Designing your everyday escape by the shore
Whether your beachside residence is a house or a condominium unit, the main purpose of the living space is the view—the beach! Every room should offer a wonderful view of the shore.
Beyond the view, there are many advantages to living by the beach: breathing clean, healthy air; having direct access to nature; being just a five-minute walk from a vacation; taking stress-free walks; enjoying fresh seafood; witnessing beautiful sunsets every day, and so much more.
To create your beachside home, your interiors can be modern, coastal, traditional, transitional, or a combination of styles that make you feel comfortable.
PICTURE WINDOW
Highlight your windows as these open to the scenic view outside. Open your curtains or choose window treatments that can frame the view nicely.
HIGH CEILING
Take advantage of your ceiling height if you have it. Add more cove lighting or indirect lighting to add some glow to your space. Suspended lights or drop lights that are placed strategically and layered with table lamps and floor lamps will add drama to the room.
GO NATURAL
Natural finishes are the obvious choice for your beachside home.
Abaca wall coverings have a beautiful texture and bring a warm, soothing feel to the interiors. Wood in rustic or pickled finishes, with an open grain—used for furniture or walls—adds character.
Sisal rugs, raffia upholstery, linen slipcovers, and shellwork lacquer finishes all add touches of personality.
COLOR PALETTE
Elastomeric acrylic paint with UV protection is perfect for areas exposed to saltwater air, as regular paint tends to degrade in such conditions.
Beachside colors are subjective. You can go for a neutral or subdued palette with touches of white or beige. Or, you can play with pops of color or incorporate striped patterns for a livelier look.
ACCENT PIECES
There are no rules when it comes to accent pieces. You can embrace the beachside theme and go all-natural. I usually do the opposite though, since I don’t like to conform.
For beachside interiors with natural finishes on the flooring and walls, it’s nice to introduce some glossy textures. You can use a marble dining table, a big Fiam artsy modern mirror by Philippe Starck, a modern droplight from Flos, rattan chairs, a leather chaise probably a Le Corbusier, or a layered huge sisal rug with a CC Tapis organically shaped rug on top of it.
You can also opt for a huge Antique Chinese fish bowl planter with a huge monstera plant!
INDOORS + OUTDOORS
Blend the indoors with the outdoors and vice versa. The feeling of your interior is like you’re stepping out onto the beach.
If you have a lanai or a terrace, have a similar floor finish color as your interior space to extend the area. Add plants with planters spread around. Place seating in your lanai.
Convert your lanai into a useful space like an outdoor dining area, barbecue pit, outdoor bar lounge, or outdoor living room. Floor lamps and table lamps on consoles and side tables will make the lanai even more comfortable.
RELAX
If you have more outdoor space, you can create a spa. An outdoor jacuzzi can mimic the beach, creating a double view from your interior space. This is especially beautiful from a roof deck or a higher floor, particularly when connected to the master suite.
Creating your own beachside interiors should be fun. The look is a reflection of its surroundings, bringing the best comfort to your home.
The author is the founder of Chat Fores Design Studio, an executive director at the Philippine Institute of Interior Designers (PIID), and a member of the Advisory Board of the College of Architecture and Design of Enderun College
