
Tropical vs Coastal: Accents Will Determine Where You Land

What Does Tropical Style Mean To You
Create That Tropical Escape At Home!
In our last post, we explored many of the different
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Photo Credit: Zingy Homes
Imagine Your Tropical Escape
To get started, envision what your ideal escape looks like. As we previously mentioned, where have you been that really made that unforgettable and wonderfully amazing impact on you? Or if you haven’t traveled to that special place yet, what is the number one place on your bucket list? Imagine yourself there now.
Our escape is Fiji. We stayed at the Matangi Private Island Resort. It was life-changing.



Photo Credits: Cerulean Bay
That hammock was just a few steps from our door. No, the trip was not cheap. But it was not insanely expensive either. We chose to go when we had to change our plans to meet some friends on the main island. They could no longer go and we could not get a refund or a decent credit for the flights. So we found this place, decided to have the honeymoon we never had, and the rest is history.
So imagine your special place. What colors do you see? What are you hearing? What is the overall vibe and atmosphere? What kind of furniture and accent pieces are there, both inside and outside? What is hanging on the walls? What does the floor look like? You want to be in the kind of place that you will want to experience over and over again.

Photo Credit: jhmrad.com
Avoid Themes!
When you have your ideal picture in mind, look at the individual things which make up that picture. What is your favorite part about it? That should be the underlying focus you use to create your look. We call that focus “underlying” because you don’t want it to dominate or overpower your completed space. It should be the foundation on which you build your look but don’t let it become a theme. Focusing on a particular theme like seashells, fish or palm trees means those will become the dominant imagery which is what you want to avoid. This is a fine line to walk but it is an important one so you can achieve a truly balanced end result.
When your favorite thing is turned in to the theme of your space, it takes over and anything else you add will be lost in the background. The results can be disastrous.

Photo Credit: pleasehatethesethings
There are several things that could have been done here rather than painting images of palm trees on the wall which seem to be what the homeowner was after. In this case, it doesn’t work and neither do the
If additional lighting is still needed, a really nice floor lamp with a tropical leaf motif and some shelving of its own would do the trick. Or they could bring in some fun lighting with natural shapes and textures to break up the formal feel of the room. With palm trees being the focal point of the complete look, a large potted palm with some other large leaf plants next to the windows and another across the room next to the columns would be awesome!
The point here is that what you do needs to blend in with the rest of your surroundings so it doesn’t end up looking garish and out-of-place. Also, with wall art and decor pieces, you can change up the look from time to time instead of having a giant mural that is literally fixed in place and doesn’t allow for anything else to happen.
Themes also needlessly limit you by narrowing the range of what is really available for you to create fulfilling and complete looks. As mentioned above, the biggest danger is that you will end up with a look that is centered around one particular object. For example, if you love seashells, then you will find that most everything you want to use will include seashells as the focus and that will be all you have in the end – seashells. You will lose out on all of the associated imagery and design elements that should be included to create a complete
Themes can also produce looks that can come across as dated, silly, or very juvenile such as this.

Photo Credit: sunsurfrealty.com
Look For Ideas To Support Your Focal Point
The range of what is out there as ideas for you to use is really huge. There are so many colors, textures and mediums (woods, metals, glass, etc) that you can use to create a really cool pulled-together

Photo Credit: Zingy Homes
While not everyone has a bathroom like this one pictured above, it is full of textures, colors and ideas you can use to create a number of different tropically-inspired looks. It also highlights what happens when you happen to have a big bathroom with lot of floorspace and how a bench or two can really help to break up that space. We love this teakwood bench because it is big and it has a storage shelf underneath. Teakwood is the best for bathrooms because it is naturally water resistance and it will last for many years.
Depending on the amount of natural light you might have, large
So when planning your
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Start With A Color Palette
In the

Fiji
Next are greens because of all of the palm trees and plant life. From soft and pale to vibrant and bold, all shades of greens will work. A few examples of green shades are emerald, hunter, celadon, jade, lime, and kelly (shamrock).

Photo Credits: WiseGeek
Following that would be various whites, creams and beiges because of the sand, crashing waves and clouds in the sky.

Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Once you have the base colors in mind, you can focus on your favorite stronger colors such as bright yellows and oranges, bold reds and purples and even additional shades of dark blues or lush greens that will bring in pops of accent color. Those can be inspired by

Photo Credit: Laura Miller Interior Designs
Just remember though that accent colors are exactly that, accents. You can go with more of them if you want to, it’s up to you. But just know that too much of them will overwhelm you.

Photo Credit: Kreitinger Design
If you already have some furniture or decorative accents that are in your favorite strong colors, paint the walls with more subdued colors so your accent pieces provide the bursts of color. Large areas of overly bold colors will drown out everything else you have in the room. It won’t be relaxing visually which is the whole point of what we are doing here. And regarding paint, it’s just that. It’s paint. If you don’t like the color, you can always paint over it.

Photo Credit: Charles & Hudson
A quick tip about paint samples at the store: The color you choose at the home improvement store on the sample card is always going to look different at home. No one has that bright white warehouse lighting at home. Colors typically appear darker at home than at the store. Who has lights like this at home?

Photo Credit: roi-energy.com
Also, paint gets darker as it dries. And on top of that, no two walls in your house reflect the same amount of light. That means some walls in the same room will be darker than others even though the whole room was painted in the same color.
Go look at an existing room in your house that is painted in just one color and you will see anywhere from two to four shades from light to dark. It depends on the placement of your windows, what direction the room faces regarding the position of the sun and shadowing caused by the existing decor. This picture shows at least four different shades of the same gray on the walls.

Photo Credit: Paul Raeside and homesandgardens.com
A great rule of thumb is this: When you decide which color you really like on a sample card at the store, pay attention to where it sits on the card. Is it the lightest shade at the top of the card? If so, go ahead and buy it. However, If your new color sits anywhere below the lightest shade, especially towards the bottom of the card, stop there. Wherever the color you want sits on the card, choose the next lighter shade up and buy that one, especially if you have any doubt that the color you like might be too dark once it is on your walls. Go with the lighter shade. You’ll be glad you did because you will land right where you want with the dried color.

Photo Credit: WiseBread
If you like patterns, just pay close attention to how you use them. They make the perfect bold statement when used against solid colors and neutral furnishings. When using them on the walls themselves such as with wallpaper and/or on window coverings, the room will increasingly come to life. Just remember that too much use of patterns will make the room too lively and too busy and again, that is not visually relaxing. But when done correctly, the look is bold yet relaxing. This bold tropical print wallpaper is an excellent choice for this type of look. It is not a “peel and stick” paper so it will require the use of a good wallpaper adhesive on the walls.
You can go really bold but notice the muted upholstery. That’s how this is supposed to work.

Photo Credit: Ebay
Or you can go very subtle.

Photo Credit: The Nordic Design Co.
Of course, there are many levels of boldness in between. Just remember that big prints on a wallpaper sample will be multiplied many times over on your wall.
Bring In the Plants!
Nothing says “tropical” more than the lush plants and landscapes. Palm fronds, plants with big leaves such as philodendrons and monstera, banana plants and giant bird of paradise will bring in those greens.

Flowers such as hibiscus, orchids,

Photo Credits: roberturband.com
Big indoor plants are perfect for filling in corners and unused spaces. Just make sure they have the lighting they need to do well. If you don’t have a green thumb or don’t want to fuss with real plants, go ahead and use fake ones, there is nothing wrong with that! Here are a few of our favorite tall ones:
There are many great quality plans of all shapes and sizes available nowadays so with a bit of searching around (and reading reviews!), you can find the perfect additions for your
Also, when shopping online, check the pictures carefully. Unless the plant is of very high quality (and typically on the expensive side), larger leaves and thicker trunks and branches can look more fake than natural. So check it out online as thoroughly as possible because even though you know it is fake, you still don’t want it to look fake. Nothing screams “Plastic!!” like low-quality faux plants and flowers.

Photo Credit: Grandinroad.com
As you shop around, pay attention to the pricing because it will vary quite a bit. You need to get the best faux plants possible but just know that they are not cheap! Whether you use faux or go with the real thing, dust their leaves regularly. Both real and faux collect a ton of dust, just like everything else does in a room.
Orchids are awesome too. And they are easier to care for than you think.

