Awesome and amazing accents are a must because they do two things: they not only complete a room but they bring it to life in a way that draws you into the whole experience of the space, which hopefully is your tropical escape! It doesn’t matter how nice or new your foundational pieces are such as a sofa, coffee table, dining room table, or bedroom furniture. If you want to create a true tropical escape at home, your room will simply be lifeless and incomplete without the right accents. And choosing the right accents is important because they will determine that whole experience. Is it truly the tropical look you envisioned? Or did your accent choices have you land in a more non-tropical coastal setting like a New England coastline? Maybe the result is now more Mediterranean. Or are you now out on the open sea with an abundance of nautical items? Choose your accents wisely! They will determine where you land. Having said that, here are two beautiful tropical examples of “fresh and full of life”.

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Photo Credits: Pufik Home Inspirations

In the second example above, a small sofa, a marble coffee table and 2 cane chairs are the foundational pieces. Everything else are accent pieces. You can imagine that if all of the plants, artwork, tabletop decor, and the rug were removed, it would be a pretty boring room! But when you bring everything together as shown, a wonderful tropical retreat is the result.

When choosing foundational elements, having them be plain and simple in the right colors is fine. But when a foundational piece or two has its own accented detailing such as the cane wicker in these two chairs, it really helps to tie the look together because those foundational pieces blend in even more. The use of cane furnishings here creates a light and airy look even though these pieces are sturdy and provide comfortable seating. We love this chair because of its design and style.

When you have foundational and accents pieces that are all largely monochromatic (everything is mostly one color or only white, grey and black are used), it is very difficult to create a look that recreates the feel of the tropics. Here you can see what happens when a lot of neutrals are used on their own. Some people like this look but we find it to be lifeless and boring. Having just a few pops of color here and there would create some visual interest. They would bring some life to this room. But that’s just our opinion!

Photo Credit: verygreatidea.site

Finish Getting Dressed!

Here’s an easy way to really understand accents: Just think of them as being the accessories you need when dressing up for a night on the town. Guys can put on a nice new shirt and a cool pair of pants. Ladies can put on that special dress with shoes to match. You are now technically dressed but you aren’t really ready to go out because your look is not complete!

What about a nice belt and a great jacket and tie for the guys? What kind of shoes are you going to wear? Obviously the right pair for the occasion! And ladies, what about the many different accessories available to you? Jewelry? Some makeup? The point here is that when you want to put yourself together to look your best for that special night out, you go all the way. Rooms in your home are really no different. It’s the accents and accessories that fully dress a room and complete the look, whether it’s for a casual family room or a formal dining room!

Photo Credits: Decorating Files

Here is a great example of what stale and boring looks like. The owner of this living room was well aware of how it looked and thankfully she asked Ballard Designs for help. It needs a lot of help.

Photo Credit: Ballard Designs

Here is a great example of a bedroom that is full of life and transports you to the tropics! The red chair is another wonderful example of how a foundational piece acts as an accent too as the red is bold and it really works. If you find that in an example like this that you would want to have a bigger pop of color such as this red, then look for something like this red papasan chair which is the perfect textural addition to this space. And it is super comfortable too!

Photo Credits Mixandchic.com & Kings Lane

Plants come in all shapes and sizes and of course, big leaf tropicals and hanging vines are amazing. Also, look at your current wall art. Oil paintings and good quality framed prints are perfect in tropical looks. For some real interest, consider textural pieces such has woven mats for the wall. You can be as creative as you want!

We still have a few in stock (they sell out quickly!) and of course we are always on the lookout for other cool ones too! This awesome see-through mat made from natural palm fibers is about 5 feet across and really makes a statement!

Photo Credit: ArchZine on Instagram

Look at your current lighting too. Lighting is a really fun class of accents because you can really transform spaces with floor and tabletop lamps. There are some truly unique designs and lampshades to consider. Here is a perch lamp from Moooi…so incredibly cool…expensive but cool!

Photo Credit: Moooi

Then there are ceiling fans and subtle overhead lighting. There is some really cool stuff out there! But careful when shopping and take your time. When you do find a great lighting piece online, be sure to read the reviews. See if anyone mentions how long the unit worked before something broke or it no longer turned on. Read everything you can about the seller. See what information is available about replacement parts and customer service.

Lighting is one of those things that can really create a much sought-after effect and atmosphere. So when there are issues with your order or you find that after a period of months or perhaps even a year, it no longer works like it did when you got it, it can really be disappointing. Many lights today have non-replaceable built-in bulbs so when one goes out, there is nothing you can do. Others such as that awesome bird perch light are very well made. But when you find cheaper versions of it online along with anything else that is high-end, designer, and expensive (aka “knock offs”), the quality of the materials is usually poor, things don’t work for very long, and many sellers of these items offer limited or even poor customer service. The reviews for these types of products tend to be mediocre at best.

