The surf, the sand, the breeze…living coastal provides what feels like endless summer and perfect weather. But when the holidays come around, we still want to have that warm, cozy winter wonderland feeling inside of our home. How do we manage that? By dressing up your coastal home for the holidays!
Lights
Holiday lights instantly add warmth and festivity to your home. Consider cool colored lights, like blue and white, to keep a coastal vibe on the outside of your home and hang around windows, door frames, handrails, and along the roof line. Add lights to your landscaping and to even line your walkway.
One fun idea we’ve seen is to get an old lobster or fish cage and weave lights into it as a front porch decoration – coastal, rustic, and in the holiday spirit! Don’t be afraid to use lights on the inside of your home as well – around windows, in centerpieces, and to dress up your mantle. To really maintain a feeling of the sea, continue to use white lights indoors while adding pops of color in other places.
The Tree
The Christmas tree is often the centerpoint of any home’s holiday decorations, but they don’t have to just be red and green! First, decide what style you’d like your house to exude this holiday season: traditional, colorful, beachy? This will determine tree choice, light choice, and what you decide for ornaments and decorations. Since most coastal styles use light, natural woods, cool colors, and a lot of white – a flocked tree would look great against an ocean backdrop. Add classic white lights, some blue ribbon, and finish off with silver and teal ornaments and local seashells and other sea treasures – like sea glass! A final touch to bring it all together is a basket tree collar to replace a traditional tree skirt – it brings in the natural basket color and texture of coastal living.
Wreaths
A wreath is a traditional holiday decoration that brings the warmth of the Christmas tree to the outside of your home. Matching your tree by using the same ribbon and ornaments will offer a cohesive look to your style and having matching wreaths in each window or door adds symmetry and balance to your home. If you want to make a bold statement with your coastal wreath, add a few large elements such as a wooden sign in the middle, or even some starfish.
Use Natural Elements
One thing that will really maintain a coastal style is to use natural elements throughout your decorating. If using wood elements, keep them naturally stained, or consider using bleached woods – or even driftwood. White washed starfish and seashells are a great addition, as well. While it could come across as cliche, the amount of “sea-themed” elements you choose to use in your home is completely up to you!
Another way to incorporate natural elements is by looking at textures of things you probably already have! For example…baskets, netting, oars, fishing rods, rope, etc., all have natural colors and coastal textures and can be fantastic additions to holiday decorating. These natural coastal elements will look great alongside your live edge furniture. Add some lights, incorporate into your garland or mantle decor, or add to an outdoor display. Staying connected to your surroundings is a truly coastal thing to do.
Festive Garland
Holiday garland is definitely not limited to the traditional, green fir garland you see everywhere. Garland can be made out of pretty much anything and can be hung pretty much anywhere – inside or outside. Some fun ideas to match a coastal style would be to dry some fruit, like oranges or grapefruit, and string up with some greenery in between. You can also use small pieces of driftwood, or even seashells or sea glass, to make a beautiful garland straight from the sea. Hang your garland on the stairs, on the mantle, above doorways, or anywhere that you want to add a statement and a touch of holiday sparkle.
Linens
Another easy decorating trick is to change out your linens. Sheets, blankets, pillows, towels, rugs, and even curtains can all be swapped out to add some holiday spirit to your decor. Try using patterns and textures that represent the holidays or the holiday season, but with a coastal spin – simple buffalo check or plaid towels, some sweater knit pillows, some chunky knit blankets and a small holiday print curtain can really make your home feel cozy and festive, while still belonging along the shore.
Tablescape
We can’t forget the holiday table! Creating a beautiful tablescape can be as simple as some place settings and a few candles to very elaborate and ornate. To keep things beautiful, festive, and coastal we recommend starting with a simple table runner – burlap, jute rope, or a linen with simple plaid pattern will do the check. Use coordinating chargers and simple white dinnerware. Place a bold color napkin on top of your live edge dining table and use simple greenery in the center with your favorite embellishments – tall candles, tea lights, ornaments, sea elements, anything that you’d like.
Your dining table is often the center of your home and can add a place to gather your friends and family for the holidays. At Golden Coast Burls, we specialize in tables like coffee table or dining table options, as well as live edge furniture that bring the outside in. If you’re looking to add some natural pieces to your home, we believe in natural elegance while also doing good by preserving our forests in a time when deforestation is rampant. With every purchase of our products, like our driftwood glass top tables, 10 trees are planted to combat deforestation! As you’re planning your holiday decorations this year, keep us in mind to complete your coastal, beautiful home.