Tips For Decorating A Coastal Home
By Jo Betts
When considering the décor for a coastal home, many people fall into the trap of confusing it with beach inspired décor. Whilst there is nothing wrong with nautical styled rooms, white washed walls and a display of seashells that you have found on the beach, coastal decorating does not always have to be about replicating the beach within your home.
In fact you can be far more creative, whilst still utilising some of the 'beach-themed' concepts so as to hold on to a sense of ambience. For those lucky enough to actually live by the ocean, or even those whose coastal homes are not necessarily considered a primary base but are their second homes or holiday retreats; either way the space needs to maintain an element of practicality, whilst creating a light, airy, relaxed, laid back setting that is associated with such a home.
Follow this simple step-by-step guide to create a beautiful coastal home that reflects your taste and personality rather than being a 'cookie-cutter' typical beach style home.
1. Choose your design style:
Whether you are looking for a classic royal retreat, a cosy country cottage or a high gloss contemporary feel to your home, our advise is simple; find a style that you are happy with and stick to it. Interior design at its best stays true to its design concept. If your taste is an eclectic mix of styles for example contemporary style mixed with antiques this is fine, but make sure you stick to it throughout your home.
Utilise natural architectural features and accentuate their existence for maximum impact, for example exposing natural beams, emphasise staircases or curves, wax or paint natural wooden floorboards. Use what is there first, and let this dictate your design style before adding to it. Sympathise and make the most of the origins of the building.
Do it properly! Spend time researching the styles that you like and find out what they are categorised as. This will help you to search for the decorations that create the complete package for your rooms. If you think the style you like is French chic, find out exactly what French chic is, learn a little bit about it's origins and find images of products or room settings you would like to try to replicate.
2. Choose your colour pallet:
Just because your home is by the coast does not mean that you are limited to white, blues and pastel shades. However, do consider the fact that a light and airy space with maximise the benefits of living in such a location. Think about a fairly neutral base pallet but then be bold by infusing splashes of bright colours on accent walls, with bright furniture, fabrics or floor coverings. Choose colours and patterns that reflect the design style you have chosen, always conscious that darker colouring can draw a room in, but with clever positioning can create the illusion of space.
3. Creating a relaxed and laid back atmosphere:
Chose furniture that is practical as well as design driven; for example a comfortable bed or sofa, ensure you have enough storage for your needs and think about temperature and protection from the elements for both the heat and the cold. Use fireplaces, candles and strategic lighting to stimulate the senses. Think about the smells and sounds you associate with the atmosphere you are trying to generate as well as the touch and sight.
One of the crucial areas often forgotten in interior design is your entrance-way. Remember to cater for the mess that living by the coast can create, with wet feet, sand and dust coming through your front door on a regular basis. Research solutions for storing your shoes, coats, wet suits, anything that otherwise may be left at the door. The entrance hall is the first impression of your home, but it is not always about what others think, do you find it welcoming and relaxing, a place that you are pleased to be entering?
4. Bring the outside in.
Especially if you have a good view from your windows, you need to bring as much of it into the home as possible to maximise the importance you give to living in such a location. After all it is often this element that dictates the worth of a coastal property, so make sure you get your monies worth!
A strategically placed mirror can help to draw light into the room, reflecting light at angles into areas that may not have otherwise been open to natural light. Treat your mirror like a piece of furniture in your room, make sure it fits your design style, after all mirrors now come in such a variety of shapes, sizes, and colours that they can really become a piece of artwork in your room.
You can make quite a bold statement in your room by using a mirror and star or sun shaped mirrors work extremely well with coastal settings. The reflection in your mirror is also important, if positioned well, a view of the ocean can be in your room without you even having to be facing it and what's more the art created by the reflection is ever changing along with the scene outside the window.
So whatever your preferred design style, follow these simple principles and you can create the light, airy, relaxed ambience of a coastal home whilst also injecting your personality.
