Coastal Interior Design Guide: How to Create a Beautiful, Beach-Inspired Home

Do you love the ocean as much as you love your home? Why not bring the two together with the help of this coastal interior design guide!

I mean, who doesn’t love the ocean? I know I sure do. It makes me feel really small, but in a really good way – you know what I mean?

But just because you love the big deep blue doesn’t mean coastal style decorating is for you. You can love the beach and also love something totally different – like glam, industrial or even maximalist decor!

So, who exactly is coastal, aka beach style, interior design for? Well, if you love natural materials, texture and an open, airy feeling home – then this may be the decor style you’ve been looking for. Oh, and you should probably also love the colour blue. But again, how could you not?

Keep reading to learn what exactly coastal decor style is – and what it isn’t. Or, skip ahead for my decor ideas to help you give your home a coastal chic look – that just so happens to be eco-friendly!

If a blend of Japanese and Scandinavian design is more your thing, make sure to check out my post on Japandi interior design.

Note that this post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you click on a link and make a purchase a small percentage of the sale goes to yours truly. Please know that I strive to only feature eco-conscious products and brands.

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What is Coastal Style?

The most straightforward description of coastal style decorating is that it’s decor style inspired by – of course – the coast, meaning the ocean and shoreline. A coastal-inspired home is filled with oceanic colours such as blue and green and beachy hues like beige and warm grey.

There are also a few other design styles with degrees of similarity to coastal style. Terms like coastal, beach house or lake house are sometimes used interchangeably, even though you could argue they’re all different styles. There’s also tropical, which is much bolder and more colourful than coastal. Then there’s Mediterranean – not the same thing as coastal, but definitely shares similarities.

A bedroom with coastal decor. — A well-done coastal space subtly incorporates the colours and textures of the ocean and refrains from going over-the-top. (Image Credit: Homes to Love)

Another design style closely related to coastal is nautical, but nautical tends to be more on the nose than coastal. Think replicas of life preservers hanging on the wall or fabrics printed with anchors. Not my style by any means, but can be cute if done with restraint.

Essentially, in it’s purest form, coastal is more about evoking the peaceful, grounded feeling of the ocean. This is done through the use of colour, but also texture and elements either from or inspired by the beach or water.

5 Key Elements of Coastal Design Style

While there are many elements to every design style, knowing a handful of the main concepts makes recreating the look in your own home feel doable instead of overwhelming. Here are five elements to consider when creating a coastal interior space.

Ocean-inspired colours are everything

While many decor styles work with a variety of colour palettes, coastal is pretty specific in that you’ll need to use blues, greens, beige and the always versatile white.

Four paint colours - an off-white, a light blue, a beige and a dark teal along with photos of the ocean, a linen pillow, rocks and a relaxing bathroom scene. — Need help picking paint colours for your coastal-inspired home? Check out “Seascape,” my ready-made coastal paint palette!

Lighting should be a main focus

Even if you don’t live near the water, having big, beautiful windows is such an integral part of coastal interior decorating. If your home doesn’t have a lot of natural light you can make up for it with light fixtures and reflective surfaces such as mirrors.

Don’t be afraid to use texture

Don’t shy away from textural elements. After all, the coast is a rugged place, where sand, wind and water are always on the move. Think jute rugs, bamboo light fixtures, woven baskets and rustic wooden pieces that have a story to tell. Perfection is not the goal here!

A kitchen with blue cabinets and coastal decor. — This kitchen is a great example of various elements all come together to create a beautiful coastal space. (Image Credit: Joselyn Rendon)

Keep it relaxed

The main reason why people love coastal style is because it is relaxed and unfussy. No one wants to worry about getting sand on the floor or wet bums on the sofa in a coastal home. Of course, these are only things to worry about if you actually live next to the water. But even if you don’t – the sentiment remains. Coastal design should offer a cozy hideaway from the rest of the world. So furniture that can stand a beating and finishes that are easy to clean are a must.

Restraint is important

This is where the whole coastal vs tropical vs nautical vs mediterranean thing comes in. If what you truly want is a coastal look, stay away from items that are too bold and too literal such as anchors, boats, seashells and so on. (Although a few real seashells you found on the beach would be a lovely touch.)

Need help choosing eco-conscious furniture and decor for your home? That’s what I’m here for!

A 2D design board featuring Japandi furniture and decor. — Japandi Living Room

A 2D design board featuring Scandinavian minimalist furniture and decor. — Scandinavian Minimalist Foyer

Coastal Interior Design + Sustainability

As I always say, any space can be a sustainable space. But some styles are easier than others. Not surprisingly – coastal is one of them. Which makes sense since it’s a love letter to the ocean!

Just like with the beginnings of so many design types, coastal didn’t originate as a “style.” It was just what your home looked like if you lived by the ocean. Much like the ever-popular farmhouse style stems from people who simply lived on a farm.

A dining area with a rustic table and large woven pendant lights. — This coastal dining area leans more toward minimalism – a great way to do sustainable design. (Image Credit: Homes to Love)

People used to fill their homes with what surrounded them. Things they found outside. Things they got locally. So naturally a coastal home would incorporate things from nature, textural items and things that are just a little worn around the edges.

You don’t have to live by the ocean in order to create a coastal home. Instead, approach it with the idea that truly beautiful spaces – no matter the style – happen organically. And keep reading as I’ve got some tips for achieving an eco-conscious coastal space below.

8 Materials to Use in Coastal Design

A great way to create a space using a specific interior style as inspiration is to stick to that styles most commonly used materials. Here are eight materials that fit perfectly into a home with a coastal theme.

