2 Unique Ways to Decorate Using Coastal Design Style

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When I think of coastal decor style, I think of a quaint little beach house with lots of blues, greens, whites and glass. It’s very airy and light. You can go very beachy with it or you can go a traditional nautical route. Coastal Farmhouse decor incorporates textures such as burlap and linen alongside metal fixtures. What you’re trying to achieve is a surrounding of serenity and relaxation.

There are actually two types of coastal farmhouse; the style varies from east to west coast. California coastal leans more on the side of modern, with a soothing, more muted color palette. It consists mostly of tans and similar wooden neutral vibes with a little bit of pale blues sprinkled about. Florida coastal combines more of the pops of turquoise blues and beachy trinkets (sea shells, starfish, sailboats and other aquatic related pieces) into the decoration style.

In today’s post I’m going to break it down between these two styles. Below each decor group I’ll list some of my favorite coastal finds tailored to that style.

Main Elements of Coastal Decor

Driftwood and linen

White or light cabinets
Blues, yellows, greens, whites, and tans
Lush greenery
Some nautical accents
Glass bottles (clear or colored)

California Coastal Decor

If you’re going with the California coastal design style, neutrals are your new best friend. This style is also much more modern and minimalistic. There is very little went it comes to beach related items for decor. It’s more about creating the coastal vibe with textures that are similar to the coast.

This can be achieved by bringing in textured rugs that emulate sea grass and other dried coastal findings. Another option is through woven baskets or a driftwood ladder to hold excess throw blankets. A basket next to the couch or a ladder propped up against the living room wall is a lovely and functional decoration. Just be sure your blankets fit the theme as you’re displaying them!

Baskets are super versatile because you can use them for storage while still being a decorative piece. They come in all shapes and sizes. You can use one type in a bookshelf or in cubbies. You can use another as a holder for a table sized plant to hide the vase and tie in your color scheme.

Fig leaf trees are very popular right now and easy to find. These are great for coastal style because they look very similar to the grape leaf bushes that grow on the coast. A second plant that looks clean and minimal are the long grassy variety. Be careful not to go overboard with plants though! One or two in each room is all you need.

Feel free to add in various neutral colors in the form of vertical striped throw pillows and blankets. This design style is very much like a capsule wardrobe. You want mostly basics, but a few staple pieces here and there give it character. Your couch, curtains, rugs, paint, cabinets and countertops should be very muted and basic. Add pizzaz in your backsplash, pillows, and decorative pieces.

A great place to incorporate driftwood is in your kitchen table. It’s so easy to find beautiful wooden tables and chairs with the rise of the farmhouse decor style. Add a similar or matching coffee table and side tables to tie everything together. Look for simple and clean metal fixtures when it comes to curtain rods and lighting. Unlike industrial, you want very little metal items. Go for more glass centered objects and things that promote open space and don’t block the eye.

For more modern type decor ideas, check out my post on 5 simple ways to add modern farmhouse style to your home.

Florida Beach Cottage Coastal Decor

As I mentioned earlier, Florida coastal decor is more reminiscent of the beach. You want to apply the character of the beach to your home! There’s pops of colors such as blues, turquoise, and greens, and a whole lot of white. It’s still important to incorporate those pieces of texture like burlap or whicker. These items are key to add depth and coastal style to the room.

Go ahead and scroll back up to the section above where I talk about and link rugs and basket types. The same rules apply for Florida coastal style!

Shades of aqua on pillows or a throw blanket simulate the sparkling waters of the eastern sea. Specks of orange reflect like the setting sun against the water, sand, and surrounding cottages. And nothing screams the need for some shiplap like a beach cottage to fully embrace the nautical scene.

Don’t be afraid to go bold, but tie it in throughout the house. If you choose a bright aqua, use pillows in that shade along with maybe some window shades. Even a statement piece such as a colored light fixture in the same shade would cohesiveness and character. If you’re not loving the idea of bright colors, you can totally keep in neutral and stick with mostly white and a little sand or brown shades here and there.

Bring the outdoors in and incorporate some native coastal trees and plants. Palm shaped stems or similar live tropical plants are perfect for those of you that don’t have a green thumb. They’re easy to grow and the added air filtration gives you the ultimate Florida vibes.

Add the final touches with nautical decorative pieces. This is a perfect opportunity to display any authentic beach finds you might have in your collection. Even better, if you’re feeling crafty, DIY sea glass or driftwood projects are easy and fun. Have fun and create something unique to add to your home!

Navy Nautical Flair

I had a reader specifically ask for ideas on incorporating navy into coastal decor instead of the typical blue/green shades, so this is for you! Use navy as your main pop of color and spread it throughout the house. An accent wall would be a fun addition. While it’s not “required”, navy is a great opportunity to go very nautical with anchors, ropes, and lighthouses. You can also use navy as the theme for beachy art as seen in the photo below. Try different things and find what works with your own coastal style.