Decorating Guides
Driftwood 2.0: Coastal Chic
Get some new ideas for bringing the beach home with driftwood’s natural gray tones and weathered, organic shapes
To add a rustic twist to a chic coastal look, consider incorporating driftwood lighting, accessories or art. This wood, with its natural gray wash, has a casual elegance that feels softer and lighter than reclaimed wood. Here’s a primer on how to inject natural style into your home with driftwood elements.
1. Coastal chandelier. Smooth, light driftwood is a winner in decor because it works with every color scheme. This expensive-looking chandelier was actually made by the homeowner.
2. Rustic floor lamp. For the less handy among us, it’s never a bad idea to leave lighting to the pros. This driftwood floor lamp, purchased from Trianon Design in Toronto, might be a good option.
3. Standout mirror. If you’re a bohemian soul with a bathroom you’d like to keep neutral for resale, a driftwood mirror is a versatile investment that will give your bland bath some character and can come with you when it’s time to move.
4. Dramatic in planters. Using driftwood vertically in planters can be as natural as using trees or plants, but it’s less conventional. These planters make a grand statement against such a simply decorated backdrop, and their slight variations in form give a healthy twist to the symmetry.
5. Magical mantel. Wood finds its comfort zone next to stone. The two are a winning combination in a home that seeks comfort and homegrown coziness as its highest aim.
Healthy Home: Wood and Stone Are Naturals in Home Design
Healthy Home: Wood and Stone Are Naturals in Home Design
6. Hardy heart. Its neutrality doesn’t mean that driftwood must always be cast in a supporting role. When layered in multiples, it can become the thread that ties everything else together. A material like driftwood — which can be found in many shapes, sizes, species and textures —lends itself easily to artful and varied combinations.
7. Eye-catching bough. Sometimes a driftwood branch can be an artistic expression in itself. A floating bough adds sophistication to a space by virtue of its sculptural qualities, and it eliminates the common pickle of coordinating art to upholstery or vice versa.
8. Awesome for air plants. Not only can you mount driftwood as art, but you can plant greenery in it too.
Make a Beautiful and Long-Lasting Driftwood Centerpiece
Make a Beautiful and Long-Lasting Driftwood Centerpiece
9. Natural approach. Driftwood used in tandem with a water feature, whether outdoors or indoors, is a natural fit. Seeing the water flow over the wood elicits a powerful feeling of connection to nature and its processes.
10. Exterior excellence. You can use a driftwood stain to get a weathered look on a home’s exterior. Choosing a material whose aesthetic appeal lies in its aged appearance ensures that the structure can’t help but age gracefully. Furthermore, the building looks rooted in time and place, which can be a difficult feat for angular modernist homes.
Stain: Driftwood, Broda, CBR Products
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