Imagine a bedroom where your love of the sea could come to life? Where you could feel at peace and relaxed with that same seaside feeling. You can. All you need to do is create a serene escape with subtle coastal colors and designs elements that capture the essence of being by the sea in your coastal bedroom décor. If that sounds like what you’re looking for read on to find out how to style a coastal bedroom.
You can skip ahead to the sections you need in the links below to help you nail that coastal bedroom style you need in your life.
- What is Coastal Décor?
- Choosing the Perfect Coastal Color Palette
- Coastal Bedroom Furniture Ideas
- Add Coastal Textures and Fabrics to your Coastal Décor
- Coastal Décor and Accessories That Make an Impact
- How to Style Lighting for a Bright, Airy Coastal Bedroom
- Finishing Touches for a Polished Coastal Bedroom Look
What is Coastal Décor?
Coastal design isn’t about plastering seashells and boat décor all over the room. Coastal style is about capturing that light, airy, and calm feeling you get when you stand on the coast and that fragrant sea breeze brushes over you. Imagine stepping into a beach house with windows open, sheer curtains fluttering, and that soft ocean breeze whispering to you with a gentle touch. It’s not about plastering nautical elements everywhere; it’s about creating the feeling of being close to the water in your decor choices, even when you’re not.
Coastal decor is a design style that includes natural textures, like jute and rattan, and a color palette that mirrors the sea and sky. Your color palette will include shades of blue, white, and sandy beige. The idea is to make your room feel like it’s filled with sunlight, and near the sea, even if it’s the middle of winter. Avoid the common mistake of buying everything with anchors, ropes, and navy stripes on because it won’t feel authentically coastal. It’s probably going to end up feeling a bit gimmicky and overdone. Instead, you get the appearance of coastal decor using colors and textures that you find by the coast.
Focus on those subtle elements that remind you of the beach: light-colored wood, soft linen sheets, and the kind of decor that feels breezy and effortless. A vintage lantern or a piece of driftwood as décor can give a nod to the sea without overwhelming the room. It’s about the essence, not the obviousness. Coastal décor is as subtle as the sea breeze.
Choosing the Perfect Coastal Color Palette
If you want your bedroom to feel like a seaside escape, you have to nail the color palette. The classic coastal colors are soft blues, crisp whites, sandy beiges, and sometimes hints of seafoam green.
Stick to muted tones for your walls. Soft, pastel shades are your best friend here. Try painting the walls a soft white or a light gray-blue. These colors will reflect the light, making the room feel brighter and more spacious. If you want to add a bit of contrast, go for darker blues or soft greens in your accessories like your throw pillows or a rug. You don’t want the color to overwhelm the space. It needs to feel like its airy and your walls melt away to make your space feel free like you do when you look out at the ocean.
Balancing bold colors with neutrals is key. If you love the idea of a deep navy, try it in smaller pops and accents, like on a single piece of furniture or in a piece of art. It’s easy to get carried away with blues, but remember, coastal design is about relaxation. Ask yourself how much blue you see in your mind’s eye when you think of your favourite spot on the coast. You want to look at the room and feel your shoulders drop, not feel like you’re drowning in color.
Coastal Bedroom Furniture Ideas
Furniture sets the foundation of the room. In a coastal bedroom, the vibe is casual and welcoming, so you want to choose pieces that capture that spirit. Picture a whitewashed dresser or a rattan bed frame. Avoid dark woods and instead stick with light-colored or white furniture for a true coastal feel.
Choose natural materials wherever you can. Wicker, rattan, and light woods give off that beach house vibe without trying too hard. A slipcovered sofa or a simple white headboard can also add to the casual, cozy look. It’s less about matching everything perfectly and more about creating a collected, laid-back feel.
Mix in some vintage or weathered pieces if you can find them. A vintage trunk at the end of the bed or an old lantern on the nightstand can bring character to the space. And don’t forget about storage. Coastal bedrooms often have that effortless, uncluttered look, but the key to pulling this off is having hidden storage. Woven baskets by the bed or in a corner look great and can hide a multitude of sins.
How to Add Coastal Textures and Fabrics to Your Bedroom
Layering in lots of texture is an important part of styling a coastal bedroom. Think of all the elements that make you think of the beach: the roughness of jute, the softness of linen, the woven texture of a rattan chair. Add these textures to your bedroom to create a beautiful aesthetic that also feels cozy and welcoming.
