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Nautical design style


Nautical decor is back – this is how to create the look

(Image credit: Future)

Nautical decor had a moment back in the 1980s – and in many ways, it's subtly endured through Hamptons, New England and Cape Cod styles. It's easy to see why it's a look that still appeals – fresh and elegant, it's a wonderful way to introduce a hint of faraway shores, vacations and natural colors and textures. 

However, nautical decor isn't what it was way back when – it has had a more sophisticated makeover for 2021. We gathered advice from the designers at the top of the industry, who show us how to nail this traditional aesthetic in a modern home. 

See: Interior design trends – top looks for the year ahead

What is nautical decor?

(Image credit: Andrew Martin)

Nautical decor is defined by natural colors associated with the ocean – think the neutral tones of stones, sand and driftwood, and the brighter shades inspired by the sea and the crafts we use to navigate it – from the luminescent turquoise of the Caribbean to the racing blue of a yacht's hull.  

What makes nautical decor so much more popular in 2022 compared to previous years? As living sustainably becomes more of a priority in homes worldwide, this natural trend has taken on a new and increasingly important meaning. 

'As we are being faced every day with the collapse of our ecological climate, there seems to be increasing interest in all things natural. This, of course, has translated into interior trends,' highlights Martin Waller, founder of global design house Andrew Martin .

How do you decorate a nautical room?

These are our favorite ways to embrace nautical decor. As you can see, nautical decor can range from warm, rich color schemes to the more pared back shades inspired by New England.

1. Use stripes to emulate Hamptons style

(Image credit: Future / Emma Lee / Sally Denning)

Stripes are instantly associated with the nautical trend (think Hamptons style), but as Laura Barnard, ‎buying and merchandising manager at Arlo & Jacob , shares, there is a fine line to tread so that it doesn't look clichéd.  

'Re-invented Post-Modern classics are having a moment. From razor-thin Breton stripes (below) to broad and bold (like those above), stripes are reminiscent of summer days. However, it's the infusion of comfort and a sustainable color palette that stops new interpretation of stripes from feeling like a nautical cliché,' she adds. 

See: Decorating with stripes – smarten up a room with these elegant looks

(Image credit: OKA)

2. Pick accessories that make subtle nautical references

Hobe Sound side table at Oomph

(Image credit: Hobe Sound table at Oomph)

'Gone are the overt nautical decor references – thank goodness – but here to stay are subtle reminders of the theme, whether that be a blue and white bedroom scheme accessorized with bedside tables with curves reminiscent of waves, or coral-look light sconces, like those in the bathroom below designed by Kit Kemp,' says Homes & Gardens Editor in Chief Lucy Searle.

(Image credit: CP Hart/Kit Kemp)

3. Choose wallpaper with a nautical theme

Seafern by Cole & Son

(Image credit: Cole & Son)

When bringing nautical decor into the modern homey, Paula Taylor, Color & Trend Specialist at Graham & Brown , suggests there is one element that is often overlooked – our walls. Paula agrees with Martin Waller's suggestion that the trend links to our need to reflect elements of nature in our homes. 

'After a year spent indoors, nature-inspired home decor shows no sign of slowing down,' Paula says, sharing how aquatic print wallpapers are the ideal reflection of this craze, and perfect as a 'statement feature' that 'offers depth and movement while maintaining a muted calming atmosphere.'

Again, subtlety is the key to success – although in a children's bedroom or bathroom, you can afford to be more overt.  

Aranami by Farrow & Ball

(Image credit: Farrow & Ball)

4. Create nautical style with a red, white and blue color scheme

(Image credit: Future/Emma Lee)

The colors of the smartest of yachts are red, white and blue – and they lend themselves to the subtlest of nautical decor schemes. In fact, use this color combination and you need little more than a single cushion cover with a design that suggests waves or a simple framed wall print with an aquatic theme.

In both these rooms above and below, white is the prominent color to keep the spaces feeling bright and airy, with blue the secondary color for freshness, and red the simple accent color that adds a shot of heat.

See: Blue room ideas – wonderful room schemes to inspire you

5. Be inspired by the colors of coral reefs

(Image credit: Future/Dominic Blackmore)

A take on nautical decor that's truly 2021? Coral and turquoise.  

