Modern Coastal Decorating Ideas for Your Home

By sticking with a color scheme that reflects the ocean and sky–including crisp whites, deep blues and neutral hues–everything seems to work together, no matter what time of year it is! Inspired by the organic colors and textures of nature, contemporary coastal décor might include light woods, baskets, natural fiber rugs, woven light fixtures, various shades of blue, gray, white, and neutrals, and easy-care textiles like cotton and linen fabric. Since modern beach house style is essentially carefree and relaxed, it’s easy to go overboard with coastal decorating. For a modern coastal look, start with a background of white walls, as well as soft natural colors of the sand and sky, and crisp, casual fabrics like cotton and linen. For inspiration, you might want to take a look at sites like Serena and Lily, Dear Keaton, Arhaus, or Pottery Barn, all of which beautifully convey what modern coastal style is looking like in 2023. This beautiful family room, with its soft neutral tones and abundance of layers and texture, is a great example of modern coastal style.

The woven coffee table and textured rugs bring a contemporary coastal theme to the entire room. Soft colors and a round wood coffee table create a warm and inviting space to relax, from Pure Salt Interiors. Hanging rattan chairs, white furniture, light blues (the color of sea glass), and a natural sisal rug add contemporary take on beach cottage style to the living room, as shown in this chic coastal home designed by Julie Howard for Timber Trails Development Company, via Home Bunch: Soft colors, a woven coffee table, and striped round ottomans lend a modern coastal feel to this contemporary space from Pure Salt Interiors:

A beautiful open-concept living room, kitchen, and dining area with modern coastal style, from Pure Salt Interiors. Neutral tones and textures, combined with a subtly-patterned rug, a raffia-covered coffee table, high ceilings, and large windows, bring a touch of coastal boho interior style to this open concept great room.

The black and white stripes on the side chairs, natural fiber rug, and light wood mantel and shelves add the perfect touch of modern coastal style to this living room. I wanted to make this area feel a bit more relaxed and comfortable for summer, so we brought in the white sectional and coffee table from our hearth room and purchased a new striped rug. Our new living room arrangement is kind of a “test drive.” Since we loved having the sectional in the TV area, I’m not sure how long this space will stay this way. But I’m really loving the lighter, more casual feeling in here, so if we end up moving the sectional back to the hearth room, I think I’ll be shopping for new furniture for this space! In the beautiful space below, from Lindye Galloway Interiors, the wooden beams, neutral color palette, striped pillows, shelf styling, and pop of classic blue on the cabinetry and in the rug, bring a fresh and comfortable feeling to this modern coastal family room: Love this beautiful coastal keeping room, featuring woven lounge chairs, a tiered chandelier, round rug, wood coffee table, and dreamy artwork.

A large sectional, jute or sisal rug, and a round ottoman create a warm and inviting space to relax in this open-concept kitchen and family room. Love the classic look of this coastal themed living room with a round woven ottoman and four light gray swivel chairs.

Because we have plenty of natural lighting in this space, I like to bring a relaxed, beach house feeling to this space with a round wood coffee table, natural textures, coastal wall art, a blue & white area rug (no longer available), and white slipcovered sofa – sectional seating (this is the Gronlid sectional from IKEA, which is no longer available–here’s a similar alternative): The lovely dining room below, from Jill Egan Interiors, shows how versatile and elegant coastal decor can be. From the soft ivory slipcovered chairs, to the large coral decorative piece on the credenza, to the natural wood elements, this space evokes a feeling of casual elegance. Artwork is an easy, yet impactful way to bring a touch of modern coastal design to the dining room, as shown in this beautiful space from Kate Lester Interiors:

Love this beautiful modern coastal dining area with neutral furniture and decor and an elegant beaded chandelier. Whether you opt for lots of woven elements, glass & brass, light woods, or just an abundance of fresh white, there are many ways to bring a touch of modern coastal decor to the kitchen, as shown in the lovely spaces below.

This beautiful coastal kitchen features modern black and white pendant lights, stylish woven counter stools, and the perfect shade of blue-gray (Benjamin Moore James River Gray) on the island. A beautiful beach house style kitchen, with an abundance of white, chic cone pendant lights, and wooden counter stools.

This lovely California coastal kitchen, from Caroline Kilmartin, has a wonderful, modern beach house aesthetic, and is a long-time favorite of mine: Here’s a great example of modern coastal style in the kitchen, with gorgeous pendant lights and woven counter stools taking center stage.

The light and airy coastal-inspired kitchen shown below was designed and styled by Studio McGee and Erin Hansen for Christine Andrew. Beautiful warm woods, exposed beams, and coastal style pendant lights make this lake house kitchen feel cohesive and inviting – from Park and Oak Interior Design: Woven seating, pendant lights, natural woods, and an abundance of white perfectly convey beach house style in this open-concept kitchen and dining area from The Grove Byron Bay.

The beautiful pendant lights and counter stools add a striking focal point to this coastal kitchen from Studio McGee: Natural textures and pops of white and blue add a light touch of coastal style to our kitchen: There are countless ways to bring a touch of contemporary coastal style to the bedroom, as shown in the beautiful spaces below.

The woven light fixture, vintage dresser, and wood beams add a touch of texture to offset all the soft finishes. This lovely master bedroom suite features a modern black canopy bed and wonderful sitting area surrounded by windows.

This dreamy coastal inspired bedroom features a woven bed, rattan nightstand, black chandelier, and lovely soft tones of blue and blush.

Contemporary artwork is a great way to add a touch of modern coastal decor to the bedroom, as shown in this beautiful space from Pure Salt Interior Design: The bathroom is one of the best spots to try out a touch of modern coastal decor — especially in a small powder or guest bath, where you can really get creative. Wall molding, a striped fringed hand towel, and touches of brass add a coastal aesthetic to this beautiful small bathroom from A Thoughtful Place:

A dark blue vanity, as well as brass lantern sconces, and a large basket give a coastal feeling to this lovely bathroom. The blue color on this bathroom vanity brings a touch of modern beach house interior design to this space.

A mix of white and wood cabinet finishes lends an elegant coastal touch to this chic primary bathroom from West Bay Homes: When we remodeled our guest bathroom last year, I wanted to add a touch of modern coastal style to this space without going overboard, so I simply painted the vanity (with Benjamin Moore Van Deusen Blue) and added a striped rug and towels, a few woven elements, and plenty of white: Shiplap walls, a natural fiber rug, and a glorious blue door create the quintessential coastal entryway, located on Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina. I love this beautiful beach house entryway with its vertical shiplap walls, woven pendant light, lidded baskets, and oversized mirror.

A seashell gathered on one of our family trips to Charleston is displayed in a glass case in our entryway–it’s a nod to coastal decor and happy reminder of my favorite place–the beach. With its casual atmosphere and separation from the rest of the house, the patio is the perfect place to experiment with modern coastal decor.

This beautiful patio area from Pencil and Paper Co., with its slipcovered furniture, striped pillow, and touches of bamboo, sets the ideal tone for summer relaxing and entertaining.

Hanging rattan chairs and a cool driftwood-like light fixture add a touch of modern coastal decor to this beautiful covered outdoor space, from Shop sKout: In coastal grandmother interiors, you’ll see lots of white slipcovered furniture, neutral hues of the sand and sea, flowers, and natural and organic elements–all of which speak to a more thoughtful and intentional way of living and decorating.