We are so excited to announce our new collection of pillows, created exclusively for Pineapples, Palms by acclaimed artist and textile designer Amanda Johnson. The beautiful linen pillows are luxuriously overstuffed and make us think of the white-washed bungalows of Santorini and the jeweled blues of the Aegean Sea.
A house really isn’t a home unless it’s a welcoming space for children and grandchildren.
But can you create (and maintain) crisp, clean interiors while keeping the needs of kids in mind?
Absolutely.
By its very nature, coastal-inspired design evokes feelings of relaxation and connection, comfort and convenience — weekends at the beach, reunions at the shore, an easy, breezy lifestyle regardless of the street address.
From its preferred hardwood or tile floors to its unfussy window treatments, coastal style is well-suited to the youngest members of your family tribe. For proof, check out the glorious “Living with Kids” posts on DesignMom.com, where many of the featured, family-friendly homes are located on or near the water.
Want to make your beach-chic retreat more inviting to children? Dip a toe into these tips:
Dash & Albert’s “Mali” indoor/outdoor rug in Indigo
Coastal-style floor coverings for busy families: Think cleanable
For those areas of your home that are either high-traffic or near a highchair, indoor/outdoor area rugs offer a fashionable, functional solution. They add warmth and texture to a room, as well as a softer spot for kids to play (and land).
Sturdy enough for patios and verandas but pretty enough for dens and casual dining rooms, Dash & Albert indoor/outdoor rugs are a Pineapple Girl favorite. Available in African-inspired geometric, vintage tile and classic stripe patterns, these lightweight, reversible, indoor/outdoor rugs can be vacuumed, lightly brushed with water or even sprayed clean with a hose.
Thanks to slipcovers, the Juno Beach sectional is a great option for families with children.
Kid-friendly coastal furniture? Invest in quality
It may seem counterintuitive, but until your kids grow out of their “the floor is hot lava” phase, investing in high-quality furniture will save money in the long run. Unlike cheap pieces, heavy, solid furnishings will stand up to years of abuse. As a safety measure, opt for furniture with soft, rounded corners when possible.
Another family-friendly furniture solution is woven strongly into the coastal chic aesthetic — slipcovers, a look that derived from the tradition of draping sheets over beach-cottage furniture at summer’s end.
Thanks to slipcovers, your family can enjoy a stunning white sectional – just machine-wash fabric as necessary, and replace when you’re ready for a change.
Kids need and want spaces near you to color, do crafts or complete homework.
Make space for kids’ activities in your coastal home
Kids need dedicated spaces to do kid things – from homework to art work, from board games to video games:
Set up a study station in the kitchen so kids can tackle schoolwork where Mom and Dad are close at hand. Keep the area neat with clear glass jars to hold pens and pencils, scissors and rulers.
Create a kid-friendly mudroom near the back door by positioning a bench, baskets and hooks there. Kids will have a place to prepare for whatever activity they’re engaged in – ice hockey, beach volleyball, snowboarding or soccer.
Anchor your family room with a large, low coffee table made of reclaimed pine. Kids can gather their friends around the table for coloring and crafts, and the whole family can convene there on game night.
Got kids? You need smart storage solutions
One of the signatures of coastal design is, of course, a clean, uncluttered look.
Savvy storage is a must, but built-in bookcases, window-seat storage benches and shelves lined with plastic bins are only the beginning.
Decorative pieces like Julie Dietrich’s coral bottles can find a place in your family home.
Beach chic décor is naturally kid-friendly
So many of the finishing touches you typically find in an ocean lover’s home are hardy enough to withstand occasional handling by kids:
Dramatic pieces of driftwood
Gorgeous, oversized conch shells
Coral sculptures and centerpieces
Exotic sea fans
Purple barnacle clusters
Those found (or purchased!) objects not only serve as eye-catching seaside accents, but they also bring the outdoors in and can serve as a teaching tool.
The goal of many beach house decorating ideas is to give your space an airy, effortless style. There are some key décor elements that embrace this way of living, and bring a contemporary coastal style to your home year-round, all seasons.
Chic ideas for your coastal-inspired décor include:
Pleasing paradoxes.
Many beach house decorating ideas embrace unique paradoxes and contrasting elements. For instance, the merging of wide, unadorned windows with casual slipcovered furniture. Pair patterns and prints that have a common feature, such as a color, and mix and match throughout your beach-inspired home. Modern glass and vintage teak pieces create a relaxed coastal look, with an inspired, yet ironic, flair.
Shimmering metallic accents and airy gauzy textiles create an ethereal, almost magical, atmosphere in your home. Mix in nickel fixtures with crisp white countertops in either quartz or marble, and choose light, nubby linen for furnishings, window treatment, or throws throughout the space. When illuminated in candle-light or the setting-sun over the sea, your home will transform into a fresh, restorative sanctuary.
Tempting textures.
