15 Coastal Bedrooms That Are Easy, Breezy, and Beautiful
When we think of the beach, we think of sand, salt, and brisk air. No surprise, coastal homes tend to incorporate these elements too—sometimes with interpretations as literal as nautical blue-and-white stripes and driftwood, other times with decor seemingly plucked straight from a Nancy Meyers flick, with crisp, sun-bleached neutrals and classic silhouettes. One thing’s for sure, though: Coastal decor should encourage an easier, breezier way of living— and there’s no better place to bring the beachside vibes home than in your bedroom.
The trick to achieving the perfect coastal bedroom aesthetic? Look to the palette Mother Nature offers just outside. For the bedrooms in a recent project in Palm Beach, ELLE DECOR A-List Titan Victoria Hagan found inspiration in the obvious spot: “The palette and sense of serenity in the house come from the water,” she told us last summer, “so I used many different tones of blue—between soft and vibrant—then layered in just a few accent colors.” Hits of coral red, meanwhile, added visual zip, while different textures and patterns brought in coziness. “When you’re working with a monochromatic palette—like in this home—it’s not one-note,” she told us. “There are actually hundreds of different colors and textures [that incorporate blue], and it’s a really complicated melody.”
For more coastal bedroom ideas, we’ve turned to the ELLE DECOR archive for inspiration. Whether you favor serene blues and whites, relaxed rattan furnishings, or all-over pattern, one of these rooms is bound to spark joy—or at least ideas for your next beach vacation!
Serene Blue Coastal Bedroom
Victoria Hagan prioritized comfort and calm above all else in this Palm Beach house. In the primary bedroom the designer pulled the blue and white palette from the beach outside, visible through double doors. “The palette in this room complements the sense of serenity you get from being at the beach,” says Hagan.
All-White Lighthouse Bedroom
A foolproof way to embrace a coastal aesthetic is to paint everything white. In the children’s room of this seaside English lighthouse, the curved walls become a bold decorative statement. The bunkbeds were designed to fit the walls and topped with simple gray and white bedding. Storage space is carved out under the bed and in built-in cabinets beside the bed. Talk about ship-shape!
Global-Inspired Coastal Bedroom
In this Florida beach house, architects Marieanne Khoury-Vogt and Erik Vogt looked to the owners’ wide travels for inspiration and brought the world to the beach. The primary bedroom features embroidered textiles, art in complementary hues, and a carved wood bed frame—all sourced during trips to Dubai.
Lofty Timber Beach Bedroom
Wood looms large—quite literally—in the primary bedroom of this Portuguese getaway designed by Jacques Grange, not only in the soaring pine ceiling but also in the vintage rattan screen that serves as a headboard. Coupled with a bright white paint job and linens to match, this relaxed coastal look has us ready for an afternoon sesta.
All-Over Pattern Coastal Bedroom
In this historic Palm Beach estate decorated by Lori Deeds of Kemble Interiors, blue and green stake a claim in almost every room. In this guest bedroom (reportedly once occupied by Winston Churchill III) things skew in blue’s direction. The custom headboard is upholstered in a classic Brunschwig & Fils fabric that also covers the walls. White bedding and nightstands from David Francis Furniture balance things out.
Neutral Coastal Bedroom
Our blood pressure is going down simply by gazing at this serene bedroom. The airy Barbados retreat belongs to Celia Muñoz, founder of the Spanish children’s brand La Coqueta, and melds the building’s vernacular architecture with European touches. If you want a similar look, furnish your room minimally and consider working entirely in a soothing monochrome palette.
Minimal Dunes Bedroom
The primary bedroom in Jenni Kayne’s New Zealand refuge is as spare as can be—the better to take in the stunning surrounding views. “I think that you can have a lot of fun with materials and texture and bring in pops of color with art,” she told us. “I get sick of things if they’re too bold.”
Shipshape Coastal Bedroom
In designing a relaxed Palm Beach home, designer Tom Scheerer took inspiration from the sleeping quarters of a ship for the stylish nautical-themed guest bedroom. If you want a similar look, go for features like shiplap walls, striped fabrics, jute rugs, and, of course, a whimsical framed image of a boat.
Textile-Filled Island Bedroom
In the primary bedroom of Jean-Louis Deniot’s Île de Ré island retreat, tones from the ocean and textured textiles make up the inviting space. Here blue, once again, is a star player, in both the wallpaper and the whimsical pompoms that dot the bedspread. But our favorite detail is the woven canopy, which feels like a fishing net in the chicest of ways.
Antique-Filled Coastal Bedroom
When Ken Fulk got his hands on this oceanfront property on Cape Cod, it was known as the “Grey Gardens of Provincetown.” Starting completely fresh, the designer embraced the home’s shabby-chic character. “I wanted to keep the old plaster walls, the crooked and imperfect floors. It was a daily conversation on what to keep and what to fix,” Fulk told us. “I felt I could always go forward, but you can never go back.” Here an antique bed (from Marjorie Merriweather Post’s Adirondack home), vintage-inspired fabrics, and nautical-themed accessories (we love the rope doorstop!) conjure a romantic, sea-faring past.
Cheerful Prints Coastal Bedroom
In the primary bedroom of this Peruvian beach house, pattern reigns supreme. Carlos Mota mounted a screen from India behind the bed, turning the whole back wall into a pattern-thick headboard. The vintage suzani from Turkey that covers the bed continues the theme, as do patterned blue and green lampshades on both nightstands.
Boho Beach Bedroom
In the primary bedroom of this Santa Barbara beach house designed by Schuyler Samperton, ocean blue prevails, but with a decidedly bohemian bent. The blue stripes in the Farrow & Ball wallpaper contrast with, rather than match, the textured, blue-on-blue bedding, bringing surprise to the eye. The deep red headboard calls to mind wood-paneled ivy dorms, and a 1964 Roger Soubie movie poster continues the nostalgic narrative.
Old-Meets-New Hamptons Bedroom
The primary bedroom of Athena Calderone’s Amagansett beach house is a comfortable mix of old and new, as is the rest of the house, inviting you to stay for longer than just one weekend. A contemporary sconce from Visual Comfort & Co. pivots above the slightly weathered 1920s American chest of drawers used as a nightstand.
Tropical-Themed Palm Beach Bedroom
In this Palm Beach house, Caroline Rafferty assembled lively tropical-inspired patterns and colors to create a modern bedroom perfect for contemporary beachside living. The botanical prints, pink and gray stripes, and cool graphic patterns come together in a vaguely 1960s surfer medley. The vintage Karl Springer bed is an heirloom from Rafferty’s grandmother that balances out all the prints.
Breathtaking Big Sur Bedroom
In the primary bedroom of this Big Sur, California, beach house designed by Studio Schicketanz, sunset hues rule over the sea. Instead of blues and greens, the firm founder Mary Ann Gabriele Schicketanz pulled in the warm tones of the sun at dusk to create a sense of calm in harmony with the surrounding environment.
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