Catch the calm, casual look of Coastal Style!
Escape to your own beach retreat by recreating the style of a seaside cottage in your home. You can get this relaxed coastal look with a few inexpensive upgrades and ocean - inspired accessories.
Theres nothing quite as relaxing as spending a lazy afternoon in a charming beach house. Just the mention of a coastal cottage brings to mind calming colors, comfortable furniture, and natural decor accents that make it a welcoming retreat.
Luckily, you dont have to live by the ocean to experience this soothing environment every day. Its surprisingly simple to recreate the look in any space by bringing in coastal - inspired elements.
The key to decorating a room with coastal style is creating a place where you and your guests can put your feet up and relax. That atmosphere starts with a casual, nature - inspired color palette made up of neutrals and coastal accent colors. Then youll layer on furniture and accessories made of natural fibers, bring in subtle seaside decor, and add architectural elements that you might find on a real beach cottage.
Well explain how we brought coastal decor into this room and added some custom touches to personalize the space. Plus, well show you how to take the look even further by making your own set of decorative board - and - batten shutters.
5 simple steps to add coastal style
Ics easy со gee the look of a beach getaway in your own home. Besc of all, die casual style lees you personalize your space by mixing and macching the colors, furniture, and decor that you really love.
1. Natural Neutrals
The starting point for casual coastal rooms is a neutral base. If youd like a bright and breezy look, go for crisp white painted finishes. If youd like a cozy cottage look, add shades of cream or ivory, or pick pieces with distressed neutral finishes.
You can mix the white or ivory tones with shades of tan and beige. The largest elements in the room, such as couches, bedding, and window treatments, should feature this neutral color scheme in solid colors or very subtle patterns.
2. Coastal Colors
Although coastal spaces start with a base of neutral tones, youll need to bring in accent colors to keep the rooms from looking bland and monochromatic. Fortunately, the sea and the beach provide color options that will suit almost anyones taste.
Your color palette inspiration could come from turquoise water, soft blue skies, and bright green palm fronds. You could also turn to the colors of sea life, like the cora) color shown in the paint swatches at right. The swatches represent the colors we used to decorate this coastal bedroom.
3. Organic Textures
You can add to the casual and calming look of your coastal room by incorporating furniture, rugs, or other decor that bring different textures into the space. Choose decor and furniture pieces that are made from natural fibers for a subtle, layered effect.
Rugs made of jute and sisal are especially popular in coastal rooms, and they have the added benefit of being very durable. Rattan furniture will also help you create a laid - back yet sophisticated look in your room.
If you dont want to commit to a large piece like a rattan couch or a jute area rug, though, you can start small by adding some baskets to your space. We incorporated a couple of baskets that could double as storage for linens, books, and slippers - a much - needed benefit in this small bedroom.
One of the best things about casual coastal style is that it leaves you free to experiment with the look. Try mixing and matching decor and furniture pieces that have different textures until youre happy with the results.
4. Seaside Decor
Accent your room with accessories that reflect a subtle ocean theme. Just be sure to keep it simple - an over - the - top beach motif may be fun at a vacation destination, but youll want something more subdued for your home. Limit these accessories to a few pieces that you love.
Dont be afraid to put your own twist on coastal decor. For example, we customized a candle lantern by making a nautical - inspired hanging system with pulleys and a length of nylon rope. To add even more personalized touches, we brought in a custom - created "Beach House" sign and a pair of weathered wood boat oars.
5. Beach Cottage Architecture
To get an even more authentic look, try bringing in some architectural elements that you can find on real beach cottages. For this room, that meant adding a set of board - and - batten shutters.
Youre used to seeing decorative shutters on the exteriors of houses, but we brought a pair of them indoors to help the seaside decor blend into the room.
The shutters have a classic look that would work well with other decor styles, too. Seethe instructions below to learn how you can make your own set.
Of course, you can use shutters as more than just window accents. We hung a distressed, salvaged shutter above the bed to serve as a unique headboard.
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