5 Ways To Decorate With Tropical Pastels
Add a fresh vibe to your home with soothing sea greens and blues

Pastel palettes are often associated with classical or glam interiors, but did you know that you can also use pastels to create a tropical or beach-y interior? Here, soft powder blues, seafoam, and aqua punctuated with coral and blush will give your home the vacay vibes.
Mix different materials
Wood, glass, and patterned resin and ceramics all add texture and depth to a tabletop vignette. Introduce soothing, summery home scents, too: coconut, reminiscent of an island getaway, light florals that evoke a farmer’s market, or citrus, redolent of warm afternoons.
Coffee Table, P4,200, Bird, P1,050, Blue Polyresin Ball, P100, Brown And White Polyresin Balls, P255 each, Succulent Plant, P215; all from Mandaue Foam
Layer, and layer again
Turn a console table or unused desk into your own personal bar and load it with bottles of liquor, decanters, glasses, and other items you need to mix that perfect drink. Make your mini-bar interesting by “layering” framed prints, flowers, décor, and bar accouterments.
Console, P7,100, Giraffe, P357, Pink Flowers, P45 each, Geometric Wall Art, P575, all from Mandaue Foam; Wine Flasks and Decanters, P100 to P150, Flamingo Décor, P100, both from Dapitan Arcade (37 Dapitan cor. Kanlaon Streets, Quezon City); all other items, stylist’s own
Pitch a teepee
A pastel teepee tent is the ultimate fun pastel touch for children’s rooms. You can DIY a tent using PVC pipes and lightweight fabric, or try this easy hack: Simply drape a large blanket over a table, making sure the edges of the blanket are long enough to reach the floor. Keep the area well ventilated and comfortable—the kids will hide out and play for hours on end in their own secret nook!
Teepee Tent, P600, HMR Trading Haus; Blue Blanket, P145, Pillows, P305 each, Mandaue Foam; all other items, stylist’s own
Add cobalt blue for a seaside touch
Vibrant cobalt blue accents in a table runner, napkin rings, and tumblers make this table setting pop. Seashells, crab prints, and coral bits complement the ocean-like palette.
Table Runner, P435, Set of Seashells, P240, Placemats, P65 each, Set of Plates, P740, Set of Cutlery, P920, all from Mandaue Foam
Add lanterns for dining al fresco
The lightest aqua tint makes for a fresh, monochromatic outdoor table setting. Create easy, whimsical “jellyfish” décor by stringing up lanterns with strips of Japanese paper that flutter prettily in the wind.
Outdoor Dining Set, P19,300, Cactus, P280, Glass Bottle, P550, Succulent in Stone, P750, Pink Plant, P650, Metal Candleholder, P787.50, Dieffenbachia Plant, P1,500, Ficus Tree, P1,720, all from Mandaue Foam; all other items, stylist’s own
This story originally appeared in the article “Hello, Summer!” in the March 2017 issue of Good Housekeeping Philippines