Design Style Series: Coastal Design

The words “Coastal design” often evoke images of anchors, seashells, rope, and other nautical motifs.  Because of this, unless decorating a beach house, one might avoid this design style.  But coastal design can be elegant, serene, or energizing without looking like a seaside souvenir shop. You can create the feeling of being by the ocean or vacationing to a favorite island (*sips pina colada*).  A room can be modern and calm or a fun eclectic surf retreat.  The point is, Coastal design can translate to different looks in a space and may mean something different to everyone.

As with any curated space, the experiences and travels that the homeowner has taken can inspire the design direction. A Coastal design inspired by Cape Cod versus the Florida Keys may look very different, but here are five elements that they likely have in common.

Light & Bright

Seeing the sunlight reflecting off the water and bright sands are the beautiful images we get when by the coast.  To recreate this inside, natural light is so important.  Coastal design spaces often are bathed in natural light and have large windows to allow light to stream in and to “frame” the magnificent views.  To add lightness to a space and create that same feeling, painting walls a light color will immediately brighten a room.  Using light filtering window treatments will also allow more natural light in.

Texture

An elegant coastal design could have an all-white or mostly neutral color palette.  To keep things interesting, using various textures in a monochromatic design helps to incorporate detail and make a room feel cozier.  It’s the textures that help to inform the beachy feeling of coastal design.  For example, lightweight woven drapes can offer the linen look, reminding us of the fabric used to create the garments in our summer wardrobe.

Calming or Vibrant Colors

Coastal New England reminds me of a color palette with neutrals and gray-blues.  I picture cool-toned colors with a complementary accent of lobster red or hydrangea pink.  In contrast, the Florida Keys remind me of varying shades of teal, sunny yellow, and vibrant green.  A coastal design should in some way reflect the external environment and what’s exciting, is that you can mix varying colors with this design style.

The color story for the coastal living room design concept shown below is mostly neutral with muted blues and pops of coral.

Design by Alle Perry Design

Organic Elements

Here’s where your seashell or sea glass collections can fit into the design.  I personally love to decorate with natural elements because it’s an easy way to add more texture!  You can find oyster shells on my bookshelves and coffee table.  Seagrass rugs or baskets are perfect decor items to use in a coastal style room.

Two tips for avoiding the beach gift shop look: keep your collected items grouped together or use them sparingly.  By displaying a collection in a group, you can create an interesting conversation piece by treating the collection as one item.  Or, by displaying 1-2 pieces in a room, you can allow the pieces to group with other items without overwhelming the design.  For example, top a stack of books with a seashell and a potted plant.

Coastal Patterns

The range of fabric and wallpaper patterns available offer endless possibilities for how to incorporate coastal design into a space.  You can mix patterns to create a truly unique look.  With coastal design, I prefer to mix patterns with solid fabrics to keep the space from looking too busy.

I hope you found this blog post helpful for your next design project.  For additional design tips and design style information, check out the rest of the Design Style Blog Series.

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