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So Your Style Is: Beach
This light and irresistibly lazy style invites you to kick off your shoes and relax even if you don't have ocean views
Joanna Tovia
26 May 2014
Houzz editorial team. Photojournalist specialising in design, travel and living well. Follow her photodocumentary about pets and the people who love them on Instagram @unfoldingtails
Houzz editorial team. Photojournalist specialising in design, travel and living well.... More
We’ve come a long way from the days of fibro beach shacks filled with cast-off furniture and purely functional decor. Whether on or off the coast, modern beach-style homes are chic and casual, and filled with natural light. With colours inspired by the sand, sun and sea, this bright and breezy style brings the outside in and is effortlessly stylish.
Why it works: With some of the world’s most stunning beaches on our doorsteps, beach-style decor is a natural choice for our active, outdoorsy lifestyles and relaxed approach to living. Say no to pictures of lighthouses and starfish and yes to a light, natural palette of crisp whites and well-worn timber and you have the basics of one of Australia’s favourite styles. You’ll find yourself in holiday mode the minute you open the front door.
You’ll love it if… You dream of waking up to ocean views and find the sound of waves lapping at the shore supremely soothing. If you grew up holidaying or living by the beach, like nothing more than spending the day swimming, surfing and gazing at the waves, and can’t get enough of that salty sea air, a beach-style home could be for you. Why wait for your next holiday if you can recreate that feelgood vibe every day of the week?
Take a look at the elements of beach style below and incorporate one or more into your home.
Why it works: With some of the world’s most stunning beaches on our doorsteps, beach-style decor is a natural choice for our active, outdoorsy lifestyles and relaxed approach to living. Say no to pictures of lighthouses and starfish and yes to a light, natural palette of crisp whites and well-worn timber and you have the basics of one of Australia’s favourite styles. You’ll find yourself in holiday mode the minute you open the front door.
You’ll love it if… You dream of waking up to ocean views and find the sound of waves lapping at the shore supremely soothing. If you grew up holidaying or living by the beach, like nothing more than spending the day swimming, surfing and gazing at the waves, and can’t get enough of that salty sea air, a beach-style home could be for you. Why wait for your next holiday if you can recreate that feelgood vibe every day of the week?
Take a look at the elements of beach style below and incorporate one or more into your home.
Relaxed vibe
The most important element of any beach-style home should be its casual and comfortable atmosphere. You shouldn’t have to fret about trekking sand in after a morning at the beach – the floorboards or tiles can be easily swept clean. And if your swimmers are still wet from a dip in the ocean? Sit on the couch anyway. It’ll dry. Walking around anything other than barefoot feels overly formal, and plonking your coffee cup down without a coaster should happen without a thought.
SOMETHING DIFFERENT: Just because coastal style is comfortable doesn’t mean it has to look cheap and cheerful. Go as high-end as you like with furnishings – just make sure they can withstand the rigours of everyday life.
The most important element of any beach-style home should be its casual and comfortable atmosphere. You shouldn’t have to fret about trekking sand in after a morning at the beach – the floorboards or tiles can be easily swept clean. And if your swimmers are still wet from a dip in the ocean? Sit on the couch anyway. It’ll dry. Walking around anything other than barefoot feels overly formal, and plonking your coffee cup down without a coaster should happen without a thought.
SOMETHING DIFFERENT: Just because coastal style is comfortable doesn’t mean it has to look cheap and cheerful. Go as high-end as you like with furnishings – just make sure they can withstand the rigours of everyday life.
Light and open
There’s a reason you’ve never seen a dimly lit home trying to pull off a carefree coastal style – without loads of natural light, it just doesn’t work. Open up your house to the sun as much as you can – it may mean turning windows into concertina doors, installing a skylight or taking out walls to get there – and amplify the light around the room with light tones in furnishings and flooring. Expansive, open spaces are what makes this style of home feel so wonderfully relaxed, so don’t rush to fill every bit of space – less is definitely more.
SOMETHING DIFFERENT: Go easy on the bling, but reflect as much natural light into the home as you can with a carefully placed mirror or two. Keep frames simple – natural or white-painted timber is a safe choice.
There’s a reason you’ve never seen a dimly lit home trying to pull off a carefree coastal style – without loads of natural light, it just doesn’t work. Open up your house to the sun as much as you can – it may mean turning windows into concertina doors, installing a skylight or taking out walls to get there – and amplify the light around the room with light tones in furnishings and flooring. Expansive, open spaces are what makes this style of home feel so wonderfully relaxed, so don’t rush to fill every bit of space – less is definitely more.
SOMETHING DIFFERENT: Go easy on the bling, but reflect as much natural light into the home as you can with a carefully placed mirror or two. Keep frames simple – natural or white-painted timber is a safe choice.
White and bright
Think crisp cottons and lovely linens in white or pale pastels, with just a pop of colour here and there to keep things interesting. If you’re lucky enough to have a a view of the beach, take care not to detract from it with fussy window treatments.
SOMETHING DIFFERENT: Choose light, floaty fabrics on the windows that billow in the sea breeze.
Think crisp cottons and lovely linens in white or pale pastels, with just a pop of colour here and there to keep things interesting. If you’re lucky enough to have a a view of the beach, take care not to detract from it with fussy window treatments.
SOMETHING DIFFERENT: Choose light, floaty fabrics on the windows that billow in the sea breeze.
Unexpected kitsch
A sense of humour suits beach-style chic to a tee, so steer away from clichéd seashells and other overdone symbols of the sea, and look to the fibro holiday houses of the ‘60s and ‘70s for inspiration. A tie-dyed lamp shade, ‘70s-orange armchair and bathing beauty are modern takes on the fashions of yesteryear, and add a sense of fun to any beach house.
