HOMEDIT

Bathroom fish scale tile — PHOTO:
CHAD R. MELLON

The light, bright, and airy aesthetic of coastal style lends itself well to bathrooms, creating a space that's calm and serene—just like a relaxing beach vacation. The style uses timeless neutrals, touches of blue, textural elements, and nautical accents for a layered effect and effortless elegance. It also works just as well in a traditional style home as it does in a contemporary condo.

Whatever the size of your bathroom or budget, these coastal bathroom ideas offer inspiration for creating a breezy look that'll transport you to a faraway beachside resort every time you walk in.

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Add a Two-Tone Wall

A cool seafoam green tile meets crisp white paint halfway up the wall in this modern coastal bathroom. The two-tone look creates definition and contrast, and keeps the space nice and bright. It's also a budget-friendly option if you want to splurge on luxurious tile, since you're only using it to cover half of the wall.

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Incorporate Built-Ins

Bathroom built-in shelf — WERNER STRAUBE

Add storage space and a decorative surface to your bathroom with built-in shelves. The light blue and white paneling fills this coastal bathroom with lots of charm and the shelves provide a spot for practical items such as bath salts as well as beach-themed objects that highlight the coastal theme.

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Use Bathroom Tile

A bold wave-shaped wall tile makes a splash in this blue and white bathroom. An oversized mirror hangs on a thick piece of rope above a wall-mounted sink for a fun coastal touch, and a striped basket holds extra towels and introduces a new pattern.

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Create a Beach Resort Feel

Give your bathroom a luxurious beach-resort style makeover in a few simple steps. Paint the walls a serene shade of light blue, install polished chrome hardware, add crisp white towels, and hang a statement light fixture. If budget permits, consider bringing in a freestanding tub for ultimate relaxation.

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Add Coastal Color

Have fun with your coastal bathroom decor and give a freestanding tub a whimsical makeover with a painted stripe design. Continue the beachy look with blue walls accented with crisp white wainscoting and towels to match, and display treasures you found on the shore for a vacation-inspired bathroom.

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Use Contrasting Tiles

Use bathroom tile to make a beautiful design statement and add coastal style. Here, a playful fish scale tile in a refreshing shade of mint green lines the tub and ties in a modern vanity painted in the same color. The tile's scalloped shape is emphasized with white grout and curved brass hardware throughout the space, which adds a touch of warmth and echoes the shape of the tile.

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Hang a Unique Mirror

A seashell adorned mirror and striped walls give this bathroom an unmistakable coastal aesthetic. Treat a wall mirror like a piece of art and use it to carry a decor theme or color scheme, then keep the vanity simple to prevent a cluttered look.

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Coastal Color Scheme

For a coastal bathroom refresh, you can't go wrong with a blue and white color scheme. Reminiscent of a breezy beach day, the classic color combination looks beautiful with polished chrome hardware and crisp white towels for a timeless finish.

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Install Beach-Inspired Wallpaper

Bathroom beach-themed wallpaper — KIM CORNELISON

Instead of relying on a color scheme to add coastal style, install a beach-themed wallpaper. In this kids' bathroom, a playful fish print adds color and instantly livens up an otherwise all-white space.

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Use Unexpected Color

orange beach theme wallpaper in bathroom — JOHN BESSLER

Put an unexpected spin on traditional nautical style with a surprising color choice. A bold orange wallpaper featuring various sea creatures and objects sets a dramatic backdrop for a vintage-style lantern light and a porthole-inspired wall mirror. To cut costs and create a two-tone look, install wallpaper on the top half of the wall and supplement it with beaded board on the bottom half.

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Use Sea Glass

Bathroom sea glass tile — HECTOR SANCHEZ

Bring the shimmer and vibrancy of sea glass into your bathroom with a blue-green wall tile. Give the coastal color scheme a modern update by stacking subway tile horizontally instead of installing it in a traditional staggered pattern.

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Incorporate Light Wood Tones

Use light wood tones through flooring or built-in storage cabinets to infuse your bathroom with modern coastal style. The light wood adds just enough warmth and pairs well with crisp white walls, blue tile, and rattan storage baskets.

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Hang Floating Shelves

Bathroom floating shelves — ADAM ALBRIGHT

Maintain an open and airy aesthetic that's the epitome of coastal with the help of floating shelves. Instead of visually heavy cabinetry, open shelving provides storage space as well as a decorative surface to prop up a piece of art or display a bowl of collected shells.

