Newest Trend in Toronto Interior Design: Beach-Inspired Interiors

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August 26, 2015

Who wouldn’t want to be immersed in a beach setting all year long? But instead of heading down south, you can bring the beach home to you! Light and breezy, you really can have summer all throughout the year.
In fact, that’s exactly what more and more home owners are choosing to do. An emerging trend in Toronto interior design is incorporating a beach theme into homes, which is exactly what Lori Howard and her team at Hope Designs have been working on lately.
So how does one go about bringing the beach inside?
It All Starts With Colour
One of the most important features of a beach theme is the colour palette. The current project that Lori from Hope Designs is working on features a number of beach-inspired colours, including the following (click on each to see the actual colour):
Early morning CC-818
Watercolour CC-788 
Blue stream CC-730
Tea light CC-610
Dewdrop CC-608
Beach glass CC-606
Think blues, greens, yellows, and even whites when it comes to achieving the look of the beach in your interior. These classic colours offer a timeless elegance that can be easily integrated into all sorts of design styles, including a beach theme. These colours have the ability to enhance the mood and aura of any interior space, and really bring out the feeling of a beach home.
Let the Light Shine in
Another important aspect of bringing the beach home to you is an abundance of light. And the colour palette you choose can spread and amplify this light, instead of soaking it up and making the space look dim.
Large windows and glass doors allow sunshine to pour into a space – if your home doesn’t have much of these elements, you may want to consider adding them. If you don’t have that option, try to fake it with plenty of lamps and wall sconces. Don’t overdo it with window treatments, which will only interfere with the glow of the room.
Add some mirrors opposite of the windows, or glass-topped tables to reflect the natural light to brighten the space up even more. Just do’t go crazy with high-gloss finishes that will compromise the cozy environment you’re going for.
Furnishings
Wood furniture pieces work particularly well to achieve a beach theme, as does wicker. And while you can choose to leave the natural stain of the wood on these pieces, there’s no reason not to paint your furniture. In fact, crisp whites, bright blues and pale yellows work quite well on wood furnishings to bring a sense of tranquility and relaxation to a space, mimicking the environment you’d experience when actually lounging in a coastal area.
Driftwood makes a particularly good choice for a beach-inspired interior, as it’s somewhat worn and bleached out – this is essentially the look that you’re going for. Blond maples, pickled woods, and bamboo also make great choices for furnishings, as well as on flooring.
Open Spaces
Much like the beach, you want your interior to feel open and airy. As such, you don’t want to clutter your space with tons of furniture and accessories. When you’re decorating, make sure that you maintain clear sight lines so your view is never obstructed. Nothing can really substitute an expansive area. Even if you’re a little short on space, you can still maximize it by keeping things as streamlined as possible.
Achieving a true beach-like interior without making it look like you’re just throwing a coastal party can be a bit of a challenge. That’s why it’s always recommended to follow the advice of seasoned home interior decorators, like Lori Howard from Hope Designs. To infuse a beach-inspired look into your home, contact Lori at HopeDesigns.ca today!