Beach Themed Dish Sets

Beach - Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

The beach brings many things to mind, tranquility, relaxation, and peace. This has a lot to do with the colors that can be found there. The shades of blue of the water and sky, the color of sand and the color of grasses and seashells that can be found all blend together to create that holiday feel. This may be why beach themes are popular in bedrooms and other places in the home. We often don't think of a beach theme in the kitchen, but here is another area of the home we can use beach accessories to create a relaxing beach feel. And that can be as easy as setting the table in beach inspired tableware.

Thomas Pottery Cape Code in Aqua Blue. Available:  Here

 Soft aqua blue makes a subtle statement. This pottery set has a raised seashell design along the edges of the plates, bowls and cups.

Thomas Pottery White, Available: Here

 Soft white matches any type of decor and colors you may have playing in your home. A white table setting leaves open the option of adding any color you like while keeping with a relaxing beach theme.

Florida Style Available: Here

Soft blue with raised sea shells in the color of beach sand edge this charming square shape dish set.

Florida Sandy Shores Dinnerware, Available: Here

 Soft neutral colors bring in the feel of a day of at the beach spent relaxing. Shades of beige the color of the sand, soft green and coral provide the perfect accent for this dinnerware.

Palm Tree Dinnerware, Available: Here

Nothing says beach holiday like palm trees. No matter what your style or taste, beach themed dinnerware can add a touch of the exotic to any dinner table. 

Picking Your Decorating Colors with Chip It!

Have you ever felt stumped when it comes to knowing what colors to use or what colors will match when decorating your home? I know I have. But, thanks to a site called Chip It! you can find the perfect accent colors in a matter of minutes. I love this site, it makes decorating easy and opens up a world of possibility to your home decor.

I will use throw pillows as an example to show you how it works. Say you find the perfect throw pillow and want to incorporate the colors you find in the pillows in your home decor. Go to Chip It! and upload a photo of the pillows you have picked. Within a few minutes Chip It! will churn out a color chart of colors that will go with what you have chosen. While it's meant to find paint colors to match your decor it works perfectly as a color decorating tool.

Pillows Available: Here

Pillows Available: Here

As you can see the Chip It! generator chooses colors that best match each of the toss pillows shown here. What I find so fabulous about this generator is that it often pulls up colors I would never have thought of on my own.

Pillow Available: Here

Pillow Available: Here

You can use any photo that you would like to see the matching colors of. Take a photo of your sofa and upload it to see what colors would go with it, or what color of wall paint will match your existing decor. However you choose to use this tool is up to you. It opens up a whole new world of color when it comes to home design.

Domino - The Book of Decorating - A Room-by-Room Guide to Creating a Home that Makes you Happy

Available: Here

If you have one decorating book in your collection this should be on the list. This book is a treasure trove of ideas when it comes to decorating your home. It helps you assess what you already have, how to use it, how to incorporate new pieces and how to arrange and design a room that makes you happy. And happiness should be the basis of every style of home. I like that it shows you how to decorate each room based on your needs. Like decorating around a television that is to be the center of the room, and other similar ideas.

What I like so much about this book is that it takes you by the hand and walks you through the decorating process. It helps you define your own style then gives you the details, plans and ideas on how to incorporate it into your home. It also covers the little things we often overlook, like choosing throw pillows, how to display them, choosing the right style of curtain for your room and more. It was through this book that I discovered my own style of decorating that was uniquely me and not something that I copied from magazines or books. This is definitely a timeless book that you will go back to again and again.

Colored Burlap for Home Decorating

Merlot Table Topper - Available: Here

Burlap is a versatile fabric that can be used in any area of the home. It is available in a wide variety of colors to suit almost any home decor.

Burlap Fringed Table Runner in Merlot - Available: Here

Pull the whole look together with a merlot colored table runner to go with table toppers.

Merlot Burlap Place mats - Available: Here

 Add a burlap place mat in Merlot to add a touch of rustic charm to your table. This one has embroidered snowflakes and snowman.

Burlap Merlot Coasters - Available: Here

Burlap Chocolate Brown Table Topper - Available: Here

If you love shades of brown in your decor these chocolate brown burlap accessories are the perfect choice. I just love the look of burlap in home decorating.

