Mediterranean Decor: Sunny Ideas for a Coastal Home
In short: for a sunny Mediterranean decor, combine white, cream and beige with blues (Klein, Santorini, navy) and notes of terracotta, then rely on natural materials: travertine, raw wood, rattan, seagrass and linen. Lime paint on the walls, terracotta floor tiles, terracotta jars: here are our tips for a home worthy of the Balearics, Greece, Italy or the south of France.
The essentials
| Element | Ideas |
|---|---|
| Colours | White, cream, beige, blues (Klein, Santorini, navy) and touches of terracotta |
| Materials | Travertine, raw wood (walnut, oak, beech), rattan, seagrass, linen |
| Floors | Terracotta floor tiles, light wood parquet or polished concrete |
| Walls | Lime paint, a Klein blue wall section, built-in shelves, a wall of straw hats |
| Textiles | Light linen bed linen, blue and terracotta cushions, rugs |
| Accessories | Seagrass poufs, corals, shells, old blue bottles, jars and amphorae with olive trees |
A change of season means a change of decor! Time to escape... We are taking you to the shores of the Mediterranean, where heat and relaxation call us. The Balearics, Greece, Italy or the south of France: take inspiration from your favourite holiday destinations to decorate your interior in a beach house spirit. In this article, we reveal a few tips to create a decor worthy of a beautiful Mediterranean home.
Fall for the colourful, natural Mediterranean style for your interior
Mediterranean decor combines light colours, blues and terracotta with natural materials: travertine, raw wood, terracotta floor tiles.
Authentic and warm, Mediterranean decoration breathes holidays and doing nothing. Ideal for slow life fans, it creates a soft and sunny atmosphere, for a return to basics and a total escape.
The colours of the Mediterranean
Warm up and colour your interior with the emblematic shades of Mediterranean style! Combine the softness of light colours such as white, cream and beige with shades of blue that recall the seaside: Klein blue, Santorini blue, navy blue... For a warmer atmosphere, dare a few notes of terracotta, the Mediterranean colour par excellence.
Natural materials: travertine and raw wood
The Mediterranean house is also characterised by this desire to get back to basics. This is why you should not forget to include natural materials in your decoration.
Do you know travertine? This limestone rock, used to build the Colosseum, captivates decor enthusiasts in search of authenticity. From tiles to furniture, travertine comes in all shapes to decorate our homes with modernity and elegance. Fall for a travertine coffee table for your living room or a basin for your bathroom. Its natural shade, ranging from white to brown, will be perfectly highlighted in a Mediterranean decor.
An essential material, raw wood naturally finds its way into a home with a Mediterranean decor, to reinforce its authentic side. Light or dark wood, make your choice! Walnut is very fashionable and goes perfectly with a strong blue. If you like interiors with character, this combination will be perfect for creating an elegant atmosphere. As for light wood species, such as oak or beech, they bring more brightness and softness to your interior.
Authentic floors
As for the floor, fall for the authentic charm of Mediterranean decor with terracotta floor tiles. For a brighter interior, prefer light wood parquet or a polished concrete finish, for a Greek house style.
Take inspiration from the Mediterranean for your seaside wall decor
Lime paint, Klein blue, built-in shelves and marine touches: the walls set the tone of a Mediterranean home.
To transport your interior to the beautiful Mediterranean beaches, you need to dive back into your holiday memories and reproduce the gentle atmosphere of the Riviera.
Lime paint and Klein blue
For the walls, dare lime paint, for a 100% Mediterranean result. As for colours, opt for a total white look in the Greek style or for a beige shade, for a Provençal style. If you are more Santorini than Saint-Tropez, dare Klein blue on a section of wall, for a seaside decor with character. You simply need to cut through this vivid shade with white decorative objects.
A little piece of sea on your walls
There is no question of creating a Mediterranean decor without bringing a little piece of sea into your interior. Seaside essentials, such as floats or wooden oars, are delicately hung to dress the walls, as if the Mediterranean were at our door. A time clock in white, beige or blue tones, such as the Oyster time clock, also matches this palette perfectly. Do you like originality? Dare a wall of straw hats, for a natural wall decor with a seaside spirit. The perfect decor tip to enhance a bedroom.
Built-in shelves
Reproduce the charm of a Mediterranean home by creating built-in shelves in wood or plasterboard, which you will decorate with pretty handcrafted decorative objects reminiscent of the Mediterranean.
Decorate your Mediterranean home with objects that take you travelling
Rattan, seagrass, linen, second-hand finds and terracotta jars: the accessories that recreate the atmosphere of Mediterranean holidays.
In decor, everything is in the detail! Here are a few accessories you absolutely must shop to recreate this seaside holiday atmosphere, typical of the Mediterranean regions.
Rattan, seagrass and linen
It is impossible to miss the essential rattan, which is making its way into our seaside decorations. Chairs, armchairs or light fittings: let yourself be tempted by this delicate woven material. Opt for rattan pendant lights in the living room or kitchen, to create a most warm and natural atmosphere.
Add a few seagrass poufs to create a welcoming living room, and a rustic wooden bench in the entrance hall. Warm up your floors by scattering a few rugs, for a cosy atmosphere. Natural for a true return to basics, or colourful to add pep to your interior: choose the style that suits you.
Favour household linen in linen in light shades, for a light and natural decor. Brighten it all up with blue and terracotta cushions, for a trendy Mediterranean style.
Second-hand and sea-inspired objects
Scatter a few seaside-inspired objects, such as corals or shells, in your decoration, among colourful vases and decorative objects. As the trend is for upcycling, do not hesitate to browse flea markets in search of original decorative objects for an interior with bags of charm. Recover old blue glass bottles, such as old soda siphons or apothecary bottles: these retro objects will brighten your interior for sure.
Terracotta jars and amphorae
One last tip for a 100% Mediterranean decor: do not skimp on terracotta jars and amphorae. Keep a few in which you will plant pretty olive trees. Indoors as well as outdoors, these essential decorative objects of Greek houses are the "must-haves" to take your home to the Mediterranean. We can already hear the sea and the cicadas.
Ready to bring the sun and the sea into your living room?
Clocks in Mediterranean colours
Frequently asked questions
Which colours should you choose for a Mediterranean decor?
Light colours (white, cream, beige) combined with shades of blue (Klein blue, Santorini blue, navy blue) and a few notes of terracotta, the Mediterranean colour par excellence.
Which materials should you favour for a Mediterranean interior?
Natural materials: travertine, raw wood (walnut, oak, beech), rattan, seagrass and household linen in linen in light shades.
Which paint should you choose for Mediterranean walls?
Lime paint, in white for a Greek style or in beige for a Provençal style. A Klein blue wall section adds a touch of character, to be tempered with white decorative objects.
Which floor should you choose for a Mediterranean house?
Terracotta floor tiles for authentic charm, or light wood parquet and polished concrete for a brighter interior, in a Greek house style.
Which decorative objects should you hunt for a Mediterranean spirit?
Old blue glass bottles (soda siphons, apothecary bottles), terracotta jars and amphorae to plant olive trees in, as well as corals or shells.
Sources and brands mentioned
