Coastal Decor

by Giorgina Devereaux

Decorating in the coastal decor style is not difficult.

Since they overlap due to the emphasis on the beach and its beautiful elements, we will give you a guide on the proper furniture and accessories typically used for both.

Nautical Furniture

For wood pieces, consider those painted in pale, milky colors. You can also paint some pieces in a white, light green, or light blue color by using chippy paint. Chippy paint gives the furniture a weathered/distressed look and you can add whimsical beach themed designs on the pieces.

Another super idea is to add, for instance, seagull knobs that come in antique brass, antique copper, pewter, black nickel, or bright nickel to furniture. It’s definitely a neat way to incorporate your own touches.

When trying to decide on bed and nightstands, consider choosing wicker or painted wood seaside style pieces for added drama.

Wall Color: One of the most important things to consider when decorating your home in the coastal decor style is the wall color.

Color can make a dramatic difference in bringing together the elements of your desired style.

You may use cool and soothing colors like white, light yellow, and light blue on the walls, or you may use a simple beach themed stencil, or wall borders/murals with a coastal/nautical theme.

For a New England look, you can include wainscoting halfway up the walls.

Lighting: Lighting is a principle element for coastal/nautical decorating.

You have so many exciting choices and can pick from table or floor lamps that feature sailboats, starfish, seashells, seagulls, cranes, egrets, bird cages, pelicans, flip flops, anchors, lifeguard chairs, shorebirds, bamboo, deckchairs, a lighthouse, coral reefs, sea urchins, brass combined with a glass shade, round cage bulkhead lights, and more.

You can also install an overhead ceiling fan in a white finish with a brass anchor fan pull or nautical themed pendant lantern type lights. By including theme based lighting, you are sure to make a statement.

Nautical Home Decorations
 

• lobster trap markers and fish nets
• blue crab figurines or wall plaques
• an antique hand finished wood
• rope and metal sandpiper on a stand
• crane bookends
• weathered wood seagull figures
• wooden ship wheels
• picture frames with a sea shell border
• sea shell mirrors
• mirrors shaped like port holes
• stained glass that contains images of a lighthouse
   

To help complete the feeling of being at sea, you may also display sea themed items, such as ship replicas, old brass spyglasses, vintage sextants, a nautical knots shadow box, worn lanterns, and lighthouse sculptures.

Another great decorative touch is to hang an oar or fishing pole on the wall. These are never fading decorative accessories that are safe bets because they don’t go out of style.
 

To soften the look a bit and accentuate furniture pieces, add decorative pillows with seashore designs or in solid blue and white colors.

Flooring: You can bring warmth and add to the design theme by including area rugs throughout the home.

Wonderful choices to consider are sisal mats, short pile rugs, or stenciled floor mats that come in a tan or blue color.

Other examples of rugs for this style include a beautiful coastal scene featuring a blue heron with a striking black border or a rug design with a parade of sandpipers circling the coastal border. If you can afford hardwood, a light stained wood goes perfectly with area rugs.

prints of ships at sea, lighthouses, seashells, starfish, birds, harbor scenes, and coastal scenes.

You may also prefer to add a Trompe l´oiel of a port hole for the wall or hang a lovely tapestry with romantic ocean panorama.

Window Treatments: The ideal window treatments consist of drapes or curtains that are light and airy with designs of sailboats, lighthouses, seashells, and navy blue with white stripes for that ocean feel. Fabrics include lace, cotton, and even canvas.

You may also consider bamboo shades or roman shades.