You walk into a room filled with light, soft hues, and a cool breeze carrying a faint scent of saltwater. The colors are soothing, the furniture’s chic and everything feels right. That is exactly what coastal interior design does to you. It’s a style that brings the freshness of the ocean into your home, creating a peaceful aura.
But coastal design doesn’t mean you have seashells and beachy decor all over the place. Home staging professionals blend modern aesthetics with natural elements to create spaces that feel both fresh and sophisticated. Whether you live near the water or not, you can get a relaxed vibe of coastal living in your own home.
What Is Coastal Interior Design?
This interior design style evokes a sense of calm, freshness, and natural beauty. You feel like you’re living by the sea and capturing the essence of the beach in your living space (but with a modern twist).
The hallmark of coastal design is the emphasis on light and airy spaces, natural materials, and a color palette inspired by the ocean. Soft whites, sandy beiges, and ocean blues usually dominate the space. At the same time, natural textures such as wood, linen, and wicker add a rustic yet refined touch.
Coastal design has been around for decades but has become more popular over time. Today, we enjoy modern coastal interior design, which combines traditional coastal elements with new features. It’s a perfect mix of rustic charm and present-time sophistication.
Modern Coastal Interior Design Ideas for Every Room
You can use coastal interior design ideas in different areas of your home, like the living room, kitchen, or even the bedroom.
1. Coastal Interior Design Living Room
The living room is the heart of any home, and when it comes to the coastal interior, it should feel like an extension of the beach. You’ll want a relaxed and open space where light can pour in. A great way to achieve this is by choosing large windows that allow plenty of natural light to flood the room.
If you’re in a colder area, large glass sliding doors leading to a deck or patio will create the illusion of living near the coast.
For the furniture, it’s best to opt for neutral tones like whites and soft grays complemented by pops of color that mimic the ocean’s hues: light blues, soft greens, and sandy beige. Textures are another hack of coastal interiors, so you can mix and match fabrics like linen, cotton, and jute to bring in a natural feel.
Some coastal cottage interior design elements like slipcovered sofas or wicker chairs are also a good idea. These classic pieces bring a laid-back attitude that’s key to coastal living. If you want to add a modern touch, go for minimalist furniture with natural wood finishes or clean lines to keep things fresh.
2. Coastal Interior Design Kitchen
The kitchen is one area where the coastal style exceeds all expectations. Here, you can mix the rustic charm of coastal living with the attributes of modern living. Such coastal interior design kitchen ideas as light-colored cabinetry, perhaps with a distressed finish, will create a weathered beach look. White subway tiles or pale blue backsplashes can also mimic the colors of the sea and sky.
And don’t forget about the counters! Quartz or marble countertops in soft tones like gray or white give a clean look that complements the beachy theme. The best part is that modern stainless steel appliances perfectly fit into the design and create a contrast to the more natural elements. So, there’s no need to sacrifice a practical lifestyle.
For an extra touch of coastal charm, use accessories like driftwood trays, seashell-shaped decor, or nautical-themed dishware. These small details bring the ocean into your kitchen without feeling overdone.
3. Coastal Cottage Interior Design for Bedrooms
When it comes to bedrooms, you want a relaxing and tranquil space (like the ocean itself). Coastal cottage interior design has all the power to give you that sense of comfort and peace. The key here is to use light and airy fabrics like linen or cotton for bedding. A bed with a simple white or light blue duvet with textured pillows and throws will keep the space less busy.
To make coastal home interior design even stronger, add elements such as reclaimed wood furniture or wicker baskets for storage. A coastal-inspired headboard made of driftwood is a good addition of charm, tying the theme together.
Playing with color in your bedroom is never a useless thing to do. Soft pastel tones or muted shades of oceanic blues and greens will keep things soothing, and small pops of brighter colors (like coral or seafoam green) will add a little interest and warmth.
As you can see, there are endless variations for more and less sophisticated coastal looks. With time, the style has even developed into subforms of contemporary and California designs. Let’s check what these mean.
Contemporary Coastal Interior Design
The contemporary coastal interior design is the best of both worlds: clean and modern lines with the relaxed and nature-inspired elements of coastal design. For example, instead of using classic white slipcovers, you could have a sleek sectional in soft gray fabric with clean lines and minimal ornamentation.
The idea behind this sub-style is to keep the look restrained. You can achieve this by sticking to a muted color palette of whites, beiges, and blues. But feel free to mix in metallic accents like brushed silver or gold for an original twist.
Natural textures still play an important role, but they can go in more modern ways, like driftwood sculptures, glass vases, and minimalistic nautical art.
California Coastal Interior Design
When we think of California’s coastal interior design, we see a laid-back yet stylish atmosphere. California’s coastal homes often feature open-concept spaces with light interiors that make the most of natural light. This style uses lots of whites, grays, and blues but with a slightly more modern and edgy feel compared to traditional coastal decor.
For example, you might use concrete floors with natural wood accents or choose a more industrial-style chandelier above a large dining table. California coastal interiors often mix minimalist furniture with organic elements like large potted plants or wood-paneled walls.
If you’re lucky enough to live in California’s coastal area, don’t miss a chance to take full advantage of your surroundings. Open up your living space to a view of the ocean with floor-to-ceiling windows and sliding glass doors that blur the lines between indoors and outdoors.
Still not sure which blend is best for your place and if the coastal style even fits it? Read on to learn what to keep in mind while making a decision.
How to Choose the Right Coastal Design for Your Home
It can be tough to bring this all together with coastal home interior design. So, think about these things first:
- Space and layout. Are you working with an open floor plan, or do you have more traditional and closed-off rooms? Coastal design works in both, but an open layout will let you better capture the beachy feel of coastal interiors.
- Color palette. The best approach is to stick to soft and neutral tones with accents of blues, greens, and whites. You can experiment with bolder colors in small doses (throw pillows, art, or vases), but the main palette should remain calming and natural.
- Materials and textures. Go for natural materials like wood, linen, and cotton. Jute rugs, wicker furniture, and driftwood decor also add a coastal touch fast. But there’s no need to shy away from modern materials like glass and steel, as they can complement the natural elements and add a contemporary flair.
- Local climate. If you live in a coastal area, go for light fabrics and minimalistic furniture. If you’re in a cooler climate, use heavier materials like wool throws and textured fabrics to keep things cozy (but still fresh enough).
Finally, the coastal design you choose should absolutely reflect your personal taste. Maybe you’re more traditional or tech-savvy, the goal is to create a space that feels like home for you in the first place.
Bringing It All Together
Whether you prefer California’s coastal cottage interior design or the sleek elegance of the traditional way of styling, one thing is certain: you have a chance to bring the refreshing vibe of the beach into your home. It’s easy to get this all with the right light, natural materials, and a soothing color palette, and you’ll feel like you’re on vacation every day.
The beauty of coastal interior design lies in its versatility. If you need help deciding what your ideal coastal style should look like, feel free to reach out to home staging Los Angeles professionals. Together, we’ll dive in, embrace the breeze, and make your space as fresh and welcoming as a day at the beach!
