Elements of Contemporary Coastal Style
As organic as the ocean and as warm as summer sand, this design style brings a light, bright look to interiors
Rebecca Heane
September 27, 2012
After 14 years of living in Western Australia, I returned home to Falmouth, Cornwall, to live in a terraced house built in 1846 overlooking the harbour. My personal style is an eclectic mix influenced by my travels and my heritage. My favourite projects are those which allow me to design something especially for the client, from a fabric or wallpaper print to a piece of furniture.
After 14 years of living in Western Australia, I returned home to Falmouth, Cornwall,... More
Contemporary coastal style is defined by clean lines and natural materials and textures — so go bold but stick to simple lines and basic finishes. Create a neutral backdrop with smooth steel, timber and woven materials. Add interest with statement art and furniture, but keep the look uncluttered otherwise. Use deep shades of turquoise, coral, orange and blue for bright accents. Scale up your print sizes and make your stripes bold. Light is vital in the contemporary coastal look — keep things bright and airy, like in an art gallery.
These ideas will help you bring this look into your own home.
These ideas will help you bring this look into your own home.
Color
Clean, neutral colors highlighted with clear brights are key to the contemporary coastal look. Stick with yellows, oranges and coral for warm hues, and greens and turquoises for cooler hues.
See when to use warm and cool hues
Clean, neutral colors highlighted with clear brights are key to the contemporary coastal look. Stick with yellows, oranges and coral for warm hues, and greens and turquoises for cooler hues.
See when to use warm and cool hues
Reenforce the coastal look by using a single accent color throughout the room. This deep coral looks stunning with the soft beach colors in the rest of the space.
Furniture
You'll want to go for midcentury and later when choosing furniture for this look. These chairs and table offer clean, modern lines with an unexpected splash of color.
You'll want to go for midcentury and later when choosing furniture for this look. These chairs and table offer clean, modern lines with an unexpected splash of color.
Handmade furniture made of beautiful timber can add warmth to your contemporary coastal home. Furniture like this makes for statement, investment pieces that will never date.
Keep shapes simple and remember that you don't have to spend a fortune on furniture. These basic canvas chairs create a more modern feel by keeping to a monotone color scheme.
Use the lines of your furniture to evoke your coastal vibe. Although the only coastal colors in this room are in the painting, the design of the bed emphasizes the beachside mood with its wave-like headboard.
Lighting
Go for classic, industrial, maritime-inspired lights. This style looks great against a clean, contemporary backdrop. Stainless steel, polished chrome and aluminium catch the eye and work in bathrooms, kitchens and living spaces.
Go for classic, industrial, maritime-inspired lights. This style looks great against a clean, contemporary backdrop. Stainless steel, polished chrome and aluminium catch the eye and work in bathrooms, kitchens and living spaces.
Wall Art
Use an oversize or statement piece of art with a coastal theme. In this simply designed room, a beautiful coral-toned piece creates instant coastal chic.
Use an oversize or statement piece of art with a coastal theme. In this simply designed room, a beautiful coral-toned piece creates instant coastal chic.
I love these turquoise fish. Using multiples of the same object always makes a statement. Keep to the same color and style for maximum impact.
See how to use multiples in rooms
See how to use multiples in rooms
Iron Fish Art
The unexpected mix of a contemporary sculpture and a vintage oar against a dark gray wall has all the elements of contemporary coastal style.
Flooring
This mix of timber and sisal looks great in a contemporary setting. The soft sand and aqua make for a restful coastal palette. As with other coastal styles, you'll want to stick to natural tones for your flooring. Rugs should be simple but hard wearing, which is why sisal and jute are such popular choices.
This mix of timber and sisal looks great in a contemporary setting. The soft sand and aqua make for a restful coastal palette. As with other coastal styles, you'll want to stick to natural tones for your flooring. Rugs should be simple but hard wearing, which is why sisal and jute are such popular choices.
Materials
This chevron fabric in ocean colors works perfectly with the woven lampshades and the rattan ceiling. Mix materials but try sticking to the same color palette for a consistent, contemporary look.
This chevron fabric in ocean colors works perfectly with the woven lampshades and the rattan ceiling. Mix materials but try sticking to the same color palette for a consistent, contemporary look.
I love this vignette — the print teamed with the coral wall is simple but bold.
Bold stripes in a mix of primary colors add a very modern vibe to a traditional chair. Teaming the chair with a contemporary sofa balances out the room.
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I completely agree that statement art is the way to add interest and the look together.
Totally agree that the shape & color of the art over the bed can set the tone for the room. I'm going to share a few abstract pieces of mine that might work in small and large spaces searching out some beach colors and themes. Most of my work is giant and heavy on texture, but these 2 are a bit more scaleable for the bedroom/ over the headboard. I like the colors in the example Rebecca Heane gave, however the the looming Icebergs might throw off my sleep zen lol. I could easily see that in a seaside game room with an adventurers theme though!
Have fun at the beach everyone. ~ Weather it's in the house or beyond!
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Choosing the color pallets mentioned is cliche. Instead, choose your colors from what you see at your particular beach. Turquoise and coral suit the tropics, but maybe your waters are deep grey with a touch of blue-green. What color is your sand? What color is the seafoam? What greens are in the seagrass, bayberry, or pines at your beach? What colors are the driftwood? What colors are your sunrises? Maybe pink and pale yellow? Sometimes a purple grey sunset if you're on the east coast of the Atlantic.