If you’re looking to enjoy the beauty of sunny summers by the sea year-round, coastal interior design could be just what you’re looking for to brighten up your home. Coastal design is all about bringing the tranquil beauty of the beach into your home, creating a relaxing space where you can immerse yourself in the essence of the sea, sand, and sun.
But what exactly is coastal style décor and how can you incorporate the trend in your home? In this style guide, we’ll take a closer look at the characteristics of this interior design style, and explore some coastal décor ideas for incorporating the aesthetic in every room of your home, from the kitchen to the bedroom.
- What is coastal interior design?
- What are the main elements of coastal style?
- What are the main elements of coastal style?
what is coastal interior design?
Coastal design, as the name suggests, draws inspiration from the natural elements of coastal settings, from calming beach and ocean-inspired colour palettes to natural materials designed to bring the outside in, like wood and linen. The overall feel of coastal style is best described as serene and simplistic, with a timeless appeal. It is an ideal choice for those looking to create a more relaxing space to unwind in, as well as summer lovers who want to capture the beauty of the season in their own homes.
The style is believed to have originated from the aesthetic of beach-front homes in the Hamptons, characterised as being bright, light, and airy. However, today the style is emulated in houses across the globe, from seafront properties to homes of those living inland.
While the aesthetic shares similar elements to some other trends, such as nautical and Mediterranean style décor, it is a unique form of interior design in itself. The trend incorporates a wider selection of neutral, and often lighter, tones than nautical interiors, and can be more understated than many forms of Mediterranean design.
what are the main elements of coastal style?
To capture the beauty and serenity of coastal interior design in your own home, you’ll first need a good understanding of the characteristics of the style. Below are some of the key elements of this beachy aesthetic, including prominent elements of both traditional and modern coastal interior design.
a coastal colour scheme
One of the most distinctive characteristics of coastal style is the beach-inspired colour scheme. The colour palette in coastal interior design plays an important role in setting the mood and atmosphere of the space. It is inspired by the natural hues found in coastal landscapes, from the sea and sand to the sky. These colours are carefully chosen to create a sense of tranquillity, relaxation, and connection to the coastal surroundings. Shades often found in a coastal-style colour palette include:
- Soft blues: Soft, muted shades of blue are quintessential to coastal interior design, capturing the beauty of the ocean and sky. Light blues are perfect for both brightening up a space and creating a calming and serene atmosphere. Deeper navy blues are also sometimes used to add contrast.
- Sandy tones: The colour of sand is often incorporated through various shades of beige. These hues are ideal for adding warmth to a coastal-style colour palette.
- Whites and neutrals: White is another foundational colour in coastal design, representing white sandy beaches and the bright sunlight reflecting off the water. Cream, light grey, and other neutrals also complement the palette.
- Greens: Soft greens, especially seafoam or mint greens, are reminiscent of coastal plant life and add a refreshing element to the palette.
- Coral: Coral, reminiscent of the vibrant shades found in seashells and coral reefs, can be used as an accent colour. It adds a lively pop to an otherwise serene palette. Other lighter shades of pink may also be incorporated, resembling shells or a pale pink ocean sunset.
natural elements
To mimic the organic textures of the beach, coastal interior design often incorporates natural materials such as wood, rattan, wicker, and bamboo. These materials can be used in many ways, from furnishings to accents, and are used to add warmth and texture to a space. Natural decorative items like driftwood and seashells are also sometimes used to enhance the coastal ambience, although they are often used sparingly. Indoor plants, particularly those that thrive in coastal climates like succulents, palms, and snake plants, can also be used to bring a touch of nature indoors.
While not a physical element, natural light is an essential aspect of coastal design. Large windows, glass doors, and strategically placed mirrors maximize natural light and create a connection to the outdoors. Lightweight, flowing curtains or sheer fabrics can also be used to allow light to filter through.
