Tropical Decorating Ideas - Tropical Treats At Home

Tropical Bench w/ Basket Storage

Are you dreaming of piña colada's in the middle of the day? Do you wish you never got back from your totally relaxing tour of the tropics? Here's some great news. You don't have to wait for your next holiday to experience the sunny ambience of South American summers. All you need to do is create a tropical retreat that will make you relive those days in the sand over and over again.

Contrary to what many people believe there is no one single way to execute a tropical theme. So before heading out in the sun for some shopping, figure out if you want a spunky beach shack, a tranquil white beach house escape or the look of a tropical yet polished living space. If the beach house got the most number of votes, then the first big step is to color your walls in ultimate white. The same goes for those wooden floors, so get busy with that brush!

If you feel like leaving the floors alone for a while, then that's absolutely fine. Wooden floors in a warm vibrant brown color provide an interesting contrast against those stark white walls. Tropical chic style demands an array of colors ranging from soothing greens, and pale yellows to rich tans for the walls. If you are looking for a more exciting burst of color, select golden yellows, bright greens and energetic blues! The floor should be done in a neutral shade so it doesn't compete with the walls for attention. If you have a woven rug that fits the room, then this will be an instant problem-solver.

The type of furniture needed in tropical decor is virtually identical in all the three types we've discussed. Instead of small delicate pieces, large and comfortable furnishings are the musts. Rattan is a best-seller in this theme. You can purchase chairs and a chaise lounge in this material and complement them with plus-size pillows for an added comfort. If rattan is a rare find in your home, then you can substitute it with bamboo and wicker pieces. These materials also lend the same tropical air to a room. Another option includes using dark mahogany furnishings such as a mahogany desk or a dresser to add that sense of tropical richness.

As for the accessories, it will depend on the kind of tropical theme you desire. For instance, if you choose to adapt the beach house style then you can place exquisite shells in a large glass bowl or some candles in a setting of white sand. Tiger prints may be too much for this kind of theme, so ditch it altogether. If you want to pursue a tropical chic atmosphere, draw inspiration from jungle scenes and rainforests. How about palm prints on bed covers or window drapes? Add actual plants in the room for a more convincing effect; they're also great for creating a healthy atmosphere in any home. Throw pillows and cushions are also nice to have lying around for a lazy, laidback mood. Do you prefer the colorful beach hut style? Place interesting driftwood sculptures, table ornaments or lamps. Hawaiian-inspired items will also look right at home in your space!

Before you start playing some Bob Marley tunes, you might want to check the condition of your windows first. Tropical retreats often take advantage of the extra sunshine to light up a room. Place sheer light-colored curtains or drapes to give the fantastic illusion of a warm tropical breeze just outside your window. If you want to control the amount of sunlight, you might still have to mount wooden shutters just in case the sun gets too playful.

Now how about another round of piña coladas? A toast to the tropics every day and not just during your holidays.

Article Source: Goarticles.com
Article Author: Jacob Ginsbrook

A Boatload of New Products at OceanStyles.com

I just got back from a crazy buying spree looking for fantastic new products to feature on OceanStyles.com.  See below for some of the best of the best. And keep your eyes peeled as I'm not finished yet.  Still lots more to come!

Wood Cabinet With 5 Basket Drawers

Wood Bench With 3 Basket Drawers

I absolutely adore these two new storage furniture items. Whitewashed beadboard with rattan storage drawers add a ton of useful storage space in a super stylish way.

Blue Shutter Mirror

I used to carry this mirror in white and black, but it was discontinued.  Now we've brought it back, this time in a lightly distressed seafoam blue! Absolutely gorgeous.

Seashell Frame & Candle Holder Set

Seashell Votive Holder Set

Both of these make wonderful gifts or subtle additions to your beach decor.

Mermaid Perpetual Calendar

I just fell in love with this the minute I saw it. Mermaids are so popular right now and this rustic, beachy calendar would be perfect sitting on my desk or end table.

Sea Treasures Garland

Sealites Seashell String Lights

How about using those Sealites strung up on the inside of your patio market umbrella for a little al fresco atmosphere?

These three wonderful pieces are raised art printed on a wooden plaque. Each one measures 10.5" x 10.5" and have the cutest sayings. They are sold separately - you don't have to get all 3.

Free Your Feet Flip Flop Canvas

Entering Flip Flop Zone Sign

If you love your flip flops as much as I do, then these two wall art pieces are perfect for you. Free Your Feet is a 14" x 14" canvas art print and the Flip Flop Zone sign is a 16" x 10" distressed metal sign, suitable for indoors or out. Let them know the dress code in your home before they step foot inside!

Surfboard Furniture... The "Wave" of the Future?

There are many ways to express yourself in home decor today, many television shows offering tips and tricks, many experts now that make a living off of it. But surfboard furniture? It may sound a bit offbeat but yes, utilizing surfboards as everything from coffee tables to shelves to benches to display artifacts goes back a long way, particularly as a means of identifying oneself with the California lifestyle on the west coast.

Using an old surfboard of your own, or having a decorative one that has been emblazoned with all kinds of personal insignias and images and characters are just a few of the ways people go about this. It's an easy way to show others a piece of yourself, the idea goes. It is also an easy way to get a conversation going about old surf stories or about any of the number of small decals and little personal things the surfboard owner has applied to it.

Now, the next question would be, is this sort of thing confined only to surfers and to people on the west coast? Not at all. Home decor has become such a mixed bag, and all the styles pertaining to it have become so intermingled (Victorian melding with new age, African being combined with cottage, anything and everything), that putting a surfboard anywhere is a fantastic way to impart stylish beach decor in your home. So what else is there to say but..."surf's up!"

Making a Splash Furnishing a Beach House

The first lesson for furnishing a beach house or coastal home is to take an example from someone who has naturally wavy hair. When that hair gets too close to moisture – rain, humidity, perspiration – it wilts. The same goes for the wrong beach-themed furnishings. Items that look great in the city or country – like white carpeting and fabrics or wood furniture – do not withstand the ocean breezes very well. You don’t want coastal furniture that wilts or curls up at the wrong time.

Many beach houses are furnished with nautical-themed pieces, including antiques. If a piece survived many years on the sea in a boat or was manufactured for sailing, it’s a safe bet it will stay the way you wanted it to look at the beach house.

People also appreciate the irony of a waterbed at coastal properties. Business executives who wouldn’t consider such a “hippie” leftover at their city homes buy mattresses, heaters, pillows, and other accessories to bring the water into the house until they get outside to enjoy the water.

Much of the charm of beach houses has to do with the light that freely enters to assure a spectacular view. Special care needs to be taken when considering colors. All that light will fade bright colors (and artwork), so choose fabrics and even art that can withstand direct sunlight.

Although beach home decorating can cost much more than a comparable house a few miles inland, the furnishings do not have to match that formula. The beach house is for fun and relaxation, and the furnishings should be comfortable, low-maintenance and able to withstand traces or sand or mud that will somehow make their way into the house. Make a big splash with the unexpected in beach furniture and accessories. Put your toe in the avant-garde water.