Photo Credit: Fanimation

Tabletops are perfect for wood carvings, blown glass, pottery and metal sculpture work which really add depth and texture. Check out our shop and see what we have. A really great piece might be there just waiting for you! Picture frames that fit into the atmosphere you are creating will really personalize your space. Candles, whether real or battery-operated really create a peaceful mood at night. Just look at your escape place, right down to the last detail. You want everything to play its part and to fit in perfectly.

Photo Credit: thebohoabode.net

Photo Credit: architecturedesign.net

Liven It Up! Tropical vs Coastal

Some people like bold pops of color and others like things more quiet and subtle. To make things more lively but still serene and relaxing (which is the whole point of creating your place to escape), really focus on what colors you like and how bold or subtle those colors should be in your space. There really are a lot of differences between tropical and coastal and we could write a series of articles about that. But for now, let’s just do a quick “compare and contrast”.

Photo Credit: Baers

Going tropical or coastal requires the use of color. There are several different coastal styles and they all bring in varying degrees of colors vs neutrals, natural elements such as different woods and plant life and of course, locally inspired artwork and cultural pieces. We love this big orange glass bottle with the huge elephant ear leaves, what an awesome accent piece!

Photo Credit: Simple Details Blog

“Tropical” inspires visions of hotter and more humid places like rainforests with lush landscapes, brightly colored birds such as toucans and parrots and things like coral reefs and brightly colored marine life. It creates visions of dark polished woods, lava rock and natural stone, and homes that open up to the outside. There are amazing beaches with sand that ranges from white to golden and of course the breathtaking blue and turquoise waters. The lifestyle is relaxed and casual. Clothing is shorts and flip-flops and entertaining is laid back.

Photo Credit: Mixandchic.com & Kings Lane

“Coastal” typically means the non-tropical coastlines of the continental US. It means traditional seaside cottages, rocky coastlines, cooler weather and even lighthouses. Think coastal Oregon and the Pacific Northwest or New England, particularly the Hamptons and Cape Cod. It is also Northern California. We don’t consider Southern California or Florida to be “coastal” as defined here since these locations lean more towards Mediterranean and tropical in terms of climate and architecture.

Photo Credit: houzz.com

Instead of fish tacos, coconut shrimp and mai tais on the menu, “coastal” leans more toward clam chowder, lobster, and iced teas. The nautical look can start to come into play here with knotted ropes, captain’s wheels, anchors and brass accents. The lifestyle is a bit more sophisticated, clothing is more dressy in part because of cooler temps, and entertaining is more on the formal side.

Photo Credit: Completely Coastal

American Coastal uses lots of shades of whites, blues, greys, and other coastal colors but in softer and more subtle tones. It also means lots of natural light, lighter woods, and bead board paneling. Greenery and plant life are there but they are not as prominent as in tropical styles.

Photo Credit: Cottage & Bungalow

Then we have Mediterranean Coastal which is largely based on Italian and Spanish influences but also includes Greece and southern France. This style tends to be more relaxed than American Coastal. It uses bright colors with more of a faded or sunbaked look and has heavier carved woods, terra cotta tile and even metal and black iron work.

Photo Credit: One Kind Design

The beauty of using coastal styles is that you can use colors and their levels of boldness along with certain textures and accents to transport yourself to whatever part of the coastal world you want, right in your own home!

This excellent article by Deirdre Sullivan over at The Spruce (a wonderful site for everything about your house) will give you many different looks, colors and design inspirations to consider as you decide which tropical or coastal look is the best one for you.

Speaking of Nautical….

This is an area that trips up a lot of people. One of the biggest mistakes people make is that they confuse tropical with nautical and when nautical is not done right, it only adds to the misconception that tropical décor is cheap and tacky (remember our section about tiki? Same deal here.) There is nothing wrong with nautical décor when it is used correctly (and we prefer sparingly!)

Photo Credit: Down East Magazine via Instagram

As mentioned earlier, nautical includes knotted ropes, captain’s wheels, anchors and brass accents. It also includes worn wooden oars, maritime flags and those glass ball fishing floats. When going with nautical, be careful because too much of it can come across as being tacky. Unless you are living on a boat or in a lighthouse, go easy with it.

Photo Credit: William T. Baker

Nautical is a true maritime or seafaring style of décor. It’s life on the open water. But people go wrong with it when they go overboard (no pun intended) with it or start to include silly things like those goofy word signs, anything encrusted with shells (a definite “No!”) or too many things wrapped in ropes and fishing nets (save that for tiki designs).

Photo Credit: Reelitup via Instagram

It’s no wonder a lot of people think nautical is kitschy and tacky when they come across scenes like this. You don’t want your guests saying “Ahoy Matey!” when they arrive.

