How to Add The Coastal Style to Your Kitchen

Whether your home is steps away from the beach or your ideal getaway lies in your own back garden, nautical style and coastal decor will turn any space into a seaside escape. From refined lines, a refreshing colour palette and coastal-inspired motifs, in this guide we turn our attention to the kitchen and explore what you need to add the nautical aesthetic to yours.

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Coastal Style Basics

• Sandy neutrals with hints of primary colours (yellow, red and blue).
• Mixes of pattern and texture that create warmth and dimension.
• White furniture and walls that support an open, airy vibe.
• Organic, nautical decorating materials like rope, rattan, sisal and driftwood nod to the style's maritime origins.
• Lightweight linen and cotton textiles create a casual and beachy feel.

Coastal Architecture

Exposed beams, cathedral ceilings, built-in shelves and panelled, white walls are reminiscent of classic seaside cottages. Bonus: They make your kitchen seem larger. Though natural wood is sometimes left exposed, wood kitchen furniture and wall paneling is usually painted or stained a light colour. Coastal homes feature ample windows and open floor plans that amplify light, airflow and openness.

Coastal Colour Palette

Summon the sea by splashing shades of ocean blue all around your kitchen. Don’t worry about matching your hues, a traditional coastal kitchen is filled with a spectrum of blues – sailor navy, aqua, seaglass green, Mediterranean azure and bright cerulean all create a coastal home.

Contrast saturated blues with clean white. A blue statement wall and white kitchen cabinets act as large, crisp canvases on which the blue hues from dinnerware, mugs and utensils pop. Pulled from maritime signal flags, classic coastal accent colours are bold yellow and red. These warm tones stand out on a backdrop of white and blue. Combine these seaside shades with weathered woods and rope detailing to give your kitchen that distinctive rustic edge.

Coastal Patterns

The core pattern of coastal decor is the classic stripe, which can take on many forms. A navy Breton stripe (think French sailor shirts) is an ode to sailing, while thicker cabana stripes feel more beachy. Classic preppy motifs, like plaids and gingham checks, also feel right at home. For a playful twist, go with sea-life motifs including botanical marine prints.

Nautical symbols – anchors, ropes, life rafts and compasses – are also coastal go-tos. Find the right balance of patterns for your personal look. Take a minimalist approach with one or two motifs in the kitchen (try a couple marine life tea towels or a coral patterned runner rug) or lean into the style with stripes and motifs galore.

Coastal Cookware

Your cookware and dinnerware are often the most prominent pieces in your kitchen, so utilise them for style purposes too. Choose pots, pans and larger casserole dishes in shades of blue, green and cream - including seafood-purpose cookware such as mussel pots and crab crackers. Opt for crockery in a classic ocean palette, a weathered wood kitchen table and plenty of recycled glass bottles for serving drinks.

Coastal Fabrics

When it comes to fabrics, go natural with linen and cotton to create a light, beachy feel. Linen is naturally resistant to bacteria, so if you have a beach house, it can handle wet bathing suits and sandy feet. Cotton is an easy-breezy textile that's perfect for casual kitchen spaces.

Napkins, place mats and even oven gloves with coastal motifs will really add those small details to the overall aesthetic go all-out.

Coastal Decor

Bring the outdoors in with shells, coral, starfish, sea glass, driftwood and other collected treasures. When in doubt, fill a glass vase with sand and prop a few seashells inside for a beach-inspired display. Fresh flowers and plants also work to bring the outdoors in.

Maritime pieces like ship steering wheels, anchors, bottles and ropes also make for perfect statement touches and unifying elements. Large glass balls in dark blues, reds, yellows and greens wrapped in rope will transform your basic kitchen table into a coastal talking piece.

Coastal lighting can take the form of iron, wooden or rope-wrapped chandeliers; caged, black industrial metal wall lights; or glass-enclosed lights designed to look like oil lamps.