Everything You Need to Know About Coastal Interior Design
One of the great things about interior design is that it can take you somewhere else. If you are looking for a beachside retreat near the ocean, it’s worth getting know about the coastal interior design.
This is a popular interior design style that makes you feel like you just walked into an elegant beach house overlooking the cliffs and waves.
What is coastal interior design?
As the name suggests, coastal interior design is a style that draws inspiration from the coast. It is the scenery that bring the natural beauty of the surroundings inside your home.
The design is inspired by the rich coastal tones of the deep blue ocean, honeyed-colored boat hulls, and textures reminiscent of dune grass.
The key to a coastal style lies in its colors, which should blend seamlessly from the outdoors into the interiors.
What is the difference between coastal and beachy?
Both coastal and beachy designs draw inspiration from natural seaside elements such as neutral colors and natural textures in the home. However, there are key differences between the two.
Coastal design tends to be more nautical, featuring darker elements and touches reminiscent of a captain’s quarters. This look is achieved by incorporating dark wood tones, vintage or patinated pieces, and a color palette that reflects the deep, rich tones of coastal waters and the ruggedness of the shoreline.
The beachy interiors on the other hand are more relaxed and casual, with lighter, less precise touches. A beachy design focuses on creating a serene atmosphere using light fabrics, natural wood tones, and a soothing color palette. In a beach house, you’ll find more natural oak tones, relaxed linen textiles, and accents of Aegean blue, offering a different ambiance compared to a coastal home.
History of Coastal Interior Design
Coastal interiors have been a popular style for a long time and aren’t considered a new trend. Coastal design has deep roots and originally stems from how people decorated their luxurious waterfront or seaside homes in places like the Hamptons. Today, coastal design is about personal interpretations of incorporating the natural beauty of surrounding elements into the home.
Modern coastal design is heavily influenced by architects who prioritize large windows to maximize natural light and connect indoor spaces with the outdoors. The use of sophisticated materials that harmonize with the view and thoughtful architectural details that enhance relaxation are key aspects of this style.
Key elements and characteristics of coastal interior design:
Think about the elements that go into creating the aesthetic to get a better understanding of the coastal look. Coastal interiors often focus on a soft, washed, or faded neutral-toned color palette paired with natural materials and soft touch experiences such as washed linen, cashmere, wool, and alpaca. Though not exhaustive, coastal interiors often make use of the following design motifs:
- Large Windows and Natural Light: Coastal designs feature large windows to improve the natural light and showcase landscape views.
- White Walls: Walls are often painted white to enhance the airy, open feel.
- Beach-Inspired Color Scheme: The color palette draws inspiration from a rocky beach, incorporating shades of blue, white, cream, green, and gray.
- Clean Lines and Natural Materials: The design is characterized by clean lines, with construction materials including natural wood elements, matte painted surfaces or plaster finishes.
- Woven and Natural Textures: Elements like rattan, jute, sisal rugs, slip-covered furniture, linen, and ticking stripe patterns are used to add texture and a classic coastal feel.
How to create coastal interiors
All you need to do to create a coastal interior is add the key elements of a coastal interior to your design. Look for ways to add coastal colors, create uncluttered spaces, add natural texture, and infuse the interior with lots of light.
Here are a few ways to create coastal interiors:
Minimize your coastal color palette:
If you want to create a peaceful coastal feel, you should use neutral colors (especially white and cream) as your main coastal colors.
One good place to start is by painting the walls a crisp white or creamy white. These colors not only look like the coastal visuals, but they also make the natural light in your interior look even better.
When you’re thinking about adding other colors, go for soft and subtle shades. So, you should use pastel green instead of green.
Add natural textures:
The coastal environment has different textures, so using natural textures will help you create the style. You can add a few coastal touches to the interior such as ropes, seashells, woven shades, driftwood, sea grass, and so on.
Let in plenty of natural light:
Natural light is important in coastal interiors. One way to create this style is to let in plenty of natural light. You may need to add windows, make windows bigger, add skylights, or use glass doors. If you don’t want to make construction changes, you can also use reflective surfaces or mirrors to let in more light.
- Paint the walls white to let in more light.
- Use sheer curtains and drapes to let in more light.
- Add mirrors to reflect light.
Conclusion:
A coastal interior design gives your living space a relaxing and soothing experience. You can make any room look like a beach house by using soft colors, keeping things simple, adding natural textures, and letting in lots of light.
Are you looking for calm and relaxing interiors? Connect with us for coastal style. We love to hear your vision and help you make it a reality.