Coastal bedding and accessories from HomeSense
If your bedroom could do with a revamp, then here’s an inspiring guest post from Rin Simpson, who writes the blog Glass Jars and Photographs, on creating a coastal style bedroom.
Given our long standing love affair with the seaside, it’s no surprise that coastal style has remained one of the most popular interior trends of recent years.
From laid back Cape Cod beach house to bright and cheerful English seaside cottage, the variety of styles within the look make it easy to apply to almost any home.
Bathrooms in particular often get a coastal make over, as do communal living spaces, but it’s rare that we see the look translated into the bedroom. Which is surprising, because it’s very simple to do.
First, make sure you get your colours right. Blue is, of course, very important, as is a range of neutrals like white, cream, sand and stone. Add accent shades for a personal touch, whether you prefer brilliant coral or washed out seaweed green.
When it comes to bedding and curtains, aim for a rough, unfinished look; raw cotton, linen and hessian definitely win over fine silks. Other materials to include in the room are rope, unvarnished wood (including driftwood), and anything else that looks natural or weather beaten. Ensure you get a bit of contrast with a few reflective surfaces, like a shiny porthole mirror or a bottlegreen glass vase.
Motifs are important to any style trend, and in this case it’s easy to decide what works – just think of what reminds you of the seaside. From buckets and spades to gulls and fish, sail boats and lighthouses, there is plenty of space for putting your personal touch on the room. Just don’t go overboard or you might end up sleeping in a theme park.
Don’t be afraid to think outside the box, and do draw on your imagination and any DIY or craft skills. Use weatherbeaten wooden boards to create a statement headboard for your bed, hang an old life ring on the wall instead of a painting, or stitch nautical flags together to make a throw or a set of curtains.
Most importantly, have fun with it. And remember William Morris’s famous saying: “Have nothing in your home which you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.”
Where to shop for the coastal look
Here are some coastal shopping picks and product recommendations from Rin.
Main image (above) – duvet sets from £19.99, wall art from £7.99, lamps from £9.99, HomeSense
Duck egg beach hut frame £12.95, Home Home Home
Nautical rope clock £175, Nordic House
Chrome porthole mirror £54, Buy The Sea
Sea urchin lamp £285, Gong
Sailor chair £495, Ghost Furniture
Exeter stripe rollerblind £119, Digitex Home
Seaside screenprinted cushion £26, Iapetus
Rope lanterns £84.50 and £94.50, Nordic House
Fish on stand £9.99, Who’s It For?
By Rin Simpson