Linen and cotton are the best fabrics for your bed linen when styling your coastal bedroom. They’re breathable, soft, and have that lived-in look that feels perfectly imperfect. Layer your bed with a mix of pillows and throws in different textures. Add a chunky knit blanket paired with smooth cotton sheets to give the bed a cozy, inviting look. Pick a color that reminds you of the ocean, rather than one that someone tells you is like the ocean. You’ll create a coastal hotel bed that you’ll feel like sinking into every time you see it.
Rugs are another great way to add coastal texture into your bedroom. Jute or seagrass rugs add that natural beachy feel under foot. It’s important to add textures that bring back touch memories of the coast as your experience them for your coastal décor to really work in your bedroom. A seagrass rug will give you that feel as well as being a durable and practical option. Just be warned: jute can be a bit rough on bare feet, so maybe keep a softer throw rug by the side of the bed for first thing in the morning.
Coastal Décor and Accessories That Make an Impact
When you add coastal accessories to your décor, keep it simple and understated. A few carefully chosen pieces will have a bigger impact than a room full of nautical knick-knacks. Adding a large statement piece like a beautiful, framed beach photograph or a mirror with a driftwood frame will subtly infuse your room with the feel of the coast. Mirrors are also great for bouncing light around the bedroom, making it feel more open and airy which is exactly what you want in a coastal space.
Driftwood is a perfect coastal accessory choice that’s natural, textural, and has that weathered, beachy look. Use a piece of driftwood as part of your visual aesthetic too and use it to display and store jewellery you wear regularly.
Throw pillows with subtle nautical patterns, like stripes or simple shell designs, can add a touch of the beach without being overbearing. A soft, knitted throw in a sandy beige or seafoam green is a subtle and cozy seaside addition to an ottoman at the end of your bed. Pick a color that reminds you of the ocean, rather than one that someone tells you is like the ocean.
Make your own coastal décor accessories
You don’t have to buy expensive, themed décor pieces to achieve the look, either. Repurpose simple everyday objects to create your own coastal accessories. Filling a glass vase with sand and a few small seashells for a simple, beach-inspired centerpiece adds a coastal touch to a dressing table or windowsill. Keep your craft natural and simple to achieve a laid-back coastal style.
Always remember to ask yourself: “Does this feel like a space where I’d want to curl up and listen to the sound of waves?” When you start adding in your accessories. If the room becomes too cluttered and you answer no, scale back on the décor or use more natural elements.
How to Style Lighting for a Bright, Airy Coastal Bedroom
To style a bright, airy coastal bedroom create a balance between natural and artificial light. Start by maximizing natural light. If you’ve got big windows use sheer light-filtering curtains instead of heavy drapes. For artificial lighting, go for fixtures that feel casual and relaxed. Using warm, soft white bulbs at around 2700K gives off a natural, sunlight-like glow that’s perfect for a beach-inspired bedroom.
Pendant lights with a rattan or woven shade are a great styling choice adding texture and warmth to your coastal lighting design. If you’re not into pendants, table lamps with a ceramic or driftwood base are another great option.
Style in some accent lighting with a few small, decorative lights to make the room feel magical in the evenings. Fairy lights or a small string of white lights draped along a headboard or bookshelf is a simple touch that adds ambiance.
Finishing Touches for a Polished Coastal Bedroom Look
These finishing touches will bring your coastal style together, from almost there to coastal perfection.
Coastal Scents
The scent of your room can play a huge role in creating that beachy, relaxed atmosphere. A candle or reed diffuser with notes of sea salt, driftwood, or coconut will help to jog your memory and make you think of the beach. Scents like eucalyptus, lavender, and citrus also work for that more serene beach vibe.
Low-Maintenance Plants
No coastal bedroom is complete without a touch of greenery. Adding a few plants can really bring the room to life and help connect it with nature. You don’t need a high maintenance plant as there are plenty of low-maintenance options that fit perfectly in a coastal-themed bedroom. The snake plant, doesn’t need much light, and you only need to water it once every couple of weeks. It’s the perfect plant for people who tend to forget they even have plants. It’s tall upright leaves also look great against the back drop of your coastal décor,
Pothos, with its trailing vines, is a great way to add some height to your greenery with another low maintenance house plane. Hang it in a small macramé holder by the window to add a soft, natural look to your bedroom that verges on boho decor.
Final Thoughts: It’s All in the Details
Now you know how to style a coastal bedroom that feels like your own personal seaside retreat. It’s all about choosing the right colors, textures, and pieces that make you feel calm and happy. Remember, don’t be afraid to add your own twist. Whether you love bold colors or have a favorite beach memory you want to reflect in your décor, you can with this personal, modern coastal décor style. Dive into to styling your perfect coastal bedroom retreat today.