'The awe-inspiring beauty of coral reefs and the vibrancy of this color shares such strong associations that adding just a hint of nautical decor to your home will effortlessly evoke the fragile beauty of the sea,' says Martin Waller. 

'Plush cushions in coral tones scattered across a deep marine sofa will immerse you in the watery depths of the South Carolina Reef, while armchair piping in joyous blue hues can hint at the way the knotty branches tease the sea foam in the shallows of the Great Barrier Reef.'

(Image credit: Future / Chris Everard / Alyce Taylor)

Find more inspiration in our gallery of Cape Cod living room ideas – perfect for fans of the fresh blue and white room scheme.

Megan is the News and Trends Editor at Homes & Gardens. She first joined Future Plc as a News Writer across their interiors titles, including Livingetc and Real Homes. As the News Editor, she often focuses on emerging microtrends, sleep and wellbeing stories, and celebrity-focused pieces. Before joining Future, Megan worked as a News Explainer at The Telegraph, following her MA in International Journalism at the University of Leeds. During her BA in English Literature and Creative Writing, she gained writing experience in the US while studying in New York. Megan also focused on travel writing during her time living in Paris, where she produced content for a French travel site. She currently lives in London with her antique typewriter and an expansive collection of houseplants. 

5 Keys Elements of Modern Nautical Style of Interior Design — Hipcouch

Hipcouch Editorial Team

Hipcouch Editorial Team

Interior design is a vast subject in itself. It consists of multiple styles and elements and principles that need to be considered. Honestly, it is like sailing in a huge ocean. Yes, you got the hint right. The article talks about the combination of ocean and Interior design. You ask how? So, here it is.

A very popular interior design style is the Nautical style of design. It is a way of design that helps every beach person keep the ocean near them. Nautical in absolute technical terms means ships and seas. Nautical style is a very age-old style that adds coolness to the place. This style helps to merge the coastal lifestyle with your interior space by putting together the right elements that bring in the nautical feel in the space.

Below are some of the key elements to get the perfect modern nautical theme in your home space. 

1. Choosing the palette 

Any design style demands the right choice of colour palette. As you know, nautical is related to the sea, we derive the colours for this style from its native too. A cool tone of colour palette is the right choice to go with. While white adds the even tone to the space, blue acts like a pop element. Blue not only adds to the coolness in the space but also becomes the focal point of the design. To avoid blue from overpowering, one can also incorporate the colour in soft furnishings than fixed furniture. 

2. Selection of Materials 

Types of materials bring about a difference in a space. It is important to choose your materials right in order to follow a certain theme. In the case of modern nautical style, one can go with white colour engineered deck like floor. It brings in the look of the traditional style ships made out of wood. Drifted or raw wood acts as a great accent in the space. It balances out the coolness with the warmth of natural wood. A variety of rope or jute, which plays a key role in the marine front, brings in texture to the solid colours. 

3. Adequate Lighting

With the growing pollution and population, homes are now tiny boxes. Adequate windows help to make these boxes home in such modern times. Nautical style demands good ventilation and enough sunlight. White being the base tone of this style, a good amount of light brings in a sense of freshness to the space. It lights up the room and also the mood of the person using the space.

Apart from windows playing a key role in providing natural light, artificial lighting also requires attention. Lights such as the traditional lamps and bulbs, add a great sense of aesthetic to the style. 

4. Patterns and textures 

Blue and white being the primary colour palette, variety of textures bring in the sense of home and warmth to the space. Mixed striped patterns are the staples in a nautical home. These patterns can be incorporated in the form of soft furnishings, wallpaper, rugs which can be changed in no time. The weathered texture on the wood brings in the rawness of the ships to the space. Using a reclaimed or dark wood with heavy veins and knots acts as a good nautical style element.  

5. Wall Treatments 

Walls when extruded, make an open space into a functional interior space. Walls are the highlights of any room and it's important to treat them well. A look of a room is dependent on how its walls are looked at. In nautical style too, a good number of weightage has been given to the walls in a space. Multiple treatments can be achieved on a wall or multiple walls. To not disrupt the harmony of a space, it is usually preferred to make only one of the walls as a highlight feature. In the case of modern nautical style, add a splash of bright blue or a wallpaper with coastal features, artwork based on the ocean are some of the ways to bring in the ocean inside your house. 

