20 Beach House Décor Ideas for a Cozy, Coastal Escape

Take inspiration from these earthy color palettes and coastal furnishings.

Whether you’re seconds from the water or nestled deep into a beach community, living in a coastal location comes with countless joys. Salty breezes, endless blue skies, intriguing wildlife, the lulling sound of water. It only makes sense to lean into the natural surroundings when designing and decorating your home. Think dreamy coastal color palettes, natural textures, and sun-bleached wood grains.

“One of the things I love most about beach houses is the freedom to really have fun with the design. Beach houses allow for a bit more creativity and personality,” says Marnie Oursler, a builder in the Delaware beach region and founder of Marnie Custom Homes. “You can take design risks and incorporate elements that might feel too bold or playful in other settings but are perfectly at home by the coast.”

Looking for inspiration for your own home? Interior designers share some of their favorite beach house décor ideas and tips to provide you with some design direction.

Related: 22 Coastal Décor Ideas to Give Your Home a Beachy Vibe—No Matter Where You Live

Make a Statement With Lighting

Consider light fixtures the jewelry of your space—an opportunity to dazzle and make a true statement. Here, a modern chandelier featuring translucent calcite slabs serves as a centerpiece against a backdrop of weathered shiplap, crisp white accent chairs, and streaming window light.

Invoke an Open and Airy Feel

Beach homes often feel expansive and inviting, which is achieved through open floor plans, high ceilings, light color palettes, and—perhaps most importantly—floor-to-ceiling windows with minimal drapery. Along with allowing in lots of light, this also gives you a front-row seat to beautiful views and helps create a connectedness to nature.

Mix and Match Textures

This soothing beach house bedroom weaves in a variety of textures, which adds instant depth to the neutral color palette. "This is our ideal bedroom: cozy and inviting with a contemporary beachside cottage vibe," says Katie Winnington, principal designer at C&E Furniture. "The wood grain on the dresser stands out beautifully, becoming the focal point of the room, while the neutral accents around it enhance the overall space perfectly."

Adopt the Unexpected Red Theory

If you're craving more color than what the classic white, beige, and blue color scheme offers, go ahead and take the "unexpected red" approach. "I love the sheer boldness of this room, the mix of materials, colors, and patterns here," says Damla Turgut, founder and creative director of Otto Tiles & Design. "The trick to successfully creating this more maximalist beach house look is keeping the color palette tight. Shades of blue, red, and green are all grounded by neutrals."

Incorporate Plenty of Seating

Having plenty of seating makes your beach house an inviting place to host family and friends. A large dining table and an oversized sectional are the perfect pieces for a beach house, providing your family and guests with ample space to share a meal and then cozy up after a day on the water.

Related: 17 Home Décor Pieces That'll Help You Achieve the Coastal Grandma Style

Consider Wicker Furniture

Wicker is a classic beach home staple, and it's pretty versatile. Though it's often utilized outdoors thanks to its durability, you can also weave it into your interior spaces in the kitchen, at the bar, or even in the living room via accent furniture.

Put Time Into Your Outdoor Space

The beauty of beach homes is that the weather beckons you to spend as much time outside as possible. Take care to make your outdoor deck, patio, or yard as inviting as possible by outfitting it with plenty of seating. In this design by K+Co. Living, numerous conversational areas are incorporated along with a space for al fresco dining.

Choose a Light, Neutral Color Scheme

When in doubt, opt for a creamy neutral color story that's reminiscent of the beach. "Soft, neutral color palettes—think whites, sandy beiges, and ocean blues—create a calming atmosphere that mirrors the serenity of the beach," Oursler says. Pops of blue, teal, and even red can help add some dimension.

Incorporate Something Blue

Blue tones also make sense in a beach house and can range from splashy teal to deep ocean blue to pastel variations. In this design by K+Co. Living, blue accents find their way into a kitchen via backsplash, cabinets, and the underside of a large island.

