This Summer's Coastal Design Trends

Coastal design has always been popular, but as the pandemic winds down, it is regaining popularity. This is because, even if they are landlocked, homeowners want an open and breezy atmosphere that feels more vacation-like.

So, how can you make your beach house feel more refined and coastal?

Less Is More

Balance is key when it comes to coastal decor. Meg Young, Founder of Cailini Coastal recommends choosing neutrals for your larger pieces and then accessorizing accordingly. “Incorporate details like stripe or natural fiber rugs, blue and white-hued pillows, grasscloth covered decorative boxes, sea glass beads, bamboo photo frames, etc,” she says.  Smaller-scale objects like a nautical knot doorstop, a framed natural sea fan, or a sleek coastal coffee table book provide subtle accents. Making careful to mix pieces and stick to a neutral color palette is crucial to putting off a sophisticated but not hefty design. This also helps you to transition easily between seasons with your accessories.

Consider A Cupola

Coastal and palatial residences on Maryland's Eastern shore are a specialty of Annapolis-based architect Cathy Purple Cherry. To give a property a more true seaside feel, she proposes adding a cupola. The cupola's language, which was once a signal for sailors and an essential source of air, has remained an expressive architectural element in coastal homes. Coastal cupolas are used today to bring natural light into the interior spaces of buildings.

Source From Local Artists

As more people use their seaside or oceanside second houses on a regular basis, they're realizing the aesthetic value of surrounding themselves with true art, just as they would in their primary homes.

Original works not only offer depth and character to a room, but they also provide provenance when purchased from local craftspeople. A longtime resident's acrylic painting of the surrounding nature makes a beachfront property feel a million times more authentic.

 Minimal Hardscape

The rule of thumb for coastal landscapes is that blue water and natural greenery reign supreme, which is all the more reason to go easy on the hardscape. The coral-stone coping around designer Celerie Kemble's Dominican Republic pool, for example, creates a walkway that almost vanishes (leaving the concrete sheep plenty of room to graze).

 Introduce Natural Coastal Elements 

Sophisticated beach-style interior design features coastal elements while avoiding over-used nautical motifs. So, instead of shells or fish patterns, include driftwood or dried coral. These pieces can even make striking wall décor. Be sure to make them pack a punch by taking the less is more approach and highlighting one or two items.

Add Abstract Art or Patterns

Waves, splashes, and the rush of wind are best captured in abstract contours. That’s why patterns, indistinct forms, and abstracts fit a beach-style home so well. Use a typical seaside to inspire and guide you when picking artwork. You’ll quickly identify the colors and shapes you like most and select beach-inspired designs that’ll suit your home best.

Embrace All Things White & Bright

 Sunny days by the coast can come with almost blinding whites as light reflects on the rolling waves and sandy beaches. Fortunately, you can control the level of brightness while layering different white tones. A mix of the lightest shades, combined with minimal patterns and color, will give a beach-themed interior design a pristine look.

Install Wallpaper

Interior designer Caitlin Scanlon shares that wallpaper can be a great way to enhance a coastal space, although she hasn't always been a fan of the look. “At first, I thought wallpaper had no place in a coastal abode—after all, nature, views, and the sea should be the star of the show, and everything else a neutral frame. However, I now see that there are some super cool wallpapers that enhance, not detract from natural beauty.”

Her personal picks? Scanlon likes Fornasetti Acquario’s graphic depictions of marine life, especially for a powder room. For larger spaces, she suggests going with Kelly Wearstler’s Currents wallpaper.

Blue and White Color Scheme 

There was a time where blue and white could look a little boring and too predictable but coastal blue and white decor is reinventing itself. You can keep it feeling traditional with an effortless approach.

Beaded Chandelier

With its relaxed approach, beaded chandeliers can make any room feel less stuffy. I especially love using them in bedrooms and dining areas.

Nautical Accessories

A touch of coastal appeal in the bathroom is always welcome, and it's easy to achieve with a few key pieces. Look for beach-inspired color palettes or motifs on towels, and invest in beach-inspired bathroom accessories. All it takes is a porthole style mirror or a rope decorated trashcan to give your bathroom that casual yet on-trend air.

Seaside prints and patterns aren't the only method to give your bedroom a coastal vibe. Seaside stripes and the correct color palette can be enough to bring this trend's cool and peaceful vibes into your home. Look for light coloured bed linen with a simple stripe pattern. If you want more of a coastal feel, build upon the base with throws, cushions and more decorative pieces with a stronger coastal influence.

Choose Subtle Seaside Style

 There are many ways to give your home a subtle coastal atmosphere without going overboard with major patterns or evident seaside decor. Using natural elements like wood in your living space against a backdrop of whites and blues may give any space a beach vibe.

Consider including subtler accents like wall art or images with a beach backdrop, as well as a few decorative things like a handful of beach shells. Even items in seaside colors, such as beiges, blues, and sandy browns, can help you bring the beach inside.

Create a Coastal Atmosphere

You can create a sense of the seaside in your home by including extra components in your interior design that mirror the beach. To make your spaces feel light and bright during the day, keep your drapes light and breezy and your doors open. Choose lamps and warm, yellow lighting for the evening to offer a touch of warmth and lamp-like coziness.

Home perfumes with notes of lotus, musk, and beach grass will also help to set the mood for this style. Don't forget to give your outside space a coastal feel. Every location from the balcony to the garden will benefit from a touch of seaside flair, from deck chairs to tea light holders.

Top Picks: Beach Style Interior

1. Net Curtain
2. Woven Pendants
3. Oceanic Abstract
4. Sea Fan
5. White Sofa
6. Palm Leaves