Coastal Interior Design: 5 Hallmarks of the Seaside Style

Today, coastal style's cool-as-can-be aesthetic isn't all about seashells. “I think that years ago, coastal style was a little more literal,” says Trish Becker of Trish Becker Design. Think conch shell-shaped lamps in the dining room, a ship bell at the front door, and a captain’s side table in the den. “While those things are still fun to play with, I think the current coastal vibe is more about the use of natural materials and nature-inspired colors to define the style,"

According to Margaret Donaldson, Charleston-based interior designer and founder of MDI Luxury Design, mindset is also an important element when it comes to coastal-inspired design. “The light, airy colors and natural textures commonly found in coastal decor create a serene environment that many people find appealing, especially in today’s fast-paced world,” she explains.

From material selection to color palettes and more, the details matter when creating a serene coastal-inspired look. Here, Becker and Donaldson share the hallmarks of coastal design—no conch shells required.

1. Choose a Nature-Inspired Palette

The first step in creating a coastal-inspired look is to choose a palette that appeals to you, and it doesn’t have to be all blues and greens. To get the look right, Becker starts with a canvas of white walls in order to reflect light. From there, she layers in color through art, decor, and furnishings.

“All the greens you see on a walk through a coconut grove, the many blues of the ocean, the lavender of a sunny sky at the horizon line, the deep navy of a midnight sky, the dark brown of a piece of seaweed, the light gray of old driftwood, the pinks of shell bellies, and the oranges and reds of the sunrises and sunsets all work,” she says.

2. Go for Cotton, Linen, Jute, and Rattan

Coastal design in 2024 is all about subtlety and creating a coastal-inspired aesthetic that appeals to all the senses. While visuals are important, so too is the element of touch. Texture is an important aspect of coastal design and it’s often achieved through the use of various materials like rattan, cotton, jute, and linen. Layering these textiles, patterns, and finishes is key. “A great rush carpet, rattan chairs, cotton hand-printed pillows, and a bleached wood table all convey the feel and without having to add the ‘this way to the beach’ sign,” says Becker.

While a variety of materials can lend a coastal look, none pulls it off with quite such aplomb as rattan. From chairs to tables, serving pieces to wall decor, rattan comes in many forms, each one well-suited to dazzle in your coastal-inspired space. Rather than buying new, sourcing vintage rattan pieces is one of Becker’s favorite ways to bring an affordable and thoughtful addition to a space regardless of whether she’s designing in New York City or Florida. “A rattan hat rack in a hallway, magazine table in a living room, even rattan dining chairs with great fabric will look perfectly at home anywhere,” she says.

3. Bring Nature In

“I think that humans are almost primally attracted to coastal style,” says Becker. “We are all similarly drawn to light, water, and nature—the things that define coastal style—as these make us happy at the deepest level of being,” she says. To deliver even more feelings of tranquility and nature-inspired relaxation, bring outdoor elements that give a subtle nod to the sea inside. One way Becker achieves this is through the plentiful use of vases with fresh-cut large-leaf plants or palms. The vibrant green shades can add a splash of color to the palette, while also lending that subtle seaside nod.

4. Find the Beauty in Symmetry

Airiness is a key element of coastal design, a signal you most often see when it comes to architecture. “One of the things I love about old coastal architecture is that, before electricity, the symmetry of these houses maximized cross breezes to cool a house naturally,” says Becker. “Public rooms had large openings between them and the windows/doors on one side of the house had the same windows or doors on the other side so breezes flowed into and out of the house effortlessly.”

5. Select and Arrange Furniture with Airiness in Mind

While many of us won’t have the ability to build a house from the ground up, putting this design principle to use with a room-to-breathe mindset can help deliver a more coastal feel with your furniture placement. “Functionality of spaces in coastal design emphasizes open layouts, maximizing natural light and airflow, with furniture arrangements that facilitate relaxation with family and friends,” says Donaldson. “Opt for furniture with clean lines and a relaxed vibe, using plenty of natural light.”