Bring The Beach Into Your Home With Beach Theme Decorations

Of course beach theme decorations look nice, - unless you pick a dead fish or something similar, that is! -, no doubt about that. But there is more to beach decor than what just "meets the eye", literally.

Think about it for a moment - what is it that we want to achieve when decorating in a beach theme?

Apart from having a color coordinated and appealing home, we want to capture the feeling we have every time we are at the beach, the sense of openness, freedom, relaxation and peace it gives us. We are trying to bring a piece of that feeling back home to counteract the stressful lives most of us live, and to create an oasis at home without having to make the (sometimes very long) trip to get to nature.

That's why I love beach theme decorations. They just make me feel good.

If you follow these few simple rules, you can be certain to achieve a look in your home that will make you feel good every time you see it, and you will have future visitors comment on it very positively!

Stick to one theme

Don't try and fit different themes into one room. It will look cluttered and very busy, not restful at all. Even though it is possible to have different rooms in different themes, I really do not recommend it. To achieve a continuous and classy look you really have to stick with one theme throughout your house.

Less is more

Don't think that to achieve a certain look you have to go out and buy every decor piece you can get your hands on. It will always look much more stylish and have more impact if you stick to a few nice pieces that you really like and that go well with your theme. I actually recommend to rather spend a little more money on something you really like, than to spend lots of small amount on things that will likely become "clutter" further down the track (I have to be honest here, I am guilty of that! It takes a bit of will power to stop yourself from buying all these little knick knacks, but I can promise you, it will be worth it).

Get your colors and materials right

No matter what theme you choose, do a bit of research on the topic beforehand and choose the right colors and materials to reflect it. For the general theme "Beach", you can find my color suggestions here.

Basically, beach decor is not just beach decor. There are different styles you can venture into, as there are many different types of beaches out there, too. Or you can just focus your decor on certain icons that represent "beach". Here is a variety of beach theme decoration styles that might give you some ideas of what you can do (I will go briefly into each of them down below):

• "Plain" Beach Decor


• Tropical Decor


• Hawaiian Decor


• Palm Tree Decor


• Seashell Decor


• Geckos

"Plain" Beach Decor

When I say plain I don't mean boring! This is actually the beach decor I like the most. It is about bringing the open, breezy, warm (or maybe rugged and cooler...), refreshing, uncluttered beach into your home. You will have to work with your colors, there won't be palm trees but dune grasses and grass decor, maybe some crabs, shells, and your typical beach furniture, preferably in white or natural wicker.

This is my favorite piece of beach decor - it is a beautiful crab to hang on the wall. It has got wonderful detail, and it looks stunning!

If you are looking for outside patio furniture I found Stonecrest Furniture to have the most fantastic range that fits in perfectly with the general beach theme. Their furniture is also made from 100% recycled material (it is called "recycled Poly-Wood" or Poly-Lumber), so you will be doing your bit for the environment. They also offer free shipping on every order, which is great!

Tropical Beach Decor

This is where it gets a little bit more lush and green - you can have palm trees and other broad leaf plants, but again, you still want to try and keep your spaces open, so you need to "cluster" your plants in pre-determined spots.

You have got more color options than with the general beach theme, you can add some reds and stronger greens and browns. I have actually got a lens on Tropical Home Decor where I go into more detail, check it out here, or go straight to my website where you will find all the info, too.

You can also add images and fabrics of tropical animals and flowers - like parrots, or frangipani and hibiscus.

When going for the Tropical theme your furniture could actually be darker brown tones, again to depict the lushness of the Tropics. You still need to stick with natural wood and materials though. Wood with wrought iron accents will make a great addition to any tropical themed room. This 5 drawer chest is one of my favorite pieces of Tropical furniture.

Enter the Tropics

Hawaiian Beaches - for all of you who love Hawaii

This is really not so different from the tropical theme, with the difference that you will have to add some typical Hawaiian icons to your decor, like Tiki masks or an ukulele on the wall, or a Tiki statue on a display table. The Hibiscus flower is a must, too. See if you can find a great photo or picture print of one to brighten up your walls. Or even have a display wooden bowl on the coffee table with some real hibiscus flowers in it.

Don't you love this tissue box cover???? I think it's great, just adds this touch of Hawaii to your room, and it is good for a laugh any time!

