The decorations you use in your beach theme may depend on the coast you wish to emulate.
Beach theme decor can be used to brighten a living area. Whether your home sits oceanfront or in the center of a desert, beach decor brings to mind visions of summer and relaxation along the shore. The depth of the theme may range from small decorative additions to full-on tropical fantasy furniture and wall art. Whichever level is chosen, the theme will offer a very specific feel to the room. Does this Spark an idea?
Colors
One of the first decisions in creating a beach theme for a room or home lies in color selection. Shades of blue reminiscent of the ocean are obvious choices, as are beiges or browns to represent sand. There are, however, a wide range of colors that may also be incorporated. Deep greens can bring to mind to tropical palm trees while shades of peach and coral are found in shells and sea creatures along various shorelines. To represent ocean waters, sea green and other medium to light tones of green are also useful while yellows convey the feeling of a sunny day at the beach.
Main Decor
For a completely beach-themed room, the main decor should be comprised of items associated with the beach. Forgo traditional, formal or highly decorated furniture for rattan- or wood-framed pieces accented with colorful cushions or pillows. Take the decor one step further by eliminating a couch and love seat all together and opting instead for comfortable beach- or deck-style lounge chairs.
Flooring in the room might also step outside of the traditional box. Plush or shag carpeting or high-low rugs created with multiple length threads may clash with a relaxed beach theme. Berber or low cuts in sandy colors offer a feeling of sand, while ocean blue tiles convey the look of walking on water.
Decorations
Whether you are creating a beach-themed decor or simply accenting the room with hints of the shoreline, the right decorations will make a difference. Fake palm trees placed in corners or along walls and shells placed on tables and shelves are obvious decor pieces. To take the design a step further, consider tacking flip-flops or beach shoes as a border around the top of the wall. A closed beach umbrella hung over a door is another option while folded sand chairs and flattened beach balls can serve as wall decor.
Specific or Generic
When planning a beach theme, one thing to consider is a specific beach region to emulate. For the person wishing to recreate California dreaming in her living room, a mural showing a sunrise over the ocean is not accurate, just as a sunset positioned over the east coast would be incorrect. Dolphins placed around a room decorated to represent a New England shoreline may draw strange looks from onlookers. Each region of the world has items specific to their beaches. If the idea is not to recreate a specific place, keep the decor generic to avoid a faux pas.
Tags: beach theme, palm trees, step further