Coastal and Tropical are about the two easiest styles to combine since they utilize a lot of the same color palettes. Tropical is more heavy duty colors, reds, oranges, aquas, yellows, greens... coastal is more pastel versions of those, think washed out, bleached. I think as long as you don't go to Tropical, you'll be OK just combining elements of both.

Stay away from clichés (coconut palms, jungles, sailboats, starfish, jungle
animals, tropical fish, etc.) and you'll be OK. Understated is the key to a mature, tasteful look, IMO. Any time a designer goes for "fun" or "wacky", things start looking tacky and won't stand the test of time. Look at a lot of the pictures on Houzz as a guide, put Coastal into the search bar and then Tropical, decide which way you want to lean.

Good luck!

Some art ideas

Coastal:

Tropical:

Walls?? White. For coastal

Or for tropical

You banish darkness.......

Jan, love that color above the wainscotting in Photo 2. Great looks! Coastal is my fave mode... I have a new house way back in the woods, but ignored that and went with a coastal/california look and palette inside.

Thank you all, my issue is with a paint color for the living room. I've attached photos of the kitchen, which I love, and the living room with various colors of paint, none of which I like. I want to with off white but want it to go along with the kitchen colors. Any advise?

Hard to say. Too much heavy stuff, too much brown tones and while I'm sure the location may be coastal, nothin else is really suggesting that. First out could be treadmill maybe?!

I mix them in Northeast Florida. Coastal and tropical are seen together often here. If tropical upholstery is used, keep it minimal with more subtle colors. Natural fibers, like linen, go well with woven grasses and rattan. A few well placed shells tie coastal and tropical together. As other have noted, don't get cutesy with obvious with stereotypical themed pieces. Pick only minimal and classy understated with nautical beach or tropical accessories. Nautical is easy to over do. Be eclectic and relaxed. You'll love it.

The thread is six years old : )