In fact you can be far more creative, whilst still utilising some of the 'beach-themed' concepts so as to hold on to a sense of ambience. For those lucky enough to actually live by the ocean, or even those whose coastal homes are not necessarily considered a primary base but are their second homes or holiday retreats; either way the space needs to maintain an element of practicality, whilst creating a light, airy, relaxed, laid back setting that is associated with such a home.
Follow this simple step-by-step guide to create a beautiful coastal home that reflects your taste and personality rather than being a 'cookie-cutter' typical beach style home.
1. Choose your design style:
Whether you are looking for a classic royal retreat, a cosy country cottage or a high gloss contemporary feel to your home, our advise is simple; find a style that you are happy with and stick to it. Interior design at its best stays true to its design concept. If your taste is an eclectic mix of styles for example contemporary style mixed with antiques this is fine, but make sure you stick to it throughout your home.
Utilise natural architectural features and accentuate their existence for maximum impact, for example exposing natural beams, emphasise staircases or curves, wax or paint natural wooden floorboards. Use what is there first, and let this dictate your design style before adding to it. Sympathise and make the most of the origins of the building.
Do it properly! Spend time researching the styles that you like and find out what they are categorised as. This will help you to search for the decorations that create the complete package for your rooms. If you think the style you like is French chic, find out exactly what French chic is, learn a little bit about it's origins and find images of products or room settings you would like to try to replicate.
2. Choose your colour pallet:
Just because your home is by the coast does not mean that you are limited to white, blues and pastel shades. However, do consider the fact that a light and airy space with maximise the benefits of living in such a location. Think about a fairly neutral base pallet but then be bold by infusing splashes of bright colours on accent walls, with bright furniture, fabrics or floor coverings. Choose colours and patterns that reflect the design style you have chosen, always conscious that darker colouring can draw a room in, but with clever positioning can create the illusion of space.
3. Creating a relaxed and laid back atmosphere:
Chose furniture that is practical as well as design driven; for example a comfortable bed or sofa, ensure you have enough storage for your needs and think about temperature and protection from the elements for both the heat and the cold. Use fireplaces, candles and strategic lighting to stimulate the senses. Think about the smells and sounds you associate with the atmosphere you are trying to generate as well as the touch and sight.
One of the crucial areas often forgotten in interior design is your entrance-way. Remember to cater for the mess that living by the coast can create, with wet feet, sand and dust coming through your front door on a regular basis. Research solutions for storing your shoes, coats, wet suits, anything that otherwise may be left at the door. The entrance hall is the first impression of your home, but it is not always about what others think, do you find it welcoming and relaxing, a place that you are pleased to be entering?
4. Bring the outside in.
Especially if you have a good view from your windows, you need to bring as much of it into the home as possible to maximise the importance you give to living in such a location. After all it is often this element that dictates the worth of a coastal property, so make sure you get your monies worth!
A strategically placed mirror can help to draw light into the room, reflecting light at angles into areas that may not have otherwise been open to natural light. Treat your mirror like a piece of furniture in your room, make sure it fits your design style, after all mirrors now come in such a variety of shapes, sizes, and colours that they can really become a piece of artwork in your room.
You can make quite a bold statement in your room by using a mirror and star or sun shaped mirrors work extremely well with coastal settings. The reflection in your mirror is also important, if positioned well, a view of the ocean can be in your room without you even having to be facing it and what's more the art created by the reflection is ever changing along with the scene outside the window.
So whatever your preferred design style, follow these simple principles and you can create the light, airy, relaxed ambience of a coastal home whilst also injecting your personality.
There is a huge selection of large, glass framed and over sized mirrors available at http://www.exclusivemirrors.co.uk.
Or why not consider a row of smaller mirrors, this will have the same reflective effect as a large mirror but may suit your decor better.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jo_BettsOr why not consider a row of smaller mirrors, this will have the same reflective effect as a large mirror but may suit your decor better.
