8 Elements of Classic Coastal Maine Summer Cottage Style

Summer is in full swing, and I am enjoying each relaxing moment.

Cool mornings.

Long days.

Sun sparkling on blue water.

Ocean breezes blowing through open windows.

Coffee on the deck to start the day.

And a glass of wine to end it.

Boats of all shapes and sizes gliding by.

And sometimes the low mournful call of the fog horn.

Inside my home, a similarly laid-back feel.

Today here on the blog I am sharing 8 design elements that for me embody classic coastal Maine summer cottage style.

What is Coastal Maine Summer Cottage Style?

When decorating my home for summer, I like to think of old Maine coastal cottages passed down through the generations. Homes which have hosted family gatherings for years.

Like our new build, they are often covered with weathered cedar shingles. Crisp white trim contrasting with the soft gray.

And inside, cozy welcoming spaces filled with comfortable furniture inviting you to put your feet up and get lost in a good book.

A large worn wooden table where family and friends come together for home-cooked meals and conversation.

Spaces filled with colors that reflect the natural surroundings — light sky and deep ocean blues, dark spruce tree green, granite gray, sandy beige, and cloud white.

Natural elements such as shells, rocks, wood, and jute.

And never anything too fussy or precious.

The best thing is, you don’t have to live on the coast of Maine to embrace this cozy relaxed style!

Give your home the feel of a Maine getaway by including some (or all!) of these elements I use to dress my coastal cottage for summer.

Slipcovered Furniture

I love slipcovers for year round use.

Muddy paws? No problem!

An accident with a beverage? Just toss it in the wash!

And generally, I feel good about every once in a while being able to wash away the accumulated dirt of everyday life.

Plus, I love their carefree relaxed look!

And, bonus, it allows me to change things up seasonally — cozy textures in the winter, bright and fresh in the summer.

I get asked often if I have a source for slipcovers.

I am sorry, but I do not.

Most of my furniture came with covers from the manufacturer, and I have since ordered extras in different fabrics.

For the swivel chairs by the fireplace (M&C’s favorites), I had slipcovers custom made locally.

If you have Ikea furniture, though, you are in luck! I know there are online companies that makes slipcovers to fit them.

Otherwise, you would need to find someone to sew something custom for you.

You can read more about my love of slipcovers (and swivel chairs!) in my post from earlier this year: Slipcovers and Swivel Chairs | My Versatile Living Room Design

Natural Fiber Rugs

In the summer I swap out my wool rugs downstairs for natural jute, sisal, or seagrass.

They have that easy beach-house feel.

And like a pair of blue jeans, they are extremely versatile and look great in just about every home!

I will be posting a guide to natural fiber rugs next week, with shopping links to some of my favorites!

Mix and Match Throw Pillows

In classic Maine cottage style, this year I have a jumble of mix and match throw pillows on the sofas and chairs in the living room.

I went into my “pillow cover library” and pulled out a variety of old favorites in shades of blue, tan, and white. I have a check, a stripe, a few florals, one with embroidery, plus a fun seagull print.

They can really be arranged in any combination.

And, in addition to adding texture and pattern to the room, they also tuck nicely behind your back when sitting or under your head if you want to take a nap.

Maddie often enjoys resting her chin on one. Or sometimes she stretches her entire body out across a pile of them, Princess-and-the-pea style.

I know throw pillows can get a bad rap sometimes, but I think they are an essential element of that cozy comfy coastal Maine summer cottage style.

But not if they are too fancy to be squished or tossed on the floor!

Blue and White Stripes

In my mind there is nothing more “coastal New England” than blue and white stripes.

They are the ultimate seaside summer classic!

Go big and have a mix of different size stripes in your room. Or keep it to a small accessory or two.

I have a blue and white striped chair and ottoman that I keep out all year round.

And then of course everyone’s favorite blue and white striped slipcover that dresses the living room love seat for the warmer months. It is alway a sure sign that summer is on its way when I bring it out!

In the summer I also display my collection of Cornishware pottery in the dining room hutch. Legend has it that it was “the blue of the Cornish skies and the white crest of the waves” that inspired the pottery’s name and signature colors.

