Tropical vs Coastal: Accents Will Determine Where You Land
What Does “Tropical Style” Mean To You?
In our last post, we explored many of the different tropical styles out there. From tiki to casual beachy to British Colonial and even to Asian exotic, it’s all there for you to use your imagination to create that awesome and wonderful tropical escape at home. We discussed how important it is to understand what the words "tropical style" mean to you when it comes to interior spaces. As we mentioned, favorite memories, images, and inspiration are the key. In this post, we will really dig into the foundational aspects which include colors, textures, fabrics, foliage, and lighting. These are critical when creating a unique and personal tropical look. We are thrilled to show you how to create the look that works for you!
Table of contents
- Imagine Your Tropical Escape
- Avoid Themes!
- Look For Ideas To Support Your Focal Point
- Start With A Color Palette
- Bring In the Plants!
- Awesome Orchids!
- The Classic Looks of Wicker
- Fabrics - Keep Them Comfortable
- Let There Be Light!
- Keep Your Floors Easy!
- Textures Bring Life and Add Dimension To A Room
- Speaking Of Accents
- Final Thoughts
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 tropical blues. Instead, the owner could have removed the white framed piece from above the fireplace. Then they could have painted the whole wall space a single light shade of a moss or jungle green that would not clash with what appears to be a lot of white or cream walls. A large framed piece of art with palm trees as the subject would work above the fireplace. We would remove the wall sconces and install a few pieces of large, dark wooden shelving or perhaps some awesome tall bookcases with a library ladder. Some cool tropical decor pieces on those would bring in some much needed texture at different heights and would help to fill in the overall space.
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 tropical or coastal look which includes seashells but is not limited to them.
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 tropical look. So don’t limit yourself! Use that underlying focus as your focal point and not as the dominating factor to achieve true success
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 tropical plants in a bathroom are always a wonderful and exotic touch. Plus, they will love the humidity!
So when planning your tropical escape, start by prioritizing what is most important to you and continue to what is the least important. Then as you begin to envision where to start, follow the steps below so you can achieve the best possible results! We will start with color palettes so you can understand how they really work. Then we will move on to the beauty of plant life. From there, we will explore textures and fabrics in furnishings, the subtleties of lighting, proper flooring, and the importance of accents!
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Start With A Color Palette
In the tropical world, blues are the primary color because of the ocean. Water is the primary object. Obviously, there are many shades of blue from the ocean off the coast of New England to the atolls in the Maldives. Fiji provides great inspiration too. Blue shades include cerulean, turquoise, azure, lapis, indigo, and cobalt to name a few.
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 tropical flowers, corals and brightly colored animals and birds. Pinks, fuchsia and all shades of orange work so well in tropical spaces!
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, tropical gingers and frangipani (also known as plumeria) will bring in those bold colors which really bring in the true feel of the tropics.
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:
- 54" Monstera Deliciosa
- 60" Giant Bird of Paradise
- 60" Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree
- 60" Kentia Areca Palms (2)
- 60' Canna with Blooms
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 tropical retreat. Just remember to really confirm the amount of space you have available because unlike real plants which can be cut back and styled to fit, faux plants cannot be cut back. So choosing the right size is very important. If a faux plant is too small for a particular spot, finder a better place for it. If the plant is too large, that won't work either because large plants, both real and fake, can crowd a space.
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 tropical foliage really brings the look home.
The Classic Looks of Wicker
In all of the furniture that can be used in tropical décor, wicker are one of the oldest and most classic looks.
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 tropical décor. It is also a slipcover which is the perfect solution to many décor dilemmas when an existing sofa is perfectly fine structurally and can simply be covered up. So check out slipcover options before splurging on a new sofa and/or loveseat!
Photo Credit: Aaron Wong: Blog.comfort-works.com
Upholstery fabrics should be as easy to clean as possible because tropical living usually means having an active social life which includes entertaining. With that comes the occasional accident in the form of a spilled drink! So keep things casual and relaxed.
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 tropical looks. A single Google search for damasks and brocades will show you why.
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, throws and pieces of artwork. Silk pillows make great accents and they can bring in a bit of an Indian or Asian flair. Velvet pillows bring in bold color with great texture.
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 tropical space, allow for as much natural light as possible. When artificial lighting is needed, use warm glow lighting only. We can guarantee you that cold, white, sterile, office-like or fluorescent lighting will absolutely kill the look and the mood you are trying to create. Don’t do it!
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. Tropical fans do tend to be more expensive for some reason so look for sales, closeouts and clearance items. We really love this 52" fan because of its bold tropical look but also because of it's slightly industrial feel and use of Edison bulbs. These bulbs are awesome because they are unique and have such a wonderful antique look about them. They are small yet make such a large statement. We love the warm and inviting atmosphere they create.
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 tropical locations need to withstand sand, the salt air and humidity. So if you live in a true topical environment and are including new flooring in your tropical space, tile is the best choice. Saltillo and stone such as slate allow for a lot of texture and interest.
Photo Credit: Westside Tile and Stone
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
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 tropical and go with mats and rugs made from abaca fiber which comes from banana trees!
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 tropical look that works for you, let’s wrap things up with an important reminder: Don't get overwhelmed or bogged down with details! Some people can easily "overthink" things more than others so if you are one who tends to do that, just take a deep breathe and relax. Creating your own personal space is really only determined by a few things: what you envision, what is realistic, and what is in your budget. By carefully reviewing what you already have regarding the space to be used and what you already own that can be repurposed, you can make a list of what you need to do next. Use the order of the steps above to help keep your thoughts organized. Then, remind yourself that there is no rush! Take each step, one at a time, and truly get the most out of each step as you work toward the next one, and then the next. The creation process itself should be enjoyable and fun! Tweak things as needed as you move along because new ideas and inspirations can occur at any time. Keep going until you achieve your end result. When you are done, you will find that you have actually arrived at your destination - your very own personal version of Cerulean Bay!
