Calming and casual, beach style bedrooms reflect the natural beauty of the sea. They often feature lots of blue, white and natural materials like jute, but can be taken in a number of different style directions to suit your taste. So if you’re in need of a little nautical inspiration, check out our design guide below, and then browse our extensive gallery of beach themed bedroom ideas.

1. Choose a Theme and Color Scheme

When designing your coastal bedroom, the first thing you should decide is what sort of mood you want to create. Are you decorating a teen’s bedroom or a relaxing master suite? Do you like brighter colors or more of a modern, understated style? To help you define your dream bedroom look, and figure out how to achieve it, we’ve broken down the elements of a few beach style variations below. Of course, you may want to mix and match elements of any of these looks in your beach-themed bedroom.

Classic Cape Cod:

• Red, navy blue, white
• Brown or white woods, wood paneling/shiplap, rope and jute accents
• Lighthouses, sea-life, ships and other nautical motifs; stripes

Modern California Coastal:

• Gray, light and dark blues, white
• White-washed wood, walnut finishes, wood paneling/shiplap, linens, brass accents
• Subtle ocean motifs, blocks of color and materials

Boho Beach Style:

• Bright colors and whites, chunky rope and jute accents
• Natural materials like shells, houseplants, geometric designs
• Collections of found objects, bold lighting, distinctive furniture

2. Pick Out Your Major Furniture Pieces

Your bedroom furniture should act as the base from which you can pick out all of your other decor, so go with something that’ll anchor the look you want to achieve. Warm woods can look gorgeous contrasted with white blankets and will give you more of a natural, ocean-themed bedroom. On the other hand, furniture with a white finish has an appealing wind-swept look, and often works well in modern bedrooms.

The sort of bed frame you choose all depends on the style you’re going for. Traditional wooden bed frames work well with coastal style. Go for a low, platform bed or even a midcentury design to achieve a bohemian, beach-themed bedroom.

3. Make It Your Own with Unique Decor

For the finishing touch, add in nautical decor pieces and interesting finds to create just the sort of beachy bedroom you’ll want to fall asleep in. Textured, all-white bedspreads are perfect for giving your space a clean and relaxed mood. Alternatively, liven things up with a colorful throw blanket in orange or blush pink, paired with a blue duvet.

When you’re picking out decor, look for textural pieces with a lot of character. Shell pendant lights, jute rugs, nautical wallpaper, vintage-style glass jugs and striped Roman shades would all add to the mood in a coastal bedroom.