Decorating
10 Rules of Australian Beach Style
How to get a casual, easy-breezy seaside look at your home
With its down-to-earth, relaxed appeal, soothing hues, appreciation of quirky details and emphasis on the sea, sun and sand, beach style is ideal for Aussie interiors. Take a look at how it’s been done here and incorporate the easy-to-follow guidelines in to your decor for maximum visual and tactile effect.
2. Display scavenged treasures
Hunt down a timber specimen box or a small crate at flea markets or vintage stores and use it to display shells and bits of coral.
Hunt down a timber specimen box or a small crate at flea markets or vintage stores and use it to display shells and bits of coral.
3. Add a splash of colour
While the beach palette predominantly includes blues, neutrals and whites, don’t forget about other colours found in the ocean, such as this stunning coral hue, which brings femininity to a bedroom while remaining faithful to the beach style. Keep the bedcover neutral and use framed prints of coral or other sea life and a light throw in the vibrant hue.
While the beach palette predominantly includes blues, neutrals and whites, don’t forget about other colours found in the ocean, such as this stunning coral hue, which brings femininity to a bedroom while remaining faithful to the beach style. Keep the bedcover neutral and use framed prints of coral or other sea life and a light throw in the vibrant hue.
4. Set the scene with stripes
Pick up some washable nature-hued striped mats for use on timber floorboards. From a practical viewpoint they will keep dirt and sand from being trudged around inside the home and, visually, they will establish the beach vibe from the ground up with their natural texture and colour scheme.
Pick up some washable nature-hued striped mats for use on timber floorboards. From a practical viewpoint they will keep dirt and sand from being trudged around inside the home and, visually, they will establish the beach vibe from the ground up with their natural texture and colour scheme.
5. Decorate with a sense of humour
There are plenty of ways to have fun with beachy decor and a bathroom mirror frame bedecked with starfish is a fun and easy way to start. Armed with a hot-glue gun and some starfish from your local craft store, you could transform a plain frame in as little as an hour. One larger solo specimen placed on the wall adds a touch of whimsy in this bathroom.
There are plenty of ways to have fun with beachy decor and a bathroom mirror frame bedecked with starfish is a fun and easy way to start. Armed with a hot-glue gun and some starfish from your local craft store, you could transform a plain frame in as little as an hour. One larger solo specimen placed on the wall adds a touch of whimsy in this bathroom.
6. Forget about tablecloths
Part of the appeal of beach decorating is its low-maintenance, informal approach. By serving meals on timber tables dressed only with cutlery, crockery and some candles, shells or hurricane lamps, you’ll appreciate the natural beauty of the wood and reduce your laundry load.
Part of the appeal of beach decorating is its low-maintenance, informal approach. By serving meals on timber tables dressed only with cutlery, crockery and some candles, shells or hurricane lamps, you’ll appreciate the natural beauty of the wood and reduce your laundry load.
7. Include your surfboard
It’s unusual to be able to integrate sporting equipment into a living room but a surfboard propped up in a corner or securely mounted on a wall contributes to the relaxed beach-going appeal of this style, so by all means display it loud and proud. Landlubbers not so keen on riding the waves could keep an eye out for small decorative models to hang up, or perhaps a ‘gone fishing’ sign to indicate an enthusiasm for beach sports.
It’s unusual to be able to integrate sporting equipment into a living room but a surfboard propped up in a corner or securely mounted on a wall contributes to the relaxed beach-going appeal of this style, so by all means display it loud and proud. Landlubbers not so keen on riding the waves could keep an eye out for small decorative models to hang up, or perhaps a ‘gone fishing’ sign to indicate an enthusiasm for beach sports.
8. Play around within this style
While nautical decorating is a specific offshoot of beach style you can incorporate one or two elements of it into beach rooms without changing the light, airy feel. Here, bespoke folding doors feature trios of porthole windows that let in plenty of light, establishing a fun ocean feel from the front door.
While nautical decorating is a specific offshoot of beach style you can incorporate one or two elements of it into beach rooms without changing the light, airy feel. Here, bespoke folding doors feature trios of porthole windows that let in plenty of light, establishing a fun ocean feel from the front door.
9. Mix up your cushions
Printed hessian sacks can be cut up and transformed into fabulous and affordable cushion covers for a down-to-earth look, and they mix well with striped and plain white covers to create a layered effect of pleasing neutral tones in a genuine, unpretentious and, most importantly, comfortable display.
Printed hessian sacks can be cut up and transformed into fabulous and affordable cushion covers for a down-to-earth look, and they mix well with striped and plain white covers to create a layered effect of pleasing neutral tones in a genuine, unpretentious and, most importantly, comfortable display.
10. Try upcycling
Vintage or reproduction trunks can easily be repurposed into charming coffee tables or side tables. Add some driftwood and hurricane lamps on top to complete the look and store books and magazines inside the trunk to keep the room uncluttered.
Vintage or reproduction trunks can easily be repurposed into charming coffee tables or side tables. Add some driftwood and hurricane lamps on top to complete the look and store books and magazines inside the trunk to keep the room uncluttered.
A lampshade, such as this quirky one made from a lobster basket, offers a pleasing diffusion of artificial light while giving the room some texture and keeping the deliberately imperfect beach look working at different visual levels. You could also make or buy a twig, driftwood or wicker design.