5 Coastal Interiors to Bring the Beach to Your Bedroom

This summer bring home that seaside feeling by introducing a little of that easy-come, easy-go holiday spirit into your bedroom decor (minus the sunburn and the seagulls). Although coastal interiors have a bit of a bad reputation, there's more to this beach-themed look than portholes and jauntily positioned 'Kiss-Me-Quick' hats. Creating a wish-I-was-beside-the-seaside sanctuary is all about layering calming colours with relaxed textures and bringing good ol’ fashioned fun to your home. Ready for sun, sand and snoozing? Then let’s dive right into our five favourite types of coastal interior design.

Cascading magenta bougainvillaea. Sand-strewn terracotta tiles. Shimmering azure seas. From Saint-Tropez to Monaco, the glorious coastline of the Cote d'Azur is positively swimming with coastal interiors inspiration. Its turn-of-the-century villas are often distinguished by white-washed walls and exposed stonework, features that aren't easily attainable in landlocked homes. Instead, mimic the look of aged plaster by using earthy hues like beiges and dusty pinks, and add Provençal charm by accessorising with earthenware pots.

From Matisse to Dufy, the bright, lush landscapes of Southern France have long been a draw for artists, so swap heavy drapes for sheer linen curtains and let natural light flood your bedroom. And for those days when the sun has packed its bags, include pops of sunbrella stripes in cobalt blue to take yourself back to the Mediterranean.

Fun, fresh and vibrant, the tropical interiors trend will turn your bedroom into your own private paradise. Embrace a carnival of colour by contrasting bright oranges and hot coral hues with verdant greens and seafoam teals. Welcome the outside in with seagrass rugs, furniture made from bamboo, rattan or teak, and plenty of oversized fronds. Indulge your taste for exotic lands by decorating with trinkets brought back from island-hopping holidays, giving items like conches and native artworks pride of place (although maybe leave the tiki torches in the loft for now). And, if you really want to invoke that Swiss-Family-Robinson vibe, why not hang an airy canopy over your bed too? Then, all you need to do is pop a paper umbrella in your rum punch, settle down for a siesta and dream of distant shores.

Inspired by the A-lister holiday homes situated along the Eastern beaches of upstate New York, the Hamptons look is all about mastering the balance between comfort and high-end style. Firstly, start with a paired-back palette, layering it with warm creams and sunset pinks, and adding soft touches using knitted throws and cushions, a plush upholstered headboard and delightfully crumpled linen bedding.

Then, luxe it to the max by incorporating a baroque dresser, a mirror framed in iridescent shells or glass pendant lights with brass touches, items that will add understated elegance to your bedroom and transform it into a blissful oceanside oasis.

For a past-meets-present vibe that’s anything but outdated, this ship-shape coastal style exudes seafaring charm. For inspiration, think Poldark - no, not Aidan Turner emerging topless from the surf, but the period Cornish cottages the cast inhabit. Raid flea markets and garage sales for down-but-not-out furnishings like wrought-iron beds, rickety stools and hurricane lamps (the more beaten the better!) and hunt down treasures that hark back to the days of high-seas adventures, such as brightly coloured signal flags, vintage sailing maps or steamer trunks for storage or seating.

When curating your salvaged sanctuary, make sure you vary items by size, height and scale, and, to create a room befitting a captain's quarters, anchor your scheme with pebble greys and pastels, natural linens and chunky fisherman's jumper knits.

If you want an interior style that screams summer like a melting Mr Whippy dripping onto your flip-flops, then this tongue-in-cheek take on coastal themed interiors is the one for you. A little bit kitsch and a whole lot of wonderful, use graphic printed textiles (stick to traditional seaside motifs like lobster pots and lighthouses) mixed and matched with bold blocks of candy colours to create a striking look that catches the eye and lifts the spirits.

Bright whites, faded blues and pops of cheeky red also make a buoyant backdrop, while nothing takes you back to that quintessentially British beachside feel than board-and-batten walls. Not ready to go all the way yet? Try mounting a picture rail to display all your favourite postcards instead - you could even add a couple of hooks for hanging your bucket and spade!

Fallen hook-line-and-sinker yet or have these coastal interiors left you all-at-sea? Let us know, we would love to hear which your favourite is!

Lizzy x