Painting Furniture to Achieve the Coastal Look...and How it's OK to Change Your Mind

You don't have to live at the beach to incorporate the coastal look in your home. 
In fact it can be refreshing to have a few beach-inspired pieces 
 in your home regardless of your interior decor scheme.

The beauty of it is how easy the look is to achieve with the paint options available.

Have a look through the various interpretations of coastal style
we've created at the For The Love Creations studio.

Starting with this gorgeous 100-year-old antique chair, 
a heirloom piece that was customised for a client. 

The dark, thirsty wood was updated with a white-wash
and a gorgeous Hula Girl vintage fabric was sourced to upholster the seat.
Voila...vintage beach style!

Vintage Hula Girl Chair Makeover

Another custom paint job, this armoire went through a number of 
transitions, arriving in shabby chic cream and gold.

The beach shack restyle
began with Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint. 

The Armoire BEFORE going coastal

Apron Strings went over the cream before layering Dried Lavender over it.
A striking effect I couldn't wait to highlight with 
Lumiere Metallic Paint in "Burnt Orange Shimmer." 

The first thought was Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint in Apron Strings

But the next morning when I was going to finish up
I entered the studio and it struck me... what's better for the beach than 
the colour of the sea—turquoise?!

The cupboard layered and FAB in Dried Lavender over Apron Strings

So even though I was sad to lose the beautiful layered 
colour combination of MMS Milk Paint in Dried Lavender over Apron Strings,
I bit the bullet and painted over it with Autentico Bright Turquoise,
 promising myself I would repeat the layered colour combination 
on another piece very soon.

Turquoise it is...over that beautiful layering....

Once painted, I sealed the piece with Hemp Oil.
And, since I love a hit of colour when opening the drawer I used 
Miss Mustard Seed's Tough Coat Sealer to Mod Podge a colourful paper inside.

Decoupage using Miss Mustard Seed's ToughCoat Sealer

The end result exceeded my expectations.
And look at that artwork that works perfectly with the turquoise and the 
Pearlescent White Lumiere Metallic Paint used on the metal bar front.

At home in the beach shack with it's coastal upstyle

These stacking tables from Ikea are one of those little-effort-large-impact projects!
 Look how easy it is to create individual style. 
These three were custom-painted in Autentico Chalk Paint in
Mint, Beach House & Hydrangea
to use at the same beach shack as the armoire TV cupboard.

Ikea Tables BEFORE

Ikea Tables AFTER — 3 shades of Lovely!

Next up is a sweet little drop-leaf table that came to us in a terribly dated state.
A freshen up with a sunny yellow and further brightening with 
Chalk Paint layering made her stylish, stunning and coastal-ready.

This piece is for sale in the shop for $50.

Sweet drop-leaf table updated with Chalk Paint

Creating a beachy feel can be just about the colour you use.
In this case, Miss Mustard Seed's MilkPaint in Kitchen Scale is 
combined with a lime green and timber
to create a sea-worthy attitude.

A vintage piece made beach-ready through colour choice

It's hard to go wrong with shade of blue-green, this is Patina

Red is another way to make something coastal with a nautical flair.
These chairs were given a two-tone whitewashed treatment with dry-brushing
using Autentico French Grey and White Cliff. 
But the finishing touch....red and white stripes!

Two-toned whitewash Chalk Paint finish and stripes for the beach-bound look

And an easy Ikea update using Autentico Chalk Paint in Red Stripe not only modernises 
but gives an ordinary timber table extraordinary nautical style.

Embracing nautical with Red

And let's not forget the beauty that is Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint in Artissimo. 
A rich, deep blue is perfect to help create 
an elegant beach style worthy of The Hamptons.

Artissimo and chippy for vintage nautical appeal. Photo: Embracing Change

Elegant Hamptons Style in rich blue Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint Artissimo

The addition of Miss Mustard Seed's White Wax 
helps achieve the much sought-after beach coastal style.

Try it over Typewriter, Grain Sack, Luckett's Green,
the most unexpected colours will lift and lighten
bringing in the colours of the sea, the sand and the sky.

Miss Mustard Seed's White Wax over Luckett's Green

Wicker naturally takes on a  coastal vibe,
and adding White Wax takes it even further...

White Wax over Dried Lavender Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint

Hamptons Style, Coastal Chic. Retro Beach. 
Vintage Seaside. Modern Nautical...the list goes on.
There are almost as many interpretations of coastal as there are colours.

Find what speaks to you and it will come together as 
beautifully as waves crashing on the shore.

It's all here...for the love...
Sada