Many dream of a life near the beach with beautiful water views and gorgeous sunsets. For most of us, however, the prohibitive cost of beachfront property inspires us to come up with alternative ways to bring the beach home. If you love the beach but don't live near enough for frequent visits, you can create a "beach feel" right in your own living room.
Instructions
1. Establish your personal definition of a beach. Peruse beach-themed magazines and books for ideas. Make a list of elements and colors that you associate with a day at the beach. Decide how you want the completed room to feel.
2. Create a color palette. Use crisp white and blue with bold red accents, or choose an array of soft whites and blues that look sunwashed and relaxed. Limit the palette to two main colors, and add one or two accent colors.
3. Keep things spare and casual by using comfortable, overstuffed furniture and distressed wood or whitewashed tables and accent pieces. Use easy-care cotton slipcovers for a cozy look that invites relaxation.
4. Choose fabrics that are reminiscent of the beach. Use linen, cotton, cotton duck and canvas for upholstery. Consider linen, sheer cotton and voile for window treatments, or install simple canvas blinds.
5. Bring seashells into the room to continue the beach theme. Group a few large, bold shells on a table top or mantel. Collect conch, nautilus, starfish, sand dollar, scallop and others, and line them up on a mantle or table; or, use only one type, like conchs or urchins.
6. Focus the room on a central image, like a large, framed photograph or artwork depicting a beach theme. Consider beachscapes, marine still-lives or architectural renderings. Remember that less is more: one large piece makes a more powerful statement than several smaller items.
7. Use the visual space beyond the room to continue the beach theme. Cultivate tall grasses or palm-like plants outside the living room window, if the climate permits.
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