Marnie’s Top Five Tips for Incorporating Coastal Design into Any Home

Marnie Oursler, president of Marnie Custom Homes, and host of DIY Network’s Big Beach Builds and HGTV’s 2018 Dream Home, says that beach homes are appealing for their light, airy, casual and welcoming vibe, which is what attracted her to beach living in the first place. Not everyone lives near the shore, but that shouldn’t stop you from getting that same beach feeling in your home. Marnie offers her top tips for incorporating a coastal style into any home.

1. START WITH A WHITE PALETTE: White spaces elicit a sense of openness and casual design, so take a cue from the coast and begin with an all-white palette. Try different shades of white from room to room, and add texture to keep the spaces from feeling sterile. Creamy whites with yellow or red undertones, paired with brass and copper, create a warm feeling. For a cooler space, use whites with blue or purple undertones and accents of silver and chrome.

INCORPORATE NATURAL TEXTURES: In the light palettes of the coast, texture takes on a more significant role. At the beach, driftwood, rope, seagrass, linen and rattan are often used, so consider bringing in some of these elements along with weathered wood, jute and wicker to create a beachy vibe inside your home. Also look to your landscaping for inspiration!

ADD THE COLORS OF MOTHER NATURE: The colors of the sea and sky are a great starting point for adding pops of blue and lighter tones into your home. Pastels, as often seen in an ocean sunrise, are also fitting for that coastal feel. Colorful accessories, such as pillows, throws, lamps, rugs, towels and kitchenware are easy ways to bring the beach home; they can be changed often, too, for a fresh look.

4. FURNISH WITH CASUAL YET TAILORED PIECES: Life at the beach with its sand and water, as well as day-to-day life with a family and pets, requires low-maintenance furnishings. Try slipcovers in white or a light color that are easy to remove and launder. Slipcovers create a casual yet tailored look. If you want the same inviting feel without slipcovered furnishings, consider pieces with simple lines and durable fabrics.

BRING IN YOUR PERSONALITY: Marnie’s maternal grandfather, who was a master carpenter, is her inspiration for incorporating wall paneling and molding into every home she designs and builds. Go-to elements in beach homes are shiplap, beadboard and crown molding for their visual interest, texture and custom feel, but they work in any home anywhere. Even adding a simple chair rail to a powder room can have a major impact. Also think about adding maritime-inspired lighting, such as lanterns, or boat cleats as cabinet pulls, to create a coastal vibe in your current home.

OPEN AREA. The home has an open floor plan, but Marnie cleverly makes the different areas feel distinct. “With big open spaces, a good way to define each room is by creating different ceilings, which is what we did here,” she says. “I also added a pony wall and pillars to help define the space and incorporated a reclaimed-wood design detail that adds texture.”

SITTING PRETTY. A sitting area on the second floor is a great place to read a book or enjoy your coffee. The ceiling is the star of this area with the custom twig chandelier as a whimsical contrast to the exposed beams above. “To maximize the daylight, we added additional windows to bring in more natural light,” Marnie says. “Coastal interiors are all about light, bright spaces and embracing natural light whenever possible. That’s why I add windows, skylights and glass doors everywhere including hallways, stairwells (as shown here) and showers.”