You can read all about Cornishware in my post Coastal Blue and White: My Cornishware Hutch.

How would you choose to incorporate blue and white stripes into your home?

A Touch of Nautical

In the summer I also like to bring out a few classic nautical accessories.

My usual summer mantel display consists of a wooden nautical flag “barn quilt” I painted several years ago that spells the word “anchor”.

I like the symbolic idea of the word and object — that this home is an anchor for our family in the vast ocean of life.

Lined up in front of the flags are three vintage sailboats.

On the dining area side of the fireplace I hang a large nautical flag. I love the simple graphic impact it adds to the space.

No need to go overboard (pun slightly intended…) with nautical tchotchkes all over the place, though.

And I always favor vintage or antique pieces. Their patina lends an air of authenticity to the decor, even if you are not a sailor yourself!

Seashells

You all know I love to decorate with seashells all year round.

In fact, I even wrote a blog post about my love of shell decor: Coastal Style | Decorating With Seashells All Year Round.

In the summer, though, I like to add a few more around the house.

A wreath of local mussel and clam shells hangs on top of the blue and and white platters above the dining room mantel.

And black sea fans fill the blue and white mugs below. While these are not native, they do remind me of the seaweed which washes up on our shoreline.

So, fill a bowl with seashells! Perch a few starfish on a shelf or in a window! It will immediately give you that breezy coastal feeling!

Easy Table Setting

I generally prefer a simple centerpiece and table setting, but in the summer I keep it super easy.

If I don’t have a cloth on the table, I always have a runner. Usually a pieced and quilted one.

The runner grounds the centerpiece and I like the bit of pattern and color it adds to what is otherwise a big brown piece of wood.

I got this table runner from Etsy years ago for the original cottage here in Maine. I look forward to bringing it out each year, because it always reminds me of my early days here. All the fabrics have a coastal theme to them, but you don’t notice until you look closely, so it doesn’t scream “nautical”.

My “lazy centerpiece” is usually a stack of bowls — carved wood in the winter and spongeware in the summer.

Sometimes I leave them empty, and other times I fill them with something seasonal.

Right now for summer that is light brown starfish.

This year instead of candles, I am using a pair of rechargeable little lamps.

These are rather trendy right now, and I can see why! I love their clean lines and the fact that they can be moved anywhere you need a little light — even outside!

Mine are from Amazon (they come in multiple finishes), and I added shade covers from Serena and Lily (also available in 4 finishes).

Shopping links:

I leave the centerpiece out, whether the table is set for a meal or not.

For the place settings, simple rattan placemats and my vintage everyday silverware. Blue and white striped dishes and floral block print napkins echo themes from the loveseat and throw pillows in the living room.

Shopping links:

Casual Flower Arrangements

If you watched my Homeworthy tour, you might remember that I am not big on fresh flowers.

I know — such a controversial thing to say!

But for me, they just don’t seem to last. I bring them home and they look great, but before I know it, I have a vase full of wilted and dried flowers.

In the summer, though, I do like to gather wildflowers from the field.

Or pick up a bouquet from a local stand.

But then, no arranging! I just plop them in a container, add some water, and call it done!

Casual arrangements like these are the perfect summer touch!

This Week Into Next

I hope this post will help you bring some easy coastal Maine summer cottage style to your home, wherever you live!

Nothing too perfect.

And don’t over think it!

I have friends coming to enjoy a little relaxed coastal Maine time with me next week.

We have some fun outings planned, which I will share with you afterwards!

But also plenty of deck time just catching up. Our children grew up together, so the bonds are strong.

Zoë is back from Newfoundland (what a gorgeous place!) and sharing recipes for Chilled Zucchini Soup and Fancy and Beautiful Tomato Saladin her newsletter this week.

I will have to check In Zoe’s Kitchen for meal ideas next week when my friends are here!

If you missed last week’s blog post, I shared 16 Easy-Care Annuals for Your Blue and White Garden and Pots.

I hope you are enjoying all that summer has to offer!

Be well, friends!