There’s something about spending time near golden coasts and beautiful beach landscapes that makes us feel relaxed and refreshed. If you’ve been inspired by your recent retreat to the shores why not bring that feeling home. Experimenting with the colours, textures and patterns found in the coast’s natural landscapes pulls you closer to the spirit of the seaside all year round.
Shay blanket box / Bella tallboy / Sydney accent chair / St Ives wall mirror
You may already be familiar with nautical influences in design, such as with our Under the Sea look. Interiors that take their cues from the sea and sand can be a wonderful way of capturing the essence of the beach – no matter the season. Read on for our tips on bringing the easy breezy coastal look indoors, even if you live miles from the nearest coastline…
Brindle dressing table / Brindle dressing table stool
Coastal Colours
One of the biggest trends of the last few years has been a subtle, neutral palette. We’re seeing subdued colours in everything from walls, to cushions, to dinnerware, to bedding. This look is particularly effective in the bedroom as it emits feelings of calm and tranquillity.
Wanting to create a fresh and calming look at home? Here’s all the inspiration you need.
Wiltshire king-size bed / Bella triple wardrobe / Bella chest of drawers / Shay lamp table / Turku lamp
Selecting your colours from the spectrum of blue and white keeps things bright. Accentuate this with painted furniture, such as that of our Bella bedroom range; delicately finished with a stunning cream colour, its ornate curves and antique-style handles emulate the splash of the ocean.
Contrast your painted furniture alongside pieces with a cheery natural finish, such as our Wiltshire king-size bed which makes for a stunning centerpiece: its cloudless oak colouring is reminiscent of the sun reflecting off the sand.
For more tips on mixing and matching wood furniture, click here.
Coastal Walls
True coastal style is not limited to your furniture: you’ll want your walls to match your chosen colour palette. A crisp white paint will provide the perfect backdrop for coastal living but you could also consider a brilliant blue for your walls.
Feeling creative? Channel seaside chic with wood panelling to create a natural texture in your walls – leave as is or give a lick of paint in blue, white or grey. Alternatively, fake it with wood plank wallpaper if you don’t fancy getting your hands dirty.
Love the new Brindle range? Here’s more on how to style it.
Coastal Floors
Wood flooring is a perfect natural base for this look so consider either sanding and sealing original wood floors or painting your floorboards white to reflect a light and airy vibe.
Oslo dressing table / Oslo dressing table stool
However, there’s no problem if you prefer carpet. This adds a perfect textual finish on your floors and is a lovely complement to slender wooden pieces, like that of our calmly beautiful Oslo range. For the best of both worlds, select area rugs made of natural materials like jute, coir or sisal to add warmth and interest.
Get inspired with how to decorate with light wood floors over on our blog.
Coastal Natural Wood Furniture
Bevel tall bookcase / Trento lamp / Bevel side table / Jasmine three seater sofa / Bevel coffee table
Natural wood furniture perfectly rounds off a coastal look as it pairs wonderfully with a pale colour scheme, adding that ray of warmth you need in your room. Sunny oak finishes alongside textures found along the coast allow the natural grains of the wood to shine through. Try our Bevel range to add a modern edge to this effect.
Coastal Painted Furniture
Kemble 4ft 7″ dining table with six chairs
We’ve seen how painted furniture can really add a flash of brilliance into your home design. Our Kemble collection, for example, creates a rustic New England-inspired look. The combination of soft white with natural wood accents leaves a breezy, airy feeling that transports you to an idyllic coastal town.
Nautical Accessories
Of course, you’ll also want to combine these larger pieces with coastal-inspired details. Blue and white striped fabrics, natural unbleached linen, softly aged cotton and knitted fabrics all work beautifully with this comfortable and welcoming look.
Bella dressing table / Bella dressing table mirror
Get inspiration from mythical aspects of the coast: a mermaid-inspired Bella dressing table can be layered with many accessories that are colour-picked from gleaming ocean colours like aquamarine, seafoam and oyster.
Coastal Finishing Touches
Regency four seater sofa / Ashdown footstool / Morillo wall clock
The nautical look at its core is a relaxed and liveable one so be sure to complete the look with fun accessories like artwork depicting the sea or beach scenes, woven rope accessories or a vintage-inspired Morillo wall clock that looks like an ancient treasure found on a ship’s wreckage.
Is this a look you love? We’d love to see your pics! Tweet us at @OFLoakfurniture or tag us on Instagram!
