How to achieve the coastal look in your home

Envision neutral tones, natural materials and the light and breezy feeling of a sunny day at the beach. The coastal look isn’t kitschy or cliche, instead it celebrates the beauty of the seaside landscape by bringing its most distinctive elements inside your home.

Whether it’s whitewashing your furniture or picking out new decor, there is something that everyone can do to give their home a more beachy feel. Here are five chic and easy ideas to make your home feel like a coastal getaway all year long.

1. Choose a neutral colour palette

A great starting point for a coastal interior is a neutral base. Keep your walls and larger pieces of furniture white or another neutral shade. The lighter you keep your base, the breezier your room will feel, staying true to the airiness of the coastal look. Of course, not everything in your space needs to be neutral. Soft, pastel blues and yellows are welcome additions. For a more nautical theme, venture into dark blues and contrasting whites.

2. Upcycle your existing furniture to give it a beachy feel

Another unique element of the coastal style is the use of light wood or white washed timber pieces. Take the sustainable route and upcycle an existing piece of furniture to get the look. White washing your furniture gives it the airy, natural and rustic feel which the coastal style is all about. Breathe new life and coastal flare into an old coffee table or chest of drawers by using Feast Watson Liming White Stain. Keep in mind that any good stain requires a top coat to protect and seal your furniture. Our Clear Varnish is a great top coat option to help accentuate the beauty of your beachy, white washed piece.

3. Go for natural textures and materials

Natural textures are another key component of the coastal style which adds character to your space and mimics the rugged landscape of the beach. Choose distinctively coastal materials to replace your basics. An earthy seagrass floor rug, paired with crisp linen curtains take neutral tones to the next level. From there, you can start to add in wicker baskets for storage and a beautiful woven throw rug for the couch. A vase full of dried pampas grass is a sustainable and beachy alternative to traditional flowers, maintaining the naturalistic style.

4. Choose subtle, beachy décor

A great way to enhance the coastal look in your home is to choose décor which speaks to an oceanic or nautical theme. Find pieces which remind you of a relaxing day at the beach. These pieces should be functional while also serving the aesthetic. Shell shaped bowls, rustic wooden trays and driftwood sculptures are mainstays of the coastal style. Give your home a sense of place by hanging up a print of your favourite local beach or seek out art pieces which subtly nod to oceanic colours and themes. Look for candles with beachy scents like coconut, frangipani and sea salt, to complete the feeling of a seaside paradise.

5. Use natural light to your advantage

The most amazing part of the coastal look is its ability to bring the beauty of the outdoors into your home. So, make sure that you are taking advantage of the natural light in your home. This means ensuring that windows are unobstructed and avoiding large, dark furniture pieces. For spaces that do not have the luxury of abundant natural light, create more with less by adding a mirror. This will reflect the natural light that you do have and make the space look bigger, achieving the light and airy feel of the coastal look.

The coastal look can be as minimalistic and easy to achieve as you desire. Coating your furniture with our Liming White Stain is just one way to help achieve the beautiful, breezy look of a coastal themed interior. Along with natural colours, materials and other decor, your home will be a beachy paradise in no time.