Why Coastal Chic Isn’t Just for Summer

Want to recreate the coastal trend but unsure of how to enjoy it even beyond summer?

The coastal trend sees a big jump in popularity in warmer months and its no surprise as to why. Everyone's got the holidays on their mind, and with the calendar months flipping to June, the thought of enjoying this easy breezy coastal retreat being your your own living space has undoubtedly crossed your mind.

However, we understand the hesitation when it comes to acting on those screenshots from Interior magazines and websites that have probably made their way into your phone gallery lately - you're understandably thinking about how this can be enjoyed even once the weather isn't reminiscent of sun and sands anymore.

Fret not - although Coastal Chic interiors do shine in spring and summer months due to their light and airy feel, they can just as easily transition into a warm and cosy haven for the colder months. Minor changes can be made come autumn to create a warm seaside cabin feel, or it can be left as is to provide much needed brightness in the otherwise dreary and dark autumn and winter months.

Here's our tips for achieving that effortless year round look:

Making waves

Pictured below are classic colours one associates with a seasonally versatile coastal theme. If this is your chosen look, try not to have too much blue and work it in rather than using it as a base. Don't be afraid to mix it in with green and switch up the different hues and shades that blues, greens and browns have to offer.

However, beyond these colours, there's much more to explore.

Somewhere beyond the sea...

Think beyond the usual blues and greens, and experiment with the wide variety of colour that the ocean has to offer. Colourful fish and plant life reside beneath the waters, and a seaside scene in itself has so many hues to explore no matter what the location or climate is.

Pink and red shades for corals, yellow and orange tones for the warm sunsets, brown and beige for the sand, green and turquoise for sea spray.. think outside the box! Or shell as it were...

These are all colours that have their warm and rich equivalents too, for alternative seasonal styling.

Light linen throws and cushions, with lighter shades of cream, yellow or green could be used in the warm months, while this could be switched out for chunky cream and olive toned throws and cushions in the colder months.

Style with the look of natural materials in mind

Rattan, wood, stone, wavy organic shapes, and serene creams and whites work well for all seasons. Nature and its beauty create a calming effect. Creating a space inspired by nature, especially one of its most calming elements - water; could transform home into a sanctuary for both cold and warm months.

Consider dotting the space with small accessories that invoke calm - paintings and pictures, nautical accessories etc.

This is also an opportunity to cross Biophilic design trends over with Coastal themed trends - look at our Biophilic design guide for more information.

Choose shades that could reflect all seasons

Beige, brown and warm white shades echo sand, driftwood and palm trees. Make this work for warm and cold months by using wood furniture that's medium toned - not too light and not too dark. Taupe, light brown or beige neutral upholstery is perfect.

Other possible shades include bluish grey tones or maybe deep navy that could echo the laid back summer sea just as easily as it could reflect stormy unpredictable waves. Sage and olive tones reflect foliage, which is (quite literally) an evergreen look for any coastal climes.

Small seasonal updates

If you like to give your home a slightly new look from season to season but don't really want your bank account to cry out in agony, there's ways in which you could take your home from a summer vista to a cosy winter retreat; with low effort but noticeable impact.

Either you choose your shades and textures as not belonging to any particular season, or you have darker/ brighter variations for just a few things that could switch when the weather changes.

For autumnal coastal tones - simply change light or bright cushion covers or throws to colours like rich browns, deep greyish blues, or dark burnt orange colours. The smaller accessories and larger upholstery can of course stay - making them a neutral shade that goes with everything is best.

For winter, think darker textured accessories. Wool, boucle, deep navy, olive, dark browns, and blues can just as easily echo coastal calm through the lens of stormy seas and windswept shores.

How to Add Coastal Accents to a Neutral Home Without Redecorating Everything

If you don't want to go for a full fledged interior decor change but would like to add coastal accents into a neutral toned space, subtle style updates can affordable with a big impact. Here's our tips:

Cotton or linen bedspreads or throws: go with sage, seafoam gree, light blue, cream and light brown tones
Rattan, jute or woven rugs and storage baskets: natural materials are always a big win.
Wood carved sculptures to invoke the look of driftwood, or textured stone and shell shaped vases
Striped throws, cushions or lampshades: blue is always a good choice
Water inspired abstract artwork, seascape pictures, beach-themed neutral framed canvases

Here's our very own handpicked selection of accessories:

Mistakes to avoid

Choose a style: kitschy or clean. Make sure you don't fall somewhere in the middle, so your space looks curated and intentional. If you want a fun, colourful theme - go for sea themed trinkets like dried corals or shells, bold artwork, and embrace colour. But don't go overboard - its a home, not a beachside souvenir shop! For a cleaner look, consider subtle accents of seaside touches - textures, light blues and soft light greens, abstract or small themed artwork, natural materials.

Be aware of too much blue: whilst the easiest colour to associate with this look, a relaxed atmosphere can suddenly feel too overwhelming and crowded if there are many different shades of blue competing. Stick to dark or light - and let it come out in accents rather than putting the colour everywhere.

Choose the right lighting: avoid harsh white LEDs or too many industrial and metallic fittings. Use layered lighting like wall lights, lamps etc. Choose textured lampshades if you can. Warm ambient lighting works best.