Your beach-capade doesn’t need to be a once-a-year deal. Bring the coastal vibe in your condominium through cool condo unit interior design tips. With the right wall paint, furniture and décor, you can have the triple S (sun, sea and sand) all year round within the comforts of your home.
Scientists and designers note that colors can be used to influence moods and cause physiological reactions. "What color you paint your walls isn't just a matter of aesthetics. It's a tool that can be leveraged to affect emotions and behavior,” says Connecticut-based color consultant Leslie Harrington. Chromotherapy, or the use of colors to heal, is a concept dating back to ancient cultures. Red was believed to increase blood circulation while yellow was used to stimulate the nerves. Blue, as it is seen today, was thought to have soothing effects to the body and mind.
In turning your DMCI Homes condo into an extension of Boracay, you are creating an eye-candy as well as relaxing your body and mind. Check out these color palette suggestions for a beach-like condo.
Brighten your day with yellow + sea blue
See the sun regardless of the weather outside by splashing yellow on your condo living room ceiling. “Yellow is such a happy color and brightens up just about every space,” lifestyle blogger Amy Goetz said. Paint your walls greying blue to create an illusion of the ocean on a blissful April morning. These colors can go well with your existing condo design theme whether it is minimalist or French country. You can add cabinets repainted with pastel colors to get the shabby chic look.
Relax with coastal colors
If you’re not a cheery person (but loves the laidback coastal life), you can do away with bright shades and opt for more subdued palettes. Try Paradise Beach or Cedar Key on your walls and Water Drops or Crystal Springs for your curtains. Your furniture may be a combination of other coastal hues such as Water’s Edge, Hale Navy and Gentleman’s Gray. Evoke the European coastal life in your condo community in the Philippines!
Lift your spirits with aroma hues
Imagine waking up to lilacs, mint and other French vineyard colors every morning. Splash spring all over your condo bedroom by complementing with yellow chiffon curtains to exude the sun’s magnificent color. For an easier and more affordable way of incorporating beach colors in condos, you can go for thematic home decors and furniture. Arrange your beach finds—sea shells, beach glass, etc.—on a bookshelf. Choose pillowcases in Novel Lilacs, Water Crest and Pink Cloud. Adorn your dresser with fresh lilac and carnations for a natural feel. Let your imagination work and share your ingenious ideas with your peers in DMCI Community.
The sun, lemonades and lots of fun
Summer in the Philippines attracts millions of visitors from all over the world. We can’t really blame them. The country is home to the best islands in the world: Palawan and Boracay. Add the tropical weather, the never-ending list of activities and the fun-loving natives and you’ve got a memorable summer. With the right palettes, designing your condo is a piece of cake! According to color psychology, yellow-greens and blue-greens stir happy feelings. Paint your kitchen walls with pale yellow color. Place indoor plants, such as mini cacti, near windows and on shelves to complete the lemonade feel.
Romantic sunset inside your condo space
Another set of colors for making your condo feel like the beach is the pastel sunset. Splash on your wall in the following order, from the top to the bottom: Novel Lilac, Lemon Chiffon, Bubble, Belize and Synergy. Create an ombré effect by smoothly transitioning from the colors of the skies to the shades of the waters.
Aye, sailor!
France gave birth to the infamous nautical stripes in the 1850s when the pattern was used as uniform for navy officers in Brittany. It was Coco Chanel who introduced the navy-and-white stripes to the fashion industry and as they say, the rest is history. Interior design for condos can have various purposes. You can use it to express your personality, celebrate a current interest (e.g. Filipiniana, Roman history, etc.), or to exude a certain feeling. With the nautical stripes, you may be paying tribute to the French navy or Chanel or simply celebrating the sea and summer. Paint your walls with creamy white shades accentuated with navy blue stripes. Adorn your cabinets with nautical pieces from your granddad’s collection or Federico Fellini’s screenshots by the sea.
“She sells sea shells by the seashore.”
DIY summer projects are worthwhile relaxation activities. Instead of splurging on expensive items you don’t need, you can let your creative juices flow and create new things. Bring the beach in your condo by getting country beige tiles for your living room and bedroom. Paint your walls with Seaside Sand hue. The Lime Light shade is perfect for your bathroom, while the Horizon palette works well with in cozy dining rooms. These earthy hues are also believed to stimulate conversations. "These are colors that encourage people to sit around and talk," Virginia-based color expert Kate Smith notes. Decorate your rooms with beach vignettes such as shells arranged in beautiful bowls and photos of the underwater life.
You can play with colors and come up with your own beach-inspired palettes. Your perspective of the coast may be different from others. Others may prefer the stark blueness of summer noons while a few may favor melancholic afternoons by the sea. You can also go for hues that influence certain moods and reactions. Use a combination of blue, purple and green to radiate calmness and tranquility. Pump up your energy by surrounding yourself with reds, oranges and yellows. "Reds tend to increase blood pressure and heart rate, and stimulate activity," color expert Leslie Harrington shares.
Make the most of condo living in the Philippines. Live a resort-style life in and out of your condo space.