by Arlene Mae

Created on: October 17, 2008   Last Updated: May 05, 2012

An oasis within the walls of your home, a place to recharge and relax after a long day at work, this is the feeling of the room to be captured. Coastal interior design really has no rules. The idea is to capture the outside environment of the coast and bring it inside. This can be done using various techniques that will be described in detail.

A few elements that come to mind when thinking of coastal environments are:

• Light

• Color

• Water

• Smells

• Textures

• Foliage

The idea is to bring these elements inside the home.

Typical design themes are:

• Nautical

• Tropical

• Beach cottage

• British Colony

Other things to consider when designing a coastal interior room are:

• Windows

If the room is on the water or near it, then windows are a primary concern. Things to consider are the ease of maintenance of the window, ease of cleaning, the style of window (double hung versus casement), keeping the heat out and the cool in, type of clad on the outside. If the view is worthy then opt for floor to ceiling windows or a row of French doors to allow view age of the scenery and to allow the sunlight in.

• Window Treatments

Keep windows clear of heavy drapes, opt for plantation style shutters or built in blinds that are in between the panes of glass. If you must have drapes, chose shears, cottons, or even burlap. The idea is to have curtains that are light and billowy when the breeze blows through. Bamboo or grass roll up shades are an option too. This applies no matter which style coastal interior you choose.

• Lighting

First and foremost maximize the natural light in the room, if you are in the structural design phase then pick large windows or French doors to allow as much natural light in as possible. For the interior, use can lighting on a dimmer around the perimeter of the room, placing the cans strategically in front of each window so at night there is a nice glow. Ceiling fans come with various light kits, some have whimsical lamp that can ply into your design. Table lamps with a glass base made to fill with beach finds such as beach glass or shells, fit right in on a side table. Stay away from gold finishes and stick to pewter, stainless steel or white. The lighting also applies to all design themes.

• Flooring

Flooring in the main living space should be able to withstand beach traffic. Stone tile or painted cement with

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>