Feel like you're on holiday 365 days a year by creating a beach-house-themed home. This type of interior design requires white, timber and a lot of relaxation.
Everyone loves a beach holiday so why not create that relaxed feeling every day of the year? Beach-house interior design brings the outside in, so furnishings should have a wash-and-wear feel. We look at ways you can make your home a permanent beach getaway with whitewash, recycled timber, seaside accessories, mix-and-match furniture and open-plan living. Be creative and bring your ideal beach house to everyday life.
Crisp white colour scheme : White is the key colour in a beach-themed home, as it helps to create a fresh and breezy feel. This airy bedroom features white-painted timber windows as well as white bed linen and cushions. To achieve a similar look, paint your existing window frames white or off-white paint specialists such as Dulux, Bristol and Porter's Paints will have plenty of options. Second-hand furniture features regularly in beach houses and this can extend to bed linen. Scour garage sales, antique shops and op-shops for vintage linen. A few tea stains here and there will only add to the character. Image: John Fotiadis.
Open-plan living : One way to create a holiday vibe is by bringing the outside in. The idea is to blur the lines of indoors and outdoors so you're not sure where one finishes and the other begins. The living area featured here achieves it by using the same floor tiles outside and in, continuing the white colour scheme from indoors to outdoors and using bi-fold doors, which really open up the room to the elements. Image: John Fotiadis
Seashells by the seashore : Create a seaside feel by featuring accessories sourced straight from the sea or sand. These particular shells were collected on Stradbroke Island in Queensland. Most beaches no longer allow you to remove shells so try gift shops, souvenir shops and beachside boutiques for similar items. Image: Mark Cranitch
Water's edge : If you're lucky enough to live by the water, do your best to embrace it. This room features bi-fold windows that slide along in a concertina fashion, inviting the outside in. Trend Windows and Doors and Stegbar both have a broad range. See the stockists list for more details. If you can make the water a feature, refrain from using too many accessories. A casual bunch of fresh flowers, such as the yellow one featured, is all you need. Daisies work well in a casual room and can last up to 10 days if you replace the water every few days.
Basic bedroom furniture : A fuss-free bedroom is characteristic of most holiday houses, as most of your time should be spent outside, enjoying the sunshine. Make a timber bed the feature of the room and refrain from displaying too many knick-knacks. This room features a basic wash-and-wear quilt cover in white and the blinds are bamboo. Like the look of the blinds? Try Style Plantation for similar screens and blinds. The overhead light in this bedroom has been covered with a basic rice-paper lantern, which can be bought cheaply from your closest Chinatown or markets. An alternative is to have no shade at all unadorned light bulbs contribute to the basic, no-fuss look. Image: Mark Cranitch
Recycle : A beach house should feel like you are getting back to nature. The best way to do this is use recycled items such as the recycled fence timber from which the bed is made. You can source recycled timber at your local nursery, the rubbish tip and auctions. Choosing recycled timber isn't the only way to help the environment. The bedspread in this shot is made from hemp, a completely natural fibre. You could also use calico or pre-dyed cotton to get a similar look. For places to buy environmentally friendly linen see the stockists list.
Surf 's up : It may seem like a decorating clich? but what beach house would be complete without a surfboard artwork? The alfresco area of this beach house features a painted surfboard hanging on the wall, which completes the rustic feel of the space. You can hang an old board on your wall, paint it like the one in the picture or, if you're after something more professional, visit your local art gallery or gift shop. For painting ideas try paint companies like Dulux, Bristol and Porters Paints. If you are going to hang the board outside make sure you use exterior paint.
