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Nautical Home Decor - Ideas for Decorating Nautical Rooms

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The coastal chic look isn't (always) about anchors and boat motifs.

By Caroline Picard, Alicia Brunker and Mary Elizabeth Andriotis

Francesco Lagnese

Summer is just under two months away, meaning now is the perfect time to turn to nautical-inspired decor and spaces to get you in the right mindset for warmer weather. Below, find 62 rooms that prove that the seaside look is chic, thanks to bold stripes, weathered wood, and splashes of blue and white.

Marcel Alain Photography

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A Pop of Blue

Blue is a perfect pop of color in any nautical-inspired space, as seen in this bathroom designed by Honeycomb Home Design.

House Beautiful

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Ahoy, Captain

This nautical-themed bathroom by Alexandra Angle features a gallery wall of ship paintings, and a wooden baby blue ceiling and walls to match.

José Manuel Alorda

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Coastal Grandma Vibes

Jump on the Coastal Grandma trend with a design like this one, by Jeffrey Alan Marks.

JULIE WAGE ROSS | ROSS GROUP CREATIVE

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Bunk Beds

This Jonathan Savage-designed bunk room is proof that the nautical look doesn't have to be kitschy.

FLOR

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Coastal Decor

This coastal porch features Adirondack chairs aplenty and rugs by FLOR

FLOR

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A Dash of Wicker Furniture

Nothing says nautical quite like a blue and white room, like this dreamy space that's complemented by wicker furniture.

Francesco Lagnese

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Inventive Curtains

Because she needed so much curtain fabric — 80 yards — in a North Carolina sitting room, designer Lindsey Coral Harper used three inexpensive linens and them sewn together with bold horizontal bands of navy. Sofa in Cowtan & Tout's Crispin. Club chairs in Ferrick Mason's Lucas Check. Asilah Mosaic rug, Niba.

FLOR

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Not So Mellow Yellow

Nothing is mellow about the yellow accents in this outdoor spot.

FLOR

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Stripes Galore

This coastal space incorporates a mix of nautical elements, including stripes, tie dye, wooden furnishings, and blue and white accents.

José Picayo

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Color Coordinated

Blue and white makes the perfect summery living room in a Hamptons house. The fabric on the sofa is Vizir in Indigo from Old World Weavers. Throw pillows by Ralph Lauren.

Ngoc Minh Ngo

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Life Preserver

The guest bath in designer Ken Fulk's vacation home "feels authentic to the period of the house, but also clean and modern," he says. Pedestal tub and fixtures from Sunrise Specialty.

José Picayo

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Studded Upholstery

Nailheads add spark to an upholstered headboard in a Hamptons guest room. Blue-and-white embroidered pillows by Dransfield & Ross. Blue cashmere throw by Hermès.

Ngoc Minh Ngo

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Mismatched Fabrics

"We call this 'the sailor room,' because we went all out with the nautical theme," designer Ken Fulk says of a bedroom in his Massachusetts vacation house. "The mix-and-match nature of the patterns and faded batik prints make it feel like it's a collection of old textiles brought back from a journey at sea." John Robshaw bedding. Antique cage lights hang from an antique metal four-poster bed that belonged to the previous owner.

Victoria Pearson

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Sea Glass

This California bath designed by Heidi Bonesteel and Michele Trout is as refreshing as a dip in the pool. A ribbon of blue glass tiles wraps around the room and ripples like water.

Victoria Pearson

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Steamer Trunks

Two vintage Louis Vuitton suitcases propped on wood blocks and topped with a tray serve as a night table in a Napa Valley vacation home. Bed and bedding by Ralph Lauren.

Julian Wass

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Clear Blue

A backsplash takes over an entire wall in a home on Fire Island. Baskets under the island hold large platters and the lobster pot. The Pere Tranquille bistro stools from Annick de Lorme are made in France and can be customized in various colors and patterns. Veneto glass tiles from Stone Source. Heavy-duty marine lights above the island from Architrove. Deschutes sconces from Rejuvenation. All paint in the kitchen is Ralph Lauren Paint's Pocket Watch White.

Francesco Lagnese

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Stairwell Accents

Hemisphere maps are suspended from a brass picture rail in the stairway of a New England home.

Tara Striano

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Fish Scale

Luca Trovato

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Blue Check

In the master bedroom of a California home, the small-scale pattern of C&C Milano's Gentleman Pied de Poule on a pair of Wisteria X-base stools plays against the bold blue-and-white stripe on Restoration Hardware's Directoire bed. Carpet by Stark.

Frederic Lagrange

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Whimsical Lighting

An antique crystal ship chandelier from Jonathan Burden sails over a glass-top dining table in a Brooklyn townhouse. Benjamin Moore Waterborne Ceiling Paint in Bird's Egg.

Francesco Lagnese

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Mounted Map

In the back hall of a Rhode Island home, a Victorian hat rack stands against wallpaper charting the coast outside. Rug by Beauvais.

Francesco Lagnese

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Warm Wood

The sofa in a Rhode Island home pairs Clarence House blue corduroy with seat covers in Peter Dunham's Samarkand. A bold-patterned Indian rug echoes azure tiles in the kitchen, framed by faux-bois-painted walls and trim in Benjamin Moore's Linen White.

Christopher Baker

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Bleached White

Bead board in the master bath gives a Savannah home the attitude of an old beach house. A Tria Giovan ocean photo hangs above a Savoy Freestanding Oval tub by Waterwork.

Christopher Baker

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Thick Stripes

A Russell Sharon painting, a Country Swedish Liselund table, and custom chairs covered in Night & Day II by China Seas "pop" off dining room walls in Pratt & Lambert's Fidelity. The Elizabeth Eakins rug is another bold stroke.

