Creating a Beach or Nautical Room

Whether you live in the mountains or seaside, beach and nautical themed rooms are becoming a favorite design.
Color is extremely important to create a feel of the ocean. Blues, whites, soft greens, along with splashes of red and yellow are the colors that should be used. For a fresh and crisp look, choose softer colors for your walls and accent in navy blue, red and yellow.
Prefered flooring is hardwoods and tiles. I personaly like to use natural stone (travertine is a perfect light stone with neautral characteristics) or lighter hardwoods (birch, beech, or woods stained in a light finish). Every room should have a rug to designate the focal area of the room. Bamboo is a no brainer, but you can also use woven pattern rugs in bright colors. A side note on rug size is don't go too small. A 5x7 is an entryway size and should not be used when dealing with rooms. The beginning size to use in a room is 8x10. I will post more on how to choose a rug size in another lens.
Furniture and fabrics should be a mix of texture. Rattan and wicker are always winners for furniture frames. But if you prefer the more traditional frames, make sure that your fabrics have different textures. On sofas, I like to use a solid base color with pattern accents pillows. Good solid colors to use on your sofa are white, red and of course blues. Choose printed chairs to bring excitement into the room. Cotton fabrics have the most vibrant colors.
When choosing accent tables, there are many nautical looks to choose from. I like the stand by captains trunks for your cocktail table, but glass top tables bring an airy feel to the room. Painted or natural wicker or rattan tables are a good addition. Mix up your side tables with pieces that you love. The rule of matching all of your tables in a room is long gone.
Accessories are what make the room speak to you. There are mulitudes of beach and nautical accesssories to choose from. Oars and ship wheels are a must in nautical decor along with model ships. Seashells, lighthouses, and beach or ocean life are a good start in a beach design.
When it comes to accessories, go with what you love. I love the rooms that mix beach and nautical with a splash of tropical decor.
Your home is your haven from the outside world and should be pleasing to you.
The most important thing when designing any style room is to have fun with it.
You will find rugs, accents and accessories for a beach, nautical, or tropical decor at Life's a Beach
http://www.lifezabeach.net/

Beach and Tropical table setting ideas

Spring is finally here! With spring being here, we are having thoughts of entertaining and having dinner parties. Having a beautiful or fun table setting is the key ingredient to a successful party. Your table setting will set the mood for the entire party.
Beach and tropical themes are always a hit and get your guests in the mood to relax and have fun. When you choose a beach or tropical theme, you have the versitility to be whimsical or dramatic.
Let's start with your table linens. If you decide to have a tablecloth, it will certainly need to be the right color. White, yellow, blue, red, or a beach or tropical printed cloth. Stripes are fun to use and can be used for other themes later. Fishing nets are unique to use for casual settings. Depending on how formal your party is, matching cloth napkins are a must, however for bigger parties you can find tons of paper napkins with tropical or beach themes.
A centerpiece is an absolute necessity! When searching different table settings, I found some really fun ideas that I would like to pass on. Of course a vase with tropical flowers is a good start but a vase with seashells is an easy and inexpensive centerpiece. A small lighthouse is cute and unique. When searching, I also found small beach and tropical themed bird houses being used. Of course candle sticks and holders are perfect accents. Let your imagination go when it comes to your centerpiece. If it doesn't obstruct your view of eachother and inhibit conversation while at the table, then by all means use it. Search through beach and tropical accent catagories to find unique decor that won't be too large to put on a table. If you are going buffet style, you can certainly use larger items and don't forget about having wall decor behind your table.
Finally, your dinnerware. There are so many options for this. Using different bright solid colors and alternating them gives it a fun feel. There are beautiful sets with beach and tropical themes that will take you from wine bottle stoppers to dessert plates. I love the hand painted products made by Bellisimo! and you can find their collections at www.lifezabeach.net.
Your serving dishes can match your dinnerware or you can use fruit themed or shaped bowls for an unexpected addition.
Whether it is a party for two or twenty, beach and tropical themes are something you will want to do often. Parties are about relaxing and who can't relax at the beach.

http://www.lifezabeach.net/Beach_and_Nautical_tableware_s/1828.htm

Designing a shabby beach living room

http://www.squidoo.com/designing-a-shabby-beach-living-room