Summer Apartment Living Area with Coastal Decor
The season of sunshine is peeking up just over the horizon. Don’t you think a home tour hop is just the way to welcome summer? Take a look at my summer apartment living area with coastal decor to get your summer juices flowing!
SUMMER APARTMENT LIVING AREA WITH COASTAL DECOR
Welcome to the 2023 Bloggers’ Best Summer Home Tour hosted by my sweet friend and fellow blogger, Kelly from The Tattered Pew. Thank you, Kelly, for all you do to put these amazing tours together!
So Many Homes to See!
Yep, we have over 25 bloggers sharing their homes throughout the week, and if you are here by way of StoneGable, welcome! Isn’t Yvonne’s summer home tour (part 1) breath-taking? And, if you haven’t yet seen Yvonne’s gorgeous home, be sure to pop on over and get ready to have your heart swell-with-joy from visiting her home!
Coastal Decor in a Summer Apartment
If this is your first visit to My Wee Abode, I’m so glad you are here! And, of course, welcome to all the MWA family members!
By the way, if YOU want to become part of the My Wee Abode fam and get instant access to our free printables library (and so much more), just click on the button below:
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And feel free to take a look at some my past summer tours and posts:
- 2022 Summer Tour
- Adding Summer Decor to Your Tiny House
- Free and Fresh Summer Lemon Printables
- Quick and Easy Summer Apartment Patio
Why Coastal Decor?
My Wee Abode is a 900+ square foot apartment that is located just 10 minutes north of the So Cal coastline.
Now, since the Pacific Ocean is my next-door-neighbor, you might figure I’m a beach lover. I’m talkin’ runs on the beach at the wee hours of the morning, coffee and a book while I sit and sun myself on the shore, or even a total surfer-babe. (Almost spewed out my coffee on that one!)
Okay, y’all… honestly, have you seen this girl’s picture? I mean, I was called “Casper” in highschool (and not by my friends), and I don’t think I could lift this ‘bod’ onto a surfboard, let alone poor it into a wet suit!
I crack myself up!
Really though… I’m NOT a beach lover. Don’t like the sand anywhere on my body, hate the smell of a firepit in my hair, and I burn like a… like a… well, I burn like a “insert-some-funny-southern-saying” piece of bread in a 1950s toaster (think “I Love Lucy” here).
However, I LOVE coastal decor.
I’m been drawn to oceanic decor elements and colors since I was a teen. Not sure why, it’s just kinda part of me.
So, when summer starts to swing its sun-shiney face my way, I put on the SPF 50 and take out the starfish, sand dollars, and aqua!
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Ocean Blue In a Summer Apartment Living Area
Usually I only use a smattering of coastal elements in My Wee Abode. But this year, I kinda didn’t hold back.
And, rather than aqua, I’m using ocean blue (with a bit of aqua… I just can’t give it up).
There may have even been a little shopping splurge with one or two (or more) new coastal items purchased.
If you look around, the color blue is apparent in just about every area of my home this season! Read on to see more!
Coastal Colors
There are LOTS of colors you can use to add a touch of the beach to your home:
- Aqua (of course)
- Ocean blue
- Navy
- Red
- Orange
- Sand
- Camel
- White
- Tan
- Gold
- Yellow
- and more!
To get color combinations that YOU might like to use in your home, visit Design Seeds on Instagram or Color Palettes and checkout the THOUSANDS of color palettes they have to offer!
Coastal Dining Area in a Summer Apartment
The dining area is sporting a light weight blue throw blanket that has a coastal vibe to it. It was a gift purchased in San Diego (can’t get more coastal than that) by a dear friend that was visiting.
Did you know you can use throw blankets as table runners, or even table cloths? Scrunching it and throwing it across the table from corner-to-corner gives it a casual coastal feel.
The white pot with some faux wispy flowers add another coastal vibe to the table.
Casual coastal type textiles could include:
- Linen
- Burlap
- Lightweight cotton
- Water Hyacinth, seagrass or jute (weaved into table mats/chargers)
More Coastal Decor
New pillow covers for the sofa were affordable, and added to the coastal blue used this year.
I found the blue linen-like pillow cover on Amazon, and the textured gold cover was an IKEA find (I love the rope-like look and feel, and it’s super comfortable).
The top of the cabinet has a sign I DIYed at Haven one year. It was so fun to make, and I take it out every once in a while to use during the summer.
It reminds me that no matter how hard of a day I have had, or how much I have sinned, I have new mercies from the Lord… every morning!
The coffee table includes items from past years…
If you want a beachy vibe candle, add some white twine, dry-brush with blue, and glue a miniature sand dollar to the twine. Easy-peasy!
Coastal Decor on a TV Console
The TV console was super easy to ‘dress-up’ in a minimal way…
Adding a fishing net underneath the the blue metal starfish gives it more texture and interest.
And my favorite candleholders are topped with my aqua candles wrapped in plain unbleached white twine.
The blue speckled resin “urchin” was a new purchase (from HomeGoods), and I love it! Here’s one that is really similar, as well as a gold urchin.
