Your Guide to a Beach-Style Kitchen
Coastal palettes, open shelving and shiplap paneling are often found in these light and breezy rooms
Whether you’re tackling a kitchen remodel with the help of a kitchen designer, architect or contractor, being able to pin down your favorite style will help get your project off to a smooth start. If you love an easy, breezy look inspired by sand and sea, beach style may be right in your decorating comfort zone. Read on for the need-to-know details about this popular kitchen style, including key elements, color palettes, fixtures and finishing touches.
What You Won’t Find in Beach-Style Kitchens
Beach style can lean contemporary, traditional or somewhere in between — the relaxed mood is more important than the specifics. Here’s what you won’t see:
Beach style can lean contemporary, traditional or somewhere in between — the relaxed mood is more important than the specifics. Here’s what you won’t see:
- Heavy rugs or window treatments
- Formal furnishings
- Elaborate architectural details
- Envelope-pushing trends
- Dark, moody color palettes
Coastal Color Palette
Beach-style kitchens gather inspiration from the colors of sand, sea and sky to create a sense of place. White is a popular choice for walls and cabinetry, making a crisp backdrop for pops of sea-inspired color, though it’s certainly not the only option. For a more vibrant take, look to dune grass greens and bold corals to add tropical flair.
Colors for beach-style kitchens:
Beach-style kitchens gather inspiration from the colors of sand, sea and sky to create a sense of place. White is a popular choice for walls and cabinetry, making a crisp backdrop for pops of sea-inspired color, though it’s certainly not the only option. For a more vibrant take, look to dune grass greens and bold corals to add tropical flair.
Colors for beach-style kitchens:
- Beachy neutrals. Driftwood, soft beige, white, ocean mist
- Blues and greens. Aqua, sea glass, turquoise, teal, sea green, navy
- Bright accents. Orange, lime, lemon, coral, lobster red
Design Detail: Colorful Appliances
Colorful appliances won’t work in just any kitchen, but in a beach-style kitchen, they most certainly do. Look for a range, refrigerator or both in blue, aqua or coral to add color and style to your space. Just be aware that you’ll probably need to balance the vibrant appliances with calmer white and wood tones, as seen here.
Read more about this kitchen
Colorful appliances won’t work in just any kitchen, but in a beach-style kitchen, they most certainly do. Look for a range, refrigerator or both in blue, aqua or coral to add color and style to your space. Just be aware that you’ll probably need to balance the vibrant appliances with calmer white and wood tones, as seen here.
Read more about this kitchen
Light Counters
Light hues in stones such as marble and quartz have an appealing, elegant-yet-airy look that works well in beach kitchens. Engineered quartz (shown here), which has a nonporous surface, and recycled glass and cement, which is heat- and scratch-resistant, are both good easier-care options.
Find countertop pros in your area on Houzz
Light hues in stones such as marble and quartz have an appealing, elegant-yet-airy look that works well in beach kitchens. Engineered quartz (shown here), which has a nonporous surface, and recycled glass and cement, which is heat- and scratch-resistant, are both good easier-care options.
Find countertop pros in your area on Houzz
Indoor-Outdoor Connection
A connection to the outdoors is a big plus in a beach-style kitchen, even if your home is nowhere near the beach. Consider adding a pass-through window or glass doors to a deck. Not an option? Reference the outdoors with cut tropical leaves in a vase, potted plants, natural woven accents and a display of fresh fruit.
Contact local window dealers and installers
A connection to the outdoors is a big plus in a beach-style kitchen, even if your home is nowhere near the beach. Consider adding a pass-through window or glass doors to a deck. Not an option? Reference the outdoors with cut tropical leaves in a vase, potted plants, natural woven accents and a display of fresh fruit.
Contact local window dealers and installers
Design Detail: Nautical Lighting
Like the sturdy cage lights found on docks and boats, these fixtures look right at home in a beach kitchen. Other good options include woven pendant lights, delicate glass designs and classic lanterns.
Browse beach-style kitchen island lighting
Like the sturdy cage lights found on docks and boats, these fixtures look right at home in a beach kitchen. Other good options include woven pendant lights, delicate glass designs and classic lanterns.
Browse beach-style kitchen island lighting
Design Detail: Patterned Tile
Add bold cement tile to a backsplash or around the base of an island (as in this kitchen from Carter Interior Concepts) to ramp up the color and pattern in a beach-style kitchen.
See more of this fun, tropical contemporary kitchen
Add bold cement tile to a backsplash or around the base of an island (as in this kitchen from Carter Interior Concepts) to ramp up the color and pattern in a beach-style kitchen.
See more of this fun, tropical contemporary kitchen
Design Detail: Open Shelving
Open shelves are casual and easy to use, ideal for keeping pretty items and everyday basics within reach. Look for simple floating shelves that disappear against the wall, or opt for shelving that stands out with beautiful new or reclaimed wood. Like the breezy look but not the dust buildup? Consider installing glass-front upper cabinets instead.
Open shelves are casual and easy to use, ideal for keeping pretty items and everyday basics within reach. Look for simple floating shelves that disappear against the wall, or opt for shelving that stands out with beautiful new or reclaimed wood. Like the breezy look but not the dust buildup? Consider installing glass-front upper cabinets instead.
Finishing Touches
Warm up a beach-style kitchen with natural texture. Look for a jute or seagrass rug, woven pendant lights, rattan bistro stools and natural wood accents. Glass and ceramic pieces in classic blue and white are another can’t-miss finishing touch for a coastal kitchen.
Warm up a beach-style kitchen with natural texture. Look for a jute or seagrass rug, woven pendant lights, rattan bistro stools and natural wood accents. Glass and ceramic pieces in classic blue and white are another can’t-miss finishing touch for a coastal kitchen.
Your turn: Are you a fan of beach style? Describe or show us your favorite beach-style kitchen in the Comments.
More on Houzz
Your Guide to Coastal Style
Browse photos of beach-style kitchens for inspiration
Find a kitchen designer to get your project started
Shop for beach-style kitchen products
More on Houzz
Your Guide to Coastal Style
Browse photos of beach-style kitchens for inspiration
Find a kitchen designer to get your project started
Shop for beach-style kitchen products
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Beach kitchens are light, bright and open, with ample island space and a casual, easygoing style perfect for socializing with family and friends. Here are some common elements to look for: