Don’t you just love going to the store in the middle of winter and BAM! A full on display of summertime clothing?! There is something to be said about seeing fun bright colors in the height of frigid, barren winter days that make us long for the warm weather. Design is no different. We have to be a season ahead if we want to get that beach house fully styled in time for the summer tourist season.

Coastal design is one of our favorite styles. We’ve often been accused of beach hoping, attending college at the coast then off to grad school in the warm Miami sun. Our happy place is beach ready at all times. So you could imagine how excited we are when we actually get the opportunity to design a beach house, lake house, cabana or anything that involves a swimsuit. In today’s Shop the Look Feature, we rounded up some of our favorite coastal inspired accessories so you can get your favorite weekend getaway summer-ready!

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Inspirational Image

One of the great things about coastal designs is you already have a built in theme. Anything aquatic, or nautically inspired works. Just focus on the things and activities that appeal to you and the design starts to design itself. Getting started is always the hardest part.

1. Determine How You Live

Do you want to entertain? Are you mostly lounging by the pool? Will you primarily be inside or outside?

While these questions seem to be basic they are key to creating a space that is as functional as it is stylish.If you are planning on entertaining then your space needs to be large enough to accommodation multiple seating arrangements and circulation pathways for foot traffic. Identify a number and start looking at furniture pieces that hit that number. You may find that you have to utilize nearby areas that open up to your identified entertaining area in order to hit your idea numbers. Once you have an ideal number you are ready to look for seating arrangements that can accommodate it. STYLE TIP: Mix up your furniture selections. Don’t rely on one type of seating. Provide different options that maintain a similar look and feel.

Love the Look? Find it HERE.

 

Love the Look? Find it HERE.

Love the Look? Find it HERE.

If you have a sun room that opens up to a deck or patio, then you can increase your overall entertaining area to include the sun room and deck for large parties, or adverse weather conditions.

2. Make Wise Fabric Selections

Where there is water things are bound to get wet! Don’t let your furniture purchases get destroyed by an unsightly water stain. Opt for indoor/outdoor water resistant fabrics for added durability. We love Sunbrella fabrics. They are available in a variety of patterns and colors and look great when used indoors or outdoors. Not only are they water resistant, that are also fade resistant. Remember if your furniture pieces are water resistant your decor pillows should be as well. This will ensure that both items have a similar hand-feel and texture and maintain the same level of durability. Decorative pillows are you opportunity to introduce color and pattern into the space and set the stage for your design story. Below are some of our favorite nautical inspired looks.

Love the Look? Find it HERE.

 

Love the Look? Find it HERE.

 

Love the Look? Find it HERE.

 

Love the Look? Find it HERE.

 

3- Add Functional Pieces With An Outdoor Feel

The key to a coastal inspired retreat is that it should feel effortless. Your furniture pieces should have an easy, breezy, outdoor quality to them. Through the warmth of material, pattern and texture, you can bring the feeling of outdoors to the inside. For this room we wanted to focus on gathering and entertaining. We were inspired by the slanted and slatted nature of picnic tables. We love the spacing in between the wood slats as it adds visual interest while also providing an outdoor quality reminiscent of family dining al fresco. If the budget allows look for indoor/outdoor furniture that can be easily moved. Let your pieces perform double duty, this will give you the added versatility to entertain both indoors and out.

Love the Look? Find it HERE.

 

Love the Look? Find it HERE.

 

Even if your pieces aren’t built to accommodate outdoor weather, you can still capture the outdoor look by selecting pieces that are weathered or distressed. The weathered treatment instantly creates a story that the particular piece survived a rough and tumbled life living outdoors. It works to create a tone and sets the look and feel for the space. In coastal areas, driftwood inspired pieces are ideal. If driftwood isn’t an option, look for knobby wood planks (or faux wood planks) in warm weathered grey tones to achieve the feeling of driftwood. Compliment it with metal hardware for a modern touch.

Love the Look? Find it HERE.

 

Love the Look? Find it HERE

 

Don’t forget your area rug! If you are coming inside from the pool, beach or lake with wet feet on a hard flooring surface the possibility for slips and falls are great. Give yourself another opportunity to add to your design story while providing a layer of safety for your family and friends. We love this navy and ivory striped rug from Pottery Barn.

Love the Look? Find it HERE.

 

4. Accessorize

We know, that is easier said than done. Remember what we said earlier, you already have a built in theme! There are so many coastal inspired decor pieces available, especially as the summer months approaches. For our inspirational room we are focusing on nautical elements. Here’s a roundup of some of our favorite nautical inspired decor pieces.

Love the Look? Find it HERE.

 

Love the Look? Find it HERE

 

Love the Look? Find it HERE.

 

Love the Look? Find it HERE.

 

 

Love the Look? Find it HERE.

 

 

Love the Look? Find it HERE

 

Love the Look? Find it HERE.

Sunny days are here again! Soon enough the winter blues will be behind us and we will be ready for the longer days and fun in the sun. Preparing for summer now not only helps us forget that we are still in winter’s grasp, but when the warm weather finally does arrive, we will be ready for it! Maybe all the stores selling summer gear are on to something after all?! Until Next Time!

-D