Photo Credit: The Old Farmer’s Almanac and Nemika Polted/Shutterstock
Awesome Orchids!
Here is a quick tip to keep things easy: grow them in distilled water only and give them a sunny window with a lot of natural light. Orchids are known to be very fussy and many times the bark medium they come in doesn’t allow the roots to get enough air. Root rot is a common problem. This is a great article about how to do it!

Photo Credit: Spreesy.com at Pinterest
The key is not to use tap water. They cannot handle the chlorine, minerals and salts that are found in city tap and in well water. Use distilled water only. It sounds strange, we know. But they will be just fine.

Photo Credit: Rigy at plantorchid.wordpress.com
Regardless of what colors and textures you use, a bit of
The Classic Looks of Wicker
In all of the furniture that can be used in

Photo Credit: Article.com
Wicker actually dates back to ancient Egyptian times but it wasn’t until the 1970s that this look really took off in the US and became so popular. That is why we recommend being careful when using these because they can make a room look dated if the room is not pulled together correctly.
Here are some great examples of wicker being used correctly.

Photo credit: Homeedit.com

Photo Credit: The Art Of The Room
A quick note about rattan versus wicker: Many people assume that rattan is one material used to make furniture and that wicker is another. Not true! Rattan is its own material as it comes from the rattan plant which is a close relative of the palm tree. It is a climbing palm vine in South East Asia that grows very rapidly in the jungle.

Photo Credit: Townsville Primary School on Facebook
It climbs through and over nearby trees, bushes and rocks, averages about 2 to 3 inches in diameter and can grow to over a hundred feet in length. While it is not a true wood as that from a tree, it is one of the strongest woods on earth, even stronger than bamboo.

Photo Credit: WWF.org
Wicker however, is not a material. It is a style and method of weaving used to make pieces of furniture and other items. So rattan, cane, bamboo and many other natural and synthetic materials that are suitable for this style of weaving can be used to make wicker furniture. That is why the quality of wicker furniture varies so widely, it depends on what it is made from.
Since quality rattan furniture is not cheap, it is important to know that natural rattan furniture is meant for indoor use only. It will quickly fade when exposed to sunlight. It also can absorb a lot of moisture so it will swell and begin to mildew. Not good!

Photo Credit: Lovely Etc.
Wicker that is painted with an outdoor paint or that is made from synthetic materials are the best options for outdoor use. Synthetic wicker is also known as resin wicker and all-weather wicker.

Photo Credit: Homeedit.com
So if you want to incorporate rattan or wicker into your look, it is important to consider where you want to use it because good quality rattan is not cheap. For some great outdoor seating, we think this 8-piece set looks awesome and will hold up if properly cared for. Yes, it includes a table with a fire feature because we love those!
Fabrics – Keep Them Comfortable
Fabrics for upholstery, pillows and curtains should be lightweight. Texture is really important so the best fabrics are linen, cotton, cotton blends, canvas, and polyester blends. You don’t want anything that is really heavy or bulky.
This sofa is a perfect example of comfortable and practical in

Photo Credit: Aaron Wong: Blog.comfort-works.com
Upholstery fabrics should be as easy to clean as possible because

Photo Credit: beleezaacaibar.com
When choosing fabrics, stay away from nylon blends because they have a very unnatural feel and depending on the blend, they can be heavy. Also, we recommend avoiding jacquard fabrics. Jacquard is a method of weaving on a loom and many different materials can be used to make this fabric. The issue with jacquard is the resulting fabric is typically heavy regardless of the base material used.

Jacquard fabric with a damask texture
Photo Credit: Macy’s
Since we are only concerned with lightweight and easy fabrics for our looks, we won’t get into the weeds about when to use jacquards which also include damasks and brocades. That is a whole other topic which is outside the scope of what Cerulean Bay is about. In short, jacquards are simply too heavy, too formal and too fancy for us! They are truly beautiful but it is tough to use them in casual and relaxed


Jacquard fabric with a damask texture
Photo Credits: Google
Colors for sofa fabrics are typically on the muted side as faded colors bring in that calming weathered look. But depending on your preference, go bold it you want to. Just be careful not to go overboard because once fabrics are in place, you can’t tone them down like you can with paint where you simply can repaint with a more subtle color. Too many colors and patterns means too many things are trying to be the focal point. It’s tough to know where to look in this room because everything screams for attention!