If you love surfing, some surf decor will definitely go with the Hawaiian theme as well. Rugs in bright colors, shaped in the form of a surf board, or again pictures or paintings...

And of course, don't forget the Hula girls. I wasn't sure whether I should mention them because to me all the Hula girl decor I have come across so far seemed a bit tacky, but - sure, if you find a Hula decor piece you like, go for it.

E Komo Mai - Come on in!

Palm Trees as Home Decor

Green plants inside the house can truly transform it into a home straight away. They add a certain feel to a place that nothing else can. If you chose palm trees and similar plants, you are stating that you like nature, relaxation, holidays (preferably in the Tropics) and - beaches!

Palms and palm-like plants, or any plant that reminds of jungle, are very special "house-plants", usually because of their size (most of them can be quite big) and their uniqueness. They do make a statement wherever they are. You can make them the focal point of the room. It looks absolutely stunning if you put them in clusters and then light them from underneath.

Palm Trees as home decor are an accessory to your decor rather than a decor style themselves. They can be part of the Tropical theme, or the Hawaiian theme, or if you have chosen Balinese or African decor (which I hope I will come to talk about and add them to my site in the future). Palms complement many different styles.

If you get "the real deal", make sure you look after them properly, - you are not doing yourself or your home a favor by displaying greenery that is in a sad condition. Tips on Tropical houseplant care

To make things easier, you can always buy "fake". I know that lots of people might not like fake, but I have to say that these days some of the fake plants look just so real that sometimes I have to touch the leaves to be absolutely sure.

Palms grow here!

Setting Accents with Seashell Home Decor

I could bet that everybody has them somewhere in their home - picked up on a holiday whilst beach combing the beach. Seashells are something wonderful and also mysterious, they come in many different colors, shapes and sizes, and they are fascinating people from all over the world.

Have a look at some of these display shells, they are absolutely amazing (admittedly, some of these are fake, but they are nonetheless just a feast for the eye to look at).

Seashells are an essential part of any beach theme decorating, they are the symbol of the ocean and the beach, and I believe no beach decorated room is complete without them.

Imagine a beautiful big glass bowl or urn filled with a little sand from the beach and a few handpicked shells scattered on top. Put a little display crab amongst them, and you have a small beach scene!

Shells are great to accessorize your beach theme, they are so versatile and always hold some interest. People like to touch them, or talk about them. They look great also as a picture or print on walls, or on mirror frames.

Maybe you are into crafts? Seashells are one of the most widely used craft items for decorating. They are so versatile and can be used for a million things to decorate your home.

I found the book "Shell Chic" to be a fantastic guide for decorating ideas and craft projects.

Collect some shells...

Decorating with Geckos

This is something for Gecko Lovers. I realize that not everybody is into Geckos, but they have gained a lot of popularity as decor items in the last few years, and there are some pretty amazing Geckos out there that can give your home decor that certain "WOW" effect. I have a little life like looking Gecko from the Golden Pond Collection (they are the absolute most beautiful and lifelike Gecko figurines you can find!) up in the corner of my bathroom on the wall, and everytime you walk into that room you go - "whoa", it looks so real.

Using Geckos within your Beach theme decorating will just add this certain WOW effect to your home, and for me as an absolute Gecko lover they are an item not to be missed.

For outdoors there are some metal wall hangings that will add a classy touch to your entertaining area. Those big metal hangings can be hung in a prominent spot.

Little life like Gecko figurines can be hung on a pot, or placed in a special corner amidst foliage. Make sure you do not display them just in plain sight like you would any other decor, so don't hang them in the middle of the wall, or place them smack bang on the coffee table. Do it subtle, so the effect of it being "real" does not get lost. That doesn't mean that you should hide them though, they should definitely be seen! :o)

Of course, if you love the Geckos of the "colorful kind", don't mind to put them in a "cheeky" spot - they are meant to be prominent, otherwise they would not be wearing those colors.

Catch a Gecko!

Puh, I need my coffee now! Cafe Britt Organic coffee: Directly from Costa Rica 100% eco-friendly plantations! Writing really doesn't come easy to me, and it took me now 4 days to get this lens done. I loved every minute of it, though, and I hope that you have enjoyed reading it as much as I have enjoyed creating it.

I would love to hear a comment from you - good, bad or otherwise, because only then I can find out what I could possibly do better next time, or what I did good.

Cheers!