Did you notice the ‘artwork’ above the TV console? Notice anything different in this photo verses the one above?
Nope, I’m not rich enough to have TWO pieces of coastal art. However, I am computer savvy enough to use YouTube on my Smart TV to display a gallery of vintage coastal art! 😉
More Coastal Decor
And finally, there is just a bit of coastal decor on the beverage cart, next to the dining area.
When you have a long surface area, sometimes it’s nice to simply add a long, narrow tray with some vase filler, just like I did on my spring dining table centerpiece.
The sailor knots (aka monkey fists) were a purchase several years ago, and the coral is new this year. I purchased both a wide piece and a tall piece from At Home for a great price.
Now It’s Your Turn
What are your plans for decorating your home this coming season?
Well, be sure to visit the next home on the tour, Kate from Southern Home and Hospitality. Kate’s home is always elegant, and she’s a sweetie, too!
Remember, come back throughout the rest of the week to get even more inspiration for decorating your home this summer! Simply click on the links below!
Thanks so much for dropping in, and be sure to come back often!
Bloggers’ Best Summer Home Tours
This week I am joining some of my blogging friends for the Bloggers’ Best Summer Home Tours. Twenty eight talented and creative women will be opening their homes up for you to tour all week long. You can visit each summer home tour by clicking the links below.
Monday’s Tours
The Tattered Pew // Worthing Court // StoneGable // My Wee Abode //
Southern Home and Hospitality // My Thrift Store Addiction
Tuesday’s Tours
She Gave It a Go // Cottage In The Mitten // Eleanor Rose Home
Peacock Ridge Farm // Bricks n’ Blooms // Cottage On Bunker Hill
Wednesday’s Tours
White Arrows Home // A Life Unfolding // Simply2Moms
WM Design House // White Lilac Farmhouse
Thursday’s Tours
The Ponds Farmhouse // Thistle Key Lane // Open Doors Open Hearts
Robyn’s French Nest // Cloches and Lavender // DIY Beautify
Friday’s Tours
Pasha Is Home // My Family Thyme
Midwest Life and Style // Amy Sadler Designs
Julie, your coastal decor is lovely and I love that pretty blue starfish! Pinned! Blessings, Cecilia @My Thrift Store Addiction
Thank you, Cecilia! Yes, I couldn’t pass that up. Michelle thought a DIY could be done of it, too! Hmmmm. 😉
Julie that blue starfish is so pretty! You have done such a great job in your space.
Hope you’re doing well. Pinned!
Thank you, Cindy! I think that starfish is everyone’s fave! 😉
Julie,
Your tour today is beautiful. Have a blessed day.
Thanks, Rachel.
Julie I love all your coastal touches and I’m nowhere near a beach!😄Especially the blanket draped on the table – pinned that to remember!!
Thank you so much, Kate. The throw was a gift from Yvonne a couple of years ago, and her daughter used it as a table cloth while I was with them in San Diego. She was my inspiration. 😉
Happy Summer friend! I love all the beachy touches in your home. Your home does beach colors wonderfully! The blues and aquas and white look lovely together. Your starfish art with “new mercies” touched my heart! Just what I needed today. I also wanted to mention, the Mother’s Day gift guide for moms with dementia was so helpful and sweet! I pray for you and your dear mom often. God bless you! xo
Thank you so much, Yvonne. 😀 I always appreciate you dropping in and LOVE touring with you! When I step back and look what the Lord has done in our friendship and businesses, I think, all this and Jesus, too?! Such a blessing!
So beautiful. Julie. You do some of the best decorating in a small space that I’d seen. Blessings.
Aw, thank you so much, Wendy! You made my day! 😉 Hugs and hearts!
Julie I too am a coastal decor lover so it was so fun tot take your tour and see the items you used! I love that starfish and the sign you made at Haven. You have created such a gorgeous and fresh apartment. I love your style. Happy summer my friend!
Thanks, Kelly. It’s so nice to have a friend that ‘gets’ my coastal decor love! Thanks, again, for the tour!
Julie, your decor is absolutely gorgeous. I love the way that you decorated with coastal blue colors, it makes your space look amazing!!
Thanks so much, Anne! Looking forward to seeing your tour!
Such a pretty job decorating your wee abode! I love that speckled sea urchin!
Thanks, Kim. I finally found it online and added a link for the urchin. Can’t wait to visit your home!
Julie!! I love your coastal decor!! So beautiful!! I find it hilarious that you like coastal decor but want nothing to do with the coast haha I’m all about the beach and doing all things on the beach…but for some reason I never bring any beach home with me. I love your ideas for the candles. Maybe I could do that to add some beach to our home. Thanks for all the ideas and inspiration!
LOL! That is so funny how you love the beach but don’t bring it in to your home. However, I LOVE your style so much! It’s interesting how the Lord makes us unique in so many ways! Looking forward to your tour!
Love the coastal vibe for summer! It looks beautiful! How ironic you don’t love the beach! hahaha. Love it! Happy summer!
