Coastal colours work in any home, even a long way from the beach. Think of the colour of dry sand, the grey-blue of the North Sea on a winter's day and the warm rust of old iron and autumn leaves. Together they create an interior that feels calm without ever becoming dull. In this article you will read how to combine the three shades, which materials suit them and which pieces to start with.

The palette: three colour families

Sand as the base

Sand is the foundation: ecru, beige, cream and light oatmeal. These colours take up most of the room, on walls, large furniture and textiles. They reflect light and make a space feel airy. Choose warm sand shades over cool white, especially in a north-facing living room.

Sea as a resting point

Sea stands for grey-blue, deep ink blue and the blue-green of water in the surf. Use these colours as a resting point for the eye: a side table, a piece of art, a vase. One or two blue accents are enough in a room full of sand tones.

Rust for warmth

Rust covers terracotta, cognac, camel, copper and ochre. These shades bring warmth, especially in autumn and winter. Use them in small doses: cushions, a throw, a lamp with a copper sheen or a mirror with copper trim.

The balance: 60, 30, 10

A simple rule of thumb keeps the palette in balance. Roughly 60 per cent of the room takes the base colour, 30 per cent a second colour and 10 per cent an accent. For coastal colours that means 60 per cent sand, 30 per cent warm wood tones and rust, and 10 per cent sea as the accent. If you like more colour, simply swap sea and rust around.

Materials that suit the coast

Linen and cotton

Linen creases a little, and that is fine: it looks relaxed, like a summer house by the sea. Use it for curtains, table linen or cushion covers. Cotton cord turns up in lampshades too. Many of the lamps in our lighting collection have shades of stretched cotton thread or rope, which filter the light gently.

Wool for warmth

Wool belongs to the coast in autumn. The woven wool pouffe (€169.95) combines ecru with brown tones, measures 45 x 45 x 45 cm and works as extra seating, a footstool or a base for a tray. For the sofa, choose a wool throw: the terracotta dachshund throw (€98) is made of 100% virgin wool, measures 130 x 170 cm and brings in the rust shade straight away. You will find more colours and sizes in our throws collection.

Rattan and palm fibre

Rattan and other natural fibres add texture and a summery feel, even in winter. The rattan chair has a teak frame with a rattan seat and back and a seat height of 45 cm. It is sold as a set of 4, ideal around a dining table. The palm fibre floor lamp (€299, 1.30 metres tall and 40 cm wide) bathes a corner in warm, filtered light.

Wood: teak, acacia and mango

Wood ties the shades together. Teak has a warm honey-brown colour and a pronounced grain. Acacia is a little lighter, mango a little darker. The ocean beach side table (€155) brings wood and sea together: an acacia top with blue epoxy resin that recalls flowing water, on a metal base. At 55 x 30 x 30 cm it fits beside the sofa or works as a bedside table.

Room by room

Living room

Start with a sofa in sand or ecru. Add two or three cushions in different textures: wool, linen, bouclé. The terracotta dachshund cushion (€45, 100% virgin wool, 40 x 40 cm) adds a rust accent, while the beige version keeps things calm. A throw over the armrest, a wool pouffe in front and a table lamp with a rope shade, such as the Delia walnut lamp (€155, 67.5 cm tall), complete the look.

Hallway

In a hallway, a mirror catches the eye at once and makes the space feel larger. In our mirror collection you will find an organic floor mirror of 200 x 84 cm with a dark wood frame, and an oval gold mirror in mango wood with copper trim, 76 x 151 cm. The latter brings the rust shade onto the wall. Both are large and fragile and are not sent by post, but they can be collected from the shop. Add a teak console below and you have a warm welcome.

Dining area

Above the table, a pendant lamp with a beige cotton thread shade (€125, 28 x 52 cm) works well. On the table, a vase becomes the centrepiece. Our vase collection includes ceramics with real character. The porcelain pepper vase (€149.95, 32 or 45 cm tall) is a bright red and therefore a bold accent. Set it against a calm background of sand and wood so it gets all the attention.

Bedroom

Keep the bedroom to sand and wood, with a single accent. A sheepskin beside the bed (€89, each one varies in size and shade), linen bedding and a lamp with a rope shade on the bedside table create a restful mood. A terracotta throw at the foot of the bed is all the rust you need.

Caring for natural materials

  • Wool throws and cushions: airing them is often enough. To wash, use a 30 degree wool cycle, as stated for the dachshund throws.
  • Teak and acacia: dust with a dry or slightly damp cloth. Do not place wood right up against a radiator.
  • Rattan: brush with a soft brush and wipe now and then with a barely damp cloth.
  • Ceramics: simply rinse watertight vases. Gently shake out dried flowers from time to time.

Common mistakes

The biggest pitfall is too much of everything. A coastal interior quickly turns into a theme room once shells, anchors and stripes appear everywhere. Choose the colours and materials of the coast instead and keep motifs to a minimum. A second pitfall is using exactly the same beige throughout: without variation in texture, the room looks flat. Combine smooth with rough, matt with gloss, wool with wood. A third is too little light. Coastal shades only come to life with warm light at different heights, so think of a floor lamp, a table lamp and a pendant in the same room.

Want to feel the fabrics and woods for yourself? These pieces can also be seen in our shop in Koksijde.