Being at the beach is something everyone associates with relaxation, and these days, stress relief and relaxation are musts. Unfortunately, many of us do not have the luxury of living on the beach. The next best alternative is to bring a beach theme to your home. Decorating with a nautical theme brings a freshness and calm to your surroundings. Here are a few decorating ideas to bring the beach to you.

There are unlimited beach theme home decor ideas you can incorporate into your home. The first thing you want to think about is color. The ocean and sky are blue, so every nautical theme seems to come with some variety of strong blue color. Mix different colors of blue and add bright white hints or touches of sandy tan for a serene color scheme.

Another idea is to mix in pastels that are found in seashells. Pink, sea foam green, and soft blues are easy and soothing additions to a beach-inspired color palette. Or try earthy tones and add splashes of colors you like to fit your own style.

After the colors are chosen, you will want to accent the beach theme with furniture or blend in the furniture you have. Whether you shop at a flea market or the finest furniture stores, there are limitless ideas in the area of furnishings.

A good rule of thumb is to have your bigger furniture pieces be more neutral and add throws, pillows and accessories for that eye-catching element. A lighthouse or bright painted shore birds would be excellent motifs for pillows.

You could also age or distress an end table and give it that worn driftwood look. Another idea is adding artwork to existing furniture such as painting on a buoy, a beach chair and umbrella or an ocean wave scene.

Your coastal theme would not be complete without accessories. So many beach themes are over the top, but you want to take something striking and merge it with something subtle so you won't change the feel of your home from your own personality or taste.

Taking a simple approach will help keep your beach theme home decor serene. A great example would be seashells. Collect a few large shells and display them in different parts of the room to give it a flavor of the beach, then accent with a shell-shaped candle, a sea-urchin vase or a rowboat to add a simple nautical touch to any room.

Sea anemones, a driftwood pub sign, a wooden wall hanging or a nautical painting are all nice additions. Adding throw rugs, lamps, or drawer pulls with an ocean theme are simple ways to further accessorize while keeping that calm atmosphere.

Once you have your home decorated in a costal manner, you might want to add the feeling to your office or even the backyard. A beach theme can go with any room if done tastefully. By following a few of these decorating tips, it can be a cinch!