I know… it’s weird that I don’t love the beach. Hehe. I guess I appreciate God’s outside creation, inside my home! 😉 Thanks, Stacy!
So pretty, my friend. Happy summer to you.
Thanks, Renae. Happy summer!
Hey Julie, Your coastal summer house tour was terrific! You gave me lots of great ideas – it was so inspiring! I had so much fun being on this blog tour with you. Here’s to a great summer!
xoxo,
Brendt
Thank you so much for the encouragement and sweet words, Brendt! I’m running behind, but I’ll be catching up on visits in the next couple days! Can’t wait to visit your home!
Coastal is spot on for your apartment! Everything looks so fresh and I love the blue star fish! That would be fun project to try to make! Lovely tour my friend!
That is a great idea, Michelle! Thanks for the love! Looking forward to visiting your post… Life has been ‘extra’ this week.
I just love coastal decor…but I don’t mind the sand!! I’m about 10 minutes from the Atlantic but the water is much colder than your beach for sure!!
Oh, I didn’t even think that your ocean would be colder than mine, but it makes sense. It’s so fun to see your coastal touches, as well as Kelly’s!
Even though I can’t think of a southern saying about sunburns, I can say they are as welcome as a porcupine at a nudist colony or as welcome as an outhouse breeze. LOL
And I’m with you – not a fan of sand. It’s super hot and I don’t like to sweat so send me to Alaska.
Love your coastal decor and you do such a great job of decorating your apartment. You have just the right amount of everything. It looks spacious, uncluttered and relaxing. Love that sofa too. Your family photo is perfect and I especially adore you call the grands jellybeans. That is sooooo cute! Happy summer friend. Great tour!
LOL! It was SO late when I was writing that part of the post, I was going to text you about it, but I knew you wouldn’t answer. I KNEW you would have something! Maybe, “I burn like an egg in a hot frying pan”? I even read one about witches in Salem… but opted out of that one! 😉
Yes… I would take Alaska over Florida in July ANYTIME!
Thanks for the kind words. I try to make the apartment feel exactly like that!
And I DO love my bag of jellybeans!
Hugs to you!
Very pretty Julie! I love the twine wrapped candles, that ready adds a nice beachy feel!
Thanks, Jenna! It was a last minute thought!
Your coastal decor is so fresh and pretty, Julie, perfect in your apartment! And who can resist touches of aqua and blue? Always appropriate 🙂 I especially love the twine wrapped candles – those would be fabulous for an al fresco summer dining table too!
Thanks, Janet… Yes, you are so right… how pretty to have these outside for a summer evening dinner! You have me thinking! 😉
You’ve done the coastal theme in such a fresh way! The accessories look great against your neutral backdrop. Pinned!
Thanks, Marie… I try to not go too thematic, so I appreciate your comments!
I am looking for ideas for decorating my, recently decorated, coastal bathroom. I still need a couple more touches to be able to call it that. I love your candle idea! I think that will put the finishing touch on my new decor. Thank you for sharing!
Oh, I’m so glad you found something here to finish off your bathroom, Catherine. Will you be posting about it? I hope so!
Julie, there are many take-away tips in your summer tour. I love how you didn’t stuff your rooms with too much furniture and items, but left it open and relaxed. And I want to make a jute candle but with white paint.
Ron and I would drive 25 minutes to get to the Newport Pier and walk along the tide, or the walkway to Balboa Pier.
Thanks for the tour.
Rachelle
Oh, I’m so glad you were inspired by the post, Rachelle. It makes my day! And, I DO LOOOOOVE taking drives to Balboa on a summer evening with the windows down and the stereo up… going up and down the streets of those gorgeous homes, and singing praises to the Lord! I’ve done that since I could drive! It was a fave thing to do with my bestie in high school, too!
So beautiful Julie! I love the touches of blues you have added. And that starfish is so sweet.
Thanks, Wendy! I love that starfish, too!
What a lovely coastal, beachy Summer home, Julie!! I ADORE all of the blue and aqua accents…it’s hard to pull those colors off here in Midwest, so I’m always happy to look at them in other’s homes. That tree you have next to the TV is SO pretty in that white pot!
Thanks so much for sharing!!
Thank you so much, Rachel, for the kind words. The tree comes from IKEA, as well as the planter! 😉
I love the coastal vibes, Julie. And the blue is beautiful too. It’s all so pretty and calming. Perfect for summertime. Happy to be touring with you this week. Pinned!
Thank you so much, Jen. It’s always fun seeing everyone’s decor!
Your post is so wonderful – this is beautiful! I was super inspired by your creativity. I would love to invite you to link up your project at Whimsy Home Wednesdays to inspire others and have a chance to be featured.
Thanks, Kristin! We’d love to have you hostesses join our Tuesday Turn About, as well.
Julie, you do coastal do well, my friend! I love what you’ve done. That urchin is a great find and looks fabulous next to the aqua candles. I love that tall plant stand next to your console table too. Everything looks so beautiful for summer coastal vibes! Pinned!
Oh, thank you so much, BB! Always appreciate your comments and encouragement! Hugs!