Get in the mood for Spring with these simple design ideas
BY MELISSA DAVIS
Spring is the season of renewal and rebirth. Birds migrate to their summer villas after the cold winter, flowers spring to life in an extravagant array of colours, and animals of all kinds emerge to travel and explore the world. For me, the temptation to travel sets in as I anxiously await the breezy summer days ahead. You don’t have to leave your home to capture that sense of adventure. You can satisfy that springtime desire for change by bringing in a fresh coastal design scheme to your own living space.
With some of my simple design ideas, you can welcome the joys of spring and by being conscientious with your choices, ensure that your homes not only look attractive, but are healthy spaces, too. Here are my top design tips for a coastal design—with an eco approach.
BREEZY WINDOWS
Let’s dive in! The ideal is a roomy, open space, with plenty of natural lighting and wide windows. If you’re lacking natural light, fake it by adding ambient lighting with floor and table lamps to mimic a bright summer day. The drapery should be long, pale blue or white curtains that can billow in the breeze like rolling, seafoam waves. Mount the panels high and keep the windows otherwise clear to let as much natural light flow through as possible. The idea is for the curtains to mimic the ocean, creating the soothing ambience of a coastal paradise.
For a slightly bolder, fun-in-the-sun look, you could also use brighter coloured (salmon or pale yellow) curtains, but be sure to keep the material light and airy. It should be able to easily flow in the wind.
GET THE LOOK: Solid Base, colour Snow by Robert Allen is the perfect sheer drapery fabric. It’s 100 per cent linen, which means all the natural imperfections shine through layering in a casual vibe.
WHITEWASHED
Coastal design is about bright fresh spaces and there is nothing quite like a crisp white wall colour to achieve that look. Add interest with painted beadboard on the walls or ceilings, but keep the colour itself white.
GET THE LOOK: Natura Paint by Benjamin Moore has Zero VOC, is environmentally friendly and recently certified asthma and allergy friendly. Opt for colour, Simply White OC-117, in a flat finish for a more natural warm look.
WISPY PLANTS
Adding a potted planter of seagrass or other tall, wispy seaside flora adds instant life to the space. The look should be lively and active—even when completely still. Just as sand is always sweeping across the landscape and waves are always kissing the shore, there should be a sense of movement in a coastal design, though a consistent soothing feeling should remain.
SEASIDE MOTIFS
An easy way to bring the beach to you is to add subtle seaside motifs to the space. While it is important to keep the symbolism subtle, a soft seascape portrait or some seashell-embroidered pillows can add that last ocean touch to complete the look. If you’ve been to the beach before, you could even implement treasures you’ve found yourself. A few hand-collected sand dollars or a stylized bottle filled with authentic sand can truly add some beach flair to the final look. Remember, the coastal style is as much about peace as it is about adventure. Keep the style warmly subtle, and you can’t go wrong.
GET THE LOOK: Seacrest Shore by Robert Allen is the perfect coastal print. A crisp white background and coral motif add a hit of colour while keeping the beachy look.
WEATHERED FURNITURE
Another tip to bring the feeling of a seaside adventure to your home is to use wooden furniture. Grey, or pale brown, weathered wood will give your space that sandswept beach look. Wicker chairs or smooth, long benches in these shades of wood will enhance the softness of the natural lighting of the room. If you’re going for a slightly bolder look, you may use darker-coloured woods as well, but keep them weathered and shapely. Think of the driftwood you might find on the beach.
GET THE LOOK: Artemano offers a series of tables made from repurposed railway tracks and reclaimed planks of wood from old fishing boats. Every unique piece has a story to tell and they’re the perfect additions to our coastal scheme.
CASUAL MATERIALS
When it comes to flooring, opt for a lighter touch. Whitewashed or pickled woods, with a worn casual feel are best. Think salt-kissed patina. Ideally, the material is a wide plank board, with an earthy oiled top coat, both environmentally friendly and picture perfect in a more organic coastal design.
GET THE LOOK: Purparket is the only engineered wood floor certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, and 100 per cent free of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The unique oil topcoat is derived from plants, and allows the grain of the wood to really shine. With everything from whitewashed to bleached oak, it’s the perfect coastal design choice.
❯ Coastal design is about casual easy breezy living. Have fun with the style layering in natural textures and organic materials. Before you know it, your coastal retreat will be a summery sundrenched escape. By opting for reclaimed materials, VOC-free paint and flooring, you can rest easy, knowing your home is a safe and healthy place for the whole family. VM
