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DESIGN 101
The Ultimate Guide to Coastal Style
In a perfect world, you could spend every day lounging on the beach and listening to the soothing waves. While this lifestyle might seem out of reach for most, creating a relaxing ambiance at home isn’t. With the coastal interior design style, you can bring the serenity of the seaside wherever you live.
The coastal home style takes inspiration from the natural colors and textures of the beach and sea. For example, coastal homes often feature blue decor, rattan furniture, and seashells. These organic elements help recreate the carefree and relaxed atmosphere of seaside living, filling your space with tranquility.
You can create the perfect beachy home no matter how far you live from the ocean. Here are our favorite coastal home decor ideas to get started.
What Is Coastal Interior Design Style?
The coastal design style focuses on capturing the fun and peaceful ambiance of a beach getaway. It allows you to create an inviting space where you and your guests can enjoy breezy summer vibes all year round.
Like the ocean, coastal style decor is filled with soothing hues. It often uses warm neutrals to evoke a pristine beach. For example, a coastal style bedroom could have cream walls and sandy beige furniture. Designers also use different shades of blue and green to reflect the always-changing colors of the sea.
This style incorporates plenty of natural elements to help you stay in touch with the outdoors. Popular materials include bamboo, jute, wicker, and reclaimed or weathered wood. Decorations like jars of sea glass and seashells add authenticity and whimsical charm.
Some coastal elements overlap with nautical designs, but they’re distinct styles. The coastal style is more casual and uses natural textures to mimic the feeling of relaxing on the beach. By contrast, nautical designs are inspired by maritime themes and include objects found on ships. For example, a nautical bedroom may include anchor wall art, throw pillows with crab prints, and a model sailboat.
Origins of Coastal Style
Beach vacations may seem like a modern trend, but people have always gravitated toward the sea. As a result, the coastal style has a long history in the United States.
Over three hundred years ago, early American settlers built their communities near Long Island and other areas along the Atlantic coast. They used locally-sourced driftwood and other materials at hand to construct and decorate their homes.
Fast forward to the early twentieth century, and the wealthy elite began decorating their Hampton homes in the coastal style. Their upscale designs featured muted colors taken from the seaside and plenty of natural light. Additionally, these luxury beach houses typically had timber flooring and hand-crafted artwork inspired by coastal landscapes.
The coastal style became more mainstream in the 1950s. During this decade, the growing middle class began taking more beach vacations and staying in seaside resorts. These trips gave many vacationers coastal home ideas.
Elements of Coastal Interior Design Style
The signature elements of the coastal style include:
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Mixed materials
Visit any beach, and you’ll discover an assortment of materials, from driftwood to pebbles. The coastal style recreates this rich variety by mixing materials and finishes. The most popular materials include distressed wood, jute, linen, and wicker.
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Muted color palette
Gentle greens and soft blues are the name of the game in coastal homes. These designs also include warm neutrals like beige, tan, and white.
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Open spaces
Coastal homes have uncluttered and minimalist aesthetics with plenty of space between furniture. These expansive floor plans echo the vastness of the ocean and create an airy ambiance.
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Sophisticated seaside decor
The coastal style incorporates subtle seaside elements without going overboard or seeming tacky. Examples of coastal decor include framed photographs of the ocean, pillows with wave designs, and woven blankets.
Characteristics of Coastal Home Decor
The coastal style gives you the freedom to express creativity and connect with nature. These characteristics will help you understand how to decorate a coastal bedroom and other spaces.
Coastal style homes
Many architects and designers draw inspiration from the sea when building and remodeling homes. Here are a few signature traits of a coastal style house:
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Rustic wooden beams add texture and make rooms feel taller.
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French doors
Throw open a gorgeous set of French doors to allow fresh air and sunlight into the home.
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Hardwood floors
Weathered floors made from teak, white oak, and other materials add warmth and sophistication to coastal interiors.
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Natural lighting
Large windows and minimal window treatments let sunlight flood coastal rooms.
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Stunning views
Many coastal homes overlook beaches, rivers, and other waterways.
Coastal style furniture
Coastal furniture is comfortable, functional, and unfussy. These pieces have simplistic designs and low profiles. They’re also made from durable natural materials like linen, sisal, and wood.
Choose furniture that fits the coastal color scheme. For example, a coastal style dining room could feature a white sideboard and tan wicker chairs. Meanwhile, a coastal style living room might include a teal couch and blue-and-white striped accent chairs.
Coastal Home Decor Ideas
Kickstart your design process with these coastal home decorating ideas:
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Create a neutral backdrop
Coastal designs typically have neutral-colored walls and flooring. For instance, you can paint the walls white and choose light hardwood. These elements enhance the airiness of the space and make blue and green accessories pop.
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Pick coastal-themed artwork
Adorn your walls with paintings and framed photographs of the coast. These images will tie together the theme and help you feel relaxed.
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Pile on cozy textiles
The coastal style is all about comfort, so layer your furniture with soft textiles. Look for throw pillows with anchors, stripes, and other coastal patterns.
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Include natural decor
Use Mother Nature as the source of your decor. Include live plants, seashells, driftwood chunks, and other natural elements.
Relax and Rejuvenate With Coastal Decor
Live in a vacation state of mind year-round with coastal decor. This style will make your home feel brighter and more serene. You’ll also feel more connected with nature as you transform your space into a carefree sanctuary.
Discover coastal furniture and start designing today.