Summer is in full swing outdoors so why not make the inside of your home feel like a summer vacation too? We had to postpone our annual trip to Hatteras Island, NC this year again because of college and upcoming wedding expenses for our daughters. Regardless, this mama has to have her summer beach vacay vibe though! I’ve added a few simple decor touches to help bring that beachside living feeling indoors, but without looking kitschy (as always). Today we’re going to talk about How to Create a Summer Beach House Retreat in Your Living Room!
Create a Sea Inspired Color Palette
The colors of the sea and beach have always been an inspiration in my home. Depending on the mood and purpose of the room, I choose a color palette ranging from bright fluffy cloud white, to dark deep sea navy blue, to shades of sea foam bluish gray greens, watery blue skies, and then accents of dusty beach grass and lush tropical greens to bring in life, and grounded with a base comprised of sandy or weathered driftwood tones.
Layer Up on Natural Textures
How we created a summer beach house retreat in the living room was to bring in a multitude of natural textures, furnishings, fabrics and accessories. We focused on furnishings upholstered in fabrics like linen or high performance “suede”. These are all durable and have interesting weaves and textures that add interest to the space. Fabric weaves are the base but then it’s time to look at the accessories. Bring in rope, sisal, woven abaca side tables and coffee tables, antique sea glass floats, nubby white faux coral, shells, plants, etc. The key to success in decorating with natural textures is to add patterns and texture but maintaining them in the same concise color palette.
The textures that are repeated here on this bookshelf are coral, sea glass, woven rope accessories and a variety of succulent greenery. All are staggered to create a balance of color, pattern and texture and to keep the eye visually moving across the space.
Choosing coffee and side tables made of natural elements like woven abaca also help repeat the pattern an texture without adding visual chaos to the space. Every furnishing piece looks like it belongs and no one element competes against each other.
Display Beach Combing Treasures in Collective Groupings
(shells, coral, glass floats)
We all have our beach combing treasures that we have collected over the years. These little nuggets of memories can collect quickly and get buried in closets with no purpose. I challenge you to pull them out and sort them according to type, size and color. We do this as a family during each beach vacation and store them in clear gallon bags or containers which later makes it easy for decorating.
This summer I took all the amazing whelk shells my kids collected on the infamous “Shelly Island” on Hatters Island (OBX) that provided a beautiful yet brief season of amazing surf and shell collecting that blew everyone’s minds. We were blessed to venture upon the birth of Shelly Island just 3 months into her creation after a big storm. It was seriously amazing. My kids could not carry all the shells we found! I pulled out all the beautiful white whelk shells and lined them up on the wood beam mantel. A portion of the rest we piled up in a massive antique wood dough bowl.
I also used the clam shells collected and starfish along with capiz shells to make a shimmery sea shell garland, of course I had to add a few crystal drops for extra bling. The click and ding of the shells make for lovely wind sea chimes. You can find my tutorial for it HERE.
The sea chimes/garland looks so festive hanging from the DIY wood beam mantel.
Bring in Lush Tropical Greenery
The beauty of lush tropical greenery is that it can be fresh or quality faux and the visual results will be the same! Tropical plants will instantly transform you room into an oasis. Not only will they add that beachside feeling, but the real plants also help purify the air in your home! If you want to know the Top 10 Houseplants That Clean the Air please click on that blue link. I share my absolute favorite houseplants and also break down for you the exact pollutants and emissions each plant helps eliminate.
If you have pets, like we do (a puppy and a rabbit and a fish), then you will want to research the plant varieties even more. Several are poisonous to pets but we are diligent in teaching our pets to not eat “mama’s plants”. Just like a raising a child (which I have 4), discipline and guidance is paramount. Our past dog of 16 years could care less about plants, yet this new puppy thinks shredding mama’s plants is hilarious.
Before any of you start sending me emails about the dangers of tropical plants… please refrain, I have researched every plant in my home. Puppy Willow won’t eat the plants, she just shreds them, but we are working on that big time and I have FINALLY been able to put the plants back down on the floor to her level this week. She is behaving and wow, isn’t she a cutie? Willow is a 50% English Cream Retriever & 50% Golden Retriever, with a very pretty pedigree.
If you just can’t trust your pets then bring in faux plants (not like eating plastic faux plants is any healthier though…ahem…). I love my faux plants! Today’s faux greenery has such beautiful quality. I use faux greenery in locations that have zero to low sunlight. I’ll add in real succulents too but will be sure to rotate them out to get a dose of sun every few weeks. The addition of pretty lush palm artwork like THESE contribute to the tropical beach house feel.
I hope these tips help you create a summer beach house retreat in your living room!
Happy Decorating!
KIM
Get this look!
Affiliate links are provided below for your shopping convenience!
- Navy Linen Chairs – Pier 1 (no longer available)
- Muted Flourish Rug
- Woven Storage Coffee Table (I painted the base cream).
- Sea Grass Round Side Table
- Pottery Barn Sectional
- Dough Bowl
- Wood Bead Garland
- Blue Pillow Covers
- Green Vine Embroidered Pillow Covers
- Palm Leaf Botanical Prints
- Brass Picture Frames
- Starfish chimes/garland
- Faux Coral
- Glass Floats
- Whelk Shells
- Blue Ceramic Planter – TJMaxx
- Wall Color – SW Sea Salt
- Plank Wall and bookcase color- SW Extra White
Hi Kim
Where did you find the rectangular boxes on your bookshelves? I’m looking for something like them for
My bookshelves.