A variety of textures
An array of textures are used in coastal design to add depth and character to a space. Weathered, reclaimed, or whitewashed wood finishes are often used in coastal interior design, with the natural grain patterns adding a subtle texture to the space. The textural richness of rattan and wicker makes them another hallmark of this style, providing a relaxed and casual feel with their woven patterns and open, airy structure. When it comes to soft furnishings, natural fabrics like cotton and linen are often favoured for their laid-back, beachy feel.
casual is key
In both traditional and modern coastal interior design, casual furnishings and décor are prioritised. These informal and coastal interiors may include distressed furnishings, or using what you already have by repurposing your older possessions. The authenticity of the natural elements incorporated in coastal style also helps the design stay grounded and more laid-back. A clean and uncluttered look is often favoured in coastal design, which helps keep the look more casual. This contributes to the overall sense of tranquillity and simplicity associated with coastal living.
Incorporating coastal interior design in your home
You now have a better understanding of the characteristics of coastal interiors, but how exactly can you incorporate the trend in your own home? Whether you're starting from scratch in a new house, looking to refresh your existing decor, or simply seeking inspiration for a single room, the tips below will provide you with the coastal décor ideas you need to transform any room in your home into a coastal haven.
Coastal kitchen | Coastal dining room| Coastal living room | Coastal bedroom | Coastal bathroom
coastal kitchen
The kitchen is the heart of the home, making it the perfect place to begin your coastal style interior transformation. There are plenty of small coastal changes you can make in your kitchen which can have a big difference on the overall look of the room. For example, you could opt for serveware and drinkware in hues from a coastal colour palette, such as our Studio Blue coffee dripper or our selection of serving platters in neutral tones. Small coastal accents, like beach-inspired artwork, can also be a stylish addition to a beach-themed kitchen.
Coastal interior design is all about keeping it simple, so while a few items of décor are welcome, avoid overwhelming the room to prevent the kitchen from becoming cluttered. You can lean into this minimalist aspect of the design trend by using storage solutions in a coastal colour scheme to hide any clutter, such as the white and grey storage canisters and bread bins in our kitchen accessories collection.
As natural elements are a key part of coastal design, adding a few potted herbs or small potted plants on your countertops or windowsills is a great way to bring a fresh, coastal feel to your kitchen. Consider opting for plants which are grown near beaches to add authenticity, such as lavender and rosemary — you can find out more about growing rosemary and other fragrant herbs in our guide to growing herbs at home.
If you’re looking for inspiration for some more permanent coastal kitchen ideas, there are plenty of larger changes you can make in your home too. Upgrading to lighter kitchen tiles in neutral or pale blue shades can help you brighten up the room and add a more coastal feel. Simple and stylish counters with a weathered wood finish allow you to enjoy natural coastal elements in the kitchen.
coastal dining room
The coastal lifestyle is all about enjoying the little things in life, and that includes making the most of mealtimes with loved ones. Using beach house interior design in the dining room is a great way to brighten up your eating space and create a relaxing area for enjoying family meals.
A good place to start adding a touch of coastal living to the room is in your table set-up. Drape a simple and stylish runner across the dining table to add some texture to your setting, and develop this further by adding a placemat made out of an alternative material, such as a linen or seagrass placemat. Alternatively, you may want to choose your table linen based on a coastal colour scheme. We have a fantastic selection of placemats in hues perfect for any coastal-style dining room, including our Natural Faux Leather Placemat, Impression Charcoal Blue Woven Placemat, and Aqua Faux Leather Placemat.
It's also a good idea to choose your tableware based on a coastal colour scheme. Light neutrals are important as these can help you replicate the light and airy feel of a coastal-style home. Here at Denby, we have a variety of these shades to choose from, such as our Linen, Impression Cream, Natural Canvas, Classic White, and Kiln ranges. You can pair these with more colourful aspects of the coastal palette to bring shades of natural seaside elements to the home. Light blues and greys, such as in our Azure Coast, Azure Haze, Elements Blue, and Elements Light Grey ranges, capture the beauty of the ocean, while green accents, such as our Kiln Green and Elements Fern Green collections are reminiscent of coastal greenery, like seagrass and seaweed.
