Coastal decor is a classic interior style that captures the beach house aesthetic. You’ll find this soothing style in beach homes and those located hundreds of miles from the ocean.
As of 2023, it’s seeing a surge in popularity with the emergence of looks like “coastal grandchild” on social media. These looks offer a fresh take on coastal home decor, incorporating modern materials, patterns, and colors alongside classic elements.
We’ve gathered some of our top tips and tricks to help you get the look, plus we’ve included beautiful coastal furniture options to add an instant beachy air to your space.
Coastal decor: From grandmother to grandchild
In 2022, we saw the “grandmillennial” or “granny-chic” design trend spread into different interior styles, including coastal decor, which was deemed “coastal grandmother.” This style — both in fashion and interior design — draws inspiration from movies by American filmmaker Nancy Meyers. TikTok influencer Lex Nicoleta coined the term, and the look embodies the lifestyles portrayed in Meyers’ films.
Skip to 2023, and “coastal grandma” has evolved into “coastal grandchild” or “coastal granddaughter” interior design. It’s still inspired by Nancy Meyers movies, but it’s younger, brighter, and more casual. It’s characterized not by particular eras or furniture styles but by a classy-chic vibe with a hint of nautical decor.
So if you’d like to include coastal looks in your home, the coastal grandchild is where it’s at. It’s today’s take on coastal decor and the influence behind many of the tips included below.
11 coastal decor ideas you’ll love
You don’t have to live by the ocean to enjoy beach decor. With a few tweaks to your furniture and accents, you can enjoy the laid-back look in your space. Following these tips will help you get there.
1. Use warm neutrals in your color scheme
Blue and green are classic coastal decor colors, but today’s beachy spaces are a bit warmer. As such, you might include some blush pink, ivory, and different wood tones to warm up your color scheme. From here, you can add blues and greens to complete the look.
If you’re creating a color palette, think of four to six colors, including neutrals for the walls and floors. For example, you might use ivory, dark brown, light brown, blush, light blue, and teal throughout your home. A two-drawer coffee table in buttermilk makes a great centerpiece for whichever hues you choose.
2. Use natural materials
Natural fibers and textures can create a laid-back coastal feel in any room. For furniture and rugs, you could use jute, sisal, wicker, and rattan pieces; for upholstery and textiles, you might opt for linen, cotton, and wool. In addition, look for ways to add other natural materials, like driftwood, sea glass, seashells, and seagrass, to your decor.
For example, you might add a white-washed storage trunk surrounded by a jute area rug at the foot of your bed with a linen comforter and rough-woven cotton throw pillows on the bed. Finish the look with a seagrass wreath on the wall above the headboard.
3. Add coastal-style wall decor
Speaking of a seagrass wreath, wall art and decor make it easy to add a coastal motif to any room. Pick art that embodies your personality and the look you envision for your home. For example, you might opt for a realistic painting of a sailboat in the entryway and an abstract starfish painting in the bathroom.
Other options include sconces, baskets, and even sunhats. Gallery walls made with baskets, paintings, and photos are an excellent way to combine several smaller pieces into a focal point. For example, you might create a gallery wall behind your sofa or on the wall alongside the stairs in your home.
4. Bring the beach decor outdoors
Outdoor furniture made from natural materials can help bring the beachy aesthetic to your front porch, patio, or backyard. You’ll also find outdoor rugs made from natural fibers like sisal and fun options with buoys and other nautical artwork to add a pop of color.
To keep the look cohesive, try incorporating the same palette you use indoors in your exterior decor. If you have different color schemes for each room, use the palette from the room that connects to your outdoor space.
5. Choose coastal-style furniture
A few pieces of coastal furniture in your space can complete the look and tie everything together. Most coastal pieces will have subtle elements like a beachy white-washed finish or natural textures. However, if you’re going for the coastal grandma look, you can also include traditional furniture with warm, sandy tones. For an eye-catching twist on the theme, consider a statement piece like the Asbury Dining Table with a handcrafted teak base.
6. Let coastal style spread to every room
Incorporating coastal decor in every room can help create an authentic beach house vibe. You don’t have to go overboard — wall art in some rooms, coastal furniture in other spaces, and a consistent coastal color scheme throughout will do the trick.
For example, add coastal wall art to the entryway, bathrooms, and kitchen, with coastal-style furniture and textiles in the living room, dining room, and bedrooms.
7. Have fun with lighting
From beaded chandeliers to driftwood candle holders, have fun with lighting. Remember, today’s coastal homes are bright and airy, so add several layers of lighting to every space. Use light-toned sheer or semi-sheer curtains on the windows to let in as much sun as possible.
8. Think comfort
Coastal decor for modern homes should allow you to cozy up with a cup of coffee and a good book. Add throw blankets, throw pillows, and other soft, comfy elements to your favorite spots in the home. You can’t go wrong with a cozy comforter on this Sandy Beach Storage Bedroom Set.
9. Don’t forget greenery
Greenery helps brighten spaces with color and life, but it’s often underused in coastal decor. Palms go with the beachy aesthetic so you might add majesty palms, parlor palms, or areca palms to the well-lit corners of your home and on accent pieces, like the Macon 2-Door Accent Cabinet in sheesham grey. If you don’t have a green thumb, no problem — today’s artificial options are more lifelike than ever.
10. Try DIY options
Coastal homes work well with DIY decor — if you live on the beach, you might try creating a candleholder from driftwood or a tabletop centerpiece using seashells. If you’re nowhere near a beach, you can buy these items or opt for other beachy crafts like a jute picture frame or sea glass-style Mason jars.
11. Find inspiration
Finding the inspiration for your coastal space can help you define the look you want to create. Of course, anything can inspire your space, whether it’s a Nancy Meyers movie, a collection of figurines and photos you inherited, or a vacation you remember fondly.
Other inspiration options might include a piece of furniture (like this hand-woven banana leaf bed) or a painting you love. Or you might head to social media to save some looks from your favorite influencers — whatever floats your boat!
Coastal furniture ideas to complete the look
Coastal furniture is the foundation of most beachy homes so you’ll likely want to add a few pieces. We recommend looking for furniture that matches the colors, textures, and materials you’ve included in your coastal design for a seamless fit. Here are some of our favorite pieces of coastal furniture for every room.
Don’t worry, beach happy!
There’s nothing uptight about coastal living so have fun and use furniture, accents, and artwork that makes you happy. Remember, coastal decor comes in all shapes and sizes, and today’s coastal grandchild look is more about a vibe than a specific aesthetic.
If you’re still looking for the perfect furniture, check out Coaster Furniture for a range of beach-house-ready pieces. Then use our store locator to find a local retailer for convenient delivery or in-store pickup options.
CoasterEssence
Rectangular 2-drawer Coffee Table Buttermilk
CoasterElevations
Nilay Rectangular Storage Trunk White Washed and Black
CoasterEssence
Asbury Dining Table Base Natural Teak
Asbury Collection
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