Coastal Decorations For Your Home

Repurpose rope cleats as the perfect coastal coat rack. To make, simply screw evenly spaced metal cleats into a painted board.

To give her small California cottage a large, airy feel, designer Raili Clasen had the drop ceiling removed and brightened up the dark wood with white paint. Rewired with jute-covered cord, the vintage pendant fixture hangs directly from a junction box, but the swag rope makes it look like it’s nonchalantly tossed around the beams. Surrounding the large dining table is a mix of mismatched vintage chairs which Raili gave a uniform look with happy green paint.

Get the Look:
Ceiling Paint Color: Pure White by Sherwin-Williams
Chair Paint Color: Avocado by Sherwin-Williams
Jute-Covered Cord: Jute Rope Electrical Cord Kit from Amazon

TOUR THIS BEACH HOUSE

In this Connecticut powder room by designer Gaelle Dudley of GLDESIGN, blue and blue cement tiles laid in a buffalo check pattern floor lends a playful coastal vibe. Wicker sconces add to the casual, beachy vibe.

No material feels more at home in a beach house than rattan, and, as this pretty breakfast nook in a Bahamian beach house designed by Amanda Lindroth proves, there is no such thing as too much. Cushions in soft blues add just the right amount of color in this inviting neutral space.

See more of this home in Amanda’s upcoming book, Island Dreaming: Amanda Lindroth Design.

Switch out your box-store curtain rod for a patinaed paddle or oar. To install, screw the oar directly into your wall (make sure you drill into a stud), or rest the paddle on curtain rod brackets. Slip the narrow end of the paddle through the curtain’s rod pocket or use curtain rings to hang.

To give this 170-year-old Nantucket cottage a fresh update, designer Kevin Isbell first started by painting all the wood planked walls a crisp white, and then drenched the floors in a deep blue inspired by the nearby ocean. Use outdoor-rated enamel deck or porch paint to stand up to beach house traffic.

Get the Look:
Floor Paint Color: Champion Cobalt by Benjamin Moore

Thanks to a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows and sliding doors, all eyes are on the prize in this dreamy dining room. To add softness, homeowner Marsha Ahearn had breezy tie-top curtains made from 100-year-old French sheets found at the Brimfield antiques shows. Adding to the room’s casual look, rather than a chandelier, a lightweight, but hunky lantern hangs above the generous dining table. Pillows made from vintage bark cloth fabric add feminine pattern to the mix of natural wicker chairs.

Get the Look:
Lantern: For similar, “Ricardo” by Birch Lane

Three words sum up the oh-so-cute kitchen in designer Krista Ewart’s California beach cottage: scallops, scallops, and more scallops. Oh, a perfectly pink retro-style refrigerator, too!

Get the Look:
Pink Refrigerator: 50’s Style Frig by SMEG

Believe it or not, this airy coastal bedroom used to be a dark hole thanks to its knotty pine surround. Crisp, bright white paint from floor to ceiling instantly transformed the small space, providing a blank backdrop for homeowner Ted Kennedy Watson’s punchy layers of sea-faring themed furnishings such as nautical flags, anchor pillows, and old lockers.

TOUR THIS COASTAL COTTAGE

Transform your porch into a cozy place to relax with summertime staples like wicker furniture and upholstery in bright whites and natural hues. Add a colorful rug to disguise any sand guests may carry in with them. For a lighthearted touch—upturn a wicker basket to use as ceiling mount light shade.

RELATED: More Inviting Sunroom Ideas for Creating a Dreamy Year-Round Retreat

It’s summertime and the loungin’ is easy on this plush window seat, stacked high with pillows and tucked away behind pretty sea-blue curtain panels.