How to create a coastal themed bedroom

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside, oh I do like to be beside the sea… While some of you may be lucky enough to wake up to the sound of waves and the smell of a salty sea breeze, if you aren’t located by the coast, creating a coastal themed bedroom could be the next best thing. 

Drawing on light colours and using natural materials, coastal style bedrooms are open and bright spaces which are designed to transport us to the seaside. This timeless style will help to create a soothing and ambient space guaranteed to have you feeling at peace in your bedroom and perhaps ready for a very restful sleep. Interested in dipping your toe in the water? We’ve put together everything you need to know about creating your own coastal bedroom design. 

Choosing the right furniture

When it comes to choosing the right furniture for a coastal bedroom aesthetic, the focus should be on natural materials to help bring the outside in. Rattan or wooden pieces will look perfect and beachy in your seaside oasis. 

Our Chateaux White Wooden King Size Bed Frame is guaranteed to serve up the beach vibes in any boudoir. A strong, sturdy bed frame, the Chateau won’t just deliver up a comfortable night's sleep but will slot neatly into a coastal aesthetic and colour palette. You could also check out our impressive range of wooden beds as the natural feel of the material will enhance the lightness of your space. 

Complement your bed with furniture with natural wooden pieces such as the Anna White 6 Drawer Chest which would work well with the white wooden finish of the Chateaux bed frame, as well as providing ample storage space. Or the Bordeaux Oak 2 Drawer Bedside could add that small pop of sandy colour to introduce a natural, beach focused reference to your room.  

For a more textured approach, the Liberty Rattan Wooden Bed Frame is a truly wonderful centrepiece for any bedroom and helps enhance any coastal aesthetic with its outdoorsy feel and soft antique white finish. Couple up with Newquay Rattan 4-2 Drawer Chest to add more natural touch points in your bedroom and amp up those beach vibes.

Creating a relaxing atmosphere

Transport the soothing sounds of the sea into your bedroom by creating a relaxing, coastal themed atmosphere. It’s time to talk colours! 

Taking inspiration straight from the seaside environment, blues and whites are going to be your best friends when styling your coastal bedroom decor. From creamy whites to soothing blues, you can’t go wrong with this type of colour pairing as long as you make sure you are opting for soft colour tones. If blue isn’t your cup of tea, sandy beige, light pale greens or a light peach colour could also do the trick. 

Colour coordinating the beach theme with some furnishings like throws, blankets and pillows, will also add that extra layer of homeliness and will have you eagerly waiting for when you can cosy up into bed at the end of each day. 

On top of colours and soft furnishings, introducing texture through wood panelling can add another layer of natural and light material to your space, help to zone areas of your bedroom and contribute to your boho beach look, all at once!

Enhancing the coastal theme

Once your furniture and colour scheme are in play, it’s time to amp up the seaside references with a few more coastal bedroom ideas. A well placed life ring, intricate model ship or pretty seashells in a glass vase will all contribute to your beachy theme, as could coastal themed artwork or posters of your favourite stretch of sand. 

Like the sea itself, the accessories for a coastal theme are vast, so let your inner interior designer run free – just remember not to introduce too many items or contrasting colours which could throw off your calming oasis.

Bringing in natural light

On top of interior design choices, you should also be thinking about how to accentuate the light in your bedroom. Seaside spots are sunny after all! 

If adding new windows or installing skylights isn’t in your budget, there’s plenty of ways you can bring the natural light into your space. The good news is that a coastal colour palette is great at making a space seem light and airy, so you’re one step ahead already.

Firstly, it’s time to maximise the natural light you do have. Ensure that bigger pieces of furniture are moved into spaces where they don’t block any light, keep your windows nice and clean and opt for light coloured curtains or blinds which blend in with your coastal theme. 

Once you have covered those basics, you could consider strategically placed mirrors to reflect light in your bedroom or investing in a SAD light that brightens and fades according to the time of day, which can really help add some ambience to your room if you don’t have much natural light to play with.

Finishing touches

Ok sailor, you’re almost there with your coastal creation! Now it’s time to add that extra touch of class to your space to bring it altogether. 

Focusing on your bed, be sure to select a top quality bed set; not only will this add to your level of comfort, but the right materials will also work to bolster your seaside theme with texture. Opt for soft cottons and cool linens which can be block matched with your colour scheme, then layer up with different coloured and patterned blankets and throws for warmth and to accentuate the beach vibes. You could even top off your bed’s make up with some choice throw pillows which include coastal patterns or references. 

Finally, be sure to add some texture through your choice of accessories. The overall feel of coastal bedrooms is a soft one, so adding a woven or rattan rug or exposing some wooden flooring will add an element of contrast but is in keeping with the natural outdoorsy vibe of a coastal theme.

Looking for more interior design inspiration?

Tempted by a coastal bedroom conversion? It’s easy to understand why and it’s even easier to transform your bedroom into a beachside oasis. Simply focusing on a basic and neutral colour palette, accentuating light and using natural materials will have you half way home. Add some coastal decorative pieces, different textures and voila! Welcome to your new peaceful coastal bedroom. 

Or, if you’re after a different aesthetic, why not check out our Time4Sleep blog for more inspo? From neutral bedroom ideas to summer trends, we’ve put together tons of thought pieces on how to style your bedroom, work with different themes and experiment with colours in your home.