Decorate

5 tips for creating a Hamptons-style home

Follow our guide and give your house a Hamptons-inspired makeover.
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By now, well established on the Australian interiors landscape, Hamptons style is defined by cool, classic and sophisticated designs that meet rustic, casual beach vibes.

Chic blues, off-whites, panelled walls and timber flooring are just some of the elements that imbue a home with this timeless, resort-like essence. Want to know more? Here are five ways to decorate with quintessential Hamptons style in your home.

1. The Hamptons’ colour palette

Choose colours inspired by nature. Soft white, warm beige, aqua and cobalt blue work beautifully together, while vibrant coral colours work well with charcoal hues. Big bay windows that flood living spaces with natural light create an aura of calm, just like being on a holiday.

Hamptons style colour guide essentials
Duck-egg blue upolstered bar stools, add a pop of colour to this white Hamtons kitchen. (Photographer: Mindi Cooke)

2. Beach-inspired furniture

Nothing adds coastal chic like an oversized hanging egg chair. Outdoors, a soft grey exterior paint, paired with white railings allows a splash of vibrant green foliage to complete your Hamptons haven. Linen upholstery, wicker and rattan are also wonderful Hamptons-style furniture choices both indoors and out.

Hanging chair on outside deck
A cane hanging chair turns a bare corner into a coastal-inspired nook. (Photographer: Louise Roche)

3. Hamptons-style flooring and walls

Light timber tones and panelled walls exude beach vibes that tie in beautifully with Hamptons interiors, however, more recently flooring has trended to darker colours for a more sophisticated look – particularly for homes inland from the coast.

Whether your choice is simple VJ panelling or the more detailed wainscoting on your walls, washed-out accessories and colours will help deliver a sun-bleached look and, while a neutral-coloured rug in natural materials will make all the difference, leaving bare floorboards will also create a relaxed look of “barefoot luxury”.

Hamptons style home entrance with console and dark flooring
Create an entryway to impress with a chic console, statement mirror, Hamptons decor and fresh flowers. (Photographer: Chris Warnes)

4. Upcycled furniture for a second life

Give old pieces of furniture a clean-up and repaint or reupholster to turn them into something new and sophisticated. Modern pieces teamed with old create a modern space that won’t date. The trick is getting the right mix of timeless silhouettes in furniture for chic elegance.

Classic Hamptons living room with white-painted rattan furniture
A beaded chandelier brings a touch of coastal-luxe to this breezy Hamptons-inspired living room. (Photographer: Louise Roche)

5. Hamptons furnishings

Take the Hamptons look right through your house. Chandeliers, table lamps and sconce lighting are wonderful statement pieces. For the bathroom, consider subway tiles or marble, traditional style tapware, and stick with neutral colours for maximum longevity.

Touches of blue in the way of furniture, decor or textiles, create a classic Hamptons look in any room. (Photographer: Suzie Appel)

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