Decorating a Coastal Home
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There is no need to hire an interior designer! I’m sharing tips for decorating a coastal home that will inspire you to create the home of your dreams. In this post, you’ll learn what gives furniture and decor a coastal style and how to choose a color palette that suits your style. Find sources at the end of this post!
Coastal vs. Beachy Style
Both decorating styles reflect a home near the coast, but what sets them apart? While both styles are casual and incorporate natural materials and similar color schemes, coastal interior design feels a bit more upscale.
Beach decor tends to be more relaxed – think “Life is a Beach” wall art and seashells galore – and cottagey. Keep reading for examples of how to use contemporary coastal decor in every room.
How to Make a Home Feel Coastal
Besides using traditional colors associated with the oceanside, it’s important to incorporate natural materials throughout your home. My love for rattan and cane decor is no secret. When it was time to decorate the beach house I had an excuse to use it more frequently than I would in my primary home (which is nowhere near the coast).
You don’t need to stuff your home with seashells and other accents to give it a coastal feel. Carefully select a few complementary decor pieces that reflect both the overall look and your style.
Use a Seaside Color Palette
The key to decorating a coastal home is to take inspiration from nature. Let the colors and textures found near the shore will set the tone for the decor you choose. These details may vary a little depending on where you live, but the concept is the same. Get outdoors and take in the view!
Here in Maryland, our coastline has miles of beautiful beige sand, dunes covered in tall beach grasses, and deep shades of blue ocean. Add in the bright blue sky and colorful summer flowers then you have endless colors to influence your home interior.
You’ll find light blue and beige throughout my beach house. These colors are the foundation of my color palette and I chose them because they are light and airy. However, decorating a coastal home doesn’t have to be limited to just a couple of colors.
I used bold accents of green, pink, and navy blue throughout that complement the light blue and creamy beige. Adding touches of these colors from one room to the next ties the overall design of a home together and gives it feel thoughtful and purposeful.
Beach House Furniture
Serena and Lily is the ultimate source of inspiration when decorating a coastal home. The beautiful soft colors and natural materials come together to create the quintessential upscale beach style.
All the furniture in my beach home was curated with that signature style in mind – starting with the prettiest shade of blue! I found the most calming blue sofa and bed and used them for the main color of the living room and one of the bedrooms.
The primary bedroom furniture combines woven materials and classic white wood. Pottery Barn knows how to do coastal and this collection did not disappoint!
The other bedrooms have variations of blue and white furniture. The white beds contrast so nicely with the blue side table and the blue bunk beds give that room a nautical look.
READ “COASTAL BEDROOM IDEAS ON A BUDGET” FOR MORE DETAILS!
The kitchen and dining spaces have bistro-style chairs and stools. The light gray and white pattern blends with flooring and white cabinets (both chosen by the builder).
Coastal Wall Art
As I mentioned above, a refined coastal home tends to lack word art of any kind. We know we are at the beach so no need to point it out! Instead, use more refined wall decor as an opportunity to elevate each room.
Go ahead and get those ocean or blue heron prints. As long as the color scheme in the art itself works with the rest of your decor, these classy options are a great way to fill wall space.
Here is a list of coastal wall art ideas:
- boats
- birds
- shells
- sea creatures
- ocean landscapes
- abstract
Decorative Accents for a Beach House
Accents are the element that brings a design to life. I’m all about mixing textures and materials in a design, but don’t go overboard. Decorating a coastal home is no exception. Sometimes keeping it simple is the best choice.
Using realistic-looking faux flowers and greenery is a great start. Incorporating tropical plants in small doses will make a big impact.
Don’t overlook the opportunity to use mirrors, pillows, and lighting to bring the outdoors in. In this case, it is all about the materials. Things like rattan (swoon!), linen, and cotton will give your home the softness and natural look you want.
Want more ocean-specific decor? These sea urchins’ delicate colors and textures are so interesting that I styled them in a decorative bowl on the coffee table.
Driftwood is a classic coastal home accent perfect for any shelf or table. It’s versatile enough to be used as a centerpiece too!
Another way to decorate is with coffee table books and there is no shortage of options that would look lovely in a beach house.
Decorating a Coastal Home on a Budget
Whether you are planning for a big renovation or redecorating a small space, there are ways to stretch your budget. It’s okay to splurge the important things to you as long as you have enough left over to complete the rest of the project.
For example, I splurged on other areas because I found an affordable alternative to the Serena and Lily sofa I was eyeing, saving me thousands! If you want to learn more about it, check out my IKEA HYLTARP SOFA REVIEW for details.
Everyone I know uses a combination of high and low-cost decor in their homes. Nowadays there are many affordable designer-inspired alternatives so do your research when shopping for furniture and decor!
Beach House Decor Sources
