What are the origins of Hamptons décor?
What does Hamptons style look like?
What colours are Hamptons style?
What materials are used in Hamptons décor?
What is the difference between Hamptons and French provincial?
How do I add Hamptons style into my home?
How do I choose lighting fixtures for a Hamptons home?
What Hamptons lights do you recommend?
Why is Hamptons style so popular?
Down under in Australia, we’re lucky to be surrounded by warm weather, beautiful beaches, and a never-ending coastline. If you’re fortunate enough to live near the ocean, whether all year round or in a holiday home, you often want to instil a décor into your home that reflects the beach vibes of the surrounding environment. So, whether you’re planning, redecorating, renovating, or even building, for a seamless transition from the sea to your home, we recommend the Hamptons style. So, to know more about how to instil a relaxed, airy yet luxurious feel into your home, keep reading to find out more, as we answer some of the most frequent questions about Hamptons décor. Once you've rad our guide take a look at our Hamptons collection.
What are the origins of Hamptons décor?
True to its name, the Hamptons style originated from the luxurious homes built in the Hamptons, a group of affluent villages in Long Island, New York. Centred around the importance of the surrounding coastal environment, Hamptons décor has become representative of coastal living that is relaxed yet effortlessly elegant. Almost by a sense of osmosis, Hamptons décor has transitioned into Australian homes given our life-by-the-ocean lifestyle. While you may see traditionally ‘Hamptons style’ homes in Australia, we have also seen a surge in similar décors, such as coastal, and boho coastal.
What does Hamptons style look like?
The Hamptons style is instantly recognisable for its grand exteriors, with a relaxed yet refined interior design. Inside the home, there is a discernible emphasis on: light-filled open plan living, a neutral colour palette, natural materials and textures, high ceilings, Shaker-style doors, nautical blue influences, layers of soft furnishings, and high-quality furniture.
The use of timber floorboards is sometimes manipulated to create white timber finishes, though natural oak timber is the most popular choice – just don’t stain the floorboards too dark, as Hamptons living is all about light tones. Exposed wooden beams can also feature (particularly in Hamptons homes with a rustic twist), while the walls would stand in contrast with their white and light-filled tones. If you have the funds, we absolutely recommend installing plantation shutters for the ultimate coastal look.
Hamptons style living also relies heavily on the use of soft textures; so, where possible, we recommend a plethora of linen curtains, wool throws, cushions, woven rugs, and more. And if you’re struggling to visualise a Hamptons home, then think closer to home and take a look at some of our iconic Queenslander homes, which have a very similar visual aesthetic.
What colours are Hamptons style?
Hamptons style places a strong emphasis on neutral palettes, such as whites, creams, yellows, and greens. This neutral palette evokes a light, airy and fresh feel, as it invites plenty of natural and reflecting light to flood the home.
However, in line with a more nautical vibe, Hamptons homes can also feature hints of blue, as well as occasional light browns. With this, however, we’d advise a word of caution – don’t go overboard with the blues! While soft touches of blue here and there are fantastic, adding too much blue (especially if you’re using stripes) can make your house look more like a pirate ship than a sophisticated and refined beach house!
What materials are used in Hamptons décor?
Given the fact that Hamptons décor embraces all things natural, it’s no surprise that this home style leans towards using sustainable and eco-friendly materials. In Hamptons and coastal homes, it is common to see materials such as timber (e.g. exposed beams, timber floorboards), stone (we dream about stone – have you seen our article from CDK Stone? Check it out here , leather (or vegan leather, if you prefer), linen, wool, cotton, rattan/wicker, rope, wood, and glass.
If you’re choosing lighting for a Hamptons/coastal home but aren’t sure how to incorporate some of these more uncommon materials, here’s our advice. Consider pendant lights made from wicker and rattan, which adds a pop of personality without going overboard on the woven look. Then, we’d consider table lamps for your living room, hallway or bedroom made with linen wrapped shades. We wouldn’t go past a traditional glass light, which can be easily used in a variety of locations around the home.
And finally, while not mentioned earlier, we recommend choosing exterior lights made from durable and hardy materials, such as 316 Stainless Steel. This material is weather resistant and will withstand the higher salinity of coastal regions. While stainless steel isn’t biodegradable like some of the other materials such as linen and cotton, it is so durable that it will withstand the test of time (thereby leaving less impact on the environment as you won’t need to repurchase it in the future) and it can be recycled at the end of its life.
Tip: If you’re researching exterior lights and aren’t sure what to consider, always check the IP rating to ensure it can withstand the natural elements. Want to read more? Check out our definitive how-to guide on exterior lighting here.
What is the difference between Hamptons and French provincial?
While these two styles are often considered to be one and the same, there are major differences between the two design trends. French provincial originates from the south of France in the 17th and 18th century and places a greater importance on intricate and ornate detailing. In contrast, the Hamptons style originated from Long Island, New York, and is all about simplistic yet elegant style. So, while both styles share a love for relaxed, open-plan and light-filled interiors, the Hamptons style is far more minimalistic, whereas French provincial is more ornate and leans towards rustic farmhouse vibes a lot more.
How do I add Hamptons style into my home?
One of the first things we recommend before adding a style into your home is ascertaining how purist you want to be. If you want to go full Hamptons style, go for it. Or, if you want to just add Hamptons/coastal elements into your home, that’s great too. To figure this all out, we recommend creating moodboards through platforms such as the Style Sourcebook and Pinterest; this is a fantastic way to visualise a style that you like.
