An always-winning home theme mixes in just the right amount of coastal inspiration. When done right, calming hues of sand and splatters of blue across rooms make imaginary sprays of salty sea mist in the air almost palpable. And besides an interior upgrade, here’s a fun fact: Being near or even reminded of the ocean is good for your brain and your overall well-being.

So many of us flock to the coast to put down roots or go on vacation. Instead, bring bits of the sea into your home (but don’t flood it) with these tips.

The Base: Begin with Coastal Colors

Where does your mind carry you when you think the word “sea”? The overwhelming expanse of the deep blue disappearing into the horizon, a tan beach stretching for miles, and the explosion of white foam amongst raging surf is a surefire attention-grabber. When you’re bringing the beach home, transformations begin with complexion.

In a sea-inspired space, colors don’t need to resound like the force of a violent wave. A palette brimming with whites, sands, wood finishes, and pops of varying blue undertones have the capability to quickly retheme a home into a coastal dwelling. 

Avoid drowning your dwelling by painting the walls blue. You want visitors to feel hints of the sea—not like they’re swimming underwater. Start with white walls, which are complemented with wood floors. Choose a soft gray or beige carpet or rugs with hints of blue and sand. Dark blues are powerful, salient colors that’ll tug on the eyes. Use it sparingly, spread it across rooms, and mix up the hues with décor such as a dark-blue centerpiece bowl, a light-blue framed photo on a wall, a powder-blue vase, and some turquoise candles.

The sea is a smattering of ever-changing elements, and your beach home doesn’t have to follow strict guidelines. Use grays and soft yellows to break up the sands and blues, but watch your use of red or purple—too much of either may overwhelm other elements, making for a messy sandbox.

Textures are Your Accents

After you’ve tackled the color bases, textured items that bring the beach “feel” into your home are what’ll really tie together your seascape. Here, you can experiment with items like driftwood, nautical elements, coral, and the like. This is where the decorating gets fun.

Wicker chairs add a rustic tousled element modernized by orderly weaves. Line shelves, countertops, tables, and wall spaces with delicate ocean insignia such as a branch of spiny coral, soft driftwood, metal anchors, starfish, or a seashell wreath.

Lots of woods, rope, metal, shells, and decorative trinkets that possess a maritime and seaworthy sensation are where you should focus your efforts. But remember to choose a few standouts and keep it light, unless your aim is to turn your living space into a houseboat.

Plants are Your Kelp Forest

Many a sea-inspired home is devoid of one thing that holds court on nearly every beach and under every ocean: some form of plant life. Put the finishing touch on your home with some large tropical leafy greens or small pots of tall coastal grass. One living element in every room should suffice, otherwise you’ll be sitting in a jungle, not an ocean-themed abode.

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