Chocolate Brown Burlap Table Runner - Available: Here Place Mats: Here

Burlap Chocolate Brown Coasters - Available: Here

Black Burlap Table Topper - Available: Here

Black is a color that never really goes out of style in home decorating and these black burlap pieces add the perfect rustic touch to any home.

Black Burlap Fringed Table Runner - Available; Here

Black Burlap Place Mats - Available: Here

Black Burlap Coasters - Available: Here

I like the look of the colored burlap and it is available in many more colors then I have shared here. Mix and match your favorite colors with burlap and create a decor look uniquely your own.

Burlap for The Table

Burlap for The Table

If you are wanting to create a rustic, natural feel in your home burlap tablecloths, runners and place mats can help create the look. Burlap is a unique fabric and in it's natural color is the perfect backdrop for colorful dishes and serving items.

Burlap Table Runner - Available: Here

Burlap has gained in popularity over the years for in home use. It has a unique elegance, that in it's simplicity is timeless and chic.

Burlap Coasters - Available: Here

Easy to clean burlap is the perfect choice for table use. It not only adds a nice decor touch, but is affordable also.

Burlap Place Mats - Available: Here

There is something about burlap that brings back old world charm with a modern touch. It is the perfect table covering not only for everyday use, but for celebrating holidays as well.

Burlap Round Table Cloth - Available: Here

Burlap creates a natural look in the home, a rustic look that celebrates days gone by, yet can look extremely modern depending on how it's used.

Burlap Table Cloth - Available: Here

Decorating Around A Black Sofa

CIH Design

I have a black loveseat, couch and chair in my living room and have been finding it hard to decide how to decorate around it. Do I use color? If so what color? Do I keep it simple or go patterned? There isn't a lot of info out there I've found. But, I managed to collect a few ideas. So if you are having the same problem this may help you too.

Swan Fish Camp - Photo Credit: Scott Admunson Photography

In this photo they have combined turquoise and shades of blue. This black couch is sleek and modern looking. I also like how they have thrown in a white spotted brown side chair. I do like the splashes of blue added in the room.

Photo Credit

You can never go wrong with simple back and white. I love the look and feel of this room. It has old world charm with a modern touch. The lamps on the far end of the sofa's create balance, and showcase the fireplace in the middle.

 Here a splash of black and white in the ottoman bring the room alive. Damask patterned pillows add a classic touch. I do like the way they have the photos displayed on the wall. It makes the room seem bigger than it is. The black lamps on either side of the sofa suit the room perfectly.

Photo Credit

A mixture of bright colors surrounds this black sofa. Black goes with any color without clashing. This is about the size of my black sofa. It is interesting to see the combination they have come up with here.

Noon Interior Design

Black and white with a touch of red looks great on this black sofa. Decorating around this with a few red decor items would pull the who look together.

Jeffery King Designs

I love the way the sofa's are arranged in this photo. The main focus isn't the television but on the aspect of visiting and entertaining. The rug in the center really defines the area. The use of patterns on the pillows with a touch of red create a modern, homey place to spend time.

Jessica Helgerson Interior Design

The bright colors of the pillows and rug stand out perfectly on this black sofa. I love the patterned ottoman.This looks like a cozy place to kick back and read a book.

The Design Source Ltd.

The designers at The Design Source Ltd. have done a fabulous job with this room. I haven't found a lot of ideas for decorating around a black sofa that isn't just in black and white. Having the arm chair in the same color of the pillows creates a stunning effect.

Douglas Williams Photography

This is one living room that I just love. The play of black, gray and silver give this room an elegant look, while keeping modern and not to busy. The choice of toss pillows, wallpaper, and lamps all blend perfectly together. I could create this look as I have a glass coffee table and end tables that are gold...and I could spray paint them silver...love this idea!

Arcitrix Design Studio Inc.

This is another look that would be easy to incorporate. Even though I don't have a light colored sofa, the splash of red colored pillows pull out the red in the rug. Sometimes the simplest things create a unique elegance.

SID LTD

Pillows sure make a difference don't they? And they are such an easy thing to add to decor. What's even better is that you can change them at anytime for something different and create a whole new look. The shades of gray and white really make this black sofa stand out.

These are some ideas I've found to date. I'm starting to get a general idea of how to decorate around my black sofa and loveseat. At least I've found a starting point!