Is Coastal Decor Going Out Of Style?

Most people enjoy spending time by the coast. Maybe it’s the fresh air, the mesmerizing body of water, or the nostalgia of childhood summers spent at the beach. Whether you are spending more time at your beach house or wishing to bring the beach to you, you may consider adding coastal decor to your home. But is coastal decor going out of style?

Coastal decor won’t be going out of style soon. The pandemic has sparked a desire to bring nature inside and turn our homes into sanctuaries, much like beach vacation homes. Minimal, neutral palettes make the coastal design adaptable to trends and easy to blend with other styles.

There is a good reason why coastal decor is such a timeless interior style, and understanding why is key to capturing the soul of the coastal aesthetic. By selectively adding the right elements, adding that coastal vibe becomes effortless.

Is Coastal Decor Outdated?

Think about your most recent visit to the coast. How did you feel? That feeling of lightness, freedom, and relaxation, like you are on vacation, is the essence of coastal design.

That feeling is also the biggest difference between coastal and nautical design. People often confuse the nautical design aesthetic with coastal design. While nautical elements can be gracefully incorporated into the coastal design, the difference lies in what each represents.

The nautical design aesthetic draws inspiration from physical objects related to the sea, most man-made, such as boats, sailors and their outfits, knots, fishing nets, etc. The coastal design style draws inspiration from nature and the emotions that the coast invokes in us.

Humans are always drawn to nature, regardless of how developed our cities are. Our longing for nature is the reason why coastal decor is timeless. That, and our love of vacations at the beach.

However, the pandemic has reinforced the coastal trend. Since the pandemic started and the world experienced lockdowns, we have been forced to spend more time at home. Working from home has had a surprising effect on consumer trends.

With lockdowns and travel restrictions, people have realized the importance of spending time in nature. If you can’t go on vacation, the next best thing is to turn your home into a place of sanctuary and calm.

In addition, there is another reason why coastal decor is not only not going out of style but currently trending. There has been an underlying trend in sustainability in recent years, fueled by the world’s natural state. As coastal decor is mostly made from natural and organic materials, it is no surprise that it is not going away anytime soon.

How Do You Get The Coastal Look?

Giving your home that coastal look is relatively easy. These key elements will transform your home into a tranquil space reminiscent of the coast.

The Color Palette of Coastal Design

The easiest way to give your home a more coastal vibe is to start with color. The color palette of coastal design is minimal and neutral.

Light, earthy tones are elegant, timeless, and give the feeling of tranquility and warmth. Think of the color of beach sand, the varying greyish browns of driftwood, and the light sage of coastal shrubs.

Painting your walls is one of the easiest ways to revamp your space. Keep the walls light. Pure white or seashell-white works best and brings an openness to the space.

Keep accent colors to a minimum, adding only to smaller decor pieces such as frames, vases, and scatter cushions. The benefit of smaller accent pieces is that you can easily change them as the seasons change, while the more expensive pieces remain neutral.

Light coral is a great accent color, representing both corals and the light pinks of sunsets over the ocean. Washed-out blues in any tone are another elegant choice for accent colors.

Incorporate Natural Elements Into Your Coastal Decor

Bringing natural elements into your home will make it feel more inviting and turn it into a sanctuary space for you and guests alike.

Wood is a must! Nothing gives that distinctive coastal look quite like driftwood. Driftwood vines make striking displays. Teak and recycled hardwoods are great options for small furniture and decor pieces such as side tables, mirror frames, or accent chairs.

Rugs elevate a room and be a focal point or the piece that ties all your other decorative pieces together. Replace your old rugs with rugs made from natural fibers such as sisal, jute, or seagrass. Seagrass makes great placemats and coasters and is soft enough to use in scatter cushions.

Blinds can be replaced by sisal blinds and curtains with linen curtains in soft neutral colors. Linen is also a good choice for throws and towels. While linen towels are more expensive than cotton, it is worth the splurge! Linen towels are softer, dry faster, and are more environmentally friendly.

Adding natural elements through small decorative pieces is fun and inexpensive. Consider adding baskets made from seagrass, palm leaves or bamboo, rattan trays, bamboo photo frames, or aged wood planters.

Add Texture To Give Your Home A Coastal Vibe

Texture adds sensory pleasure to your decor and gives a touch of luxury. While adding natural elements will, of course, add texture, there are a few other ways to add texture:

Scatter cushions made from different textiles
Add shell or wood buttons to cushions or throws
Alternate between soft fleece, chunky knits, and organic bamboo throws
Add texture with coasters and placemats
Mugs made from clay
Macramé wall hangings from soft cotton
Light covers made from palm leaves
Wooden snack bowls
Add vases adorned with pampas grass

Use Art To Bring The Beach To You

While you don’t need literal references to the beach to decorate in a coastal style, the shore is a focal point of many an artist.

Art adds a finishing touch to any house, but opt for paintings and artwork from local artists instead of store-bought prints to give your home a feeling of authenticity. Not only will you add real art to your space, but you will also be supporting your local community. A win-win!

Is Nautical Decor Out Of Style?

As more people have made their vacation homes their permanent homes, the nautical aesthetic has made a come-back along with the coastal style. However, nautical decor can look tacky if it’s not done right.

If you want to blend nautical decor with the more timeless coastal style, keep your walls and bigger furniture pieces neutral and add washed-out navy as an accent. Keep the red to a minimum and use the pop of color strategically.

Add nautical elements such as anchors only to small decor pieces that are cheap and easy to replace when trends change.

Conclusion

If you want to transform your home into a haven of calm and tranquility, you can’t go wrong with coastal decor. The modern coastal aesthetic brings nature inside and appeals to the senses. As it captures emotions, it is more abstract and easy to adapt, making it timeless.

References

Chrissie Smuts

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