Almost all of us like to be beside the seaside, so it’s no surprise that coastal style is a perennial favourite in the world of home decor.
It’s natural to feel a bit sentimental about places we associate with happiness, and the beach plays a big part in the lives of Kiwis. We love it for its natural hues and interesting textures.
Bringing those aspects into home decor is easy, working with nautical themes and aged wood and shells, candles and candle holders and colours such as blue in all its many variations, teamed with white, beige and other sandy organic shades.
Coastal decor isn’t a slick sort of style, because the rugged shapes of nature are a large part of its charm.
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Weathered furniture, with a touch of shabby-chic in the paint or oiled finish, and even faded upholstery can enhance a beach-inspired bach.
Textured floorings made from jute and sisal certainly fit the theme, and wood beams on the ceiling and a stone fireplace in the central living space will enhance it.
A ceiling fan provides a gentle breeze on the hottest of summer days, and window dressing such as shutters, white wooden venetians or matchstick blinds are all appropriate.
While less is more in a coastal design theme, there are loads of ways to dress it up a little if the bare, minimalist style isn’t you.
Old paintings of ships and seascapes look right at home as well as memorabilia like lifebuoys, bottles wrapped in rope net, oars, and of course glass jars and baskets filled with shells. Wicker chairs look wonderful, even if they’ve seen better days.
Coastal style comes naturally to Italian-born Federica (Fede) Contardi, national visual merchandiser at citta.com.
Fede trained as an interior and product designer in Rome before moving to New Zealand. “I have noticed that coastal style never goes out of fashion,” she says.
“Sometimes I wonder if it’s because we are surrounded by technology all day and we need to slip back into a quiet, peaceful lifestyle when we get home in the city or arrive at our beach house.”
Fede says Citta almost always has coastal-style items in seasonal collections. “Many of our customers find themselves drawn towards those natural and neutral colours and textures.
“Lanterns are always good sellers for us, and anything else that has a nautical feel about it.”
Clear glass vases and bowls, used to display objects are also popular.
Karen Warman at Resene agrees that New Zealanders seem to be drawn to shades of the sea.
“Coastal colours are always a sure way to bring a sense of relaxation and calmness into your home,” she says.
“Think weathered and washed blues, whitewashed walls and surfaces, the aged look of driftwood and the subtle off-white of sea foam that has blown on to the beach.
“Hues like Resene duck egg blue, Resene sea fog and Resene colorwood whitewash all capture the coastal look, especially combined with natural materials such as timber.
“A coastal palette is comfortable and easy, just like your favourite pair of faded jeans.”
She suggests finishing trims in a coastal scheme using crisp white colours, such as Resene sea fog or Resene bianca for contrast.
“In this situation I would avoid using gloss finishes which tend to be jarring and opt instead for low-sheen or flat finishes for walls because they bring out the subtle beauty of the weathered hues and reinforce the sense of serenity.”