Photo Credit: One Kings Lane
Regarding upholstery patterns, be careful with those because you want to keep things visually relaxing to the eye. Depending on the size of your upholstered piece, patterns will repeat. Since patterns already create visual energy, the more of them you have or the busier they are, the more energetic the room will be.

Photo Credit: Pinterest
If you are worried about a look being too strong, it’s best to keep bright bold colors and patterns to the accents like pillows, cushions, throws and pieces of artwork. Silk cushions make great accents and they can bring in a bit of an Indian or Asian flair. Velvet cushion cases bring in bold color with great texture. A quick note: For these velvet cases, you will need to provide the inserts. We recommend these ones and what is cool is that they comes in a number of different sizes. So if you happen to have some really cool cushions which either need the inserts replaced or perhaps you have other new cushion cases that didn’t come with inserts included, check these out.

Photo Credit: Lonny.com
Curtains should be light and airy. Linen or gauze fabrics are perfect and should be in solid colors or have lightweight prints or patterns. Or they can be kept undyed which really creates a natural and neutral look. The cool thing about curtains is that you can choose to keep your walls simple and muted and let your curtains do the talking.


Photo Credits: Decoist
Let There Be Light!
Obviously being in the tropics means being outside most of the time whether it be on a sunny beach, hanging out by the pool or in a comfortable outdoor living room under a covered patio with ceiling fans. When you create your


Photo Credit: mydecorative.com
Also, we strongly recommend ceiling fans. There are many tropically inspired designs out there and it is totally worth the time and effort to find them.

Photo Credit: Lamps Plus
Sometimes it is very tempting to go for the very unique and exotic! Just know that you have to make sure your space can accommodate certain specialty fans because they can be huge such as in the photo above. A 12 foot ceiling or higher is required!
Or this one below which is 72 inches (6 feet!) across. These happen to be great for large outdoor porches by the way.

Photo Credit: Amazon
Definitely take the time to look for fans which have blades that have a wood or rattan look that is as authentic as possible. A lot of them have blades that look like cheaply made palm fronds and are made of plastic so be careful when making a final decision.
Keep Your Floors Easy!
Tropical living means keeping things easy. Floors in

Photo Credit: Westside Tile and Stone
Ceramics are sleek and cool.

Photo Credit: Pinterest
If you want to use wood, bamboo is the best choice in terms of durability and it sure looks amazing. It is also available in shades from lighter to darker.

Photo Credit: Houzz.com
Other hardwoods and even wood laminates will work too, just check their scratch resistance.

Photo Credit: Flooring America
Rugs are great additions too. As wonderful as tile and wood floors are, they need to be broken up and literally softened here and there. Rugs come in so many styles, colors, and sizes and are made from many different materials. They are the perfect flooring accent! Rugs also bring in necessary texture.
Textures Bring Life and Add Dimension To A Room
Tropical living also means being in close contact with the elements of nature. Textures bring life and add depth and dimension to a room and the best way to bring natural elements into your space is to spend a bit of time looking for those things which will truly give your space the “feel” that you are after.

Turtle Shell
Photo Credit: torange.biz
Coconut palms are a great source of many textural items!

Photo Credit: Howstuffworks
Just about every part of the tree including the wood, leaves, coconut fiber and coconut shells are used. The wood is used in furniture and accessories and the leaves are woven into mats. Coconut fiber called “coir” is woven into very strong cords, ropes and rugs. The husks and shells are used for carvings.