If you are looking to getting your home designed, feel free to reach us on +91 97698 91528 or email us at [email protected]. Or you can simply book a design consultation with us over a video call.  

Marine style interior: what is marine interior design - attributes, objects, colors, photos

Life in the city is a huge opportunity. Lots of events daily. Everything is interesting, you need to see everything, try it, do it. This dynamic gives energy and makes you move forward. But sometimes everyone needs to feel a sense of peace and tranquility, which happens only at sea, sit, think on the shore and recharge for future achievements. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to sit/think on the shore. But you can bring a little sea to your home. nine0003

Shades of blue

All shades of blue: from light blue to rich indigo, combined with white and sand color, immediately excite memories of the southern coast, cozy seaside towns, blinding sunny sun and alluring water.

For example, a painted wall is a great accent and replacement for a headboard, while a soothing blue is a good choice for a bedroom. And, by the way, for the living room too. If you are not afraid of color, you can decorate the whole room without fear that it will turn out dark and cold. As you can see, in the photo, the walls, pillows and even a lamp in the same range are perfectly combined with each other. The main thing is that this color evokes the right emotion for you, because the sea is different for everyone. For someone - deep, dark blue, for someone - sparkling turquoise. nine0003

Marine stripe

White and blue horizontal stripe entered the world of fashion in the 19th century and to this day symbolizes the marine style, gives the interior freshness and lightness. The main thing is not to overdo it: a couple of accessories, for example, a carpet or a blanket, are quite enough. One large accent item, like the armchair in the photo, will also work.

Seaside flavor

Painted in white or blue, already slightly faded from the sun and sea water, wooden objects will help to add charm and aesthetics of the “nautical style” to the interior. A shabby blue chest of drawers in the attic under a white wooden roof, a headboard or a bedside table made of old shutters - cozy details of seaside life - will enrich the interior with texture and sunny mood. nine0003

The transparent, weightless texture of glass in different shades of blue will remind you of the expanse of sea water playing in the sun. Fill glass jars and bottles of different shapes and colors with shells and sand and enjoy a piece of the sea at home. Or put a lamp with a textured glass base on the chest of drawers, as in the photo in the center. This useful accessory will become a reference to the nautical style only in color.

Nautical style paraphernalia

Tight sails, anchors, helms, nautical knots and nets. All this brings back memories of big ships and small boats gliding through the cool water. This is exactly what is called "marine theme" in interior salons. There is nothing wrong with sticking to a certain theme in the interior. Our main testament: do not overdo it. Take one or two accents. nine0003

Almost any piece of furniture can be easily decorated with coarse rope or mesh to create the right mood. Make an original frame for a mirror, a base for a table lamp or a flower pot with your own hands.

Handwheels, anchors, oars - bright, recognizable images, inextricably linked with the sea. Decorate the wall with anchors, helms, life buoys and other paraphernalia. Turn an ordinary paddle into a hanger or headboard. And immerse yourself in the atmosphere of a sea trip on a ship. nine0003

Put up your own little lighthouse at home - this is a small but very atmospheric piece of decor. Accessory and lighting device in one bottle. Metal and wooden lamps and candlesticks will fill the interior with soft, subdued light and remind you of quiet, cozy evenings on the seashore.

Fish, starfish, octopuses and other marine creatures, made in different styles and techniques and the use of patterns associated with them, will enliven the interior and add depth and mystery to it. Use these looks in the most unexpected places, like putting a stylish octopus in your bathroom, tiling the walls of your shower room in the shape of fish scales, or making fish from twigs collected on the shore. nine0003

Souvenirs from the sea

Even a small handful of sand used in decorative items is enough to evoke the feeling of a romantic evening on the beach. Show some imagination. Make an unusual candle holder by simply filling a glass jar or glass with sand and some shells, or create your own piece of beach under a glass coffee table top.

