Who doesn’t love the beach during the summertime? Not all of us are fortunate enough to put our toes in the sand on a regular basis, but what if you could inject some of that beach feeling into your home? It’s simpler than you might think to bring a little of that fabulous beach vacation into your everyday.
1. Lighten up.
Beach homes are all about letting in the light and views of the coast. Even if your views are not of sand and sea, lighten up your spaces by using minimal window treatments, such as easy breezy white panels or shades that can be pulled up to let in the maximum amount of light. If you don’t need the privacy, consider leaving your windows bare.
2. Coastal paint colors.
One of the easiest ways to bring the beach into your decor is by incorporating the colors of the coast… blues, greens, sea oats, whites and creams. Keeping your wall color light opens up a space, but don’t limit your paint to just walls and trim! Coastal colors on furniture are a popular trend right now and easily achieved with a quart of paint.
Need some help finding the colors that feel right? Consider using an online paint matching tool, like Sherwin Williams’ Chip It tool. When you upload your beach photo, the tool generates paint colors from your photo. I used a couple of my own favorites to generate these palettes.
3. Add textures.
Every decor needs a variety of textures to create interest, dimension, and a degree of warmth. To achieve those “beachy” textures, use sisal rugs, bamboo shades, wicker and rope accents, even distressed wood and glass.
For my coastal summer mantel, I combined antique books, a Japanese glass fishing float, and DIY map candles on wooden candle stands to add texture.
4. Fabrics. Many coastal themed interiors showcase light slipcovered pieces and simple solid fabrics. While this absolutely keeps the space feeling light and breezy, consider adding some graphic fabrics that have nautical or oceanic references.
5. Literal references.
Of course, there are always those simple beach-themed accessories that will capture that coastal vibe quite literally. Sea shells, art work, driftwood… the possibilities are endless!
Need more inspiration and DIY ideas to bring the beach into your home? My Just Beachy Pinterest board is loaded with more ideas, images, and DIY projects. Check it out!
Find more home decor and DIY inspiration on my blog, Decor & More.
