With the telling nip of Autumn in the morning and evening air, those long, hot, lazy days spent on the beach in Summer seem a million miles away. Soft golden sands, driftwood bleached by the sun and tumbled by the waves, sparking seas of blues and greens…ah, if only we could go back. Well, maybe we can by transforming a room in our home into a tranquil coastal haven. In this article, we demonstrate how to create a coastal theme in any room in your home or throughout, if you wish. The world is your oyster…
Paint Colours
The simplicity of long, lazy days by the beach can be reflected in the décor and ambiance that you create. Walls painted in soft greys or whitewashed to give reminders of bleached driftwood washed up on the beach or soft, muted greens and blues to draw reminders of the sea. Go one step further and create the look of a beach hut by fixing tongue and groove boarding to one wall as a feature or all walls in the room for a more dramatic look and paint in your chosen colour – maybe pretty pastels or some of the bolder colours so synonymous with beach huts. If you prefer a less permanent idea, try wallpapers or wall hangings in a distressed wood effect look, for a more abstract look try this wave wallpaper from Wayfair. Soft sandy beiges and golds look equally good, especially to set off sofas and chairs dressed in darker nautical blues. Ideal Homes give some further inspiration here.
Fabrics
Draw upon the feel of nature surrounding you at the beach when choosing fabrics or textures for a coastal look. Think natural feel and texture. Mimic the feel of sand underfoot with jute or sisal rugs or reflect the grasses growing in the dunes with seagrass. Soft linens and cottons give reminders of boat sails waving in the wind and curtains held back with heavy rope in hemp, cord or jute give a nod to the mooring ropes of boats in the harbours. Fun, nautical prints on cotton fabrics, such as fish, seagulls and crabs help pull the theme together or a bold nautical blue and white stripe. Use these on cushions, window blinds or curtains to really create a cohesive feel.
Furniture
Deep, soft relaxing sofas dressed in pale, neutral fabrics or the deep blues of the sea will look right at home in any coastal theme. Accent with tables or chests of drawers made in reclaimed bleached wood and large seagrass baskets and chests. If the bedroom is your chosen place for a coastal theme, a simple headboard can be made from any left-over tongue and groove, painted to compliment. Lobster pot or trap coffee tables or lampshades or glass tables with pebbles from the beach mounted underneath give a natural feel.
Accessories
Whilst the obvious traditional accessories of shells and fish are completely at home in a coastal theme, think outside the box with subtle nods to the tools of the trade of fisherman, such as boat-shaped shelving or large metal storm lanterns. Search antique or junk shops for large wooden boat wheels or beautiful antique brass compasses to hang on the walls to create interest. A dramatic coastal scene can be created on a wall with a shoal of small wooden fish being chased by a large, hungry open-mouthed whale! If you prefer something a little more subtle, wood or metal seagulls mounted on the wall, seemingly flying high in the fresh sea breeze. Why not have a go at creating some textural art by using sea glass (glass tumbled to a soft smooth finish by the waves and washed up on the beach) to create a 3D curling wave picture or resin to create a beachy feel. Here’s a tutorial How to make a beach wave with Resin to help you.