As well as creating a coastal-style dining table, you can find ways to incorporate the trend in other spaces of the room too. An important aspect of this interior design style is natural light, so find ways to maximize this in the dining room, such as with sheer curtains and decorative mirrors. You can also bring the room together effectively with a casual rug, which can also add a different texture to the space. For larger changes, a new dining table in a light wooden shade can make a good addition to a coastal dining room, along with some white or neutral wooden chairs.
coastal living room
A laidback coastal living room is the perfect option for those looking to enjoy the comfort and simplicity of a rustic room with the light and modern touches of coastal style. There are plenty of small ways to incorporate the trend in your home as well, from coasters in a coastal design, such as our Aqua Faux Leather Coaster and Natural Coaster sets, to incorporating a variety of textures in the form of linen rugs, wool throws, and wooden decorative items.
As simplicity is key to the trend, many iterations of interior design focus on using what you already own by repurposing older homeware to give it a new lease of life. This is a good option for those looking to be sustainable while planning their room refresh, plus it can save some of your interior design budget. There are lots of opportunities for recycling old ceramics in the living room, such as by turning an old mug into a plant pot, using serving bowls to host coffee table centrepieces, or using small rice bowls or ramekins as storage solutions.
To complete your modern coastal living room, bring a touch of nature into the room in the form of a floral bouquet. Consider comprising your bouquet of flora grown in coastal areas to add to the authenticity of the beach-inspired arrangement, such as geraniums, sea thrift, and daylilies. We have a fantastic collection of stylish vases to display your bouquet in perfect for a beach style home, such as our Ochre and Kiln vases which resemble a coastal landscape on a grey winter’s day.
coastal bedroom
Coastal bedrooms make for the perfect relaxation rooms ideal for drifting off in. Like the living room, layering textures is a great way to capture the beauty of beach-inspired interior design, which you can do with your soft furnishings in the form of rugs, throws, and cushions. Other ways to add texture include incorporating wicker or rattan decorations, lampshades, or furnishings, and using textured wallpaper.
Another important factor to consider when planning your coastal bedroom ideas is making the room light and airy. A strategically placed mirror is a great way to do this, as this can reflect natural light to make the room appear not just brighter, but larger too. There are a few other handy tips for making the most of the natural light a room gets, such as repositioning furniture to make sure none of the light from the window is being blocked and painting the walls and ceilings white or another light shade to reflect the natural light in the room.
A small final touch which can enhance the relaxed and laid-back feel of the room is a scented candle. As well as adding another light source to the space, soothing scents can make a room feel more calming, which is a key consideration when it comes to coastal design. We have a selection of light and fresh scents to choose from here at Denby, including our Jasmine and Wisteria Mineral Blue Ceramic Candle Pot and our Freesia and Jasmine Quartz Rose Ceramic Candle Pot. These candles come in stylish ceramic pots which fit perfectly in a coastal colour palette, and can be given new life once the candle has finished, in the form of a makeup brush holder, pen pot, or even a drinks vessel.
coastal bathroom
Designing a coastal-style bathroom is a great way to make a relaxing self-care space and is perfect for unwinding in a hot bath at the end of the day. A staple piece of décor for any bathroom is the mirror, so try to choose one which complements a beach-themed bathroom. Opt for mirrors made from light-coloured wood with a weathered finish.
Greenery can also add to the soothing ambience of the room and is a great way to bring some natural beauty into the home. Display potted plants in your favourite coastal colour palette pot, or an upcycled bowl or mug if you’re looking to make the most of what you already own.
And don’t forget the importance of a coastal-inspired colour palette for your beach-themed bathroom. Decorate using soft, tranquil hues that reflect the sea, sand, and sky, with shades of aqua, seafoam green, sandy beige, and white. These colours can be incorporated in several different ways, from major changes like wall colour and tiling, to smaller tweaks like candles, towels, and decorative elements.
Coastal interior design is the perfect way to add a breath of fresh air to your home. By incorporating these coastal decorating ideas and infusing your unique style, you can transform your home into a coastal retreat where you can relax and enjoy the soothing ambience of coastal life, no matter where you live.
Whether you’re using our coastal living room, kitchen, or bathroom ideas to transform your home, we’ve got the perfect beach home additions to round off your look. From colourful Blue Haze and Elements Shell Peach hues to neutral White and Natural Canvas, we’ve got the tableware and home décor you need to emulate coastal design. And for even more home décor advice, give the rest of our guides and how tos a read for tips on creating a cosy Cottagecore home or a Mediterranean-style casa.