While the prominent interior design trends of 2010 veered towards soft colours like beiges and blues and stark minimalism that reflected a post-recession empathise on practicality and function. The dominant design trend of the 2020s may prove to be coastal design.
In many ways, Coastal furniture is a rejection and an evolution of the austere trends that became prominent in the 2010s. While an interior of 10 years ago would have emphasised muted greys and blacks with the occasional splash of colour. The coastal trend makes rich ocean blues and pastel pinks the colour palette of choice. Attention-grabbing coral white, kelp greens and a creamy shell yellow are also stalwarts of this particular trend.
Of course, a coastal interior isn’t a complete denial of the 2010s interior. In many ways, coastal interiors build on the 2010s minimalism by sharing many of the same colour palettes. Greys are still part of the coastal design trend, as is white. The coastal design develops the clean, streamlined look of the 2010s by incorporating more design flourishes. Coastal design is that much busier with a greater emphasis on ornamental pieces. Still, it settles on pastel colours within a functional environment.
Suppose you’re interested in how to incorporate the coastal design trend into your property but don’t know where to start, then GetLocal has you covered. Read on for suggestions on how you can make sure your home is bang on-trend.
What is the Coastal Design Trend
The Coastal Design Trend is a popular design trend incorporating natural elements and colours into the home. This trend is inspired by beach homes and nautical themes and colours.
The colours in the Coastal Design Trend are typically muted and natural, such as blues, greens, and whites. The furniture and decor in this trend are made from natural materials, such as wood and wicker. At its most conspicuous, this trend includes seashells and other nautical items. Primarily this trend takes inspiration from seaside colours and the sense of calm from the ocean rather than incorporating obvious signifiers.
The overall goal of the Coastal Design Trend is to create a relaxing and tranquil environment. This trend is perfect for those who want to bring the feeling of the outdoors inside their home.
If you are interested in incorporating the Coastal Design Trend into your home, there are a few things to keep in mind:
You will want to use colours inspired by the sea and the sky.
You will want to use natural materials as much as possible.
How to Incorporate the Coastal Trend into your home
The first and most crucial aspect of introducing the coastal trend into your home is to settle on a colour palette. As mentioned, natural, nocturnal and coastal colours are the order of the day. The most recognisable colour associated with the trend is, of course, blue. Shades of blue that are often used include ocean blue, royal blue, admiral blue and navy blue. While this is undoubtedly the most obvious coastal colour, it shouldn’t be used excessively. Instead, select blue furniture, blue sofa throws or create a single blue feature wall.
Some of the more muted colours associated with the trend include:
- Porcelain and light grey to reflect the colour of sand
- Splashes of dark green inspired by seaweed like kelp
- Coral and shell yellow
A muted colour scheme with an emphasis on soft tones is the best way to subtly introduce the trend into a single room or an entire property.
Casual Styles
Another hallmark of coastal design is the focus on a sense of ease, casualness and calmness. Choose a soft colour palette and mix and match furniture materials to create this sense of tranquillity.
While the design of the 2010s was all about sharp lines, single colours and order, costal design takes a much more breezy approach to furniture placement. Think large cushions, blankets, throws, and a less rigid approach to colour placement. Disparate chairs and pieces of furniture can be placed in a single room and tied together with a thick rug, adding a sense of cohesion to the space.
To achieve this casual vibe within your home, think from a comfort first perspective. You are looking for plenty of seating, finished with cushions and liberal use of throws and blankets. It’s easy to go overboard on furniture pieces, so measure your space carefully. Make sure you select enough furniture to create a comforting, cosy environment that leaves enough room to move around unimpeded.
A well-placed rug, made from natural materials should stop a space from feeling cluttered and create a sense of balance.
Natural Materials
To achieve the coastal look, a property must avoid spray finished surfaces, smooth surfaces and single colours. This design style emphasises natural materials. Think wood, wicker, bamboo, rattan and even stone. Instead of hiding the natural look and colour of these materials, integrate this colour into the interior. Choose wood pieces with rich natural grain to bring a sense of nature into a space. When looking at wood, avoid overly dark timbers like oak and mahogany and instead go for light shades like pine, maple and hickory. We encourage the mixing and matching of materials to create a breezy feel within the room. For example, pair a wicker chair with a pine dresser or a bamboo bookcase with a hickory coffee table. When mixing materials, use matching colour shades to maintain cohesion within the space.
Coastal Furniture
Now you have a sense of the characteristics of the coastal look; it’s time to select the appropriate furniture. Let’s start with the good news first. This type of interior design always leans towards the natural. You want to avoid synthetic and select natural materials like wool for soft furnishings. Instead of hard plastic or overly manufactured wood, think bamboo or hickory. These materials are sustainable and environmentally friendly. Coastal interior design also pairs well with reclaimed furniture pieces and second hand-pieces can be upcycled.
Unfortunately, natural materials and solid wood furniture tend to be more expensive. Flat-pack design, which emphasises clean lines and solid colours, can clash with this interior design style. For furniture, you may need to pay a little extra. Natural materials, colours and patterns tend to stay in fashion for longer, so while the initial investment may be a little bit extra the pieces’ lifespan could mean you save in the long run.
To nail the coastal look, some of the essential furniture pieces include:
Coastal Dressers
Coastal dressers have become the poster child of the coastal design trend. All types of dressers compliment this style, including vertical chests, bachelor’s chests, skinny chests and even media chests. However, to ensure a room stays on-trend, there are a few caveats you need to keep in mind. Go for dressers made from solid wood, or at least dressers with a convincing faux-wood finish. Also, dark wood can look too dramatic. Therefore lighter wood is the preferred option. When staying within the coastal design colour palette, dressers can be painted a royal blue or even a coral orange. The wood’s natural grain will also complement this design, so a varnished finish is frequently the preferred option.
Chair and Sofa Options
When it comes to the living room, you want to think big, select large sofas and chairs. This style is built around comfort, so finish sofas with oversized pillows and throws made from natural materials like wool. As for colour, you’re looking for a soft blue, light grey or shell white. For a more conspicuous finish, go for a royal blue sofa complemented with mustard-coloured pillows. Around the sofa, think simple wicker chairs, fabric-topped stools with wooden legs, beige armchairs or wide rattan chairs, finished with white or grey pillows.
Finishing Touches
Curtains
Go for light, linen curtains with minimal design. The insistence on minimalism should extend to the curtain rack. Go for a plain steel rack with little to no decorative features. Discover and Discover curtains on Getlocal.ie from Local Businesses Around Ireland.
Coffee Tables
Like the other furniture pieces, a coffee table should be made from natural materials. Go for a fully wood table or a table with a single colour top with exposed wood legs. As always, choose a light wood for the legs.
Lamps, Ornaments
For lamps, the coastal design aesthetic can comfortably intersect with the industrial trend. Steel lamps, with thick wires work a treat with this style. For ornaments, choose wicker, bamboo bowls or plain glass vases. The above is only an introduction to this exciting and modern interior design style. To make sure you find just the right pieces when decorating, we recommend searching on GetLocal. Here you’ll find pieces to begin creating a beautiful coastal-inspired space. All products are available from Irish retailers. Get local also lets you compare products from multiple retailers in one convenient location. GetLocal makes it easy to shop local while ensuring you get the best product at the right price.
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