Let’s put first things first. I don’t HAVE a beach house… But, if I did, here’s how I would approach decorating it. There are countless ways to go, but the two easiest ways for me to look at the project would be:

1. Stick with all white and cream.
2. Go bananas with color.

I might add that both ways can intermingle and coexist– But decorating with all white is both simple and very complicated at once. You would need to play with textures so it doesn’t look clinical. Think raffia, wicker, wood, grasses, nubby textiles and layer upon layer of rich texture. This, to me is such a dramatic look, one highly impractical for every day life, but for a summer house—go for it. My friend upholstered all her major pieces in cream Sunbrella fabric. Wipe-able and impervious to water and sand. Brilliant….

Farrow and Ball has about 20 white paint colors all of which are great, or stick with Benjamin Moore White Dove or China White for walls, trim and even floors. Add tons of white painted or lacquered furniture, and accent with tons of different grains of wood. Buy driftwood pieces. Use grass woven rugs everywhere you can. If this bores you, add pops of color in pillows, throws and accessories and voila: done.

1. Canadian House & Home 2. Brooklyn Home Co. 3. Canadian House & Home 4. Alexandra Angle Design 5. Campagne Decoration 6. Munger Interiors 7. Coastal Living