One of my favorite things in the world is home decor. I love to dream and have fun online looking on Pinterest, and even in magazines picking out the pieces that I think would make my “perfect” room. I was excited when Douglas Elliman asked me to participate in their Florida Room Style Board Challenge. The Douglas Elliman Real Estate office of Florida helps clients discover some beautiful Florida Homes.

Since I do not live in Florida and I don’t have a Florida room in my own home, I was up for the challenge of showing others how exactly I would decorate my very own Florida Room. I jumped at the opportunity and began thinking up my ideal Florida Room. Here is how it all turned out:

 

When I think of sunny Florida, I think of vacation, beaches, and gorgeous weather. Florida is home to several beautiful beaches, so I immediately knew that I wanted to include fresh white, cool blue tones, and other colors that can be found in nature, making for a serene space. I added some neutrals to mimic the color of sand which helped create a warm and inviting room where I would feel cozy and relaxed.

My ideal Florida Room to be a space that evoked feelings of it being summer all year round; a nice sun room with lots of natural light. Being careful to keep the overall tone of the room fun, bright, and breezy, here are some more of my tips for designing a Florida Room:

Tips for Designing A Florida Room You’ll Love

• A statement rug- I chose this one because it has beautiful tranquil colors and it reminds me of  the ocean.
• Wood accents and elements- Driftwood, white-washed, distressed, and weathered white wood blend together nicely in any coastal inspired space. Try to keep all accents brought in low on the gloss factor and more on the natural side when designing a coastal space.
• Glass accents- In addition to exposing as many windows as possible allowing plenty of natural light come through, adding a glass top coffee table keeps the room feeling open. The base of this table looks great with the overall inspiration for the room.
• Coral- a pop of the color coral and/or some coral reef accents scream Florida and beach! The color compliments the aqua and cream beautifully.
• Lots of plush pillows in various textures and prints with a warm blanket really make it cozy. I also added a colorful floor pillow (oversized of course) for more lounging and extra seating if needed.
• Coastal/Tropical accents- I added artwork with the cute slogan “Life’s a Beach” above the sofa and whimsical pineapple book ends for nice pop of color to add some fun to the room! Flamingos, rope accents, blown glass, starfish, seashells, anchors, sailboats, surfboards, palm tree accents, and so much more can be used as well. Adding some unique tropical inspired candles will help create a cozy, romantic, and spa-at-home feel. How cute are the Flamingo and Palm Leaf candles?
• Light fabrics- Keeping all elements light and airy, I decided to go with blue tone sheers for the windows and a super comfy sectional sofa in an ivory linen fabric, decorated with lots of accent pillows. Keeping the materials, as well as the color scheme light, helped me create a peaceful space. Leaving the windows as exposed as possible allows the sun to shine through, creating lots of light which gives the effect of being outdoors!
• Mirrors- Just as  the clear glass top coffee table creates an open space, adding mirrors to the room (especially opposite of a window) creates an airy feeling and also makes any space appear larger.
• Foliage – Adding plants really makes it feel like we are out in nature. Think of it like “bringing the nature indoors.” I added palm leaves to create this effect as well as small tabletop terrariums and vases with beautiful flowers.
• Adding a bar cart- Okay, so I said vacation and beach right?!  Having a fabulous bar cart for fun drinks with friends and family really adds a nice touch to any Florida Room.

There you have it…my ideal Florida Room, friends! I love the way it came out and oh, do I wish it were real!  Thanks to my friends at Douglas Elliman for asking me to be a part of this all!

What elements would you add to your very own Florida Room?