You don’t have to live in an oceanfront cottage to treat yourself to the experience. The beach is a calming place, with its soft sand under your feet, the relaxing sound of waves rushing to the shore, and sunshine beaming down on your face. If you don’t have a seaside view, here are some ways to achieve the beach look in your home.

Color me beachy.Think about the colors of the shore. They’re soft and natural. Create a palette of colors to reflect this environment. Crisp white should be used amply. Contrast it with your preferred shade of blue: nautical, Aegean, cobalt, seafoam, or turquoise. Add the softness of buttery yellow or the peachy pink of a conch shell, or go vibrant with coral or sunny yellow.

Rough it up.The beach look reflects the textures of driftwood, coarse sand, shells, starfish, and sand dollars. Bring that tactile feeling into your home décor with rough-hewn accents or wooden furniture. Avoid the highly polished look. You want weathered wood complemented with natural materials, like cotton linen, seagrass, jute, and hemp.

Bring the outdoors in. Your interior décor should feel like you’re enjoying life on the beach. Incorporate decorative accents from outdoor living, like an outdoor rug, wicker rocker, and a basket of driftwood, mixed with shells and sea glass.

Don’t overdo it.Once you dive into the beach them for your home, you’ll discover a bounty of treasures that match your vision of coastal living. Restrain yourself. Your home décor should reflect the beach theme, not scream it through a bullhorn. Aim for subtle consistency. Don’t pack your space with clutter. That creates chaos of the mind. Choose a few perfect shells. Display one or two ships, not an entire fleet. Leave space around your décor. Less is more. Remember, at the beach, you revel in the breathing room, the open space that allows your mind to drift.

A beach theme can take you from a porch-front sitting in Nantucket to a tropical getaway. Decide what “beach” means to you, and then bring it home.