The beautiful Pacific coastline of California is home to some of the most sought after real estate and beach front property in the world. No matter where you live, a beach interior design style will infuse your décor with a carefree attitude.

The homes of the West Coast are often as diverse as their occupants. Architectural styles can range from simple beach cottages to modern minimalist structures to sprawling villas. Even so, casually elegant interiors emerge as a recurrent theme.

One of the easiest ways to incorporate California beach house style into your space is by adopting the right color palette. White in all its subtle shades should be a dominant color. Shabby Chic interiors are the creation of California-based designer Rachel Ashwell. Her designs often use white slipcovers on furniture and white painted walls as a backdrop for a relaxing, family-friendly environment.

The colors of the sea, sand, and sun are also vital to beach interior design style. An alternative to a white paint scheme is a sandy color like tan or golden brown as well as sunny tones like butter yellow. The sea and sun are easily embodied by jewel-toned to pastel versions of blues, greens, yellow, and orange. Often these colors are used to accent a basically neutral space in the form of pillows, accessories, and artwork - as can be seen at Beach House Style in Fairfax, California, a home décor shop with surf on the brain.

The use of natural items from the ocean such as shells and driftwood are nice complements to California beach house style. Another thematic element comes from the laid-back surfing culture which is familiar to many beach communities. Mounting a surfboard above a fireplace mantle or on a large wall will make a bold statement. Less subtle ways to bring in the surfing theme is with framed art prints and fun fabrics.

This fresh, laid-back feel is also seen along the West Coast in homes with a tropical design style or Hawaiian design style. Starting with the established soft color scheme, these interiors go one step further by incorporating more natural materials and elements. Such treasures include rattan furniture, colorful floral fabrics, and seagrass rugs. Accessories made from exotic carved wood or rocks are also fashionable additions. Botanicals are a key feature including hibiscus, ferns, pineapples, palm trees, and orchids.

In-land and along the coast, the California ranch style house plan is an extremely popular design which has been exported in various forms all over the world. In the 1930's, Cliff May designed the rancher as a fusion of the Hispanic Rancheria with a clean, modern style. The strengths of most ranch style homes are their open designs and plentiful windows.

Books on California beach house style and beach interior design:

• California Beach Houses: Style, Interiors, and Architecture
  by Pilar Viladas and Mark Darley
• Beach Houses: From Malibu to Laguna
  by Elizabeth McMillian
• Malibu: A Century of Living by the Sea
  by Julius Shulman
• Beach Homes
  by Fine Homebuilding Editors
• Seaside Style
  by Eleanor Lynn Nesmith and Steven Brooke