I once thought of coastal decor as pulling out all the brightest tones of blue, mixing them with some wavy patterns, and voila, a coastal living room.
But as I dug deeper into this design, I discovered that it offers so many other options.
Let me show you some that I discovered along the road.
Contents
Classic Blue and White Palette
Of course, how can we talk about coastal style without mentioning the epic blue-and-white color combination?
The first thing that comes to my mind when talking about the seaside are the ocean and the sky, naturally translating to this color palette.
Most coastal living rooms start with white and add pops of blue for a hint of seaside charm, or some opt for more blue than white.
It’s all about creating a balance: you want to create a sense of the sea without becoming overwhelmed by a sea of brilliant blue furniture.
The blue accents beautifully complement the warm wood tones, creating a harmonious and inviting space.
The natural elements, like the brick fireplace and the stacked firewood, combine to the peaceful connection to nature that the coastal style offers.
Neutral Colors
Besides the classic blue and white, which is a favorite for coastal-themed living rooms, you can introduce other colors to bring the outdoors inside.
Personally, I like the idea of bringing the natural tones of the seashore into my home more than just blue skies and white clouds.
I’ve found out that using soft and calm colors can help make your home feel like it’s part of the seashore.
Shades of gray, tan, or beige that naturally resemble sand and soil could be a great option for you.
Striped Patterns
I can’t deny it, the stripes instantly send me to the beach, especially those colorful beach chairs.
And the colors in this living room remind me of an ocean breeze, with all those calming shades of blue.
But don’t feel like you need to go overboard with blue to create a beachy vibe.
This living room, for example, uses mostly neutral colors like white and taupe, with pops of blue here and there.
And don’t forget the beachy accessories! The ship’s wheel on the table adds the perfect finishing touch.
Even without super bright blue, you can still get a beachy feel.
This room, for example, uses a soft blue-gray with white, and it still reminds you of the ocean waves.
It shows that even softer blues can make you think of the calm feeling of the sea.
Rattan Furniture for Natural Touch
During our recent makeover, we chose rattan furniture as a crucial piece.
It wasn’t only for looks, it’s surprisingly inexpensive and much lighter than solid wood, making it easier for us to move them around.
Rattan furniture has a wide variety of styles, which makes me feel much more original than synthetic ones.
And, as you can see, rattan looks great in coastal theme rooms.
It elegantly combines natural features while also bringing together other materials such as wood, fabric, and metal – the list is endless!
Wooden Elements
I’ve read somewhere that coastal living rooms are designed to bring a sense of relaxation and welcome, and I completely understand why after seeing this one.
It gives a laid-back aesthetic, with every detail contributing to that tranquil vibe.
Take the simple coffee table, for instance, its unfussy design perfectly complements the style.
And while blue and gray are a classic coastal color scheme, if you’re worried about white sofas getting easily stained, gray is a fantastic alternative!
Eye-Catching Decor Pieces
Want to bring the coastal vibes to your living room? Try adding some eye-catching pieces that clearly say “ocean.”
You can try hanging a big photo that runs along the wall like this.
But just a picture alone won’t do the trick.
I feel that only hanging pictures like this cannot truly capture the coastal theme.
You can consider adding other touches like having your couch in some shades of blue or throwing in some blue pillows that tie everything together.
High Ceilings
The coastal style always reminds me of beautiful vaulted ceilings.
They not only offer visual interest, but they also maximize ceiling height, which opens up the room and creates an airy, beachy atmosphere.
This living room shows it perfectly.
I love how the ceiling makes the floor plan appear bright and clean with a simple color scheme, which is made up of wood and white.
The wood also gives a touch of warmth to the area.
Different Textures
You’ve probably noticed me chatting away about how well rattan pieces fit with this living room style, right?
I’ll now dive into the details about textures.
And by textures, I mean the ones you find in fabrics. Rather than sticking to flat and smooth finishes, we’re taking it up a notch.
Think about bringing natural textures into your home, like denim, linen, or even alpaca.
If you aim for a natural vibe, mixing these fabrics can boost the variety of textures in your area, adding a unique touch to it.
Indoor and Outdoor Living Room
There’s nothing better than having a coastal-style living room when living by the sea.
If you are lucky enough to enjoy a view of the sea like this one, you may bring the outside beauty into your indoor living room by building an outdoor seating area that links to it.
Even though this living room doesn’t boast a very high ceiling or a spacious layout, it still manages to feel bright and airy.
I think this effect is thanks to the white walls and ceilings, as well as the large windows.
I’ve found that this kind of inside-outside living room frequently uses sliding glass doors to let the airflow in, giving it a cool and bright look.
And, of course, the highlight is the stunning view.
Such living rooms are designed to make the most of the scenery outside, allowing you and your guests to enjoy it right from the comfort of the living room.
Big Glass Windows
The coastal style is famous for its breezy and fresh vibe, and it’s hard to overlook the role of large open windows in achieving this look, don’t you think?
I can’t even Imagine having a coastal home without the warmth of the sun or the cool breeze flowing through.
I believe having large glass windows in your home is a great idea, as they welcome plenty of natural sunlight.
Opening up to the gentle breezes can elevate your living space, giving you an authentic coastal living experience.
For this one, I can see some shades of beige and taupe which kinda bring that shade of sand and sky into the living room.
It also offers a soft, natural, and modern look to the living space.
Adding plenty of wood can also help bring that outdoor breeze right into your home, like what this one does to the ceiling.