The Art of Soft Coastal Living
A Guide to Living the Soft Life in a Seaside-Inspired Sanctuary at Home
Coastal living isn’t just about proximity to the sea; it’s an invitation to cultivate a soft life — a slower, more mindful existence that celebrates comfort, serenity, and simple pleasures.
THE ESSENCE OF SOFT COASTAL LIVING
Picture sunlight filtering through sheer linen curtains, a gentle breeze stirring woven fibres, and the quiet comfort of natural materials underfoot...
Transforming your home into a soft-life coastal haven doesn’t require oceanfront views or dressing your walls in nautical stripes — only a willingness to embrace natural materials, slow routines, and mindful presence.
1.
Curating A Coastal Palette
Colours shape mood, and a seaside palette should feel as soothing as a walk on the sand. Layer these hues across walls, textiles, and accessories to evoke coastal scenery:
Whites and off-whites. Think bleached driftwood, sea foam, and clouds — crisp neutrals that amplify natural light.
Warm neutrals. Touches of sand-toned beige, sun-faded ochre, or misty grey ground the palette and introduce a cosy warmth.
Metallic accents. A small dose of warm brass or sparkling silver can help recreate the mood of how the sun glitters as its rays reflect off the water in the golden hour.
Coral blush and soft greens. A warm peach-pink inspired by the sun’s first glow on the horizon and a subdued olive-green evoking the grasses that sway on coastal dunes.
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💡 TIP: Use the 60/30/10 interior decorating method to apply your colour palette.
60% of your room scheme in shades of a main colour (usually a neutral), 30% in shades of a secondary colour/texture (usually bolder), and the remaining 10% in an accent colour (something completely contrasting e.g. complementary colour, pattern, or metallics)
2.
Inviting Natural Materials & Textures
Texture is the playground of soft living. By weaving in tactile materials, you cultivate an environment that beckons you to linger.
Begin by selecting furniture and wares that respect both the environment and a slower way of life. As you style each corner of your home, these pieces will serve as an anchor for tranquil routines and unhurried moments.
Rattan & Wicker
Lightness & Airflow
Open-weave rattan structures invite breezes to circulate, preventing spaces from feeling heavy or cluttered.
Organic, Handcrafted Curves
Every knot, bend, and weft tells a story of craftsmanship, mirroring the organic ebb and flow of shoreline dunes.
Versatility
Neutral, sand-toned rattan adapts effortlessly to cool accents; easily layer colours reminiscent of the sea and sky.
Soft living celebrates open, uncluttered environments where light and air flow freely — rattan’s open weave and lightweight frames make it an ideal anchor for layouts that evoke sea breezes and sandy expanses.
BROOK Shoe Bench - Natural
$358.00 SGD
Fits beautifully in entryways.
Natural Wood
Furniture made of natural wood adds organic character and weathered charm. As golden hour nears, the bench’s warm, variegated grain seems to glow — just as driftwood would when kissed by the setting sun.
Natural Woven Fibres
The sisal carpet’s subtle chevron pattern evokes the rippled lines of a receding tide, while the organic hyacinth weave brings a touch of that laid-back beach charm. Together, these sun-kissed hues and textures enrich the tactile experience in your home and heighten your connection to nature.
Linen & Cotton Textiles
Textiles work wonders in softening a room. Recall the simple beauty of laundry gently drying in the seaside breeze. Hang gauzy cotton throws or a striped cotton beach towel in muted blues and whites. The ladder’s lean frame and open rungs maintain visual lightness.
3.
Cultivating Rituals of Restoration
Your sanctuary isn’t just defined by its décor but by the rituals you practice within it:
Unwinding by Your Nook
Curate a small corner with plush cushions and a soft blanket, perfect for languid afternoons lost in a favourite book. Lay a linen throw across one arm, creating a soft landing spot. As afternoon light streams in, let your fingertips trail along the gentle curves of the chair’s arms, grounding each breath in rattan’s organic embrace.
Caring for Your Indoor Plants
Plants not only purify the air but also reinforce the connection between indoor spaces and the rhythms of nature — key to enhancing mental clarity and reducing stress. The mixture of rattan, wicker, and living greenery conjures coastal vegetation — tall grasses and trailing vines swaying by the shore. Find time during the day to care for your greens and relish in this vibe.
Rattan and plants are natural companions. The neutral, earthy hue of rattan lets vibrant greens truly pop!
Regular Dusting & Refreshing
By treating rattan as a living material — one that responds to care and attention — you deepen your bond with its organic qualities and ensure it remains a lasting part of your home.
Use a soft cloth or a brush attachment on a vacuum to sweep away fine particles from crevices and occasionally reposition your rattan pieces so that sunlight exposure remains balanced to prevent uneven fading. This practice rekindles the soft-life metaphor of shifting tides, inviting small changes that refresh the spirit.
Whether you live by the ocean or dream of its gentle embrace from afar, these daily practices invite you to slow down, breathe deeply, and savour each unhurried moment.
Every texture, hue, and form is chosen to echo the coast. As you move from one room to the next — padding barefoot across a sisal rug, sinking into the cane chair, or perching on the gardening stool — you’ll feel yourself drawn into a slower cadence.
Remember, at its heart, the soft life is a philosophy: honouring moments of ease, embracing tactile pleasures, and prioritising emotional comfort over relentless productivity. No matter how tall the city skyline, serenity is always within reach.
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