Homes - Beach Style Home Hacks

Seven Beach-Style Home Hacks

Coastal-style décor, also referred to as the Hampton’s Look, never goes out of style.

Happily, it’s not difficult to get nautical accessories these days. The best fun though is to acquire the ‘look’ by updating items you already have around the house, or to find something unique in flea markets.

Let’s face it, the thrill really is in the hunt!

So, how to go about getting a beachy feel for your home?

Go for natural nautical accessories

During the next walk on the beach seek out large, attractive pieces of driftwood to bring home. You can wrap them in fairy lights and use them as a focal piece. Ar-range pretty shells in front. Simplicity is often best.

© Cream Cornwall, Rockpool Off White Linen Cushion Cover. £41.

Shabby chic rules

Shabby chic fits in perfectly with the coastal look too. We love the rather eccentric look of hanging a flea-find, old-fashioned chandelier in the bedroom and doing the opposite with, for instance, the headboard. A great idea is to get old barn doors, scrub them down, and fashion them into a headboard. Or find a great old wooden trunk for the foot of your bed and distress it. The contrast will do wonders.

“ADD NOSTALGIC SEASIDE MEMENTOES AND LARGE SHELLS TO OPEN SHELVING.” Feeling ropey

Ropes are a great way of reminding us of boats, harbours and the ocean and beach in general. Get some thick rope and tie it from your bed to the ceiling or have it coming from a bookcase so that the rope appears to be securing the furniture.

Embrace vintage seaside memorabilia

Yes, we have all seen those vintage style metal plates with a fat man in striped blue and white long johns poking a toe into the sea… Not your thing? Try the restaurant-style plaques with giant, stylised lobster and crab. Grab a few during your next flea market crawl and hang them in the kitchen or bathroom. The good news? Kitsch can be cool.

Add a rustic bathroom cabinet

© Live Laugh Love Ltd, SEASIDE Arrow Sign. £4.50. Set up those stripes

Wide stripes are reminiscent of our coastal jaunts. So, how about adding some stripes to a room in your home thanks to a sisal rug, a large throw over your sofa or, if you’re feeling brave, some wide white stripes on your sitting room or kitchen wooden flooring? Perhaps that’s more of a commitment, but it will do the trick if you want to bring that beach vibe indoors!

Upcycle a wooden bathroom cabinet by painting it in blue, lilac or whichever colour matches your existing colour scheme, then give it a distressed look. Add nostalgic seaside mementoes and large shells or the odd dried starfish to the open shelving, alongside your face cloth and lotions. It really works.

Plump for a blue tone bedroom

“SHABBY CHIC FITS IN PERFECTLY WITH THE COASTAL LOOK.”

Repainting your bedroom to remind you of the ocean will do wonders if you don’t have the real thing – we can’t all have that sought-after sea view! Paint the walls white, with the exception of one turquoise wall. Next, get light blue bedding, white cushions and a light blue or white throw. Add in white lamps and other items that have a light shade - the idea being to mimic the colours of the ocean. Then add some patterns thanks to cushions, with different fabrics to make it a little more so-phisticated, all while sticking to the relaxing colour theme.

© PullCast, Bedroom Decor Pebble Drawer Handle. €63.