Coastal Cottage Furniture to Complete Your Comfortable, Casual Living Style

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"Your home can be a haven of calm, serenity
and casual coastal style"

Coastal cottage furniture is a natural choice in home decor for your seaside, beach, rustic, cottage or lakefront residence.

Here's a little secret - it looks great no matter where your home is located!

Your home may be on the eastern seaboard, an inland lake or an urban apartment. It really doesn't matter where you live.

If you love the casual ambiance of coastal cottage furniture, you can create a look that brings the carefree, easy lifestyle of the coast into your own home.

Along with the furnishings come some basic elements that create the foundation for your coastal decor.

First, the overall color palette for the walls is light. If you love white, select a clean, crisp white for the backdrop of your decor. Many people find that a hint of color adds warmth to the space, so consider an off white with just a hint of pink, blue or yellow.

Paint shelving the same color as the walls to give your displays and collectibles a dramatic backdrop.

Floors should enhance the overall casual, comfortable look, using tile (16" x 16" or larger) or wood, with scattered area rugs made from natural materials.

The wood floor can be light, medium or even dark finish if you want to create some drama to offset the lighter tones of the walls and furnishings.

Carry that same tone into accent tables, wicker baskets, picture frames, etc.

Here is a tip: be practical about your flooring decision. I live near Fort Myers Beach, Florida, and know from experience that wood floors show a lot more sand than tile, so your broom becomes a very good friend!

Windows with plantation shutters are always a great choice, as are roman shades in nubby, natural fabrics.

Coastal cottage furniture is most often anchored with generously scaled painted wood pieces, often with a distressed finish to create an antique, weathered appearance.

This look is not messy or cluttered, and may reflect a certain sense of 'casual refinement'.

Case goods may be reproductions or antique pieces handed down through generations of family, and they reside quite comfortably with comfortable yet clean lined upholstery.

Upholstered pieces are comfortable, approachable and have simple lines. Fabrics can be solid or print although the overall approach with coastal cottage furniture is to see a calm, peaceful room and not wild exotic prints.

Mix colors of painted wood pieces, introduce wicker, iron and other elements in your coastal decor, and know that everything does not, and should not match.

Remember these words and you will stay on track with coastal cottage decorating: Calm, Serene, Natural, Casual...Have Fun!

Note: All of the beautiful coastal decor you see is from Stanley Furniture's Coastal Living collection. Click on any image to see details!

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