Photo Credit: Cerulean Bay Shop
Then there are grasses. Bamboo produces wood for furniture, accents and flooring. It is extremely durable.
Jute comes from a tall grassy plant which provides fibers that are woven into fabrics, sacks and ropes as well. Jute is also used to make some beautiful rugs.
Sisal fiber is made from agaves (they are not just for making tequila!) which typically grow in hot and arid places. Sisal too is woven into awesome rugs.
There is also sea grass which is used for mats and to weave baskets.
You can keep things really

Photo Credit: Serena & Lily
Textural elements also include really nice pieces like seashells, corals, wood carvings, handblown glass and metal work. You want things that make a statement but which also know their place as only being accents.
Speaking Of Accents
The topic of accents is truly a big one so for now, we will only say this because they are so important when finishing a room: Don’t forget about the accents!

That means beautiful additions such as vases, sculptural pieces, wood carvings, bowls and tabletop décor. It means awesome wall art such as oil paintings, watercolor, framed quality prints (no posters or cheap and silly “this way to the beach” stuff!) and interesting textural pieces.


Photo Credits: Houzz.com
When you are adding accents, take everything you already have into consideration before deciding what to use to complete you space: your windows and what covers them, any amazing plants, floral arrangements, proper lighting, etc. You get the picture. Using the tips we’ve discussed will help to guide you when choosing accents. If you already have big greenery like this, you are halfway there!

Photo Credit: Lonny.com
You really do need to consider the WHOLE room in order to have a complete and unified look that is going to take you away to where you want to be. Anything less than that will bother you to no end even if you don’t think it will. Trust us, it will bother you. Believe it or not, incomplete décor and messy spaces do affect moods and attitudes!
Final Thoughts
Now that we have covered the basics of how to create the
For your convenience, here is a list of the products we have recommended in this blog post which can really help to create an amazing and relaxing
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$89.99
We are all about versatility and this tropical floor lamp with built in shelves, USB ports, and a power outlet is just that - versatile! And it will look great too as the shade comes in different patterns and colors.
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04/01/2025 07:10 pm GMT -
$128.56
As a truly unique accent piece, this floor lamp not only provides a lot of light but its form and texture will only complement your tropical space.
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04/01/2025 07:36 pm GMT -
$259.99
This teak wood beach is the perfect tropical addition to bathroom spaces. Teak is naturally moisture resistant and the clean lines of this bench will beautifully blend in with your tropical design.
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04/01/2025 07:36 pm GMT -
$139.99
Bring the tropics inside with this beautifully bold and vibrant easy-to-use wallpaper! This is a wonderful option for adding color and visual interest to a space as no wall art is needed. The visual impact is awesome!
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04/01/2025 07:45 pm GMT -
$79.99
This faux monstera is the perfect addition when tropical greenery for your retreat is needed but you don't want fuss with live plants!
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04/01/2025 07:45 pm GMT -
$54.95
This faux giant bird of paradise is the perfect addition when tropical greenery for your retreat is needed but you don't want fuss with live plants!
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04/01/2025 07:45 pm GMT -
$179.99
This faux fiddle leaf fig is the perfect addition when tropical greenery for your retreat is needed but you don't want fuss with live plants!
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04/01/2025 07:45 pm GMT -
$54.99
It you are looking for a beautiful kentia palm but with don't want to fuss with a real plant or cannot have them due to allergies, this faux version is an excellent substitute!
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03/31/2025 11:20 pm GMT -
$489.99
We love this outdoor patio set! It is very versatile with the number of pieces you can choose from and the seating is comfortable. The fire feature not only adds warmth but it sets the perfect mood for fun and lively visits with friends and family!
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03/31/2025 08:11 pm GMT -
$16.99
Perfect for bringing in some vibrant colors and Indian authenticity, these pillows will enhance your tropical space with beauty and comfort.
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03/31/2025 08:11 pm GMT -
$19.50
These cushion inserts are perfect for replacing worn out ones or for those new cases that didn't come with inserts included! They are available in different sizes.
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03/31/2025 08:30 pm GMT -
$199.48
Keep things cool with this awesome ceiling fan! It truly makes a bold industrial tropical statement with its palm frond blades and metal light fixture cage. Use vintage bulbs such as these to really create a warm tropical atmosphere!
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03/31/2025 08:46 pm GMT -
$24.99
These vintage Edison bulbs are awesome, plain and simple. We love them! Nothing compares to the warm glow and vintage look these create. We have found them to be very long lasting and they are a true conversation piece!
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03/31/2025 08:30 pm GMT