11 Essential Ingredients for Classic Hamptons Style
by Carlisle Homes
Do you dream of bringing the breezy, coastal look to life in your own home? Here, we make it easy by unpacking the 11 key elements you’ll need.
For those sophisticated yet laid-back vibes, nothing beats the Hamptons look. A timeless aesthetic that Australians can’t seem to get enough of, it’s centred around soft, coastal tones, textural furnishings, classic patterns and lashings of natural light, resulting in homes that feel effortlessly inviting.
1. Start with a neutral base
Create an open and airy foundation for your Hamptons room scheme with walls in crisp white or a pale neutral like beige or gentle blue-grey that speaks of a coastal landscape. If you’re looking to bring in some contrast, you could add a wall of soft checked or striped wallpaper above the fireplace or a textural seagrass wall covering behind the bed.
2. Layer coastal colours
Starting from your neutral base, look to layer in three or four weathered, beachy hues across your sofa, occasional chairs, décor pieces and art – think shades of sand, parchment, stone, sea green or blue.
The Hamptons look is very much focused on indoor-outdoor living, so be sure to carry your colour scheme outside to your entertainer’s terrace to create that all-important sense of cohesion. The colours don’t need to be identical, but they should sit together comfortably.
3. Pattern perfection
The Hamptons look is the ideal setting to have some fun with classic pattern – and you’ll find it’s a great way to add character to your scheme. Pile your sofas and bed high with a medley of cushions in pinstripe, delicate floral and check patterns, or try ikat or geometric prints. You might even want to run some pattern across your bar stool upholstery, an accent chair, the curtains in your bedroom or living area or the built-in bench seat in your entry.
There’s no rule around how much pattern is too much – the key is to stick with the main three or four colours in your overriding palette.
Bring in depth through a mix of textures, from linen sofas to jute rugs, and, of course, a few ornamental pieces that speak to the seaside.
4. Shaker-style cabinetry
Whether you’re looking at the kitchen, bedroom, bathroom or living area, classic cabinetry is an essential inclusion in any Hamptons scheme. Include decorative handles in pewter, brass or stainless steel.
5. Add depth with texture
Capture the essence of a relaxed, coastal home by including a blend of materials and textures. Think slubby, linen-covered sofas, chunky sisal or jute rugs, ribbed carpet, a boucle stool at the end of the bed, and a rattan bedside table or living-room console.
6. Let the light in
Open, airy spaces that connect seamlessly to the garden are key to Hamptons style. To achieve this, let the light flow in. Opt for light, breezy curtains that gently diffuse sunlight and resist the urge to overfill rooms with furniture, so there’s plenty of room to move about freely.
7. Choose the right furniture
When it comes to furniture, make comfort a priority – think oversized sofas and armchairs made for curling up in, plump upholstered dining chairs and cosy fabric-covered bedheads. From there, look to add in tables and consoles in distressed timber, white-washed cross-backed chairs, and accents of black in your coffee table or bar stools for a contemporary edge.
8. Subtle nautical knick-knacks
Round out your scheme with subtle nautical décor, such as glass lanterns, a faux seashell or one or two pieces of statement coral on your open shelves or coffee table. Spruce up the walls with art that depicts calming beach scenes or coastal landscapes or some tapestry wall décor.
1 – Watercolour Sea Bird III, from Hamptons Style ($759). 2 – Standard Pillowcase in Light Grey, from Lovely Linen. 3 – Cotton Cushion Cover in Medallion Navy Blue, from Cham Ois ($68). 4 – Cushion from Madras Link. 5 – Throw from Madras Link. 6 – Belvedere Table Lamp in White, from James Lane ($249.95). 7 – Dining Chairs, from James Lane ($349). 8 – Seseh Rattan Table Lamp, from James Lane ($99.95). 9 – April Whitewash Coffee Table, from Madras Link ($999.95).
9. Wonder walls
Whether it’s traditional wainscoting in a hallway or above the fireplace or v-groove panelling running floor to ceiling in a bedroom or right across a living room ceiling, there’s no denying that timber panelling evokes instant Hamptons vibes. And you can use it just about anywhere, be it an entrance, laundry, staircase, joinery wall or bedroom, so there’s virtually no limit to how creative you can get.
10. Plantation shutters
Both practical and pretty, plantation shutters give you supreme control over the temperature and light levels in your home. While white is a favourite for Hamptons styling, you might want to consider adding a touch of colour, such as pale blue-grey or seafoam green slats, for an unexpected twist.
11. Elegant lighting
Decorative lighting is a standout feature in the Hamptons look, bringing both elegance and another design layer to a space. Consider a statement beaded-glass chandelier or one in delicate woven rattan over the dining table, classic glass lantern lights or orb-style pendants over the kitchen island, beautiful lamps with fabric shades on tabletops, and decorative wall sconces in the bedrooms, bathrooms or formal lounge.
Traditional wainscotting or v-groove panelling is one way to bring in an instant Hamptons vibe.
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