Seaside Styling

Oh I do love to be beside the seaside and how fortunate for those of us that live in the many coastal cities dotted all around Australia that a trip to the beach is only a short drive or walk away.

But you don’t need beach frontage or a coastal postcode for that matter to add some seaside inspired touches and nautical nuances to your interior.

Achieve a chic seaside look by creating a neutral base as your canvas with a simple colour pallete of creams, whites and light beiges on your walls and trims. Coastal interiors have the wonderful ability to blur the lines between the interior and exterior with these calm colours creating a sense of bright airy spaces that are still cosy and restful.

As opposed to a heavily inspired nautical theme where bright reds and strong blues are used a coastal inspired interior incorporates natural elements and tones. Light blue linens, woven seagrass rugs, canvas coloured slipcovers and carefully added sea green accents complete the story.

Beach rocks, sea glass or shells en masse in a decorative container look amazing displayed on a coffee table, buffet or bathroom cabinet. Likewise a sea worn piece of driftwood or chunk of faux spike coral is the perfect sculptural hero item for the mantelpiece or console table.

Take cues for decorating in this style from treasures you may have gathered from a recent beachside sabbatical. A fun holiday project for the whole family to complete is to cover an old wooden box or photo frame with shells you have collected together. Using a glue gun or a clear adhesive with the required strength to bond shells or small pebbles to your item of choice is all you need to create an original and precious keepsake.

On a recent beachside break I collected various pieces of pumice that had washed ashore and spent an enjoyable afternoon mounting them on to a small canvas that I had painted white. The end result was a novel pumice shaped footprint that not only represented my restful holiday but doubled as a thank you gift for the owners of the beach house that I stayed in.

Set your creative juices adrift this weekend by creating your very own beach inspired haven and bring the ocean to your doorstep.