Coastal decor can bring the tranquility of a beach walk into your home. However, there’s a delicate balance between refined coastal design and decor that seems more fitting for a bait shop. Many beach-themed items from home goods stores may appear outdated or overused in interior designs. Fortunately, experts suggest ways to style your beach house without resorting to cliché coastal decor while avoiding common pitfalls. These include using fish or net decorations, overusing blue paint, and incorporating dark wood furniture or heavy curtains.
When styling a coastal-inspired home, sometimes simplicity is key. To avoid an overly themed beach look, reduce predictable decor and choose a more relaxed, elegant style. Replacing loud maritime decorations with sophisticated textures, natural materials, and nature-inspired accents can completely revamp your seaside sanctuary. Here are nine common coastal decor mistakes and clever alternatives for a more polished appearance.
Accenting a space with fish decorations
We’ve all seen the old-fashioned hanging fish sculptures in beach gift shops, but these can appear outdated and overly kitschy in coastal homes. Instead, opt for calming, organic wall art that complements a serene coastal atmosphere. A picturesque seascape painting or subtle sculpture fits more seamlessly into your home than bright and sometimes garish fish decor that detracts from nature’s beauty.
Painting walls bright blue instead of warm neutral shades
While there are many dreamy beach-inspired paint colors, bright blue is a common choice in coastal homes that you should steer clear of. While muted blue shades can work well, brighter blues can overwhelm and distract from the rest of your home’s design. Instead, warmer neutral tones reminiscent of soft sand can create a more peaceful ambiance and a sophisticated overall feel. Sand Dune SW 6086 by Sherwin-Williams is an excellent example of a velvety warm neutral perfect for coastal-inspired rooms.
Choosing throw pillows that are too busy
Decorative throw pillows can enhance your space, but avoid overloading on bright prints. Overly busy tropical prints might remind guests of a tourist shirt, rather than a refined coastal setting. You can still add a pop of color with a vibrant option, but avoid mixing patterns or choosing overly busy pillows. Consider a sculptural throw pillow inspired by the ocean, like the Ashler Home Deco Velvet Seashell Pillow, for a creative yet refined look.
Wasting money on store-bought seashells
Seashells can be a great way to integrate nature into your home, but there’s no need to spend on bulk purchases from stores. Store-bought seashells might be dyed, artificial, or of dubious quality. Instead, enjoy a beach outing to collect your own seashells and complete your coastal home with a DIY sea mantle. Alternatively, choose subtle, sculptural accent pieces reminiscent of seashell shapes, like decorative bowls or vases, instead of using shells.
Hanging heavy drapes that darken the coastal ambiance
Optimal coastal decor should welcome ample sunlight for an airy ambiance. Heavy drapes blocking excessive light can dampen the mood and obstruct the sun’s uplifting rays. Instead of heavy-duty or blackout curtains, choose lightweight drapes made from natural materials like linen, gauze, or cotton. These allow plenty of light, giving your home the bright, breezy feel of a seaside escape.
Displaying anchors, which can look cliché
Anchors are another common coastal decor element, but the anchor trend might seem overused. For a modern look, maritime decor like anchors and lighthouses can make rooms appear more dated than beachy. Swap kitschy decor with natural accents that bring nature’s beauty indoors, like a striking piece of natural driftwood. This achieves an elegant beachy ambiance without overdoing it.
Accenting with sand dollars and starfish
It’s common to see accent bowls in beach houses filled with shells, starfish, and sand dollars, but this decor isn’t the most sustainable. If eco-conscious design matters to you, consider alternatives to dried marine life that may be questionably harvested. To incorporate nature more sustainably, use a tropical house plant as an accent or include sustainable materials like bamboo in your coastal home’s design.
Decorating with fish nets
Fish nets are another recurring theme in beach-inspired homes that interior designers are ready to move away from. David Bromstad, host of “Beach Flip”, told HGTV, “Beach style and design is timeless, it just must be updated like our wardrobes. Having seashells everywhere, fish netting, and every sheet and blanket covered in shells or some type of sea life is old news.” Instead, Bromstad suggests using natural textiles or reclaimed wood to evoke a coastal feel without being too fussy or obvious.
Using the wrong wood tone
While rich, dark woods can look sophisticated in certain interior design styles, they may be too much for laid-back coastal-inspired decor. The contrast between dark wood and bright, airy rooms can feel disjointed or out of place. Lighter wood furniture works better with natural sunlight and can make your space feel larger and more uplifting. It can also remind visitors of driftwood found on the coastline, giving your home a harmonious and authentic coastal feel.
