Ever since moving to the Lowcountry I have really upped my game in coastal-style home decorating. I have always wanted a house close to the beach and now that I finally do, it has been a fun project remodeling and designing it. Coastal style interiors are beautiful and every coastal home can be made unique in its own way.
The one thing I wanted to make sure of throughout this project was that I didn’t get carried away to the point that it became overbearing. I wanted to transform the house into a clean, bright and fresh space that gives off ocean vibes, without making it look like a fisherman’s heaven.
Shiplap
One of the first things we decided to do while renovating the house was to make an accent wall in the living room. The room was rather dark to begin with, so in an attempt to give the space a bright and beachy feeling we decided to use shiplap.
Creating an accent wall with shiplap was a game-changer for our living room and can be a great addition to any room. As soon as it was finished, it shifted the entire vibe of the house and made the home so much brighter. Shiplap can give any home that immediate coastal feeling.
You can get shiplap pretty much anywhere (even on Amazon?!). While I was searching for options I discovered that there is even self-adhesive shiplap. It’s a type of removable wallpaper that is a cheaper (and easier) alternative if you want to hold off on buying actual planks and installing them. You can check it out here.
Table Trays
Every coffee table needs a tray to spice it up. Why not use it as a way to display some cool, coastal trinkets to get the point across? Finding pieces to accessorize your coffee table can turn into a fun scavenger hunt. Try to find a tray that is made of driftwood, shells, oysters – anything that will make a statement sitting in the center. Once you find the perfect tray, finish it off with 3 or 4 staple pieces to finalize the look. For example, I added:
- A small plant to add some color
- Rustic, stackable coasters that look rough and sandy
- Candle holder (sea creature) to hold a candle that displays a beachy phrase
- Shark’s tooth… that my man reeled in on his anchor (but for real, how cool?)
The point is, it doesn’t have to be a lot. Keep it simple and utilize your own personal findings from the ocean or the beach like we did with the shark’s tooth. It makes for an awesome statement piece and is a great conversation starter!
Place Settings
If you have any type of high-top bar in your kitchen, dress it up with some place settings (otherwise utilize your kitchen table). Find placemats (chargers) that make a pop and use plates that are more neutral.
I scored our beaded sets from Home Goods and they add a nice ocean-like shimmer to the bar-top. If you can find a set of plates that are rather shear (similar to or resembling beach glass) it compliments the beach theme perfectly. I also came across these beauties Finish it off with some napkin rings to lay on top. The best part is you can change them through the year to match the seasons!
Whitewash Furniture
Personally, I think this is one of the most efficient ways to transform any space. Whitewashing furniture can be an awesome weekend project, especially in the fall when things start to cool off. Plus, who doesn’t love a little DIY?
We used whitewash paint to make our bar-top look more distressed and beachy. Better yet, it is super easy to apply. If you don’t want to buy whitewash paint, make use of basic white paint you may have in garage storage. I have distressed furniture in the past by simply using old white paint. After it dries, sand it down lightly to add distress to the edges and around the handles for a more vintage, beachy look.
Amazon has an amazing chalk paint called Retique It. Not only does it come in white, but a million different colors to brighten up your space.
Bottom line, have some fun with it. Make it yours!
Xoxo, Vic