Beach Items for the Home
When I had a second home on Cape Cod, it was easy to incorporate a coastal vibe in the home (without going overboard – which is a trend I don’t quite love simply because it’s so predictable and limiting). I’m now in the city and although I don’t have nearly the amount of melamine plates and plastic wine glasses here, I did bring along a few things that I believe are universal in practicality, function and design.
There are some retailers that are known for their coastal aesthetic like Serena & Lily and even big box stores like Target and Walmart in warmer seasons and climates. Avoid the urge to go coastal crazy but think strategically about what elements of summer and the ocean you may want to bring in that can last beyond summer. Here are a few tips!
Natural Fabrics
Fabrics made of cotton, linen or blends of natural fabrics feel great on your skin, can look relaxed to more formal and often evoke the feeling of being in or around nature. Choosing drapery, bedding and tablecloths that feel and look natural and organic bring a casual comfort to your home and speak summer.
Textures
Woven items such as trays, tobacco baskets, placemats and even furniture items like wicker chairs, etc. provide a natural interesting texture to a room. It lightens things up but the texture gives some complexity and visual interest to a space. I love woven baskets for laundry or to store out of season footwear. Practical and beautiful.
Simple Color Palette
For walls, toss pillows, throws, even carpeting a neutral color palette always feels coastal. Personally, I recommend to most of my clients that choosing a neutral wall color is ideal because you can always add color to your home in smaller ways. An all white home may seem ethereal and desirable for some, but warming up the space with the natural elements and textures helps to balance the look. I also tend to opt for area rugs that have colors that can be brought out in accessories.
Plants and Greenery
I love the freshness that comes with bringing in the green! Large leaf fig plants seem tropical to me and give a nice vibe in homes. Fresh flowers are always great to have on hand, they smell fabulous and bring the outside in. Trader Joe’s and Wholefoods are great places to pick up flowers on a budget. There are so many high quality faux plants now, you can do a search and look at reviews to determine what you might like to order. I love ferns as well. Very southern, warm weather feel to them.
Natural Elements
Plants, flowers and natural textures are examples of natural elements, however things like a large shell to hold your soap in a guest bathroom, or an oversized piece of coral to act as a bookend are nice touches to a home.
Wood is also a natural element that I love to use in homes I decorate. It could be furniture pieces, but it also could be as simple as a wooden bowl to hold a bowl of lemons too.
Abstract Art
I remember years ago not really loving the abstract art vibe. After buying my cape place, I kept feeling drawn to abstract art that reminded me of the ocean, or a sand dune. Not sure that was what the artist intended but that’s what spoke to me and I went with it. I came to love those oversized pieces of wall art and would do it again when or if I ever get a second place again. There’s something that leaves the interpretation of the piece to the person who’s viewing it. I love that. It could look like a sand dune to me but a rickety old fence on the beach to you. That’s what’s so great about it. It can be interpreted in many different ways.
Travel Gallery Wall
I have a client now who has a very large wall that is empty. Her teenage daughter suggested that they print photos of their travels in black and white and frame them to create a gallery wall. What a brilliant idea. The great thing about this is that you can continue to expand on it as you travel in the future or easily swap out photos as time goes on. This is also an extremely affordable way to fill a lot of space for not a small fortune.
Beach Towels
I know this seems like it’s coming out of left field here. It probably is. When I made the move off of the cape I had a ton of beach towels. I only used them for the purposes of the beach and bathing. I didn’t have any other “real” towels because I personally love an oversized towel and beach towels fit the bill for practicality purposes. And they’re so colorful and cheerful, I figured why not just stick with these. I moved to Boston and felt compelled to purchase bath sheets that in the end I hated because they weren’t as absorbent as I would have liked and they were just too huge. What did I do? I held onto my beach towels and I’m glad I did. Now I won’t have to go searching high and low when I want to hit the beach for a day. I just go right to my cabinet where my towels reside and grab one and go.
There are a few ways to honor the urge to bring a coastal aesthetic to your home. Show me how you do it – I’d love to see a pic! Tag me on Instagram or Facebook @nancymichaelsinteriors.