Look for elements that bring warmth to your coastal home, especially in cooler weather. Throws, pillows, and even the fabrics of your sofa or chairs contribute to creating warm sensations in your beach-inspired vision. Make spots welcoming and inviting, from the spaces in front of a fireplace to a patch of sand outside where you watch the stars. Toss large, cotton pillows and thick, nubby throws for comfort and an effortless style.
A great coastal color palette includes all shades of blue, crisp whites, gray, green, as well as neutrals. These hues basically echo the colors seen in nature, or along a stretch of beach. Keep wall treatments light to reflect light and make the room appear larger and higher; keep floors covered simply, with cotton coverings or tiled surfaces. Exposed wood flooring makes a convenient, easy-to-maintain surface for those homes that are near or exposed to water.
The underlying theme of a coastal home is comfort and convenience. The elegant factor comes from the simplicity and clean aspects of these oceanic spaces. Buy pieces that are comfortable for sitting, dining, and living, but also that will be easy to clean and maintain. This includes cotton slip-covers and crisp linen window panels.
Invest in a few coastal-inspired accents that really embrace the look and feel that you are looking for. This might be a large wood whale cutting board, for a dramatic display, or it could be a shimmering nickel anchor that accents your built in or side table. Reclaimed wood picture frames with family and friends’ photos lining your hallway also gives your home a warm comfortable, lived-in coastal feel. Carved stone also suits a coastal scheme and brings a cool, contemporary look to a simple beach-inspired space.
Now, put it all together:
Pair elegant accents on weathered-wood furnishings for an appealing contrast in coastal schemes.
Mix and match textiles and tie them together with a common color or print, and use them liberally throughout your home.
Keep schemes simple and choose accents carefully to maintain the easy, effortless nature of beach-inspired décor.
There is something serene and satisfying about a room or space that is inspired by nature, especially when it echoes a coastal theme. Try these beach house decorating ideas in your own home to transform it into the seaside cottage of your dreams.
If you have embraced a coastal way of living, your home likely reflects the clean, crisp feel of a chic, or casual design style. Each element in your home, from teak furnishings to cotton furniture slipcovers, contributes to the light, airy feeling that coastal living embodies. With fall approaching, you need only make minor tweaks to your current scheme to transition to cooler weather.
Some fall decorating tips for your coastal lifestyle include:
Get Cozy at the Beach with Throws & Pillows
A useful accent for your fall design schemes might include lots of cotton or throws and pillows to keep the autumnal chill away. Look for vibrant blues, clean whites, and patterned variations that integrate the colors of your coastal-inspired home. Carry the blue hues throughout your scheme with a cotton Brahms Mount throw in soft white & shore colors. Check out textured throws to add warmth and visual interest to these simple accent items; mix and match patterned pillows to give your room a fun, but pulled together designer look. These are perfect to drag down to the beach for an evening bonfire this fall, too!
Bring the outside in with awesome porch and patio décor, and use lanterns to create a cozy, comfortable outside living space. These bring just the right amount of ambiance to the exterior spaces that you enjoy spending time in. This gives you the opportunity to implement, oversized pillows, and linens that meld with the look of your coastal surroundings, while also embracing the crisp, modern look of a contemporary coastal home. Weathered teak wood is a natural choice for a porch, patio, or lanai, and it complements marine blue, linen white, and navy perfectly. Be sure to choose fixtures and accents that can hold up to the chill of fall, and that will keep you comfortable during this cooler time of the year.
Often times, it is the simple things that create the mood and atmosphere of your room so accessorize accordingly. It is easy to get carried away with accents, but keeping the space a bit sparse can lend to the airy, sophisticated designs that work great on the coast, but also in other regions, when looking for a casual, crisp, and comfortable space. Use color and texture to convey a coastal vibe in a chic way, and to warm up the space during cooler months. Take the opportunity to extend your look through the necessary features of the space, such as the floor coverings, window treatments, and furnishings. Look for clean lines and natural materials to recreate a design that is as functional as it is stylish.
Fresh plants and flowers have the ability to brighten up any area and add a bit of life to your space. Use the vessel or planter to echo the color scheme of your coastal-inspired space, and look for plants that promise to thrive and bloom in the autumnal weather. Even a simple ivy or orchid provide oxygen and a healthy accent to the home, giving it a summery touch year-round. Try bringing your outdoor plants indoors during cooler seasons, but don’t overwhelm the interiors with foliage that will require a lot of sun and that could crowd or obscure the natural light coming in through the windows.
Slide a Coastal Slip Cover Over Your Favorite Nook Chairs
Slide a colorful cotton or linen slipcover over your favorite nook chairs to transform them from simple seating implements to coordinating fixtures of your coastal lifestyle. This is a simple fix for mismatched furnishings or second-hand finds, and also ensures you will always have ample seating for entertaining and guests at a moment’s notice.
Embrace the coming season and enjoy fall in a coastal setting with these design tips. With the right furnishings, features, and accents, your home will reflect and exude a day at the beach all year long!
The modern crossed patterns and clean color palette make this pillow perfect for layering.
A modern take on Ikat that will add a pop of color and look striking wherever it is placed. Perfect on a crisp, white sofa or armchair.
