Picture this, you’re cozied up in your favourite chair with a good book, a soft breeze on your skin and the fresh smell of the ocean drifting by. Wait a minute, you live in downtown Toronto. This isn’t possible. What if we told you, it is? Okay, okay so we can’t bring you a fresh ocean breeze, but we can help you design your space to feel like you’re in a coastal paradise, everyday.
Below we’ve compiled our 7 best coastal living room ideas to help you transform your room into a welcoming warm, beachy paradise.
So what is Coastal Design anyway? Coastal Design is all about evoking the peaceful and fun energy that we feel when we are near the ocean. Think natural seaside elements, neutral tones and earthy textures. There are no strict rules when it comes to coastal design, that’s what makes it so versatile and popular!
We know! This all sounds SO amazing, but how can you achieve this look in your living space, and where is the best place to begin? Read on for our best 7 coastal living room ideas to help you get on your way in designing your beachy, relaxed, and unique living room.
1. Stick to Natural Fabrics and Textures
One of the best parts of being near the coastline is the connection we feel to nature. So of course, when designing our coastal living room, we want to evoke feelings of earthiness. One of the easiest ways to do this is by sticking to natural fabrics and natural textures. Think of things like jute area rugs, lightly coloured wood furniture or grass cloth wallpaper.
You will also want to incorporate some soft, cozy fabrics like linen and cotton! Linen is light and airy but will give you that laid-back, comfortable, vacation feel.
Don’t be afraid to mix and match, layer your textures, and play around with fabrics. One of the things we love most about coastal design is the sense of uniqueness. You want your living room to feel like home.
2. Use Paint to Transform your Space
Paint colour is so very important when trying to achieve a specific look and feel. Colour has the power to instantly change our mood, thoughts, and feelings. So how can we ensure you feel the relaxed beachy vibe we are going for in your living room?
It’s best to stick to warm neutral paint colours for your main colour scheme. Then, you can introduce the earthy blues and greens that complete a coastal design. Muted tones evoke a feeling of calmness while warm, fresh colours give us that sunshine and sand feel! Don’t be afraid to add pops of colour as well, we love a splash of turquoise or coral to remind us of the ocean!
3. Relaxed, Laid-Back Furniture Style
Let’s move on to the main pieces in your room. What kind of furniture will allow for a laid-back but put together feel? It’s best to stick to furniture that has that ‘lived-in’ look. Think rattan accent chairs or a lightly weathered wood coffee table.
We want to keep the space light, fresh and airy so try avoiding heavy, dark furniture as it may take away from the bright and calm vibe we are aiming for. Furniture is probably what we love most when it comes to coastal living room ideas.
4. Add a Touch of Greenery
Another great way to bring the outside in and make your living room feel earthy is to incorporate some plants. Nothing makes a space feel more alive and welcoming than some touches of greenery. Our favourite picks for a coastal design would be palm plants, ficus trees or fiddle leaf. You can also add small touches of greenery with a simple stem of eucalyptus or sand dollars.
5. Let in the Natural Light
No coastal room would be complete without a little bit of sunshine. That’s why it is important to let in the natural light when designing your coastal living room. Keeping the room airy and fresh will help to evoke the feelings of relaxation and calm. An easy way to do this is by incorporating light coloured or sheer curtains to your windows. This will brighten the room up and allow in that Vitamin D we all crave so much!
6. Less is More!
You know that surfboard-shaped sign saying ‘Aloha!’ that you brought home from Hawaii or that bag filled with seashells from just about every beach in the world that you’ve visited? Yes, we are all guilty of it; buying souvenirs from our favourite beach towns and having absolutely nowhere to put them!
Don’t worry you can still keep some of your favourite mementos, we just recommend a less is more approach. Pick a couple of your favourite coastal elements to use as small accent pieces throughout the space. Some of our favourite modern elements include things like natural driftwood or imitation coral.
7. Simple, Strong, Classic Patterns
Adding patterns to a room is an amazing way to create interest in your space. For a modern, coastal design we recommend classic patterns like plaid or stripes. These patterns don’t always have to be bright and bold, a simple, neutral stripe on a throw pillow is a perfect way to create that laid-back, classic, coastal feeling.
What we love most about coastal living room design is that it is a classic style, constantly adapting and ever changing. There are no set rules, and it allows for personalization and uniqueness. Whether you prefer blues over greens or plaid over stripes, you can use our 7 coastal living room ideas to give you a starting point in creating the perfect coastal design for your space. So, what are you waiting for? Bring on the sunshine!
