Interior Style - Coastal
Cool, calm and effortlessly elegant – our Coastal Chic look is perfect for Australia’s outdoorsy lifestyle. Featuring natural materials and light-filled, open spaces, it speaks of relaxed, beachside holidays, backyard barbecues, and a barefoot way of life that many families dream about. And whether you favour a classic coastal look, complete with nautical stripes and white-washed furniture, or a more minimalist, modern aesthetic, with the right furnishings and features, it’s a look that’s easy to bring to life in your new home.
“The coastal look is all about light tones, organic materials and earthy textures – embrace it by integrating soft fabrics, coastal colours, and one or two pieces with a naturally weathered finish.”
INTERIOR DESIGN MANAGER, JESSICA HODGES
Create the look
Exterior colours
Keep it simple with a clean-lined façade featuring classic weatherboard panelling and sections of smooth, render. When it comes to colour, think soft coastal shades, such as white, pale grey, dusty blue, or earthy neutrals that bring the beachy look to life.
Interior flooring
Choose flooring that is easy to care for and evokes a warm, natural feel, such as wide oak floorboards or stone-look floor tiles in sandy tones for communal areas. Layer hard floors with woven jute or sisal rugs to add some coastal cosiness to living areas.
Feature lighting
Use feature lighting to bring in texture and interest, such as a trio of woven rattan pendants over the kitchen island or a rustic, beaded chandelier over the dining table. Love a classic coastal look? Try glass, lantern-style pendants or wall sconces with fine rope detailing.
Kitchen styling
Make your cooking space light, bright and casual with two-tone cabinetry in oak and a beachy shade of dusty blue, soft green or cream. Flat-panel cabinetry in a matt finish, with breakout sections to pop a cookbook and décor item, is right on-trend – and it’s perfect for evoking a neasygoing, coastal vibe.
For benchtops, think creamy white or warm grey stone. Alternatively, add luxury with a marble-look finish. Bring in natural texture with a handcrafted-tile splashback, rattan pendants, and hardy wooden bar stools with woven leather seats.
Bathroom bliss
Our Coastal look translates beautifully to bathrooms, where it sets a calm and serene tone reminiscent of carefree beach holidays. Combine natural materials and timeless neutrals, such as a simple oak vanity with a crisp white or pebble grey countertop, textural wall tiles in a sandy hue, or marble-look tiles for a dash of luxury.
Complete the look with a large mirror that bounces light around and makes your bathroom feel bigger and brighter.
See the Coastal look on display
View the Coastal gallery
Furniture & Styling
Keep things as natural as possible with furniture in light, weathered timber, wicker and rattan, cosy sofas upholstered in slubby linens and cotton, and textural jute rugs underfoot. And don’t be afraid to mix different timber tones and grain levels – it only emphasises the uncontrived, easy-going vibe.
Add in scatter cushions, artwork and décor pieces in warm, beachy tones or terracotta, cream, pebble grey and tan. A few nautical stripes won’t go amiss, but don’t go overboard if you want to keep the look contemporary.
Here are the shopping destinations our interior designers recommend:
Learn more about creating the Coastal look
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