If you want a warm, comfortable, and inviting interior design theme for your home, coastal living style may be the perfect choice. It adds a freshness and coziness, making it an in-demand design theme for decades.
We love implementing coastal design into homes and seeing how the style transforms the home’s living experience. Here are some ways you can implement this style in your home!
What is Coastal Design?
Coastal design draws from the classic elements of beach houses and their surroundings, namely oceans and beaches. It mixes natural materials, calm colors, and comfortable textures for a relaxed, casual feel. It uses white, soft blues, beachy beiges, and rich, natural wood while incorporating nautical and coastal themes.
How to Achieve Coastal Design in Your Home
Coastal design is more straightforward compared to other design themes because of the casual look, simplified materials, and color ranges. Here’s how you can incorporate the style into your home.
Ground Yourself in Comfy and Strong Furniture
Choose pieces that are durable, stylish, and ultra-comfortable. For upholstered furniture, look for soft, plush sofas and chairs that you can sink into and will stand up to the salty air and sandy feet of beach living.
Wicker is another popular furniture choice thanks to its resilience, natural texture, and connection to coastal relaxation. Prioritize light and airy designs and let their natural beauty shine through!
Do a Deep Dive Into Linen
The most common fabric used in coastal design is linen. It offers a breezy, beachy vibe and is easy to clean. Linen slipcovers are especially popular. They are a budget-friendly and practical way to update your home’s look without replacing the furniture.
Surround Yourself in Coastal Colors
Coastal design is all about comfort and relaxation, and one of the main ways of capturing that feeling is with color. Neutral palettes of white, beige, brown, or light grey are typical and join beautifully with soft hues of blues and greens. These subdued colors mimic the tones of the beach, dunes, and rocks and are ideal backdrops for any design elements.
If you prefer a pop of color, maritime blues are an elegant and versatile option.
Say, “Ahoy!” With Ocean and Boat-Themed Patterns
Nautical and other maritime patterns are synonymous with coastal design. You can inject coastal charm into any room, whether it’s a classic navy and white striped rug, a fun anchor-print throw pillow, or a beach-themed wallpaper. Go as subtle or as bold as you’d like!
Bask in the Warmth of Wood (something more dynamic)
Nothing screams “cozy” more than the warmth and texture of wood in your home. From a reclaimed wooden coffee table to wooden picture frames, floors, and furniture, there are countless ways to infuse natural wood into your coastal-inspired home.
Create an Engaging Backdrop with Wall Paneling
White-painted wood paneling creates a fresh, beachy look and a Cape Cod vibe. It also works as an engaging statement. Opt for a classic shiplap or beadboard panel, or get creative with a reclaimed wood or driftwood design. Paneling offers a soft, lived-in feel and adds warmth and character.
Let the Light In
Natural light takes a leading role in coastal design, creating the fresh and relaxing feel coastal living is known for. Light paint colors and mirrors can help invite even more natural light.
Add Privacy and Warmth with Curtains, Blinds, and Shutters
Light-colored drapery, blinds, and shutters help you maintain a beachy vibe while still bringing privacy. Linen is a standard fabric for curtains, but you can also choose more opaque materials and uses linen as sheers.
Immerse Yourself in Coastal Artwork
Artwork helps set the scene and create a more profound coastal experience. The possibilities are endless, whether it’s a painting of the ocean, a photograph of a local beach spot, or even a print featuring a starfish. Family photos add even more warmth to the look.
Go Natural
Like wood, natural woven materials exude coastal living. Examples include woven placemats, table runners, baskets, and storage trays/boxes. Rugs of jute, sisal, and seagrass are also popular. Add in throw blankets and pillows made of natural fiber, like linen and cotton, to add that extra cozy touch.
Get Crafty
One of the most fun aspects of coastal design is showing your crafty side with materials commonly found around the beach. This is also a fun way to incorporate memories of fun beach trips. Driftwood can be used as a centerpiece on your dining table, a candle holder, or DIY wall art. Beach glass and seashells also work great inside glass jars or vases.
These crafty elements blend beautifully with all the other designs of coastal homes listed above, bringing the final touch to achieve a coastal living style.
