats and ships, as well as clapboard houses by the sea. You can add wood through exposed beams or floor slabs, as well as pieces of furniture like chairs or end tables, according to Lauren.