How To Decorate A Coastal Living Room – 10 Must-Know Tips

Have you also fallen in love with coastal interior design? There really is something special with stepping into a coastal living room – it just feels like a breath of fresh air. The light colors, natural textures and relaxed atmosphere makes it the perfect space to relax.

So, let’s see how you can get that fresh and airy feeling in your living room. I’ve gathered a few tips and tricks to help you bring that coastal charm into your living room. So, let’s dive in!

And don’t forget – if you see something you love, save it on Pinterest for later!

What Is a Coastal Living Room?

Let’s start off with the basics and what a coastal living room really is. Coastal interior design gets its inspiration from the beach, but it doesn’t have to mean seashells and nautical stripes. A coastal living room can be a relaxed, light-filler and airy space with soft color palettes, breezy fabrics and natural textures.

Coastal interiors actually come in many flavors:

• Classic Coastal (like what you’d find in the Hamptons)
• Modern Coastal (minimalist with subtle sea-inspired hues)
• Scandi Coastal (bright whites, pale woods, and simplicity)
• Mediterranean Coastal (terracotta, stone, olive tones)

The key is to channel the feeling of the coast, not just the obvious beach-themed decor. The important thing is that you create something you love and it can be a lot or just a few beach-themed decorations.

If you want to dive deeper into the understanding of Coastal interior design, then check out this post.

1: Start with a Soft Coastal Color Palette

When decorating a coastal living room, you should always start with choosing the color palette. This will set the tone for the entire room. So, for a true coastal living room, you should go for colors that mimic the coast:

• Base shades: Soft whites, sandy beiges, warm greys
• Accent colors: Ocean blues, pale turquoise, sage green, seafoam, driftwood brown

1.1 My go-to tip

I love moodboards and creating one before you buy anything can save you both time and money. A great place to create a moodboard on is Canva (you can use the free version) and there you can layer your moodboard in color swatches, fabrics and photos of rooms that inspire you.

It’s actually such a fun and creative way to clarify your vision before you start shopping.

1.2 Designer tip

One thing that’s important to remember when decorating a coastal living room is to not lock in on everything being blue and white. Remember to add colors such as pale blush, natural linen and warm ivory. It will make the room feel just like a sunset on the beach.

2: Choose Breezy, Comfortable Furniture

Now let’s discuss the furniture choices. In a coastal living room it’s important to choose furniture that are both inviting and relaxing. Don’t choose a stiff armchair or overly formal couches, instead look for furniture like this:

2.1. Key furniture pieces to look for

• Sofas: Linen or cotton slipcovered sofas in neutral colors
• Coffee table: Whitewashed or natural wood, or something organic like a stone or rattan table
• Accent chairs: Think light wood, woven materials or subtle beachy prints
• Storage pieces: Wicker baskets, light wood consoles or vintage chests

2.2 Avoid anything too themed

It’s very easy to go overboard with coastal decor, but it’s important to keep a balance in your home. So, a navy-and-white stripes couch along with anchor pillows might look cluttered – something you want to avoid in a coastal living room. Instead, keep it elegant and modern with a white couch and stripes pillows or the other way around.

3: Use Natural Materials & Layered Textures

I know I always talk about layered textures, but this really is everything in a coastal space. It’s what gives you that cozy and relaxed feeling that will invite people to sit down and relax.

3.1 Add texture with

• Rugs: Jute, sisal or cotton rugs are perfect
• Throw blankets and pillows: Choose ones with tassels, fringe or subtle woven patterns
• Curtains: Lightweight, flowing fabrics like linen or cotton gauze
• Decorative accents: Driftwood bowls, ceramic vases, woven trays

As an example, you can layer textures with a jute rug, a linen sofa and cotton pillows. This will give the space both depth and interest, as well as keep the space airy and coastal.

4: Let the Light In

In a coastal living room, light is a defining factor. It doesn’t matter if you have huge windows or if you’re decorating a small apartment, it’s all about mixing natural light and creating that open and airy feeling.

