
Spending Christmas along the beautiful Queensland coast this year has made me think about “beach house” style. I love the idea of a crisp white decor, weathered deck chairs and surfboards leaning against the wall.
Having recently moved with my husband near the Bayside beaches in Melbourne, I have been inspired by the relaxed and casual style of the beach house look. I have been thinking recently of adding elements of coastal chic into my own decor at home … without becoming too cliché.
The “beach house” look is a relaxed, effortless style of decorating. The great thing about this style is that it doesn’t have to be expensive. So … drawing on the inspiration around me, I thought about what styling ideas I could bring back with me from holiday to give my home some coastal chic.
Here are 4 styling tips I picked up
- Start with a Soft Based Colour Palette
- Furniture that is Simple and Functional
- Use a Variety of Natural Textures
- Add Some Colour for a more Tropical Vibe
1. Start with a Soft Based Colour Palette
Start with a soft based colour palette to build upon. While blue and white have always been the quintessential beach house colours. I like the more the modern twist … drawing inspiration from white, beige and egg shell (or duck egg blue) hues. Duck egg blue is my favourite colour at the moment! It is such a soft beautiful colour and works well with a wide range of styles … either as an accent colour or on the walls!

Check out your local paint or hardware store. I like the the Dulux colour range, but there are plenty of other options.
2. Furniture that is Simple and Functional
Beach house furniture should be relaxed, functional and comfortable … simplicity is the key. Simple timber pieces such as dining tables, chest-of-draws, or bar stools – either with a natural finish or painted white. Look for sofas and armchairs that are comfortable and functional in light coloured fabrics … think white slipcovers. Throw in a unique piece of furniture made from recycled material, weathered timber or driftwood … for the laid-back beachy vibe.

There are lots of great affordable options available … check out the range from Early Settler.
3. Use a Variety of Natural Textures
Beach house styling is about creating a natural, organic feel … use a variety of natural materials such as wood, cane, rattan or bamboo. Decorate with wooden floors, traditional cane armchairs, bamboo pendant lights, or woven floor mats to invoke a relaxed vibe. Return to nature through the use of different textures to style your home … glass bottles, twine balls, shells and coral add an organic feel … while driftwood or distressed accessories add a weathered touch.

1. Migo Natural Pendant; 2. Optic Vases; 3. Woven Placemats; 4. Wooden Tool Tray; 5. San Lucas Baskets – White; 6. Wooden Frame with Dots; 7. Tulum Fruit Basket White; 8. Mini Hanging Bottles; 9. Jute Rug
4. Add Some Colour for a more Tropical Vibe

Check out Annabel Trends for some colourful inspiration
Stripes or nautical motifs are perfect for the coastal look, however for a more vibrant, tropical feel you can try adding colour. I like to play around and experiment with colour through soft furnishing such as cushions, rugs or pictures. This can be a relatively inexpensive and easy way to inject colour without becoming too overwhelming … and can be easily and quickly changed if it doesn’t quite work! You can either introduce a complementary colour such as coral … or go for the full colour spectrum with tropical birds, fruit or bathing boxes for a more vibrant look.

1. Flamingo Print; 2. Water Colour Garden Polly Cockatoo – Yellow; 3. Tropical Cushion Filippe Flamingo
The great thing about beach house chic is the casual, eclectic look which can be built up gradually … in fact this works better. Add to your home pieces of furniture or interesting “found” knick-knacks over time. Look in homeware stores, browse the thrift-shops, and walk along the beach!

Check out Bed Bath N Table for some affordable Coastal Chic
On this holiday I found some lovely prints which were inexpensive, weighed nothing and would fit snuggly into my suitcase …. haven’t found the right cushions as yet, but I still have a few more days of my holidays to go! Must dash … the beach is calling!
What are your favourite Beach House styling tips?
What home decor do you like to buy while on holidays?
Great reading , nice to keep the holiday vibe alive in the home. XX
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