Get Nauti Without Going Overboard

Sincere apologies for the late postings, a string of strong storms has 
knocked out my power several times over the past few days. 

The key to achieving the perfect nautical look is to keep it all in the details. In the case of nautical style, it's best to keep the details small or you risk having your home look too cartoonish.

Here, a whale print highlighted on the wall along with few accessories gives the room a seaside feel without have to do much more. If you decide to go with brass accents, keep in mind too many may make the room feel dated. Antique shops are a great first stop for brass home decor pieces.

 

Instead of rushing to liter your shelves with whatever sailing tchotkes you can find, pull inspiration from nature. Here we have a captain's mirror with two nicely framed prints, however what really pulls this room together are the calming blue colors and the wicker furniture with a modern shape.



If you like the nautical look but don't want to have the whales/lobsters/oars/etc., research island style. There are a lot of the same elements--the cool, calming colors and architectural details--without having the symbols. I love the light blue walls mixed with the midcentury yet rustic wood furniture with a bright coral lamp as a focal point. I also feel that decorative tile floors are high undervalued, although I do understand why.


Pardon my manners, but I am drooling over everything in this picture. The color, the details, just everything is wonderful. This picture is an excellent example of  decorating balance. You can almost hear the waves crashing in the background and smell the salt. However, were you to replace the carpet on the stairs with sisal carpeting I think would be taking the theme too far.

You don't have to have the blues while decorating with starfish and coral. Who wouldn't find this brown bedroom relaxing? Sea life prints, a seashell bed skirt, and woven throw pillows that remind one of sea grass make this a perfectly nautical room without having a speck of blue. If you're a lover of bright colors you can still make nautical work for you, although you may have to work a bit harder without making it seem like you stole a floor set from Abercrombie & Fitch.

No matter your budget, the nautical decor theme can be easily had. On the upper level, there's countless boutiques and antique stores. For those in the middle, Ralph Lauren's homegoods are well worth the price. On the lower end, I've been impressed with some of the findings at T.J Maxx and Marshall's although you do need to have a critical eye. Think more of the Maine coastline instead of the Hawaiian islands; avoid anything with surfboards, leis, and God forbid, flip flops. I don't understand why grody rubber footwear is a design element. But I digress...

You can also easily craft nautical looks. Most hardware stores sell a variety of ropes, a glue gun, an unsuspecting lamp, and a free afternoon are all the components of adding some shore to your home.

Here are some of my picks for nautical decor items:

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