Bring the beach back with you
- Creating Cottage Style
in your home
Nothing's
harder to face than packing up your belongings after a week at a
cozy beach house and heading back home to the real world. Sure,
it's hard to leave paradise behind, but who says you have to? Why
not just transform your own living space to a beach-inspired haven
that lets you get away from it all, even if you aren't on
vacation? It's easy and inexpensive to do.
With some clever use of all those shells, beach glass and
driftwood you've picked up during your travels, as well as scenic
vacation photos and a little paint, you can transform your home
into the ultimate beach cottage, creating an inviting, relaxing
haven away from the real world outside your front door.
First, clear out the clutter. Cottage style is clean, bright and
fuss-free because, if you think about it, beaches are simple,
wide-open spaces - that's where cottage design gets its
inspiration. The beach experience is stress-free. Clutter equals
stress, and you want to create an atmosphere that's serene and
fresh. A massive purging of extraneous clutter will give you a
blank palette on which you can apply the true essence of the
seashore.
Paint is one of the easiest, most cost-effective ways to
completely change the look of a living space, helping make your
beach decor a reality. Just be sure you choose the right colors,
so you can be happy with your revamped rooms for years to come.
"Cottage style is all about taking cues from nature, so think
sand, clear skies, sea glass and sparkling water when selecting
the ultimate beach-inspired palette," suggests Mary Ward, Dutch
Boy Paints' senior product manager. "To create a cottage-ready
scheme use pale blues, aquamarines, periwinkles, sea-tinged
greens, sandy tans and bright whites reminiscent of ocean foam and
fluffy, cottony clouds. All of these colors, in any combination,
can work to create a picture of rest and relaxation that's
reminiscent of a day at the beach."
Serenity rules in walls painted in soft pastels or sandy neutrals
with ultra-white trim. It's clean. It's clutter free. It's fresh
and airy. It says beach house, even if you are miles away from the
one of your dreams.
You also can easily add a bit of beach chic to your furniture,
further creating a feel of a distant getaway. Slipcovers give any
room that easy-living feel that is so important to cottage style.
Cover upholstered pieces in slip-on, easy-to-wash covers made from
light canvas, cotton duck or sailcloth. Paint dark furniture white
to add a year-round summery glow to the space, or invest in a few
inexpensive, fun wicker pieces to lighten up tired rooms.
Don't stop here. Keep digging for ideas and inspiration using the
vast array of decorating books and websites. One new site, Dutch
Boy's Restore My Decor! offers DIY tips and inspiration from
professional designers, such as TV design personality Danielle
Hirsch, as well as homeowners, all of whom can help you find more
ways to add cottage appeal to any restored room in your home.
For
example, consider incorporating these other ideas for adding
beach-worthy serenity to your living space:
* Window treatments - Less is more. Think wooden blinds,
plantation shutters or airy sheers.
* Floor coverings - Natural or painted wood floors with throw rugs
are the hallmarks of cottage style. Think basic. Think organic.
Think sisal and textures. Or paint your own canvas throw rug with
sea-inspired motifs, such as shells and starfish.
* Lighting - Think soothing versus overly bright or dimly lit.
Recessed lighting works like magic in any room. If you want to go
for a more quirky look and make lighting a focal point, display
inexpensive figural lamps in the shape of lighthouses or anchors.
Or perhaps find one made from driftwood or shells.
* Souvenirs - Make use of those shells, sand, beach glass and
driftwood you collected during your week away in paradise. Fill
decorative bowls and jars with sand and shells. Display beach
glass in vases of fresh flowers. Paint driftwood with
beach-inspired images and hang it on the wall as art.
* Artwork - Make use of those vacation pictures, especially the
ones you took of gorgeous ocean sunsets, lighthouses and
sailboats. Use existing snapshots and enlarge some of your
favorites, framing all to create a collage that not only says
beach living, but also reminds you of a great time your family
spent together at the seashore. Why buy artwork when you can make
use of something that brings back such great memories?
"It all comes down to thinking light and breezy in everything you
do decor-wise," Ward says. "Use your imagination to create a true
feeling of openness that beaches offer. Beach-inspired cottage
style is casual, comfortable and fun - and reminds you of
vacation, even if you're miles away from the nearest beach."
Courtesy of ARAcontent
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