Sometimes we love different components and looks, but when you put them all together it just doesn’t work. So, by using these moodboards, you can view your inspiration as a whole, and see if it needs further tweaking or modification before you start investing and spending serious money in homewares and furniture. Think twice, purchase once!
If you want to incorporate Hamptons elements into your home, it might be as simple as installing a rattan pendant light or wicker table lamp, coupled with a white linen armchair to frame the room. Given the focus in coastal homes on natural light, we also recommend investing in high-quality hand-blown glass lighting.
Glass lighting, such as a glass chandelier above a dining table, not only creates a statement look, but also allows the surrounding light to pass through, thereby maintaining the transitional and neutral Hamptons look.
Another way to add Hamptons décor into your home is through the fusion of Hamptons and nautical style. Pendant or wall lights with a metal cage frame (finished in options such as antique brass, matt black, etc) often give a nautical look, and can be an interesting visual contrast compared to the usual neutral palettes and materials. We also recommend searching for furniture and homewares made from reclaimed materials, e.g. driftwood, seashells, etc.
And one last thing: plants! With Hamptons’ focus on the surrounding natural environment, never forget to add plants and floral arrangements into your home to add a pop of the outside world. We recommend tropical plants such as the monstera, which looks effortlessly coastal.
How do I choose lighting fixtures for a Hamptons home?
Before you choose Hamptons lighting for your home, you need to consider how you plan to use each room, and the house more broadly. Hamptons living is designed for socialising and entertaining, with its inviting tones and open-plan structure.
So, if you want to use your home as a social space, we recommend using a mixture of layered lighting. In spaces such as the living room, dining room and kitchen, we recommend you invest in downlights (both fixed and directional) to provide the general lighting that will flood the room with light. Then, we’d opt for accent pieces, such as a wicker multi-light pendant atop a dining table, clustered glass lighting as an artistic piece in the living room, and a one-of-the-kind wooden pendant light in the stairwell or hallway. These pieces will command the attention of your guests and be a conversation starter in themselves!
If, however, you want to create a more intimate holiday retreat home, rather than a social space, consider investing in lighting to softly furnish other spaces, such as your bedroom. Your bedroom is your sanctuary, so we recommend choosing pieces that will instil the Zen relaxed vibe that Hamptons/coastal living is known for, such as minimalist glass pendant lights, rattan, or stone table lamps. If you really want to make your space special, then choose dimmable light bulbs, or even smart LED bulbs, which will allow you to adjust your space to the mood and atmosphere that you desire.
What Hamptons lights do you recommend?
Here at Fat Shack Vintage, we can’t get enough of Hamptons and coastal décor, and it’s naturally impossible to pick our favourite! But for you, we’ll pick a few of our favs. Some of our most popular pendant lights are those that offer organic textures and echo a natural feel.
If you’re going for the more nautical look, another favourite of ours is the Rope Chandelier – Multi Light Pendant, which commands attention with its bold and oversized look.
This coastal pendant light transforms any room, and the ropes can be adjusted in height as per your lighting space and design plan. With this multi light pendant, we’d opt for exposed bare bulbs, which will not only bring a contemporary flair, but will also utilise light distribution to create a more light-filled room.
Outside the home, we recommend hardy and durable lights, fashioned with glass and metal in black finish for a touch of industrial look.
Their IP44 rating indicates that they can withstand exposure to natural elements. Some outdoor lights feature caged glass domes to capture a vintage nautical style drawing inspiration from canal boats and narrow boats that cruised up and down the waterways of the past.
For more inspiration see our Hampton inspired collection here.
Why is Hamptons style so popular?
We firmly believe that the neutral, airy, relaxed, and yet luxurious nature of Hamptons living is what makes it so immensely popular. Featuring natural materials such as rattan, timber, and glass, and focusing on a seamless transition from the ocean to your doorstep, we completely understand why Hamptons and coastal living is so popular. Hamptons style is refined, yet not overtly bold or ostentatious, and therefore is a timeless rather than trendy décor that will not become outdated in a few years.
Moreover, with its neutral look and palette, it is accessible for all price points, and you can easily achieve this look in your home on a budget. If you’re looking for coastal pieces on a shoestring budget, check out local or vintage markets for preloved rattan or wicker furniture, neutral drapery, or soft furnishings.
There’s no shortage of ways to instil Hamptons style into your home, and they don’t need to break the bank. Preloved rugs, beaded lights, artworks from up-and-coming artists, homespun throws… the imagination abounds!
So, while Hamptons style is known for its origins of being built for affluent homeowners, the reason Hamptons is so popular is that it can be brought into any home, no matter how big or small the budget or space.
Okay, I’m convinced. But I still need more help/have some more questions
If we’ve totally converted you to all things Hamptons and would love to add some coastal Hamptons style into your home but still have some lingering questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our friendly FSV team. We’re always here and ready to assist you with any lighting or décor question you may have. Give us a call, send us an email, or drop into our DMs on social media; whatever your preference, we’re here and ready to help you out however we can.
We also have a growing range of comprehensive guides, ranging from lighting styles, to architectural styles and how-to guides. Whether you’re a home renovator, a builder, or simply searching for inspiration as you scroll through Instagram and Pinterest as you plan your dream home, we’re sure to have a guide to help you. And if we don’t, simply drop us a line – we’re always looking for new guide ideas to add to the pipeline.