Hi Sue!
Do you mean the woven rectangular baskets? All of these are from a variety of stores. I find most of mine at HomeGoods, TJMaxx, Marshalls, Target and AtHome. They are quite inexpensive ($8-$14). Michaels Craft stores also carry a variety but are more expensive (unless you get them on a 40% off sale). Always measure your space and record it in your phone’s notes before shopping. It really helps when you are out and about and come across a great deal. Hope that helps!
Have a great week!
KIM
Kim,
You make redecorating look so simple! I love how you are able to keep the main colors and furniture the same, yet add a few items here and there and get a completely different feel. What advice would you give someone who wants to redo their living space so that they can accomplish the same (is there a trick to it)? And what in the world do you do with all of your decorations once you are finished with them for the season? Do you store them in the attic / sell / donate / re-purpose them? 🙂
Love the room. Are the bookcases built in? If not where did you purchase. Thank you for your time.
Hi Susan!
Yes, these bookshelves are all custom builtins that we installed after a house flood in 2016. I designed them but had a local cabinet maker build them for us.
Thanks so much for your kind comment!
KIM
Kim – love and so inspired!! Ordering the Coffee Table now – it’s perfect. We have a very similar set up using blue and I wanted to add green!! I love all your choices!! Thanks so much for the inspiration!! We live in Coastal VA too!llDebbie
Hi Debbie! I’m so happy you got the coffee table! I love it! I’m sure it will look amazing in your home. Thank you so much for all the kind comments, I really appreciate it! I see you work at Rose & Womble. You probably know my friend Carl Johansen then, one of their top agents! Happy New Year! ~KIM
I’ve been trying to decide on a coffee table, and a woven one like yours is a top contender. How has it held up to moisture, stains, and most of all, pets? Thank you for sharing your sources! Love your home so much!
Hi Lora! The coffee table is still doing pretty good. When the dogs were puppies, they would try to gnaw on it but a little hot glue fixed any loose strands of the weave. As far as spills or stains, that isn’t a worry. The natural grass is actually Abaca and it doesn’t stain or hold moisture at all. I’ve been very happy with the coffee table overall. Hope that helps! Have a great day! ~ KIM
Hi Kim WHATS the colour on the walls?
Hi Nadia!
The living room walls are Sea Salt by Sherwin Williams.
I love the look of the books in baskets- I never thought to do that – it makes the shelves look clean & uncluttered. I am definitely borrowing this idea for my own shelves. Thanks so much for sharing- wonderful post!
Thank you Liz! Those baskets are actually filled with all my home magazines. I do use baskets to hold books in other areas of my house, especially cook books and kids’ books. Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment! ~ KIM
I love how your living room looks. The mix of the perfect blues and greens have such a cool breezy feel. Love the idea of shells in a dough bowl too! Pinned
Thank you Cindy! I really appreciate the pin and you taking time to comment! Have a great week! ~ KIM
I absolutely love this room! I ordered the coffee table as well and do really like it. Mine is darker than the look of yours however, did you bleach yours by chance? Thanks for all of your tips!
Hi Jill!
I recently found out that the manufacturer is staining the seagrass darker, whereas mine is natural. I like both looks. I have a Pottery Barn wingback seagrass chair that is in the darker stain and I love it too. It would be nice if they offered the lighter option. Regardless, the table is great and has held up beautifully for nearly a decade now. Hope that helps! ~ KIM
Hi, I love your decorating and want to incorporate some of the designs in a (long overdue) home makeover. What color fabric is your sectional? I see many choices but cannot determine which one is yours. Thanks, Barbara
Hi Barbara!
Thank you for your kind comment! The sectional’s fabric is their Performance EverydaySuede in Oat. It has held up beautifully! The sofa is really well made. We did so much research before we bought it and it has lasted 10+ years now. Hope that helps! Have a great day.
KIM
How did you paint the bottom of the table? I have it, but don’t see how to remove it. I am not very handy or creative, so there is probably something simple I am missing!
Hi Liz! I just painted it by hand carefully and used smaller flat tipped paint brush for getting close to the Abaca grass. Make sure you use a primer first and then paint. Hope that helps! Have a great week! ~KIM
Hi! I have just fallen in love with this room! Thank you for sharing your creativity! Where did you find the lamps and the white end table?
Warm regards,
Annette
Hi Annette! Thank you so very much! Those lamps were from Target and the white end table was from a local store 20 years ago. Have a lovely week! ~ KIM
Hi Kim,
Were you ever able to find blue chairs similar to yours. I have searched high and low and can’t seem to find anything similar. Thanks for your help!
Annette
what color pain did you use on the walls???? I have maple kitchen cabinets that have yellowed over time….I am trying to find a color that would compliment. I have considered some light grays, greiges, and now am leaning towards a white….Please help!
Hi Darcia!
Our walls in our kitchen are Comfort Gray by Sherwin Williams and the adjoining living room is Sea Salt (one color lighter). Hope that helps!
Best,
KIM