There are many ways to create a sea mood in your home. You can simply use familiar marine-themed items - steering wheels, anchors, oars, decorative boats and much more. Or look a little deeper and bring your personal emotions and associations associated with the sea into the interior. It can be a color or textures or images that are remembered on the seashore - painted wood, ship ropes - with which you can complement any interior items. Or, for example, unique items created from small things brought from vacation, which will remind you of the sea. In any case, a pleasant, relaxing sea atmosphere will bring harmony and comfort to the house. nine0003

Marine style in the interior - design, details, photo

Marine style in the interior will appeal to those who love the gentle combination of all shades of blue and white. Apartments decorated in a marine style are very expressive, unique and look expensive. This, probably, makes such a design attractive among different segments of the population. Marine motifs, a combination of natural wood in the interior, antique gizmos give the house an alluring appeal. nine0003

Three principles of style

Marine style is more than a hundred years old, but nevertheless always remains modern and fresh. Marine motifs used in clothes and in the interior of the apartment remain practically unchanged. Of course, there are certain differences between the design ideas of the 20th and 21st centuries, but the general trends are quite recognizable.

The marine theme in the modern interior is supported by three main directions.

The vintageness of an apartment decorated in a marine style does not disappear even if you add modern design to it - fashionable floor lamps, lamps, household appliances. The marine style does not suffer at all from such decor items, but, on the contrary, acquires sophistication and modernity. nine0003

Details

A nautical-style room must have wooden floors and white walls. Against such a background, you can even take family photos, without the bright interiors of photo studios. It is better to cover the floor in the rooms of the apartment with wicker straw or its imitation in the form of a carpet. A nautical-inspired home doesn't have to be filled with fancy furniture.

The nautical theme is superbly supported by sofas, coffee tables, tables and chairs with massive, stable shapes. However, in some cases, a house in which there are marine motifs can also be decorated with light curved furniture. Such furniture must necessarily correspond to the general style of the apartment and fit into the marine interior with color, wooden base or decorative elements similar to other accessories. nine0003

Despite its simplicity, the marine style can look quite elegant if the theme of the sea is supported by the color palette of the style, that is, a combination of white, blue and blue. Adding wood to this palette keeps the nautical style fresh and simple.

A nautical-style room can also look luxurious in a photo or visual inspection if the highest quality natural materials are used.

A nautical-style room should be complemented by special details that add sophistication. Sometimes it is the little things that can say much more about the owner and his home than overall things. nine0003

The sophisticated charm of the nautical style is revealed in the accessories carefully selected for each room. This can take a lot of time, but the design will surprise not only you, but also the guests.

Nautical style in its most fashionable version also welcomes the use of beige and pastel blue instead of white and blue. This approach allows you to make the interior more calm, relaxing.

At the same time, other themes of the marine style remain unchanged, that is, wooden motifs are also used, marine gizmos and natural, natural materials are used in the interior. The nautical theme should also be supported in the room's accessories. nine0003

Furniture

The marine theme in the interior of the room is also observed due to wicker or wooden furniture, equipped with special removable covers and mattresses. This reduces the touch of luxury and makes the design reminiscent of the colonial style. Exotic flowers and potted plants, such as palm trees, are suitable for such an interior.

Decorating the chosen style of the bedroom will require the use of high-quality bed linen with a nautical theme. The aristocracy of the bedroom is enhanced by classic furniture, and sophistication will appear if the bed or soft sets are combined with the rich color of the sea (in English it is called navy). nine0003

Marine design will look simpler and at the same time modern when choosing furniture with laconic forms, although in the photo such an interior looks somewhat unfinished. Perhaps, marine motifs will appear brighter if you hang paintings with the appropriate theme, a steering wheel or an imitation of a compass on the walls.

The theme of the sea is superbly maintained in style by using wickerwork - skillfully made mats, baskets, cornices, roller blinds, chests. The room for which such a design is chosen looks not only cozy, but also quite comfortable for any person to live. nine0003

The nautical design of the room is supported by appropriate accessories placed in the walls, bedside tables and windows. You can add a touch of country to the room with quilting pillows. Using the same decor technique allows you to keep the main style motifs in the main design.

The marine interior welcomes a large number of pillows of different sizes both in the bedroom on the bed and in the living room on sofas, armchairs and chairs.

Recommendation

Marine-style interior of one room and the whole house in full accordance with the chosen direction can be observed only by designers. Tips that are simple in their implementation will help you avoid a few common mistakes on your own.