Wave away the summerrain with seaside joy

Fresh white paint, blue and white stripes and boat and seashore accessories will soon have you in holiday-happy mode, even in a landlocked location.

The look returns with the predictability of the tide but it’s always welcome because it’s just the thing to blow away the cobwebs and give rooms a bright and breezy outlook.

Even better, you can splash out and evoke a beside-the-seaside retreat or simply take a modest paddle cost-wise and go beachcombing on the high street for a few well-chosen pieces.

“The maritime trend always finds favour because it conjures an atmosphere of relaxed informality which is ideal for summer homes,” says Paul Clarkson, head of home buying at Sainsbury’s.

“You can recall memories of the beach with this breezy, seaside-inspired trend whether it’s striped textiles, wall art or even crockery in nautical shades of blue, white and red for a relaxed beach hut feel.”

A blue-and-white colour scheme is the classic interpretation of coastal - and it’s an easy-on-the-eye, crisp, clean look.

If you want to guarantee blue skies, no matter what the weather, you could paint a feature wall in a deep blue.

Plump, squashy sofas covered with loose cotton or linen throws in neutral shades or sun-bleached blue and white stripes, white painted floorboards, and a few maritime accessories will have you smelling the sea no matter what your location.

“More timeless than a trend, coastal chic is a popular and widespread theme that’s a perennial favourite,” says Sarah Quilliam, head of product design at window specialists Hillarys.

“This year’s look combines cool blue tones with calming taupes, and those who feel a little more adventurous could add accents of coral, turquoise and green.

“Roman and roller blinds in muted or stripy fabrics, or pale wooden venetian blinds, are a great way to help create a casual seaside atmosphere and are far more suitable than heavy drapes that would block light and retain heat.”

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Display holiday photos or a collection of seashore finds on a cupboard or open shelves, and add an easy chair covered in a striped fabric.

There’s no need to push the boat out to get this look, as there’s a wealth of irresistible seaside accessories around.

“Create an eclectic finish with a selection of interesting vases and bowls filled with a combination of fresh flowers, shells, or pebbles,” says Carole Brown, marketing director at Dunelm Mill.

“Natural textures work well with crisp white and blue, so feature woven baskets, driftwood lamps and wooden furniture.”

It’s all too easy to go overboard on cushions, which are now almost being regarded as ‘room art’ by designers, and there’s a raft-load with a seaside theme.