We all love that carefree, relaxed feeling we have when we are lying on a white, sandy beach, listening to the ebb and flow of the waves. Being close to the sea reminds us of long summer days, ice cream, and family vacations. Some of us want to bottle this feeling and bring it home with us – luckily, there are ways to do this through home design: Nautical Chic Interior Décor – how to achieve the look.
Colour
The color most of us think of first when we think of the nautical theme is blue. Blue is the color of the sea and features highly in the nautical look. For a chic, classic look, choose deep shades of blue paint such as Prussian Blue or navy for a feature wall and team with crisp, white adjoining walls and furniture. Look for wallpapers with a sea theme such as shells or nautical stripes reminiscent of a sailor’s Breton t-shirt. Enhance with touches of red.
If you want a lighter and airier beach feel, use lighter blue shades such as sky blue or pastel shades. Blue and white, with accents of sandy yellow, will make your room feel fresh and clean.
Wooden paneled walls that are painted white or lightly lime-washed can be very effective. Mimic the look of sun-bleached wood paneling with an innovative faux-effect plank-look wallpaper.
Accessories
If you keep your décor low key, you can really push the boat out with your accessories. Nautical themed accessories are always easy to find as it’s such a popular look.
There are accessories for every room in your home. You can accentuate the look by decorating with driftwood framed, mirrors, and sea-themed prints for the living room. Jars filled with sand and shells look good adorning shelves in the bathroom. Distressed wooden beach signs brighten up the bathroom walls, and striped towels will add a punch of color.
Make your home office stylish and reminiscent of a captain’s chamber by decorating in dark blue, accented with gold touches. A nautical desk clock and gold reading lamp will give your workspace a classy touch, as will a set of antique maps, framed and hung on the walls.
Wooden lighthouses and boats can be used to add some interest to bookshelves. If you are a nature lover, you could seek out accessories with marine animal themes or even make a focal point of a fish tank complete with real fish and crustaceans.
Furniture
Furniture should be kept rustic, wooden, and natural. Furnish with rattan chairs, weathered wooden tables, and cabinets that give the impression they are driftwood washed up on the shore. For a fun look, check out boat shaped bookcases or a coffee table constructed from a ship steering wheel.
Upcycle old furniture and give it a nautical look by sandblasting it and painting it with blue and white chalk paint. Stencil fun maritime designs on it or decoupage with beautiful marine papers. Add some anchor or starfish-shaped handles to complete the look.
If you would like a one-of-a-kind piece of furniture, ask a craftsman to commission a coffee table out of a large portion of driftwood.
Soft Furnishings
Use light, billowy fabrics for curtain panels and ensure they are sheer to let as much light in as possible. The nautical look is all about bringing the brightness of the coast indoors. If you prefer a window covering that allows more privacy, opt for wooden venetian blinds, bamboo roller blinds, or exquisite plantation shutters.
Sofa covers should be loose and relaxed and made from cotton canvas or linen. Natural woven textures help to add a rustic beachcomber feel without making the look feel too contrived. Choose shades of blue, gray, or be adventurous and look for a couch with bold stripes. Scatter with large cushions embellished with nautical designs such as anchors, shells, or sea creatures. Bleached denim creates a relaxed feeling and can be used for sofa coverings or cushions.
Flooring
White-washed wooden floorboards made from blond maple or ash will achieve a beach hut look. Scatter the floor with rugs made from natural textiles such as seagrass, jute, or straw. If you prefer a carpeted floor, check out sisal carpet. Natural sisal carpets have long been a favorite with interior designs thanks to their earthy, rustic texture. Add to that sisal’s higher-than-average durability, and it makes them the perfect wall to wall carpets for high traffic areas such as hallways and living rooms
