Coastal Interior Design Ideas

Coastal interior design is all about bringing the outside in and reflecting the tranquil settings of the sea and shore within our homes. Traditionally, coastal interiors focus on rich navies, pale blues and crisp whites. However, there are a lot more colours you can incorporate with your colour scheme to achieve this look.

Coastal contentment is a term we have coined which blends autumnal and winter colours with a traditional coastal interior colour palette. This interior look captures the peaceful and calm feeling of the rolling sea, celebrating the vibrant blues of the ocean, balanced with coppery pinks and musky greens, it’s far from the typical coastal aesthetic.

In this guide, we'll be giving you tips and advice on how to find a connection with nature by including weathered and textured surfaces, natural patinas and bleached rustic effects, adding a touch of uniqueness by sourcing local, handmade products.

The traditional coastal interior design palette is all about crisp whites and blues, striped fabrics and fish-related emblems but the Coastal Contentment aesthetic is much more muted and sophisticated. The white is replaced with fine cream and a natural hessian shade, a softer neutral, teamed with a clean light blue and a deeper cobalt. Flashes of coppery pink and warm olive bring depth and fun to the palette.

Dulux paint colours from left to right: Copper Blush, Open Sky, Overtly Olive, Natural Hessian, Cobalt Embrace, Fine Cream

Surface texture is key to this look, a natural limestone floor tiles paired with an olive wall works perfectly with matt black accents and rattan or wicker furniture. Throw in some striped textiles for a homely touch.

When using a deep cobalt shade on the wall, a coppery or blush pink on your kitchen units will create a lighter contrast without becoming too stark. Add textural detail to the floor with a weathered wood effect tile and keep your ceramics rustic in style.

For something a little more traditional, choose crisp white wall tiles on the wall and contrast them with a light shade of blue, warm the look up with lots of natural oak and greenery.

Coastal interior design is all about bringing the natural elements in. Think driftwood, stone, shells and natural seagrass. Incorporating these elements through your flooring choices is a great way to make a big impact. This look can be achieved using luxury vinyl flooring which are hardwearing and both stain and scuff-resistant.

The Kanzi tile is a great way to bring a sense of warmth to your room whilst still relying on the natural rustic look of wood. If you are looking for a lighter shade which still draws in warmth then our Elevo Natural Chevron tile is a great option.

Capture the look with painted wood, whether it be panelling or cabinetry. We love the Americana feel of a larger-than-normal front door featuring large glass panels, the minty blue is perfectly fresh against the weathered wood flooring.

If you’re using natural woods like oak and teak, then keep this as the central focus and paint any other wooden furniture to blend into the scheme rather than competing with your focal point. The Neptune bathroom is the perfect example of how to make teak furniture pop in a simple room.

From left to right: Neptune Bathroom, Weathered Living Room, Parisian Bathroom, Coastal Front Door, Crisp White Bathroom

Stripes are a key look of any coastal interior design scheme. This look can be achieved through simple panelling, painting and also striped soft furnishing.

Stripes can also be achieved through tiling and clever tile-laying patterns. If you still want the look of stripes, create an elevated version of the theme with a textured, reeded tile like Flute. The rippling surface finish has a calming but modern feel. Alternatively, the striped look can be achieved by laying any rectangular tile in a vertical laying pattern.

Complete the look with some coastal-inspired accessories from the high street, some of our favourites are from H&M Home and Zara Home. Softly shaped jute baskets, stoneware plates and bathroom accessories, naturally scented oils and subtly striped towels. Add in some vintage or handmade glassware to complete the look.

From left to right: Zara Home Towels, Zara Home Stone Accessories, H&M Home Diffuser, H&M Home Linen Cushion

For more interior design inspiration explore our blog which features more of the latest trending interiors as well as helpful styling tips and advice. Alternatively, use our intuitive Design Your Home visualiser tool to experiment with different colour combinations and tiling options.