Coastal Living – Lori Hannum, Interior Designer @ SC41 FurnitureSC41 – Blog - Natural Sustainable Eco-Friendly Furniture and Organic Bedding

Whether it’s your vacation home or your permanent residence, your home should feel like a retreat – relaxing and rejuvenating. And who wouldn’t find a beach house to be relaxing? So let’s define what makes a home a beach house. Surprisingly, it does not have to be located at the beach, or even on the coast. A beach house can be anywhere you want it to be. So, even if you don’t live on waterfront property, you can still create the look and feel of your own private oasis with these guidelines.

Most importantly, keep things simple with uncluttered spaces; easy-care fabrics and furniture; soothing, pale accent colors used sparingly with whites and neutrals; and mix in a variety of natural, textural materials. Nothing says ‘beach house’ like a soothing, monochromatic palette of bright whites and natural materials, with open, airy spaces and ample sunlight to illuminate soft textures.

White sheers or linen curtain panels with grass or reed blinds keep window treatments to a minimum to let fresh air flow through. Bare floors with a few scattered rugs to soften the look will make your space feel larger. A touch of aqua or even a very light teal will bring in the color of the sea to create a coastal feel. Furniture upholstered in linen, white denim or Sunbrella fabrics look great and make for easy cleaning.

Take your cue from nature: touches of natural materials such as jute, coir, sisal, stone, rattan, reclaimed wood, and driftwood – all add to the earthy elements that are often found in homes by the sea. Think of the colors of sand, sea glass, water, seagulls, sea grass, coral and shells. You don’t have to have nautical emblems or lighthouses painted everywhere in order to bring home the feel of a beach; keep your décor subtle and natural, understated.

Reclaimed wood and bits of shells bring in the sea.

Décor is kept to a minimum.

Try opening up your cabinets for a casual look.

This simple white entryway brings the ocean in with a pale aqua painted floor.

White surfaces reflect light and will make your space feel much more open and airy.

This bedroom has a soothing neutral palette with just a bit of green pears in the art and a pale blue lamp.

Beach house style is all about simplicity.

Uncluttered with easy-care slipcovers.

Natural elements bring the outside in.

Light and breezy window treatments.

You can achieve the look of vintage beadboard walls or ceilings with 1” x 3” furring strips.

Bring the relaxing retreat feel into the bathroom with the same décor as the rest of the house.

A simple pine bed and textural fabrics, and no need for bulky nightstands with these floating shelves.

Reed blinds, wicker furniture, bare floor all under a pale blue ceiling for a casual family room.

Simple lengths of rope in glass vessels will showcase their natural tones and coarse textures. An oversized fishbowl pairs nicely with a length of chunky sisal, while a narrower hurricane shows off loops of twine.

If you wish to share your thoughts or feelings about this article, please leave a comment below, or send an email to lori@sc41.com. Lori will read all of your responses.

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