How do you decorate your house with a coastal theme?

How do you decorate your house with a coastal theme? | H is for Home

Coastal décor brings back memories of hot, lazy summer days, filled with the warmth of the sun and the light sea breeze. Who wouldn’t like to live like that all year long? The climate of carefree, slow life seems a perfect idea for all of us. Why not, then, try to restore the ambience of a sunny sea resort in our own house? Decorations, furniture and other fancy elements can create an ideal coastal climate in your living room or bedroom! Below we provide some creative tips and inspirations on how to introduce a coastal theme into your interior.

Natural cane armchair with blue patterned seat pads

Choose natural materials

Materials such as linen, canvas, ceramics and wood are often associated with natural, simple lifestyle. That’s why they’re useful in making a perfect coastal-style interior. You can choose for example linen curtains, cotton cushions and wooden furniture – chairs, tables and bookshelves. To boost the impression of a natural interior, focus on natural colours – shades of white, blue, grey, brown or green are associated with the earth, beach and sea. Ideally, choose two or three colours and experiment with their shades to get a perfect combination.

Close up of a pair of wood slatted deck chairs

Arrange a balcony or terrace

A coastal-style house is nothing without a properly decorated balcony or terrace! Don’t worry about the size or design – it’s enough to simply add a few seaside loving plants, a small coffee table and wicker sunbeds or deckchairs! A little space to enjoy a morning coffee or an evening drink is essential for this type of home. If you don’t have your personal space to do it, you can think of renting or buying a summerhouse which would be a perfect place to slow down. If you look for some offers, check out The Pattisal Group website.

Home office with a surfboard in the corner

Make your house comfortable

Think of surfers’ lifestyles – they put comfort first. Sipping drinks in a local cocktail bar, sunbathing on the beach, taking long walks along the coast – try to copy their lifestyle and make your interior comfy and cosy. Invest in high-quality sofas and armchairs, add some soft blankets and cushions – your house is a place where you spend a lot of time, so why not make it as pleasurable as possible? Seashells, driftwood and sea glass also create a relaxing, coastal vibe.

Bedroom decorated with a coastal theme

Pay attention to the details

Sometimes the smallest details are what count the most when enhancing a space. If you want to decorate your house in coastal style, choose some simple wall art and photo frames. Hang pictures or paintings of nature – a view of the beach, ocean or forest will be relaxing and pleasurable to look at especially after a tiring day.

Ship's cabin themed bedroom

Leave lots of space

Even the most coastal-like interior will look artificial if it’s cluttered and dark. That’s why one of the rules to follow is to leave a lot of free space in the interior. Remove all the unnecessary items or furniture that make the rooms look smaller and dated. Remember that coastal lifestyle is all about space and freedom – you’ll feel much better in a spacious, light interior! Try to think only about the crucial elements of interior design; if it’s the living room, choose a comfy sofa, a coffee table, possibly an armchair and a bookshelf or cupboard – there’s no need to clutter it with unnecessary furniture that won’t be used.

Bathroom with a nautical theme

Think about plants and flowers

Plants and flowers can be a refreshing element to an interior. When it comes to coastal style, they’re almost inevitable! Sand and stone decorations will blend well with the green design. For a more economical result, mix fresh cut flowers with dried ones to have a greater, more dramatic effect.

Person hanging strings of warm, soft fairly lights

Make the light natural

Coastal style is associated with long, bright, sunny days. That’s why it’s important to adapt your lighting to it. Try to allow your house to get enough natural light – if the windows are small, don’t cover them with large, thick curtains, allow sunlight to shine through. Think about the lighting during the evening too – bulbs with warm, soft white light will work best. Additionally, hang paper lanterns or fairy lights to create a cosy night-time atmosphere!

Bedroom with hanging hurrican lamps

Personalise

Remember – your personal preference is what matters most in interior design! Think which elements you find the most pleasing or simply good-looking in a living room, bedroom or other space. Add your favourite travel snaps or family pictures, meaningful decorations and other pieces – what’s important is conjuring up happy memories.

Decorating your house with a coastal theme is a great idea for bringing a fresh feel to an interior at a relatively low cost. When you follow some rules and choose matching furniture, natural colours and materials, designing your new interior will be very easy. A nice balcony or terrace and functional lighting are other elements that create an ideal nautical space. Finally, personalise the space by adding plants, pebbles, sand and some other favourite bits – experimenting is the key to a perfect interior, isn’t it?

[disclosure*]

A day out in Aberaeron

Sunlight catching the water in the harbour

Justin’s mum and sister came to look at our new house yesterday. After a potter around and cups of tea, we decided to go for a drive – and show them one of our favourite places that’s on the doorstep. Well, not quite doorstep, but only 30 minutes drive. The place in question is the small harbour town of Aberaeron.

Blue painted house Green painted house

It’s a lovely destination to visit, whether just for an hour or two… or for a much longer stay.

