Do you ever come home from a long day at work and wish you had booked that vacation to Cancun? Can you picture your feet in the sand, listening to the waves crash in the distance, with a large pina colada in hand? Modern Coastal design creates your own coastal escape at home. No matter how far away you live from the beach, you can capture that same sense of serenity.

Modern Coastal is an interior design style that utilizes soothing colors that mimic the ocean’s hues, natural textures, and clean lines to give your space a sense of order and balance. In this blog, we’ll show you how we implement Modern Coastal design in our client’s homes. We’ll also give you some tips on how you can decorate your home in a Modern Coastal style.

A ceramic vase of magnolia stems and a wooden bowl sit on top a shelf. A painting of the ocean is hung behind the items.

Core Elements of Modern Coastal Design

There are core elements that work together to capture this sophisticated seaside feel. Modern Coastal decor has a contemporary twist. It’s known for using natural fibers and hues of blue, beige, and gray. This color palette mirrors the sea and shoreline to create a calming backdrop in your space. 

Using natural materials is key in coastal decorating. Natural materials bring a touch of nature indoors. Modern Coastal decor incorporates raw or reclaimed wood, rattan, jute, and woven fibers. These natural materials add warmth, and texture, and connect your space with the coastal vibe.  

Modern Coastal is all about clean lines, simplicity, and uncluttered spaces. This creates a sense of order and balance that allows the eye to flow throughout the room. 

Natural light is another crucial element in Modern Coastal design. Large windows, crisp curtains, and skylights maximize the entry of sunlight. These features enhance the bright and airy feel of the space. Light-filled rooms create a refreshing ambiance that mimics the openness of the coast.

This chair has a woven back and dark wood with white beige cushions. The side table is fluted. Both fit into this modern coastal living room.
A light wood cabinet that features a mirror with a black rim, a glass lamp with white shade, a stack of books and a coral statue.

Coastal Design is Trending

As an interior design firm in Jacksonville Florida, we’ve seen the Modern Coastal style increase in popularity. This is one of our most requested design styles. Needless to say, we have a lot of experience using these styling techniques in a multitude of different homes. 

The biggest mistake we see when a client is trying to achieve this look is making it overly “beachy” or nautical-themed. Your natural elements should be statement pieces by themselves. 

Style a Modern Coastal Bedroom

Here’s an example of a Modern Coastal primary bedroom we recently completed. Our clients wanted to keep their contemporary bedroom furniture and blend it into their Modern Coastal dream bedroom. 

First, we looked at different paint colors until we found the perfect shade from Benjamin Moore (Mediterranean Teal 2123-10). We added picture frame molding to accent the wall behind the bed. This adds a focal point of interest and is an easy DIY project.

Next, we found a complimentary rug from our favorite designers at Loloi. We used this coastal decor piece to tie in the paint color, pillows, and artwork to bring harmony to the room. Repeating materials and colors are crucial to make your space cohesive.  

Once we selected the color palette, we added natural fibers to give the room texture and warmth. This woven rattan chandelier from Currey & Co made a world of difference! We played off of the rattan from the chandelier and added this modern end-of-bed bench. The teak side table in the sitting area also provides natural warmth. 

Before the Welcome Home Styling team redecorated, the primary bedroom was lacking Modern Coastal decor.
After the Welcome Home Styling team revamped the room it now appears bright and spacious, with a beautiful dark teal accent wall and Modern Coastal style.

Style a Modern Coastal Living Room

The same clients also asked us to help with their living room. We knew we wanted to add detail to these beautiful 20-foot walls. Picture frame molding painted in Sherwin Williams White Snow (SW 9541) was the perfect trim work for these walls.

Our client tried to incorporate coastal colors in their furniture selection. Their couch was a green-blue but the tone was too cool for this space. To achieve the look they wanted we knew we needed to add colors with warmth. We selected a beautiful caramel leather couch as a replacement. 

The accent pillows on the couch complement the rug. Again, we added natural materials to bring out the coastal vibe. The storage consoles, coffee table, and accent chairs help achieve the Modern Coastal style. 

To give the room that sleek modern look, we incorporated black accents throughout. Take note of the mirror, lamp, vase, and accent chairs.

Living room photo before the Welcome Home Styling Furnished the home.
This space is now a beautifully decorated Modern Coastal living room complete with wall treatments, new furniture, and beautiful coastal decor pieces that catch the eye.

See how much warmth the natural materials brought to this once-monochromatic space. These cosmetic updates made a huge impact and brought this room in line with modern coastal design. 

Style a Modern Coastal Patio

Recently, we helped a client with a backyard remodel. As part of the remodel, the client wanted to decorate the patio in Modern Coastal design. 

It was clear from the start that they were not maximizing the full potential of their outdoor space. Our team carried out spatial planning to ensure the optimal arrangement. With planning, we were able to create an arrangement that allowed for a full-size dining and lounge space! 

These amazing shutter shades to the right side of the patio to give some relief from the Florida sun.  They also bring in the coastal decor vibe to the patio. With the help of our spatial plan, we found the perfect dining table from Pottery Barn. We added a mixture of dining chairs to blend clean lines and woven textures into the space. This beautiful blue outdoor rug added just the right pop of color. 

After we got the dining space squared away, we looked to maximize seating for the lounge space. We selected two sofas and two side chairs from West Elm. Each brought in a unique natural woven texture used in coastal design. We picked a black coffee table to play off of the black dining chairs. Lastly, we added LOTS of greenery to make this space feel like a tropical getaway. 

This picture shows a patio and a couple of plastic yard chairs.
This gorgeous patio space is the perfect spot to sit and enjoy the outdoors. A large wooden table and a mixture of chairs sits on top a colorful rug.
This patio seating area is comprised of two love seats and chairs with a coffee table in the middle. All the furniture gives off a coastal modern vibe.

Get the Look: Modern Coastal Design

If you’re looking to create a coastal space that exudes relaxation and style, we’ve got you covered! Start by incorporating natural textures like jute rugs and woven furniture to capture a beach decor vibe. 

Choose a neutral coastal color palette with pops of blue and green. This mimics the look of the sea and can bring a sense of calm to your space. Let in lots of natural light and enhance that light and airy feeling whenever possible. Remember to repeat materials and colors throughout the space to bring balance and harmony. 

And above all, remember to have fun! Your home is a reflection of your style and sensibilities. It’s fun to revamp your space or change to a new style. 

Welcome Home Styling Knows Coastal Design 

We hope you find this blog inspiring! Modern Coastal design is beautiful style that creates a calming atmosphere. It’s easy to see why it’s so popular right now. 

Incorporating elements of Modern Coastal decor into your home and finding balance can be tricky. If decorating your home in Modern Coastal style is bringing your more stress than serenity, contact Jacksonville, Florida interior design firm Welcome Home Styling for help

Jessica Woodward

Hi, I’m Jessica! I’m the Founder and Principal Interior Designer at Welcome Home Styling. I’ve always had a love for design. I’m also a wife and mother. I have a 7-year-old son who loves to run non-stop, a 10-year-old daughter who is a mini-me but with a tad of sass, and a husband who tolerates my constant decorating.

I started Welcome Home Styling in 2018 to create beautiful and functional homes for my clients. Since then, I’ve worked with countless homeowners across Northeast Florida, and remotely across the country to design the home of their dreams. Stick around, because we’re thrilled to be sharing some beautiful upcoming projects with you. Follow Welcome Home Styling on social media for your daily dose of interior design inspo.