Archive for June, 2008

Celebrate Summer with Nautical Style

Posted by kasey on Jun-26-2008

The days are longer, the kids are home, and everyone is sporting shorts. It is certainly summertime, but some of us find our homes stuck in the winter doldrums. Even though the indoors are the perfect place to escape from the heat, they can still be livened up with a sweet summer theme.

Quick Fixes
High gas prices may be keeping you from taking a trip to some secluded beach this year, but tropically-inspired color palette in an outdoor area can provide the perfect atmosphere to do a little reading. Try to incorporate some of these fun colors into your home.

Staying at home? That’s no reason to stay inside. Soak up the sun on your patio or deck. New nautical beach chairs and a good cleaning will make your outdoor space usable again.

Traditional Nautical Decor
In the mood for something more formal, bold, or fun? Skip the fishing trip and try planning a nautical room. The great thing about this style is its versatility. Traditional maritime design takes cues from the historical British navy, New England culture, and all things pelagic. Bold patterns are used to add visual interest to crisp, clean spaces. Most of all, white should be the dominate color in the room. It is usually paired with reds, navy blue, and other strong shades. Representations of boats, ships, or lighthouse decor are often used for decoration.

Though the traditional take may seem a tad stuffy, a well-planned nautical space can be the perfect place for socializing. The style dictates that fabrics and furniture be rugged, so they are better suited to large groups of people. Lighthouse wall decor can help foster a cozy captain’s quarters feel. Also, the breeziness of a nautical room makes it feel like the perfect place to have a Mojito or two.

Casual Beach Style
There is no one way to add some seafaring flavor to your space. Rustic and natural materials like driftwood and seashells represent a more laid-back interpretation of this design type. Think relaxing beach hide-away as apposed to yacht club. The best accents for this kind of room are beachcomber finds and repurposed trinkets. They add one-of-a-kind style to the space and make great conversation pieces.

You can choose mutes blues and tan and use pieces sparsely to create the perfect spa-like retreat. If you find yourself landlocked and short of beach finds or ocean inspiration, try to find art and decor pieces that remind you of the sea. You can even incorporate your photos from your last trip to the beach in order to make things more personal.

Forget about going anywhere this summer. Bring the vacation into your home with bold naval patterns, lighthouse home decor, and beautiful things from the sea.