Tafarn Cadwgan, a pink pub in Aberaeron Tafarn Cadwgan, a pink pub in Aberaeron

There are pretty, brightly painted houses everywhere you look.

Terrace of mulit-coloured houses along the harbour at Aberaeron

These provide the perfect backdrop for an equally attractive harbour area where boats are moored.

The Hive at Aberaeron

The first time we came here there had just been severe flooding in the area, and it was quite a scene of devastation. Large pieces of debris had been brought downstream by a raging river torrent and smashed into the small sea craft (as you can see at the left hand side of the photo below). Many vessels were affected, particularly closer to the mouth of the river. It must have taken some clearing up. It’s back to its gorgeous best now though and we had a very nice couple of hours in the sunshine, taking in the fresh sea air and having a bite to eat.

Aberaeron harbour | H is for Home

There’s no shortage of places to eat or have coffee. Pubs, restaurants, cafés, fish & chip shops and ice cream parlours. Personally, we’ve sampled meals and coffee The Harbourmaster, ice-cream at The Hive and fish & chips at The New Celtic . They all come highly recommended!

Seld interiors shop on Bridge Street, Aberaeron

In addition to the various catering establishments, there are also some lovely little independent shops. These include interiors shop Seld, which we always like to have a mooch around when we’re there. There’s always something to tempt us. And there’s more temptation just round the corner – Manor Farm Barn Antiques stocks some fabulous country furniture.

Quayside, Aberaeron

Aberaeron also has food, garden and craft festivals. In fact, one of our recent trips coincided with Feast – Aberaeron which was going with a real swing when we arrived.

Food festival, Feast Aberaeron

You can find bustling spots or quiet corners. Whichever you choose, just sit, take it all in – and enjoy.

Eating fish and chips beside the river Aeron

If you’re ever driving along the Ceredigion coast road, be sure to pull the car over and take a break here. Or make it the destination for a section of the coastal walk perhaps. Or even book a cottage for a week and spend a few days discovering the various attractions of the town and surrounding area.

Etsy List: Life’s a Beach!

'Etsy List' blog post banner

Life's a Beach! Etsy List curated by H is for Home

Did you know that we have our own little beach in Todmorden? Yes, we’re nowhere near the coast, but it’s an inland beach of sorts… and almost 800ft up!

If it’s mid-week, sunny summer’s day, you can go for a half an hour’s walk (or mountain bike) up to Gaddings Dam and, if you’re lucky, you can get the beach all to yourself. You can take a picnic or even do a spot of wild swimming!

Life’s a Beach!
Curated by H is for Home

All’s well in Wells!

'All's well in Wells!' blog post banner

Colourful beach huts on the beach between Wells-next-the-Sea and Holkham | H is for Home

We’ve just returned from a holiday in North Norfolk…

boats in the harbour at high tide, Wells-next-the-Sea

Wells-next-the-Sea to be precise.

crabpots stacked up in the harbour, Wells-next-the-Sea

A lovely coastal town with a busy working harbour, shops and fantastic sandy beach.

house sign on the Sailmakers Barn, Wells-next-the-Sea

We stayed at Sailmakers Barn – a wonderful cottage, full of character, very comfortable and only a few minutes’ walk from the town centre & quayside.

exterior view of Sailmakers Barn, Wells-next-the-Sea lounge of Sailmakers Barn, Wells-next-the-Sea
bedroom of Sailmakers Barn, Wells-next-the-Sea view out of master bedroom of Sailmakers Barn, Wells-next-the-Sea

Around the corner from the cottage was The Buttlands, an impressive Georgian square fringed by mature lime trees…

view of Buttlands, Wells-next-the-Sea

…with gorgeous buildings and dog-friendly pubs at either end!

exterior of the Globe, Buttlands, Wells-next-the-Sea exterior of the Crown, Buttlands, Wells-next-the-Sea

As you can see from our photos, we had lots of blue skies…

boats in the harbour, Wells-next-the-Sea

…so spent long days walking, soaking up the sun, picnicking and shopping.

view of the grannery in the harbour at sunset, Wells-next-the-Sea

We watched beautiful sunsets, picked strawberries, beach combed and spotted the local wildlife.

Boats in the harbour at low tide, Wells-next-the-Sea

We did a lot of al fresco dining – breakfast on our balcony, fish & chips by the quayside, barbecues and relaxed pub lunches.

colourful beach huts on the beach between Wells-next-the-Sea and Holkham

In addition to Wells, we visited some of the surrounding towns and coastal villages including Blakeney, Cley and Holt. We only scratched the surface – there are lots more places to see, but we’ll just have to save them for our next trip.

heart in the sand made from shells on the beach between Wells-next-the-Sea and Holkham

It was our first time in the area, but it definitely won’t be the last… we really fell in love with Norfolk!