How To Create Beautiful Rooms With Beach and Coastal Decor
Image Credit - Serena & Lily
When I think about some of the most relaxing, enjoyable times I've had in my life, the first image that comes to my mind is lying on the beach during summer. We envision the coastal winds cooling us, the waves soothing us, and the sand beneath our feet captivating us.
That’s much the same as what goes into the coastal interior design style. Coastal decor ideas draw on the colours of sea and shore, littoral textures, and the landscape and architecture of waterside locations.
When we think of the coasts of the United Kingdom, we tend to think of things in light and breezy terms, such as quaint beach towns and villages on the bay. While Nautical Decor captures the adventurous spirit of the high seas, coastal decor is all about capturing the serenity of the shore and simplicity of the laid-back beach lifestyle.
Generally speaking, coastal interior design involves colours that are not too strong but rather subtle and soothing. Think blues and greys of the sea and sky, fresh white, gentle neutrals, and bewitching accent colours, such as navy blue, corals, or golds.
Create a home that captures what you love most about the coast. From simple, natural materials like rattan and grasscloth to accessories inspired by oceanic elements, like seashells and seaweed, it's impossible not to perk up the minute you enter a bright beachy home.
Whether it evokes a refined beachside vibe or a more bohemian look, coastal decor can make interiors feel refreshed, open, and connected to nature. And it’s a fantastic look for any room, including outdoor spaces like decks and patios.
If you want to make your space feel fresh, light-filled, and connected to distant horizons - embrace coastal decor ideas and transport yourself to carefree beach days. Here, we will run through a range of coastal decor ideas you can cherry-pick from as you curate a chilled-out space with nods to the seaside. Let these coastal styles lift all your worries away.
SELECT A COASTAL COLOUR PALETTE
Image Credit (left to right) - Olive & Oak Interiors, The Palm Co.
Use paint for a quick and easy way to get a lovely, light beach house look. Turn to the Shore for colour schemes - nature's colour combinations are always perfect. Incorporate beautiful serene colours into your coastal decor like sun-bleached whites, sky blues, dune grass greens, beach pebble greys, driftwood browns, and peach colours you find in shells.
If muted and neutral isn't for you, give your walls a lick of a new coastal colour to instantly transform it into a room that feels like it belongs by the sea. A bold colour combo of terracotta and azure might be more up your street - reflecting the relationship between land and sky - this calming colour pairing captures a mood of escapism inspired by the Mediterranean coastline.
INVITE LIGHT IN WITH INFORMAL WINDOW TREATMENTS
Image Credit (left to right) - Where Heart Resides, Pure Salt Interiors
Rare is the coastal home that's not flooded with light and airiness - it's all about evoking that breezy lifestyle. Billowing curtains in neutral tones are the essence of the coastal aesthetic. Thin, unfussy window treatments will make the natural light in your room a focal point while helping to bring the outdoors in.
Bringing softness and a casual, open feel, curtains in light floaty fabrics are the ideal finishing touch to a coastal decor scheme, plus they can help balance strong tonal contrasts too. Linen is an excellent choice of material because it offers a naturally relaxed, subtle texture.
USE SHIPLAP FOR SEASIDE STYLE
Image Credit (left to right) - Julie Soefer Photography, Ikea
Whether you're flicking through your favourite interior decor magazine or scrolling on Pinterest, if there's one thing you're assured to come across on your hunt for coastal interior inspiration, it's shiplap walls.
Wooden panelling ideas can transform the look of a room and are a common feature of coastal interiors. Shiplap walls are one of those cool and unique design features that have been all over the place lately. We love shiplap in coastal decor because of the nautical feel it gives.
RECREATE A BEACH HOUSE LOOK WITH NATURAL TEXTILES
Image Credit (left to right) - Studio McGee, Unknown
When creating a coastal interior, the focus should always be on drawing the outside in. Using natural materials and earthy textiles that mimic nature by the sea will impact the space you are decorating.
Go for wood flooring and layer up different weathered coastal colours and natural materials for plenty of texture and interest. If you want to zone or soften a space, you can introduce a rug - a natural woven jute rug is an excellent choice for a neutral coastal palette.
You can always top the rug with a smaller carpet for added comfort if you don't like how the jute texture feels. When it comes to complementary hues, go for colours that reflect the coastal nature of the space, whether that's injecting oceanic blues with sandy tans or accenting stormy slate grey with natural linen.
Below are three rugs we have hand-selected for your dream coastal decor scheme. Each rug is unique and handcrafted by local artisans. Click the links below to be taken to their product page.
