Not everyone can live by the beach, but if you love beach decor you will love the ideas we have today from the Coastal Cottage. When renovating an older house, it is helpful to choose a theme for your decor. I love a beach look, but our first property was land locked in the middle of Texas. That didn’t mean I couldn’t use a beach theme, but it meant that there would also need to be some farmhouse and boho touches that actually enhanced the beach decor.
We kept the wood paneling but painted it like all the other woodwork, (Sherwin Williams Alabaster White). Painted, the paneling looked like shiplap so we embraced the farmhouse look. My natural fiber rugs, plentiful greenery and open spaces gave us a boho look that blended right in with our beach decor. I chose beach scenes in our color palette for all the rooms and added delightful touches like wooden sandpipers, sea shells, wooden trays, bamboo chargers and antique suitcases. I love playing with the final pieces that turn a house into a home, and this house was really fun.
I could have enhanced the boho feel by adding more colorful textiles in the rooms and incorporating more color in the furniture choices, but I like to stay mostly neutral when designing for someone else. The Coastal Cottage was always intended to either be a rent-to-own or a straight fix and flip, in which case we were not going to live in it. When preparing a house to sell, remember that some prospective buyers may like lots of color and texture, but some may not. I have found in sales circumstances that a splash of color works better than having the house awash with color. A buyer can more easily imagine themselves in a home where they can add their own color rather than remove someone else’s color.
Much of my home decor I typically find at these places: Wayfair, Hobby Lobby, Kirklands, and World Market. Some of these stores are more known for their basic, neutral items, but when you know what you are looking for, you can find any theme you want, from boho beach to comic book memorabilia. I can’t say this enough, before you begin, know the purpose of your property and choose a theme for your decor. Everything after that is fun even if you have a few setbacks along the way.
Loving the decor,
Karen Conrad