Interior Design Tips for Your New Holiday Home – How to Do Beach House Chic

The seaside is such a tranquil, relaxing place to be. Many of us love the feeling of the sand between our toes and the wind in our hair. So much that we want to bring the beach aesthetic into our home, some of us are lucky enough to have our very own property by the sea. Either way, coastal clean is a popular style of

Color Palette

The seaside inspires the colors used in chic coastal décor. Think clean, light, and airy with an emphasis on hues of blue. Use a palette of blues from the palest icy blue, through light shades of aqua, to the deep, nautical navy. Punctuate the blue with yellow tones to emulate sand and sunny skies, bold hits of red inspired by the uniforms of sea admirals, and plenty of clean, crisp white.

Patterns

If you adhere to a simple, plain background such as white, pale yellow, or light blue walls, you can accentuate with bold nautical patterns such as broad, vertical stripes, anchor designs, or marine flora and fauna. 

Natural Fixtures and Fittings

Bring the coastal landscape into your home by using lots of natural materials such as wood, sisal, bamboo, wicker, cotton, and rattan.

Incorporating wood into your décor is a must if you want to mimic the look of beachfront boardwalk decking. If you have original wooden floorboards, consider sanding them and brushing them over with a matt varnish or wax. If you are drawn to a pale, crisp palette, enhance the flooring with white or pale blue floor paint. For a touch of softness, scatter rugs over the area. Go for mats made from sisal or woven cotton decorated with a bold stripe pattern. If you don’t have wooden floors or the ones you have are not in good enough condition to use, cover your bottom with seagrass carpet or cork tiles. Doing this will still give your room a natural, rustic look.

Adorn your rooms with wooden fittings such as built-in shelves, shutters, bamboo window blinds, and ceiling fans. White plantation shutters not only look beautiful, but they are effective at shutting out the harsh midday sun and creating an authentic coastal look. Ceiling fans are a must during the hot summer months. Fan blades are available in a range of materials and colors. The nautical theme can be enhanced further by fitting your fan with blades shaped like wooden boat oars.

Shiplap wall panels applied to the walls or kitchen cabinets will instantly create a stylish nautical look to your home. Using different painting techniques can give the pristine look of a royal yacht or the aged look of a piece of driftwood.

Relax and Unwind

Spread the wooden theme to your furniture. Use an eclectic mix of old and new wooden furniture – nothing needs to match. Pair antique wooden chairs with soft, squishy sofas – the more mismatched your furniture is, the better you want to obtain the relaxed aesthetic of a beach house.

If you are a creative person, try upcycling cheap wooden pieces that can be picked up for a steal or free at junk shops, antique stores, car boot sales, or online sites such as eBay. Paint them in milk or chalk paint to give them a rustic, distressed look and decoupage with marine images if you so desire.

It might be wise to furnish your beach house with sofas that have removable covers or ones that are easily cleaned as people may be tempted to sit on them in wet, sandy swimwear. Opt for natural upholstery fabrics such as thick cotton canvas. Make a bold statement with a striped fabric or go for a plain sofa and scatter with patterned cushions. 

Finishing Touches

Adding the final decorative features is probably the most fun part of creating a look. Use a variety of items to personalize your living space and bring your taste into the eye. Shop for exciting mirrors in the shape of portholes or ones framed with driftwood or shells. Nautical-themed ornaments such as model sailing ships or a ship in a bottle might look good in the study of an amateur sailor, and beautiful watercolor seascape paintings will add interest and color to your walls. However, if you are lucky to have a holiday home, you will have such gorgeous views from your window; you might not need such embellishments!