Whether you live by the beach or just dream about ocean breezes, you can enhance the natural beauty of your home with crisp white, splashes of bold color, and sea-themed accents.

Ocean View

A framework of majestic wood beams framing a stunning ocean view don't leave much room for improvement. Sleek white chairs and sea-tone candles perfectly complement the view.














Bright Colors

A beach house is a great place to have fun with color. Here, bright turquoise contrasts with a bold yellow chair and floor. A door gets a fun makeover with multicolored paint and a fish motif.














Earthy Tones

Tumbled-stone tiles on the floor and shower stall envelop this bathroom in soothing natural tones that echo the beach. Starfish and seashells along the edge of the tub simply enhance the earthy theme.













Stars & Stripes Living Room

For this high-traffic beachfront home, the homeowner used semigloss paint, removable cushion covers, and wood floors for easy cleaning. Blue stripes and fun accents like the star and chandelier give the room a nautical feel.







Beachy Kitchen

A striking sea glass-tiled backsplash and single blue chair bring hints of the ocean to this beachy kitchen.








Relaxed Dining Room

A solid piece of butcher block sits atop two saw horses to form a relaxed dining table, unfinished and unlacquered. Library-style chairs painted a bright white enamel silhouette against the dark hardwood floors. Simple water glasses are used as vases and an ode to the location hangs on the wall.






Beachy Collection

Put seashells on display on antique silver serving dishes.













Bold Bathroom

Contrary to popular belief, small spaces are often the best spots to try out bold wall colors. The cobalt walls define the space and make the knockout tub the center of attention. White terry-cloth curtains give the luxe feel of a spa retreat. A clamshell holds sponges and soap within reach.












Classic Beach House

Vivid blue and bright white set the tone for a classic nautical theme, starting outside with the pair of Adirondack chairs painted Benjamin Moore's Southern Belle blue, durable canvas market umbrellas in bold stripes, and a bright, blueberry-hued door leading inside.











Naval Bathroom

Intricate naval flag wallpaper surrounds the sink, while a ship-themed wallpaper is reflected on the back wall. A pure white sink and medicine cabinet break up the pattern.














Candles and Shells

A bowl of small shells makes an elegantly simple votive holder.














Serene Living Room

A combination of white and neutral tones creates a serene backdrop that can be personalized with accessories. Pillows, throws, and flowers add color throughout and are easily changeable.







Hammock

This porch was made for relaxation. Louvered shutters keep the midday sun at bay while overhead fans get the air circulating. A wicker chair with plush cushions and a Brazilian hammock provide unbeatable lounge spots.











A Nantucket Bath

Painting the wide-plank floors, here striped with yellow and red, is a very Nantucket thing to do in older, simpler beach houses. With the ocean breeze, many of the windows don't require screens and curtains are simply vintage linens clipped onto a line.












Nautical Bedroom

Ocean views make this room perfectly suited for a nautical theme. Matchstick blinds provide an inexpensive way to regulate the light in a bright space, and their horizontal lines pick up the stripes of the blue-and-white bedding and rug. Painting the sloped ceiling the same color as the walls opens up the room.






Water Colors

Shades of blue and green bring a sense of water into this airy room. A striped couch and blue-cushioned chairs are framed by a water-themed painting, plants, and colorful pillar candles.







Airy Living Room

Sea grass matting, soft neutral fabrics, understated furniture, and unadorned windows allow the natural beauty of the high-ceilinged room to shine through.












Pops of Color

Bold red and yellow deck chairs pop against the muted exterior of this Nantucket home. Come summer, the trellises on the walls and even the roof are swathed in lush pink climbing roses.











Outdoor Dining

Nothing says summer like dining outdoors. Here, a trestle table and benches were moved to the porch to take full advantage of good weather. Flags frame the entry like curtains.













Seashell Mirror

An extensive collection of seashells finds a purpose, decorating a bathroom mirror.












Attic Room

This attic room with twin beds is a perfect hideaway for a guest room. Furniture is kept simple with vintage bed frames and an antique side table. Pillows made from tea towels and a vintage phone and hotel sign add character.














Works of Art

Postcards clothespinned to a line strung from the living room ceiling epitomize the offhand ease of a beach house. The lawn green on the walls is one of four different paint colors used in this room, all Benjamin Moore. The painting is by Nantucket artist Elle Foley.











Beachy Bath

To reinforce the feel of a beach house bathroom, use nautical accents, like a bath mat with a sailboat theme.















Funky Bar Cabinet

A quirky striped bar cabinet makes a fun addition to this sea-colored room.














Breezy Bedroom

Sprigs of lily of the valley float across the vintage-inspired wallpaper and are enhanced by a burst of greenery on a light and airy wicker side table. A refreshing yet understated lime green check outlined in a self-welt enhances the graceful silhouette of the custom-upholstered headboard.









Vintage Furniture

A vintage bamboo sofa and chair set, discovered at a flea market, was revived with new cushions covered in Sunbrella fabric.












Red Accents

Framed red nautical flags are echoed in other elements throughout the room, including a painting and a single bloom on the bed stand.