Back from a holiday by the sea and feeling inspired by the rugged landscape and calming coastal colours? Then bring some of that relaxed holiday vibe back home with a decorating scheme inspired by the natural beauty of the seashore.
Seascape colours
Coastal colours are ideal for a family dining area, giving a cool laidback freshness to what can often be a hectic and cluttered space. Think simple with flat blue-grey walls and ship's deck-style plank flooring. Mid-century inspired furniture will give shapely elegance to this rough-edged look, while a mixture of glossy and textured ceramics in a palette of grey, white and pale pink will add soft colour and subtle detail to the scheme.
Jack dining table, Benchmark Furniture. Hans Wegner wishbone chairs, Blue Sun Tree.
How to put the elements together:
Mix pale aqua and weathered wood with hints of pink and greys for a scheme with natural beauty.
Skylight No 205 estate emulsion, Fired Earth; Grey Teak shipdeck flooring, Quick-Step.
Weathered woods
Take weathered wood as the starting point of a coastal living space like this - as real or fake paneling on the walls, and in details like the stool and wall art in this room. But don't take it too far - the trick is to tame the roughness and balance casual with formal using glossy flooring, smooth woods, fine fabrics and elegant ceramics, otherwise your room will look more shabby than stylish.
Aldo lounge chairs, Blue Sun Tree. Sakka rug, Bo Concept.
How to put the elements together:
Go for a pure look inspired by the coast with pale weatherboard walls and a mix of natural materials.
Timber wallpaper in Limed, Andrew Martin. Up the Garden Path fabric, Vanessa Arbuthnott.
Pebbles and driftwood
For a coastal-inspired bedroom, build a headboard and bed platform with reclaimed planks, choose sisal flooring and nubbly rugs, and dress the bed with wool blankets and cushions. Against simple, pale-grey walls, all those natural and woven textures will stand out beautifully.
Driftwood side table, French Connection. Lazy Linen duvet cover in pink, Loaf.
How to put the elements together:
Layer up textures to warm up a neutral scheme - rough sisal, chunky weaves, smooth pebbles, sawn driftwood.
Big Boucle Accents sisal flooring in Aluminium, Crucial Trading. Pavillion Gray No 242 estate emulsion, Farrow & Ball.
Slate and shell
Pair up opposites for a look that's inspired by nature but glam, too: team slate floor tiles with pretty polished-stone mosaics; concrete-grey walls with soft pink towels; smooth wood with rustic wicker; iridescent shells with roughened driftwood.
Stockholm cabinet and basin, Fired Earth. Basket, Rowen and Wren.
How to put the elements together:
Create a pamper zone with soothing pebble shades, soft fluffy towels and luxe pearlescent finishes.
Caserta limestone floor tiles; Venetian Stone Avorio mosaic wall tiles; both Fired Earth
Rustic woodgrain
Introduce an unexpected element to your scheme with a rustic woodgrain wallpaper used in a feature area. Bring in more woody accents and textured finishes to add contrast - polished wood furniture, driftwood panelling, natural cork and glossy ceramics.
Pendant light, Skandium. Nek vase, Villeroy & Boch.
How to put the elements together:
Start with a bold ‘log pile' wallpaper as your backdrop, bringing in contrasting wood finishes and subtle changes of colour.
Lumberjack wallpaper, Andrew Martin. Grey Teak shipdeck flooring, Quick-Step.
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