Related: These Coastal Paint Colors Will Make Your Home Feel Breezy and Inviting

Add a Rug to Ground the Space

Flooring serves as the canvas upon which the rest of a space’s design elements build. "To capture the perfect coastal aesthetic for your beach house, add an area rug that features colors and textures straight from the ocean’s palette," says Katherine Cohen, associate creative director at FLOR. "Look for styles that feature natural textures, elegant lines, and sun-washed hues to bring a sense of refinement and relaxation to your space."

Weave in Natural Details

The use of wood, greenery, and other natural materials helps create a connection with the surrounding environment. Consider a wooden table or bench, living plants, seashells, pottery, rattan, and beyond.

Opt for Pale Wood

While dark wood accents work here and there, the majority of wood pieces you bring into your beach home should be pale, as shown in this beach house design by K+Co. Living. Doing so seamlessly ties in with the light-neutral color scheme and alludes to a naturally sun-soaked wood. This applies to furniture, flooring, shelving, and beams.

Build a Nautical Bunk Room

Beach homes are often gathering spaces for friends and family, making bunk rooms an excellent way to accommodate more people. Have fun with it by leaning into a nautical theme. "Bunk rooms are a staple at the beach as I’m always trying to design the most functional spaces with a fun vibe," Ousler says. "For a twist, try installing your shiplap vertically like we did here and use fun accents like cleats for drawer handles and rope for a handrail."

Choose Bold Flooring

Have fun with your beach house bathroom by incorporating bold flooring or splashy wallpaper. "A bathroom should be a sanctuary, and I’m never more relaxed then when I’m soaking in the bathtub after a day at the beach," Turgut says. "There’s an instant appeal to a classic blue and white color palette in a bathroom, but it can feel a little cliché. For a sophisticated and contemporary feel, combine it with soft neutrals and maroon, these additional hues will instantly elevate the palette, creating a more refined look."

Try Weathered Wood Walls

Add dimension and character to your beach home with walls featuring reclaimed or weathered wood. "One of my favorite ways to bring charm to a new build is with incorporating wood walls into my designs," Oursler says. "Whether you use reclaimed wood, new wood, or new wood made to look old, a plank wall adds tons of warmth and texture to a space."

Related: Shell Décor Is Trending—Here's How to Get the Coastal-Inspired Look, According to Designers

Leverage Wow-Worthy Accents

This beach house living room wows with wood and rattan accent chairs that double as conversational pieces. Large windows let in lots of light while putting ocean views on display, and a plush sectional invites you to relax and unwind.

Keep Clean With a Mudroom

The practicality of a mudroom (sandroom?) works brilliantly in a beach house setting, too. It's great for tossing sandy clothes and shoes and hanging wet swimsuits to dry. Plus, the space provides lots of storage. "Stripes and geometrics work in harmony here thanks to the concise color palette and variety of textures—cement flooring, timber paneling, jute carpet, and cotton cushions," Turgut says.

Get Playful With Surfboards

Surfboards are quintessentially beachy, making them an excellent décor detail in coastal homes. Consider hanging them in the entryway or a large wall, or add them to a shower as done by Ousler in this design. "I absolutely love this design because it brings joy and perfectly captures the essence of beach living," she says. "The double outdoor shower with custom surfboards as the backdrop is functional and fun."

Related: Dopamine Décor Is the Design Trend Guaranteed to Make You Happy—Here's How to Try It in Your Home

Or Opt for Paddles

If surfboards aren't quite the vibe for your beach house, perhaps paddles feel more appropriate. This upcycled set has been painted fun primary colors and placed vertically on a crisp white shiplap wall.

Build an Outdoor Bath

Maximize how much time you can spend in the beautiful outdoors at your beach home by building an outdoor bath. "Who doesn’t want to run back from the beach and shower off whilst still enjoying the view? The combination of yellow and white has a sunshine appeal that is energizing, and the palette provides a fresh take on coastal style," says Turgut. Use the same tiles for the floors and walls to create a cohesive and balanced look and choose a matching tub.

Read the original article on Martha Stewart.