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Nautical IDEAS

Coastal and Nautical Décor: Ideas for Your Home

Welcome the light and breezy styles of Coastal and Nautical décor in your home with beach inspired furniture and accessories. These relaxed themes bring the natural beauty of the sea indoors and create a tranquil getaway.

Decorating Tips

Giving your room or home a Coastal or Nautical makeover is as easy as understanding the elements common to these styles:

Furniture:

For a real oceanside feel, incorporate several pieces that are comfortable/overstuffed and upholstered in easy-to-clean sport fabrics. Striped slipcovers are a great way to capture this look and feature the added

bonus of being able to change them whenever you’re in the mood for a fresh new look.

For wood pieces, opt for those painted in pale, milky whites, blues or greens. Finishes designed

for a weathered or distressed look are especially popular. Give current furniture or yard sale

finds new life by using chippy or cracked paint treatments available at craft and hardware stores. Be sure to replace ordinary knobs and pulls with sea-inspired designs in antique brass, copper,

pewter or nickel.

Wicker furniture is an excellent alternative to wood and adds casual flair to living rooms and

bedrooms. You can also make ordinary pieces extraordinary by adding an artful seashell design.

For ideas, take a look at our Shell Furniture.

Wall Color:

Don’t underestimate the importance of wall color when creating nautical interior designs. The right paint creates the comfortable mood you’re looking for and brings together the different elements of your design. Consider these options:

Soothing colors like light and creamy whites, yellows or blues

Paint effects such as sponging or crackling to create an aged or weathered effect

Beach-themed stencils

Wall borders or murals

Wainscoting, especially for a New England look

Lighting:

Lighting is a principle element of Nautical or Coastal interior design. Combine natural light and recessed lighting with interesting table or floor lamps. Many exciting choices are available, such as designs featuring boats, fish, seashells or coral, seabirds, anchors, lighthouses or lifeguard chairs. You can also use coordinating ceiling fans. Lamp kits available at craft or hardware stores make it easy to convert many found objects into original lighting designs.

Accessories:

The options for accessorizing are as endless as the variety of the sea. Get started with these ideas:

Large starfish on white shelves

Glass bowls or vases filled with your favorite sea shells and beach sand

Lobster trap markers and fish nets

Mermaid or blue crab figurines

Driftwood finished with rope and a metal sandpiper figure

Crane or nautilus bookends

Weathered wooden seagulls or ships

Sea shell mirrors or picture frames

Porthole-shaped mirrors

Stained glass images of lighthouses

For many, beachcombing is a favorite seaside pastime. Display ocean-themed items found on the beach or in stores or yard sales such as:

Ship replicas

Old brass spyglasses

Vintage sextants

A shadow box of nautical knots

Worn lanterns

Oars, nets, fishing poles, glass floats

Soften the look and accentuate furniture pieces by adding decorative pillows with seashore designs or solid blue and white colors.

Flooring:

Add warmth to the nautical theme by including area rugs throughout the home. Popular choices include sisal mats, short pile rugs, or stenciled floor mats in tan or blue. Other complementary choices for this style include rugs featuring coastal scenes.

If you prefer hardwood, a light stain goes perfectly with area rugs in white, tan, blue, ocean green or white.

Wall Art:

Highlight your coastal theme using wall art. Consider black and white beach and ocean scenes or boat prints in light frames. To enhance this style, apply seaside watercolors or Doral prints to a chippy white frame. Other excellent choices include prints of seashells, starfish, birds and harbor scenes, a tromp l’oeil of a porthole or a tapestry featuring a romantic ocean panorama.

Window Treatments:

Think light and airy with sailboats, lighthouses or seashells; canvas with blue and white stripes; or consider bamboo or Roman shades.

Have Sea and Shell create a CUSTOM PIECE for your coastal

and nautical influenced home.

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