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Add Wall Paneling

Add charm and character to your coastal bathroom with wall paneling. It can be as simple as vertical strips of wood that create depth and an extra layer of architectural detail.

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Coastal Bathroom Wall Tile

When it comes to a color scheme for your coastal bathroom, take cues from a sandy beach. In this elegant bathroom, a water-inspired blue tiled wall is met with the warm, sand-like tones of a brown vanity, off-white wall color, and natural sisal floor runner.

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Paint the Vanity

Bathroom blue and white wallpaper — GREG SCHEIDEMANN

Give your bathroom a beachy makeover and paint the vanity a cool shade of blue. Continue the seaside theme with a bamboo mirror and brighten the space with a blue and white wallpaper that adds pattern, doubles as artwork, and ties in the vanity.

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Mediterranean-Inspired Bathroom

Mediterranean inspired coastal bathroom — JESSICA BRATTER

Use Mediterranean-inspired motifs and architectural details so your bathroom transports you to a faraway island every time you walk in. This stunning coastal bathroom turns an empty nook into a luxurious feature with bold blue floor tile, a freestanding tub, a statement light fixture, and a unique arched alcove design.

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Coastal Bathroom Lighting

Neutral coastal bathroom — KRITSADA PANICHGUL

Give your bathroom a coastal touch with a statement light fixture such as this nautical rope and exposed bulb pendant light. A small detail like swapping out a generic vanity light for a more unique fixture is a great way to elevate the space in a simple and inexpensive way.

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Add Textural Elements

Boho modern farmhouse bathroom — ERICA VAN SLYKE

Add a layered, coastal aesthetic to any plain bathroom with textural elements. Here, a rattan pendant light, woven wood shades, textured floor runner, and tasseled Turkish cotton towels add visual interest.

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Use Beach-Themed Art

Play up the beach aesthetic with a statement piece of art like this colorful portrait that stands out against a gray wall and white subway tile. Instead of a gallery wall, think big and use one larger piece for a clean and uncluttered look.

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Get Creative with Tile

Bathroom tile presents the perfect opportunity to get creative and infuse the space with coastal blues and whites. For a unique look, have fun with tile arrangement and juxtapose solid white tile with a mosaic border on the walls. Then go with a bold geometric tile on the floor to create distinction between the walls and the floor.

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Merge Coastal and Cottage Styles

For a vintage-inspired bathroom that exudes charm, merge coastal and cottage styles. Take inspiration from this character-filled room that marries the two flawlessly. White walls, beaded board, and cafe-style curtains bring the relaxed coastal look while an antique-style clawfoot tub, vintage area rug, lantern-style pendant light, and landscape oil painting add all the warmth of a cottage aesthetic.

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Install a Barn Door

Hang a barn door to save space and give your coastal bathroom a touch of farmhouse style. Here, it lends rustic charm and its black and white design leads into the monochrome bathroom for a seamless transition.

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Use Beachy Flooring

Bathroom walls aren't the only way to display coastal style. Flooring is a great place to add color and pattern, too. Forgo traditional floor tile and opt for rustic wood planks, then white wash them and add a touch of blue paint for a distressed, beachy finish.

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Contemporary Coastal Bathroom

Coastal style doesn't necessarily need to lean towards a rustic or farmhouse-inspired look. It works just as well in a contemporary space. This bathroom puts a modern spin on coastal style with a streamlined indigo blue vanity and storage cabinet, light blue walls, and a framed photograph of deep ocean waves.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is coastal design style?
This style is characterized by its reflection of natural seaside elements through color and texture. It is commonly confused with a nautical design style, which uses more kitschy elements like anchors and seashells.
What colors are commonly used in coastal design?
A neutral color palette will work well for this design. However, so will bright, airy colors with hues of blue and green that are reminiscent of sea glass. Overall, the colors used should be inspired by the sand, the clouds, and the sea.
What home decor products and accessories will make your home feel more beachy?
Although the coastal design style originated on the Atlantic coast, you don't have to own a waterfront house to decorate using this design style. Try adding artwork of the ocean, grasscloth wallpaper, and driftwood finishes to make the room feel more beachy.

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