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Get The Look: Coastal Cool

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Bring the beachy vibes home with this seaside-inspired trend.

You don’t need waterfront property to take inspiration from the classic beach house look. The “coastal cool” trend—inspired in equal parts by West Coast island beach houses and Nantucket vacation homes—works even in the most landlocked of locales. This interior design style evokes lazy summer days spent down by the ocean or soaking up the sun on the deck at a lakeside cottage: perfect for creating a relaxing, welcoming atmosphere.

While it may be tempting to hammer the coastal cool theme home with shell-print pillows, vases of sand or boat paintings, stick to a few key pieces and let the textures and materials do the heavy lifting. Incorporating natural fibers like driftwood, jute, sea grass and rattan—materials one just might find while strolling the beach—is a subtler, more sophisticated way of setting the tone.

Traditional whitewashed maritime beadboard is key for this seaside look, but that’s not the only important architectural component: a railing, whether used for a staircase or as a space divider, references ship railings and calls to mind time spent at sea. From there, add furniture that’s simple and cozy—linen slipcovers work over comfortable sofas for a put-your-feet-up vibe. Remember: the coastal cool look is decidedly traditional, but never fussy.

The Palette

The colors in a coastal-cool room take inspiration from nature. Whites dominate to keep the space feeling light and airy, while sandy accent tones can pair with maritimes blues and aquas that reference to the sea and the sky. (If you’re feeling daring, a pop of coral pink or seagrass green can work for beach-inspired spaces, too.)

Gloss does not belong here: finishes should have a worn patina, as if aged by the salt air and sun. Weathered limestone tile and warm wood cabinetry are ideal for the kitchen; newel posts and handrails can lean towards a traditional design, with bevelled detailing, and matte-finish spindles with decorative wood collars (though stainless steel finishes can look right at home with this look, too).

Inspiring Spaces

The wavy spindles interspersed in the railing design here call to mind the shape of seaweed.

The warm pine wood elements here reference the sandy tones of the beach. (Photo by Pexels.)

Beadboard is a critical ingredient to creating that laid-back, Canadian cottage look. (Photo via Coco and Kelly/Flickr)
The floorboards are finished to look weather-worn, as if they were salvaged from the beachfront. (Photo by Wikimedia.)

Key Pieces

The cool, maritime blues pairs with a warm white railing is key to mastering the coastal cool look, as a design element so commonly found in maritime life on ships and lighthouses alike.

A simple square spindle that can be matched with more decorative designs: wavy spindles are just one option.

Add a wood collar to a plain steel spindle for a decorative element that brings in a touch of natural material.

Nautically inspired collars are a tiny detail one can add to their railing to instantly create a maritime feeling in a space.

A watercolor throw pillow in shades of blue references the ocean without being kitschy. (Etsy.)
Accessories that utilize rope, like this coil bowl, nod to classic maritime materials. (A Pair and a Spare.)
Natural materials like rattan can be incorporated via furniture pieces or even lampshades like this one. (The Family Love Tree.)
Make your powder room pop with wallpaper showcasing sea life. (Wildlife Wallpaper.)

White is the same color of a sun-bleached shell, so it works perfectly for a slipcover on a comfortable sofa in a beachy-cool space. (Club Furniture.)

Is This the Look for You?

If you want to bring a little beachhouse comfort to your space, the coastal cool trend is easy to incorporate anywhere. Start small with a color palette of beach-inspired hues or go big with a bold, nautically inspired staircase railing, and you’ll be having summer fun year ‘round.

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