November 15th 2021

If you’re a home decor aficionado, you may have noticed a “sea” change in your social feeds lately: #nauticalcore. It’s the next step beyond the pandemic-fueled trend known as “cottagecore,” a movement revolving around our collective desire to be ensconced in safe, homey cottages filled with arts, crafts, and agrarian charm.

And now nauticalcore taps into our post-pandemic need to broaden our horizons with travel and exploration.

“The nautical style is not anything new, but it acquired a new meaning and dimension during the pandemic,” says Stacy Lewis, interior designer at Eternity Modern.

Deprived of experiences like cruising, sailing, and tropical beach escapades, we could at least dream about bodies of water through a steady social stream of inspirational photos.

“Even when the economy opened up, the need to feel the sea vibe at home remained for many people,” adds Lewis. “Hence the enduring appeal of nauticalcore.”

If you’re looking for a decor refresh, no need to start from scratch. Here’s how you can get this second “core” look by adding a few nautical elements and a fresh color palette to your home.

Seaworthy paintings

The on-trend gray walls or white shiplap are a staple of farmhouse and cottage styles—and provide a perfect backdrop for nauticalcore artwork.

“Nautical paintings generally use coastal farmhouse color palettes of muted blues, grays, and greens to emulate the sea, along with sandy neutrals,” says Autumn Stankovsky, interior designer at FLOOR360. “Nothing says breezy and airy like a winds-in-the-sails painting of a schooner or sailboat.”

Model sailboats

You can easily get the nauticalcore look by displaying model ships—especially if you’ve added open shelving to your home recently, as so many of us have.

“Sailboats and nautical bric-a-brac are not only meaningful to the sea enthusiast, but also spark the imagination of anyone who looks at them,” says Stankovsky.

Painted furniture

Navy is the perfect hue if you want to make a nautical impression. It looks great on woodwork and doors, or when used to freshen up a piece of reclaimed furniture.

“One of the many ways homeowners can personalize their space without breaking the bank is by painting furniture they already own, that is upcycled, or found at a garage sale,” says Stankovsky.
When it comes to painting furniture to fit a nautical theme, it’s all about the color palette.

“Making the furniture seaworthy is a matter of painting within the palette of blues, whites, and neutrals,” adds Stankovsky. “Then styling the furniture to complete the look with a large shell or sailboat.” 

Rope and hemp

We most often associate rope with sailors. So it’s no wonder rope or hemp items play into nautical style.

“Rope is the perfect seaworthy design accent,” says Stankovsky. “It provides texture and a rustic natural element.”

“If rope’s tied in an artful knot, it’s the perfect shelf or table item,” adds Stankovsky. “Other uses include adding rope to a light fixture pendant drop, or using it to frame a headboard or coffee table.”

Coral

Coral is a natural product of the sea, so it’s often a feature in nauticalcore.

“The texture and shape of coral fit in the nautical theme, which calls for weathered, textured, natural elements,” says Stankovsky.  “You can find coral as a design element on decor elements such as fabrics and wallpaper as well."

Nautical toile

Anyone who has renovated an old home probably groans at the thought of wallpaper, but it’s a great way to work in texture and a nautical element. Toile wallpaper works especially well in this context, as it features sketches of scenes of life that capture multiple elements.

“Nautical toile fits perfectly in a seaworthy style of home,” says Stankovsky. “Since it’s a design that’s repeated, you get added texture and a built-in way to repeat a motif like a sailboat, coral, shells, a ship’s wheel, or a lighthouse.”