What Does “Tropical” Mean To You?
Explore Amazing Differences in Coastal Design!
We truly believe that most people would love to have a tranquil getaway space at home, a soothing and relaxing place to simply unwind. As our vision statement says, we want to bring the authentic beauty of the tropics to people who dream of getting away from the daily grind. We want to help people create amazingly beautiful, peaceful, and relaxing personal spaces with products that are handmade, that are unique and genuine, and that have real value.
Creating a tropical space should be fun. It should be exciting and most of all, it should allow you to immerse yourself in its colorful looks, its tropical feel and its cultural aspects which will accent your personal well-being in a completely positive way. So while we would love to be able to get this amazing ocean scenery for you, we need to pull you indoors because we have some questions for you to consider. Let’s focus for a bit!
Photo Credit: Brabbu.com
Some Questions To Consider
To gain some clarity, we have pulled some questions together for you to think about which can help you to visualize what your perfect home getaway might look like:
- Do you enjoy the idea of creating a tropical getaway at home, that special place that is just for you to reclaim some peace and relaxation? If so, what is it that you enjoy about it?
- What are your frustrations and/or concerns about creating that space?
- Have you found any solutions to ease those frustrations and concerns?
- When looking for tropical ideas and items, where are you currently looking? What is the biggest problem you are encountering?
In some of the feedback we have received about our site, a reader asked us this question: “If I can’t get away to a place like the South Pacific, how are you going to help me feel like I am there?” That question addresses the core of what we do. While we cannot provide white sandy beaches and swaying palm trees, we can provide awesome ideas and inspiration along with very important accent pieces you would find if you were in the South Pacific. They are important because they are way more than just souvenirs. They are pieces of the place you just fell in love with. If you were there, you would buy them so that back at home, you could remember how wonderful and relaxed you felt when you were there. You would want to do whatever you could to bring those wonderful feelings home with you. That is what we want to expand upon.
That is what we use to make the tropics feel as real as possible at home. It is our hope that we can provide much-needed inspiration as you breathe, relax, and imagine!
Here is an example of how well-chosen pieces can help to create a stunning space.
Photo Credit: HomeBNC
We are also able to provide suggestions, recommendations and referrals to other vendors who can provide additional products and services which we do not provide. That question above which we were asked creates questions we would then ask in return:
- Why did you choose that particular piece?
- If you could buy more than one piece while traveling, what would it be and why?
- When you get home, where would you put those pieces?
- Would you want to do anything more with the location of those pieces? In that same space, is there anything else you would do to continue to build on the look of those pieces?
- Would you consider additional pieces which would help to create a new overall look for that space?
- After returning home, how would go about finding those additional pieces? Would you prefer to have a “go to” person or a store where you could find them?
- Would you prefer a website which features multiple artisan-made and handcrafted product offerings from a wide range of tropical and coastal locations?
- Should that website also provide suggestions and design tips that help to creative a unified and cohesive space? Would that space which results in that sought-after atmosphere of peace and relaxation found only in the tropics be a solution for you?
These are a lot of questions to read through and to think about. But they are so important. When you have the answers to these questions, you most definitely need a place to go where you can find the expertise, the uniqueness, and the value that you deserve. We can provide the authenticity and the value that is required for the creation of truly meaningful and personal getaway spaces.
Photo Credit: onekindesign.com
Say “No!” To The Cheap And The Ordinary
We really have to emphasize how important it is to stay away from anything that is mass-produced and cheaply made because those things have no real value and they do not convey anything from a particular country or culture. We make no apologies when we say that cheap, mass-produced, tropical-looking things that are made in China or anywhere else are just worthless fakes. And there is A LOT of that out there. A tropical look made from artificial items that are cranked out by the thousands in a factory somewhere just isn’t the same. In time, you will be able to see right through them and find that they do not provide that true, deep sense of the tropics because they are simply not real.
Nothing brings out that genuine, uplifting, emotional feeling of escape and that true sense of calm like pieces of artisan-made home décor which represent their countries of origin and which are made in those countries of origin. When used in the right number and with the right combination of color, fabrics, florals and plants, tropical escapes in your own home can be very real and very authentic!
Tranquil Looks For Every Space
Nowadays with so much available online, there are endless numbers of sources of inspiration and places to shop. You can simply type in things like “tropical home décor” and “tropical interior spaces” and then click on “Images” if using Google or Bing. You will be presented with an endless assortment of pictures which can help to provide the right ideas and direction you can take to define what your personal tropical getaway space should look like. When using social media, Pinterest is an amazing source of inspiration!
You can decide on an overall look and color scheme and then narrow your options down from there. If you are looking to do a full room makeover with changes to paint, wallpaper and window coverings, what should your accessories be made of? Beautiful pulled-together looks include combinations of wood, glass, metal, and natural woven pieces such as baskets floor mats, and rugs. We carry many of those items! Then of course there is themed wall art which is available is so many different forms, shapes, sizes and price ranges from so many sources such as Wayfair and Perigold. Or if you are looking to simply add a few pieces to change the look and feel of an already peaceful setting, a few well-chosen pieces can bring things together in ways you never imagined.
Some looks can be very simple, light and airy.
Photo Credit: Havertys
Others can be more rich and full yet cozy and relaxing.
Photo Credit: Decoist
Sometimes you might have a great look that is already pulled together but find that it needs a touch of something to tone down a particular feeling (in this case industrial/rustic). A few plants simply do the trick as they can add that tranquil touch.
Photo Credit: ACM Interiors
Find Your Starting Point!
As you can see, there are hundreds of different variations in tropical home décor and no one particular look is suited for everyone. You have total control in creating the look you want for the space you have. That one really cool piece that you might have already purchased from a past trip could be the very inspiration you need to start creating an amazing new space! And it is already in your home!
Many people have a hard time visualizing what they want. They know they want something tropical in a favorite space that can mentally transport them to a place of rest, peace and relaxation. But they just don’t know how to get there or where to start. Hopefully this guide has given you some ideas about where to start! You can pick a starting point and just go from there. We are doing our best to provide you with the inspiration, the ideas and of course the products that will help you to create your special place. Here is an idea for a simple seashore-inspired dining room. Love that strong pop of color on the wall with the sea turtle!
Photo Credit: elephantstock.com
Breathe. Relax. Imagine.
We are continually searching for new ideas and products which will help to reduce the number of searches you need to do to find the right pieces. Our selections in wood, glass and metal offer some very strong accent pieces which can help to set the tone of a space. Many of them can be ordered in larger sizes which can anchor a room or be the centerpiece around which you build a completed look. We know how important it is, especially now, to have a place to call your own, to escape from the rest of the world for just a bit and to recharge and re-energize! So we encourage you to go online, do some simple searches, bookmark some great sites and write down some notes which will help you to create a mental layout of what you envision. At Cerulean Bay, we always say, “Breathe. Relax. Imagine.” It really works!
As always, we wish you a whole lot of peace, happiness, and health. Imagine those far off lands that are full of inspiration and start creating your personal getaway space at home!
