(Without Buying a Driftwood Coffee Table or Moving to Nantucket)
So here’s how this started: I decided I wanted a “coastal chic” living room. You know, light, airy, Serena-and-Lily-ish, like maybe I casually collect sea glass and my dog’s name is Skipper.
The problem? I live nowhere near the coast. And my living room looked less like a relaxed beach house and more like a landlocked garage sale.
But I was determined. I binged Pinterest, saved 47 screenshots of white slipcovered sofas I definitely couldn’t afford, and tried to DIY the vibe. It took a few attempts (and one unfortunate sailboat-themed pillow), but I figured it out.
Here are the coastal chic living room ideas that actually worked—and didn’t make my house feel like a seafood restaurant.
1. Start With a Chill Color Palette
Think soft whites, sandy beiges, driftwood grays, watery blues. I painted my walls “ocean whisper” which is basically pale gray-blue with a hint of “yes, I overthought this.”
Avoid anything neon or navy-overload unless you want yacht-club energy. And unless you are a yacht club, maybe don’t.
2. Layer in Natural Textures (But Not the Scratchy Ones)
Woven baskets, jute rugs, linen throws—they’re your new best friends. I got a rattan side table that made my room feel 30% breezier and like I might actually own a sun hat that isn’t from Target.
Pro tip: jute rugs are great unless you hate crumbs. I now vacuum mine approximately 400 times a week. Still worth it.
3. Add White—But Not All White
White slipcovers? Gorgeous. Until you live with pets, kids, or red wine. Go for washable covers, off-white tones, or even just one hero piece (like a white chair you only sit in when you’re clean and dry).
Also, coastal chic is not the same as “sterile all-white condo with zero joy.” Add warmth. Add wood tones. Add life.
4. Use Blue Like It’s a Spice, Not a Sauce
Everyone thinks “coastal = blue explosion,” but actually? Just a few soft blue accents go a long way. I added a striped pillow, a misty ocean print, and a ceramic vase that looks vaguely nautical, and boom—vibes.
No need to paint everything baby blue. Unless you want to. No judgment, just… maybe pace yourself.
5. Go Big on Light (Or Fake It ‘Til You Make It)
My living room faces north and is basically a cave from 3pm onward. I swapped out heavy curtains for linen panels and added a big mirror across from the window. Magic. Suddenly I had “sun-drenched beach house” lighting… even though it was raining.
6. Art That Feels Like a Vacation
You don’t need actual photos of beaches (unless they’re yours—go off). Think: abstract wave prints, line drawings of shells, moody seascapes. I found a print of foggy dunes and stared at it for ten minutes like it was therapy.
Bonus: no seashells were harmed in the making of this gallery wall.
7. Add a Bit of Woven Magic
A seagrass ottoman? A cane cabinet? A wicker chair you tell everyone is “vintage” even though it’s from Wayfair? Yes, yes, and yes. These pieces scream coastal without shouting.
Just maybe don’t go full matchy-matchy rattan or your room might start resembling a 1980s sunroom.
8. Greenery > Nautical Junk
Real or fake plants add life. A big fiddle leaf fig or some beachy pampas grass says “fresh and coastal.” A bunch of anchors, life preservers, or faux lobsters says “I bought out HomeGoods during a seaside clearance event.”
Be coastal. Not pirate-themed.
9. Keep the Layout Casual
Coastal rooms aren’t stiff. They’re chill. I rearranged my furniture so it felt more open, conversational, less “we all sit in rows facing the TV.” Bonus points if your setup encourages lounging, napping, or staring wistfully out a window.
10. Sprinkle in Sentimental (or Pretend Sentimental) Pieces
A driftwood sculpture you found on a vacation? Awesome. A bowl of collected shells? Love it. No coastal history? Lie. That little bottle on my shelf? “Oh, I found it in a tiny seaside town in Maine.” (It’s from Marshalls. Let me live.)
Coastal chic isn’t about looking like you live inside a beach resort catalog. It’s about creating a space that feels calm, easy, a little breezy—and like you maybe read books with ocean views.
Start with textures, add some soft colors, let the light in, and please put down the “Beach This Way” arrow sign. You’re better than that. (Unless it makes you happy—in which case, ignore me completely.)
Need help pulling your space together? Drop your vibe below. I’ll gladly overanalyze your living room like it’s my full-time job. Because at this point… it kind of is.