4.1 Ways to boost light

• Use sheer curtains or no curtains at all if privacy allows
• Choose mirrors with rattan or whitewashed frames to reflect sunlight
• Go for white or neutral walls to make the room feel expansive

4.2 Lighting fixtures to look for

• Woven or bamboo pendants
• Ceramic or glass table lamps
• Floor lamps with soft linen shades

5: Add Coastal-Inspired Wall Art

Wall decor is your chance to tell your personal story through coastal touches. Not every single pieces need to scream “beach”, but you can add subtle beach-inspired decorative pieces in a beautiful way.

5.1 Great ideas for wall art

• Abstract ocean paintings
• Soft watercolor landscapes
• Textural wall hangings like macrame or woven panels
• Coastal photography in soft tones

You can also create your own prints inspired by nature with sea grasses, wave patterns, shells and so on. The best part is that it can also become a conversation starter.

6: Bring in Greenery & Organic Life

Another important thing to include in your coastal living room is plants. I believe they are the perfect way to soften the space and add color. Also, since the space is inspired by nature it’s a natural thing to include.

6.1 Coastal-friendly plant ideas

• Snake plants
• Fiddle leaf figs
• Kentia palms
• Olive trees (real or faux)
• Pampas grass in vases

When choosing planters for your living room, stick to natural planters such as seagrass baskets, terracotta pots or even a white ceramic pot to keep the look cohesive.

7: Style the Space with Meaningful Coastal Touches

Now, let’s move on to the fun part – styling your living room. Let’s go through a few styling tips to get that true coastal vibe. But remember – less is more.

7.1 Use coastal accents like

• Sea glass or shells (sparingly)
• Bowls filled with driftwood
• Candles that smell like the ocean breeze
• Stacks of books on coastal interiors, beach getaways, or design inspiration
• Cozy throws in chambray or soft cotton

Also, avoid signs that say “Beach Life” or items that feel too on-the-nose. You want it to feel sophisticated and natural.

8: Add a Signature Scent

One thing that you can do to give your space that special touch is to add a signature scent. When you walk into a coastal living room, you want it to smell fresh, clean and also calming – and that you can achieve by adding candles and room diffusers.

8.1 My go-to coastal scents

• Sea salt + eucalyptus candles
• Grapefruit and sandalwood diffusers
• Citrus-based essential oils

Tip: Find a diffuser bottle that doubles as decor. A ceramic or matte glass diffuser looks elegant sitting on your coffee table tray. Also, you can easily change the smell if you want to try something new.

10. Common Coastal Decor Mistakes to Avoid

Even though it seems like really easy to decorate a coastal living room, there are a few common mistakes that are good to know about before starting your decorating journey. So, here are a few things to watch out for:

10.1 Don’t overdo the nautical theme

Sometimes it’s easy to overdo the nautical theme with too many anchors, ship wheels and ropes. They can easily make your living room feel more like a seafood restaurant, rather than a warm home.

10.2 Don’t limit yourself to blue and white

As I mentioned earlier it’s important to not limit yourself to only using blue and white. Remember to layer neutrals and adding subtle green, coral and sand tones. This will make the space more warm and inviting, while also creating a depth in the room.

10.3 Don’t forget function

One thing that most people forget when decorating any home is that it actually should be functional and livable – not just a magazine. Therefore think about washable slipcovers, durable rugs and cozy seating, just to mention a few.

Final Thoughts

Creating a beautiful coastal living room isn’t just about following rules that are made. It’s more about capturing the calm and relaxed energy you get at the beach. So, create a home that reflects that feeling and how you achieve that feeling is totally up to you.

All I can do is to give you tips on what works for many people, such as choosing colors, textures and decor that will make you feel like you’re on a quiet beach somewhere. Focus on what brings you peace and joy.

Now, let me know, what are your favorite features of a coastal living room? Let me know in the comments below!