Just Beachy in Peachtree Corners

Ahhh... the sound of the waves; the smell of the ocean air; the warm, comforting breezes. Life at the beach is heavenly.

But you don’t have to live near the ocean to enjoy a relaxing beach atmosphere in your home. Try these easy decorating ideas to transform your living space into a retreat that you can enjoy all summer long!

Choose light, gauzy drapery panels for the windows, and make sure you install them at least a few inches above the window frames. Soft, sheer, flowing panels give the impression of gentle breezes with lots of sunlight entering your room.

There is nothing more “beachy” than seashells. Starfish are also particularly beautiful. And don’t forget sand dollars. You can combine all of your beach finds in a large bowl, scatter them on a table or shelf, or position one unique piece by itself – on the wall or a shelf – as a focal point.

Select summer colors for your walls. White is clean and crisp, soft blues and greens will remind you of the water. Buttery yellow is great to mix in and pops of tangerine, rose, or cobalt will bring a punch of energy to the space.

Beige walls also make a great backdrop for beach inspired colors and also for a “lived in,” faded, monochromatic color scheme. Keep your trim white. Moldings, chair rails, wainscoting, and other accent panels should remain white for a clean, summery feeling.

Speaking of white... you can create a terrific beach mood by opting for all white accessories. On a white shelf, display your white china, white vases, and white candlesticks. On the wall, hang your family photos in white wooden frames, and intersperse some white starfish, shells or coral. Cover your books with white paper.

Make your lighting more casual by replacing more formal chandeliers with casual open, airy or industrial fixtures.

Bring the outdoors inside. Replace your dark heavy dining table and chairs with teak, wicker, or glass and iron. Ground them with a sisal or striped rug. Tie bright cushions into the chair seats.

Go for beach-inspired patterns and comfortable low maintenance fabrics. Use washable white slipcovers on your existing furniture and top them with bright accent pillows.   

Move dark or heavy furniture pieces to the basement and replace them with old wicker, distressed or whitewashed pieces.

Enjoy beach living all summer long!