Coastal

Light may be the single most important, yet most overlooked, element of coastal style. Think about it: When is the last time you entered a beach house that felt dim and cramped? That's one reason white is the hallmark color of coastal interiors: It spreads and amplifies light rather than soaking it up. Coastal interiors blur the line between indoors and out or remove it altogether. Plentiful windows, glass doors and skylights allow sunshine to flood in, so if your home is skimpy on these elements, consider adding them. If that's not an option, at the very least fake it with lamps and sconces. Window treatments should be spare and simple enough not to muffle the glow — and if you're lucky enough to have a home near the water, the last thing you want is to obscure that view.

In coastal interiors, fabrics are simple, unassuming and put-your-feet-up comfy. Think linen slipcovers, cotton rugs, and muslin curtain panels or floaty sheers that billow in the breeze. You can't go wrong with pure white, but washed-out pastels or tailored stripes fit with the look as well.

When they're done right, crisp white rooms are arresting in their purity and simplicity. But if they feel too austere or one-dimensional to suit you, branch out a bit. Layers of cream, beige and khaki evoke the subtlety of shifting dunes. Matte and honed finishes, rather than shine and glimmer, give the colors a soft, chalky spin. Barely-there blue is a close runner-up as an iconic coastal color, calling to mind the essence of ocean and sky. It's a classic choice for bathroom tile and bedroom walls, but it can function as a neutral anywhere, especially when you keep it tone on tone.

Organic materials such as sea grass, straw and jute, in the guise of rugs, furnishings and accessories, bring a natural warmth and texture to coastal interiors. A few touches of rope — nautical balls, cabinet and drawer pulls, even stairway spindles — add lighthearted appeal yet stay true to the theme. Like the beach itself, coastal rooms should feel breezy, so don't stifle them with a surfeit of furniture and bric-a-brac. Decorate with an eye to maintaining clear vistas and sight lines — accent the periphery of a space rather than clogging its center. Even if there's no briny air to blow through the house, it's nice to feel as though it could.

Coastal furniture should give the impression that it can stand up to salty air and sandy feet, even if you actually live on a suburban street in Dallas. Slipcovers, sturdy wood tables and case goods, wicker and even thick glass fit the bill. Shells, sea glass, bottles, maybe an old ship's cleat or two. Take inspiration from these finds in choosing small accents. The key word is restraint. One or two starfish on a shelf look striking and sculptural; baskets and vases full of them can be overkill.