Francesco Lagnese

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Ceiling Decor

An old fishmonger's sign hangs over the sitting area in a Hamptons cottage.

Christopher Baker

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Island Tranquility

The master bedroom in a Southern home is a sea of blue and green calm. Walls are painted Benjamin Moore's Mountain Mist. Seahorse pillows and throw from Number Four Eleven.

Jonny Valiant

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Caribbean Splash

"Powder rooms are places where you can gild the lily," said designer Mona Ross Berman of this colorful half bath. "We used a loud geometric in a bright ocean blue to give it a slightly over-the-top feeling." Wallpaper is Recessed from Studio Printworks.

Francesco Lagnese

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Preppy Pennants

In the guest bedroom of a waterfront home, vintage nautical flags inspired the choice of striped bed linens from Pottery Barn.

Jonny Valiant

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Drifting Boats

Katie Ridder's Beetlecat wallpaper gives a children's room a playful but "not overly cute" feel.

Francesco Lagnese

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Pattern, Pattern Everywhere

Persian Pear wallpaper by Joanna Rock envelops the master bedroom in a waterfront home. The Simla sleigh bed from Robert Lighton is accented with throw pillows from Lynda O'Connor and Max & Company on top of embroidered pillow shams by Jed Johnson. Wisteria's Moorish chest doubles as a night table. Rug by Oscar Isberian.

25 Beach Color Palettes That Channel the Seaside

Caroline Picard Contributing Writer Caroline is a writer and editor with almost a decade of experience.

Mary Elizabeth Andriotis Associate Editor Mary Elizabeth Andriotis is House Beautiful's Associate Editor, where she covers historic homes, entertainment, culture, and design.

15 Nautical Living Room Ideas with Style

These nautical living room ideas will help you design the dream family room for any homeowner who is obsessed with all things ships and oceans. The nautical living room decor style allows us to bring the feel of the ocean into our homes. Not only that, nautical living rooms incorporate very light colors that are both trendy and pleasant to the eye.

The first appearance of the nautical home decor style happened in the 19th century – thanks to Queen Victoria and her son, whom she’d been dressing into sailor suits. The style was usually related to clothing with white and navy stripes. Moreover, as the years went by, the nautical style grew so much in popularity that people started using it as decor for their rooms (a very modern trend that has never gone out of style and exists even today).

The nautical interior design goes way beyond navy fashion. It encompasses almost everything that reminds us of seafaring, ships, and sailors. Also, it is a complimentary industrial style, which doesn’t exclude metal, and it perfectly corresponds with objects and things like anchors, lighthouses, driftwood, ropes, and shells. Its primary color tones are white and navy. But it can also include pops of red, pastel blue, or even sandy beige, which really depends on your own personal taste.

We took inspiration and found the best nautical living room ideas from homes in Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, and Naples to create this post on nautical interior design.

Here are our top nautical living room decor ideas for a dreamy coastal family room!

Vintage Nautical

Norman Design Group

Sailboat Painting

Design Directions

Navy Sofas

Carolyn Thayer Interiors

Wood Ceiling Beams

Muskoka Living Interiors

Modern Nautical

Incorporating modern decorating elements is best nautical living room ideas to keep your home from looking too outdated.

Kennedy Cole Interior Design

Faded Blue Built-in Bookshelves

Red Door Homes

Fish Sculptures

OPaL DC

Crisp White Sofas

A crisp white sofa is a key piece in a nautical-designed home. Nautical sofas often come in white!

Molly Frey Design

Sailboat Models

Country Living Magazine

Anchor Pillows

Anchor pillows are a must for any nautical-style living room design. Pair these classic nautical throw pillows with a navy blue sofa and you’ve got a great nautical family room! The rustic wood nautical coffee table completes this stunning space!

Michael Pagnotta Architects

Marine Blue

If you want to live in a marine blue and nautical living room, the first thing you need to do is use a mixture of navy blue colors to create many shades of blue and paint the walls. These sea colors will breathe life into your room. Also, parts of your furniture can be deep blue, which won’t mismatch the light blue walls. On the contrary, their shade will be in harmony with them by giving your room a beautiful layered look.

Mark D. Sikes

Traditional Nautical Decor

This Miami living room has a French Caribbean flair to it. The traditional nautical decor such as the sailboat on the mantel keeps it looking sharp and elegant.

Mackle Construction Miami

Hamptons Cool

The Hamptons nautical look will provide a relaxed atmosphere to your nautical living room. Forget about grayness and fill your room with nautical-blue colors that emanate elegance and put your mind at ease. Also, you can use cube shelves, round tables, and tuxedo furniture style.

Garrison Hullinger Interior Design

Wood Coffee Table

Rustic wood is a great material for a coastal coffee table in a nautical living room. The beaded chandelier and sailboat painting add some nice seaside touches to this space!

alfresco emporium

Ship Wheels and Anchors

Despite their simplistic look, ship wheels and anchors are very stylish objects that can give you the most authentic seafaring look. Basically, they are a great addition to your nautical living room walls, and they come in many shapes and sizes too. What’s better than drinking a coffee while looking at a ship wheel on the opposite wall and an anchor resting below? It feels like you’re sailing into your home.

Sibella Court Warehouse – Vogue Living

Coastal Flooring

Do you love walking on the beach? If you do, coastal flooring is the thing you need. Nautical living rooms that have coastal floorings remind us of a warm sunny beach every time we cross the room. Typical coastal flooring is made of whitewashed laminate flooring, which has a sandy beige color that gives it a super-airy look. Coastal flooring can be used in any house, where the owner wants to experience an ocean feel, even though the ocean is many, many miles away.

I hope these coastal living room decor ideas inspired you! Stay tuned for many more posts on how to decorate in the nautical style at home.

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.