A living room and kitchen with blue and gold accents. — A coastal living room and dining area gets a small hit of the tropics with the patterned pillows. (Image Credit: Wendy Mauro Design)

Jute and sisal

Jute and sisal are two fantastic fabrics to use to add texture to a space. Although they can be dyed any solid color or made to display a pattern, their natural off-white shade makes them look a lot like sand. And this makes them the perfect material for a rug.

Wood and bamboo

You can’t do coastal without wood. From wooden furniture to wood accents, it adds warmth and texture to interior spaces. Bamboo is another great wood-like material (it’s actually a grass) that may stem more from tropical design. But the way bamboo is used in furniture design today, it’s indistinguishable from wood. Plus – when harvested properly – it’s one of the most sustainable materials in the world.

Glass and brass

Glass is made from sand so no surprise it’s a highly visible coastal element. The connection between brass and coastal spaces is less obvious, but brass (as well as copper) has been been used on boats for centuries. Plus, it looks so beautiful with the colour blue.

Cotton and linen

Because a home only filled with hard materials like wood and glass would feel a bit harsh, you’re going to need a little softness to balance it out. Cotton and linen are fabulous natural materials that are extremely versatile. Just make sure to buy organic and sustainably-sourced cotton. And avoid those sheer-looking polyester curtains that are so popular when creating a breezy interior space – polyester is plastic and unless it’s made of recycled plastic, it isn’t an eco-friendly choice.

6 Coastal Decor Ideas

Here are some specific ideas for coastal decorating, including a woven multi-toned jute rug, a gorgeous frosted glass vase and a brass and black table lamp for a hit of modern. (And that just so happen to be from sustainable brands!)

Sand-coloured rug hanging over a brass frame. — JUTE AREA RUG
The Citizenry

Rustic wooden table in a minimalist living room. — RECLAIMED WOOD TABLE
Durkowitzer via Etsy

A woven pendant light on a grey background. — WOVEN PENDANT LIGHT
Made Trade

An ombre beige and blue throw pillow. — BLUE OMBRE THROW PILLOW
The Citizenry

Dark blue frosted glass vase with green leaves inside. — FROSTED GLASS VASE
Vivaterra

A brass and black table lamp on a white background. — BRASS TABLE LAMP
Burrow

4 Tips on How to Create an Eco-Conscious Coastal Space

Make sure to follow these four tips for keeping your coastal interior decorating journey as sustainable as possible.

Incorporate items from nature

It’s one of my all-time favourite sustainable decor tips! I’m telling you, if you have an empty space you’d like to fill up in your living room, bedroom, even your bathroom, head outside and see what you can find. Twigs in a mason jar. A piece of driftwood on a shelf. A stack of rocks from a riverbed. Wild grass from the seaside. The possibilities are endless.

A blue glass vase with driftwood twigs inside. — A simple vase and some driftwood give this bathroom a subtle coastal vibe. (Image Credit: Jen Thousand Words)

Of course, I know not everyone lives near water or on forty acres of land, but I assure you that in most cases nature can be found just outside your door. And if you really can’t find anything nearby, there are quite a few shops on Etsy were sellers have gone out and collected all kinds of lovely nature-y things to sell – such as driftwood and rocks.

DIY or buy ocean-inspired artwork

Avoid the mass-produced photos of seashells in the sand or a generic ocean scene and create something truly unique by making DIY artwork. You don’t have to be super-talented to be able to successfully wield some blue paint and a paintbrush.

An abstract painting with blue swirls hanging above a beige couch. — Check out this swirling abstract DIY painting that you could easily recreate using whatever pattern your desire. (Image Credit: Making Home Base via Pinterest)

If you’d rather support a gifted artist, the below ocean-inspired pieces I found on Etsy are lovely – and subtle! Also, if you love using baskets for decor – check out my tips on how to create a coastal basket wall.

A photograph of a rugged coastline. — SEASCAPE PHOTOGRAPH
LindseyEditions via Etsy

A soft blue and green abstract print. — COASTAL ART
PrintsbyJettyHome via Etsy

A subtle painting of a green-tinged coastline. — OCEAN ART PRINT
OliveandOakPrints via Etsy

Sand or paint secondhand wooden furniture

The ocean may be beautiful, but all that sun, sand and moisture can be rough on a furniture’s finish. This is why any wooden furniture in a coastal space tends to have that weather-worn look. Now you may live miles and miles away from a body of water, but to get that beachy look you’re going to want avoid any dark wood or high-gloss pieces.

A light wood side table with a lamp and a stack of books on top. — Check out instructions on how to bleach wood furniture over on the Alice and Lois blog! (Image Credit: Alice and Lois)

If you already own some well-made items, sand them down and give them a matte clear coat, or bleach them to get that “whoops I accidentally left this in the sun too long, but it’s still so beautiful” look. Another option is to whitewash your furniture or paint it a solid ocean-y colour like seafoam green or turquoise blue.

Buy a design package from Of Houses and Trees

Another cool thing about coastal decor style is that it blends really well with other decor styles such as boho. Check out my boho coastal living room design package, which you can buy in my Etsy shop. As always, I am here to help you create the home of your dreams – sustainably!

And there you are! All of my coastal interior design ideas and tips. If instead of a full on coastal look you’re simply searching for coastal paint colours, here’s my Seascape paint palette!

Are you a fan of coastal design or not? What do you like or not like about it? Let me know in the comments!

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Posted on July 13, 2022

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