A sense of humour suits beach-style chic to a tee, so steer away from clichéd seashells and other overdone symbols of the sea, and look to the fibro holiday houses of the ‘60s and ‘70s for inspiration. A tie-dyed lamp shade, ‘70s-orange armchair and bathing beauty are modern takes on the fashions of yesteryear, and add a sense of fun to any beach house.
SOMETHING DIFFERENT: Stylise one of the seaside fashions of days gone by in a modern artwork. This series of old-fashioned bathing caps shouts coastal style but has lashings of contemporary creativity.
Clean lines
Clear those benchtops and pack away the appliances; beach-style bliss should be relaxed and easy, free of fuss and big on function. An all-white kitchen is the perfect choice against natural timber flooring.
SOMETHING DIFFERENT: An unexpected element can bring a home to life. These metallic kitchen stools, for example, are a departure from typical beach-style materials, but they work beautifully.
Clear those benchtops and pack away the appliances; beach-style bliss should be relaxed and easy, free of fuss and big on function. An all-white kitchen is the perfect choice against natural timber flooring.
SOMETHING DIFFERENT: An unexpected element can bring a home to life. These metallic kitchen stools, for example, are a departure from typical beach-style materials, but they work beautifully.
Revamped furnishings
Cottage beach style is one of the most endearing interpretations of coastal style, and one of the easiest ways to achieve it is making use of second-hand stores and eBay. A painted chair, an old suitcase, a pile of books to flick through on an old coffee table. Think beach shack, but with loads of personal style.
SOMETHING DIFFERENT: Don’t be afraid to use colour in cushions, artwork or curtains, but do so sparingly. Even a pale yellow like the one used on this chair stands out against a mostly white and natural timber palette.
Cottage beach style is one of the most endearing interpretations of coastal style, and one of the easiest ways to achieve it is making use of second-hand stores and eBay. A painted chair, an old suitcase, a pile of books to flick through on an old coffee table. Think beach shack, but with loads of personal style.
SOMETHING DIFFERENT: Don’t be afraid to use colour in cushions, artwork or curtains, but do so sparingly. Even a pale yellow like the one used on this chair stands out against a mostly white and natural timber palette.
Natural materials
Whether you have a view of the ocean or not, beach-style homes make the most of Australia’s fabulous weather on verandahs and decks, and in courtyards and backyards. Natural materials are the way to go for these outdoor havens, and look to the beach for inspiration as far as colour – the blue ocean, white sand, golden sun and orange sunsets all work well with the warm tones of timber and cane.
SOMETHING DIFFERENT: Continue the white and pale colour palette outdoors if you can’t get enough of it inside, and punctuate with a bright cushion or two.
Whether you have a view of the ocean or not, beach-style homes make the most of Australia’s fabulous weather on verandahs and decks, and in courtyards and backyards. Natural materials are the way to go for these outdoor havens, and look to the beach for inspiration as far as colour – the blue ocean, white sand, golden sun and orange sunsets all work well with the warm tones of timber and cane.
SOMETHING DIFFERENT: Continue the white and pale colour palette outdoors if you can’t get enough of it inside, and punctuate with a bright cushion or two.
Keep it simple
Coastal style should be livable and casual, and not try too hard to look cool. It’s all about the lifestyle, after all. Traipsing home after a swim, enjoying a sundowner with friends on the deck, grabbing some fish and chips by the beach. Choose decorative items for display with care and keep them to a minimum.
SOMETHING DIFFERENT: Artwork can be the exception when it comes to neutral colours, so add a splash of red, blue, orange or yellow, but be sure not to overdo it. Coastal style is about understated charm, and too much on the walls takes away from its easy, breezy feel.
Coastal style should be livable and casual, and not try too hard to look cool. It’s all about the lifestyle, after all. Traipsing home after a swim, enjoying a sundowner with friends on the deck, grabbing some fish and chips by the beach. Choose decorative items for display with care and keep them to a minimum.
SOMETHING DIFFERENT: Artwork can be the exception when it comes to neutral colours, so add a splash of red, blue, orange or yellow, but be sure not to overdo it. Coastal style is about understated charm, and too much on the walls takes away from its easy, breezy feel.
Relaxed and easy
Practicalities are key when it comes to a beach-style bathroom. Make it easy to rinse off the sand and salt with easy-to-clean surfaces, large showerheads and room to move. This bathroom stays true to a natural palette and is a peaceful space in which to unwind. Busy lives mean we can’t always spend as much time on the beach as we’d like to, but a great bathroom can do almost as good a job of washing those cares away.
SOMETHING DIFFERENT: Stick with an all-white palette, and punctuate with striped navy-and-white towels and accessories: this marine colour pairing can’t help but look chic. This is also the place to display all those finds you collect in your strolls on the beach – put shells, driftwood and seaglass on display in cabinets, on windowsills and in shapely glass jars on the vanity.
Practicalities are key when it comes to a beach-style bathroom. Make it easy to rinse off the sand and salt with easy-to-clean surfaces, large showerheads and room to move. This bathroom stays true to a natural palette and is a peaceful space in which to unwind. Busy lives mean we can’t always spend as much time on the beach as we’d like to, but a great bathroom can do almost as good a job of washing those cares away.
SOMETHING DIFFERENT: Stick with an all-white palette, and punctuate with striped navy-and-white towels and accessories: this marine colour pairing can’t help but look chic. This is also the place to display all those finds you collect in your strolls on the beach – put shells, driftwood and seaglass on display in cabinets, on windowsills and in shapely glass jars on the vanity.
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