Beachy keen coastal living room ideas and inspiration

Coastal decor is the ultimate laid-back interior design style. And what better way to let this beachy look shine than with a coastal living room?

You don’t need to live in a beach house to enjoy that summer vibe in your space all year long. It’s all about choosing the right colors, textures, and furniture pieces for your living space. But don’t worry — there’s plenty of room for self-expression with this versatile style!

We’re here to help with coastal living room inspiration, color palettes, decor ideas, and tips. Ready to bring your decor dreams to life?

Coastal living room inspiration

One of the best ways to decide what to do with your home decor is to get ideas from other spaces! Even professional interior designers browse inspirational pictures when trying a new design style.

We recommend saving your favorites on a mood board or writing down which elements stand out.

Oceanfront seating

No ocean view? No problem! This breezy living room is an excellent example of how wall art above your sofa can bring the sea to you. Wall decor gives your space an inviting focal point, creating a gathering space for friends and family.

Pro tip: Base your color scheme on the wall art you hang behind your sofa for a unified look.

Blissful beachy vibes

This modern coastal living room makes excellent use of natural light and a sandy, neutral color palette. Coastal decor uses colors you’d find on the beach and in the sea to create the beach house ambiance.

Pro tip: Positioning mirrors to reflect the light from your windows can make your family room brighter.

Shoreline sophistication

This living room leans into natural materials like seashells and driftwood to create a coastal look. This is your chance to show off beachcombing finds like starfish, display travel souvenirs made from driftwood, and play with natural elements like a jute rug.

Pro tip: Jute and sisal area rugs are super durable and an excellent way to give your space a coastal-inspired foundation to build on.

Coastal color schemes

Coastal color palettes can range from rich, earthy tones like in this living room to bright, soft neutrals with hints of color. You could base your color scheme on your favorite coastal colors, spaces, or artwork. Picking a set of four to six colors to use in your space is what matters most.

Here’s a fun formula for designing your own coastal color palette:

• Three parts beach: White, off-white, ivory, beige, tan, brown, and other neutral colors found in sand, driftwood, and rocks — these colors are typically the primary focus. Think off-white walls, a white sofa, and a tan rattan coffee table.
• Two parts ocean: Light blue, coastal blue, navy blue, teal, turquoise, seafoam green, aquamarine, and other colors found in ocean water — these colors are usually accents. Think light blue and seafoam green throw pillows, a navy blue accent wall, and a dark green plant.
• One part sea life: Coral, yellow, orange, pink, and other brilliant colors found in sea life — these colors are often used sparingly. Think pink artificial flowers, a coral lampshade, or a yellow throw pillow.

Here’s a sample color scheme made using this formula: white, ivory, brown, light blue, aquamarine, and coral.

For those who don’t care for bright accents, here’s a sample color scheme using three parts beach and two parts ocean: off-white, beige, tan, light blue, and teal.

If you prefer less color, you might like this variation that uses four parts beach and one part ocean or sea life: white, ivory, tan, brown, and aquamarine.

Furniture pieces for coastal living room designs

Furniture plays a big part in creating beach home vibes in the living room. The right furniture pieces create a foundation for the rest of your design ideas.

Whether you’re going for that coastal farmhouse style or a beach cottage look, you’ll want to emphasize comfort and durability in your furniture choices.

Comfy seating

The seating in your living room is what brings people together in the space. Coastal seating options often feature white, beige, tan, or aqua upholstery with natural textures and tones.

Our top picks

• Sectional: Freddie 6-Piece Upholstered Modular Sectional – Pearl
• Sofa: Roxanne Upholstered Flared Arm Sofa – Platinum (pictured above)
• Armchair: Hudson Upholstered Swivel Chair – Natural
• Ottoman: Landry Square Upholstered Floor Pouf – Cream and Black
• Living room set: Isabella 3-Piece Upholstered Tight Back Living Room Set – White

Living room tables

Coffee tables and accent tables made from natural materials help ground a coastal living room. They create a chilled-out vibe, give guests somewhere to set their drinks, and let you display your favorite beachy centerpieces.

If your space is on the small side, look for options with built-in storage to prevent clutter.

Our top picks

• Coffee table: Zalika Hexagonal Coffee Table – Natural (pictured above)
• Storage coffee table: Byers Coffee Table With Hidden Storage – Brown Oak and Sandy Black
• Nesting tables: Nuala 2-Piece Round Nesting Table With Tripod Tapered Legs – Honey and Black
• Sofa table: Rickman Rectangular 2-Drawer Console Table – White Washed
• Table set: Bairn 3-Piece Occasional Set With Open Shelves – Greige

Bookshelves and cabinets

Displaying your favorite books, seashells, souvenirs, and seaside artwork can enhance the coastal feel in your living room. Cabinets also offer space to store books, children’s toys, seasonal throw pillows, and other extras without creating clutter.

Our top picks

• Bookcase: Danbrook Bookcase With 4 Full-Length Shelves
• Display case: Tammi 2-Door Tall Cabinet Antique – White and Brown
• Accent cabinet: Mariska 3-Drawer Wooden Accent Cabinet – White Distressed (pictured above)
• Console table: Esther 3-Drawer Storage Console Table – Natural Sheesham

More coastal living room ideas, tips, and tricks

Just as every home is different, each person has unique tastes and preferences. The trick to creating a coastal living room you love spending time in is bringing your personality into your decor. And, of course, following some great tips for coastal decorating.

Here are some ways to do just that:

• Add layers of lighting: Chandeliers, pendant lights, floor lamps, and table lamps are all fantastic ways to add character. Lighting also brightens the room if you don’t have large windows.
• Decorate with plants: Plants add color and natural texture to your decor. They also offer science-backed health benefits like lower stress levels, improved air quality, and elevated moods.
• Embrace what you love: What draws you to coastal decor? Whether you love sailboats, nautical themes, bright white living rooms, shiplap walls, boho aesthetics, or something else, incorporate it into your living room design.
• Use creative window treatments: Get creative when picking curtains and framing your windows. For example, you might layer natural linen and sheer white curtains to add texture and contrast or use an aqua valance with ivory curtains for a splash of color.
• Work with what you have: Whether you have wood floors, white walls, or gray carpeting, find ways to embrace the existing features in your home. Colorful accents, textural furniture, and coastal artwork can give almost any space a beachy look.

Get hooked on coastal decor

Start creating your coastal living room by focusing on comfortable furniture, natural textures, ocean-inspired colors, and beachy artwork. Bonus points if you add in authentic accents like seashells and driftwood!

The trick is to pick the right color palette and furniture to bring your vision to life. Check out Coaster Furniture’s living room furniture for more ideas. When you land on a piece you can’t live without, use our store locator to find a convenient retailer near you.

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