Photo Credit: magzhouse.com

Neutrals Are Great But They Can Be A Snooze If Left On Their Own

All tropical and coastal looks should include the use of neutrals in varying degrees because they bring needed brightness when darker colors are used on walls, in furniture and in larger accents. Whites and light creams are the best for this. The overuse of color can be hard visually. Your eyes will desperately search for a cool, quiet space to take a rest. Neutrals help to break things up. Notice the solid cream pillows on the sofa, the white chairs on the right and the rug. This is a very well-balanced room.

Photo Credit: Laurey W Glenn and Elly Poston Cooper, Southern Living

Just remember, colors are what bring the coastal feel to life. When looking at this photo, our eye is immediately drawn to the green bottle on the table. For us, it is the only sign of life in this space. The use of too many neutrals can leave a room looking washed out.

Photo Credit: itsblossom.com

This room has taken a step or two in the right direction in terms of accent pieces but the monochromatic look is just to stale and lifeless for us. It still has a long way to go. That poor plant in the corner looks so sad, it has no friends!

Photo Credit: cmzix

This room goes a few steps further with a few more accent pieces and some patterned black and white pillows which bring in a bit of contrast. And look at the green! Tropical plants make all the difference!

Photo Credit: Cote Interiors

Rooms that are color-free are a total snooze. But again, that’s just our opinion!

Photo Credit: homedesignlover.com

This room just looks more alive and a whole lot more fun afterwards!

Make Your Escape Place About You and Not Your House!

Always remember that you are decorating for yourself and not for the style of your house. Whether you are doing one room or your whole house, your finished tropical or coastal space should transport you to where you want to be. Many people make the mistake of thinking the style of interior décor always has to match the architecture of the house. That is simply not true.

Photo Credit: Visualizer – homedesigning.com

If you want proof of that, check out this excellent link. While not everyone owns an Italian villa in Umbria, this link features a very rustic house which is a great example because it would be tough for the average person to try to decorate it on their own. Most people would think that because the house is rustic, the décor has to be rustic too or at least finished in a farmhouse style or some version of country living. Not true at all! These furnishings are casual with a contemporary edge and the tropical greenery is absolutely wonderful.

The woven dome-shaped lighting adds a beautiful rustic yet tropical touch which further adds to the overall tropical vibe. We love woven lamp shades that are made from natural materials including grasses and leaves. This one is simple in design and so reminiscent of a life on a faraway tropical island.

Photo Credit: homedesigning.com

As the link above shows, a mix of Mediterranean, tropical, and contemporary décor can be used in any type of architecture including very rustic which means you can mix it up too. We love it! If you carefully study each picture, they are filled with wonderful ideas for you.

Photo Credit: homedesigning.com

Feel Free To Ignore Design Trends

Be very careful about following trends. We recommend staying away from them. Just because something is said to be “in style” or “trendy”, does not mean it looks great or that you will like it. Reading about them is fine and if you find inspiration in them, that is awesome. But your space in your home is exactly that – yours! Who cares what’s currently in style in interior design? You need to create at least one room that takes you to your tropical happy place. Too many people try to keep up with trends in home design and when they do, you get this. And you can bet the interiors probably all look relatively the same.

Corona Del Mar, Orange County , CA
Photo Credit: Californiabeaches.com

Photo Credit: Realtor.com

Photo Credit: Better Decorating Bible

If you live in Maine and want to create a space based on the tropics, go for it! If you live in Hawaii and love the look of coastal New England, bring it on and have your own space from the Hamptons or Cape Cod right in your own home. Look at the simplicity of these rattan chairs and the woven tray above the fireplace. Paired with the black candlesticks and some tabletop and potted greenery, this is a wonderful yet simple example of bringing the tropics to a room. Creating your own look, tropical or coastal, is really up to you!

Photo Credit: HGTV

So Make Some Statements With Awesome Accents!

While it’s true that accents bring life and completeness to a room, placement of everything in a room is also very important. When things are placed in the best layout possible, that is when your accents can do their best work. Here are a few “before and afters” which bring that point home.

Photo Credits: Decorating Files

Once you have everything placed in a way which makes the most sense and is the most comfortable for you, imagine what you will need to complete that look and then go for it. Get online and start searching! Visit your local home décor retailers.  Go to an estate sale or two. Don’t forget about those consignment shops and better quality thrift stores! There are some truly unique and awesome pieces out there which will help to transform your space into a one-of-a-kind place to relax and remove yourself from the stresses of life.

Photo Credits: homedesignlover.com

Final Thoughts

So there you have it! Accents are your friend and there are a million different ones out there. Do some digging, get creative and bring some new freshness and life to your tropical or coastal space!

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 tropical experience!