There’s nothing like coastal design to cool you down when you’re in the hottest days of summer. Also referred to as Hamptons design (after the trendy seaside resort community), coastal design is light and airy, with a soft color palette to calm you and help you beat the summer heat. The strong suit of this design style is its reliance on colors and moods that are naturally found in coastal communities and beachside resorts. When nature is giving you such monumental design inspiration, it’s best to run with it, which is what coastal’s proponents have done to great effect. If you’re looking for a great descriptive term for it, “minimalistic elegance†is probably the most accurate. Every aspect of this design trend is intended to provide some sort of escapism and reprieve–whether visual or spatial–from the stresses and rigors of everyday life. Done right, coastal design is effortless. Here’s the 411 on this design style.
The History of Coastal Design
Unlike other design trends, it’s somewhat trickier to nail down the origins of coastal design. Mankind has always been in and around the beach since the early days of our civilization, so it’s just naturally been a part of our environment. However, the actual intention of incorporating this laidback design aesthetic into graphics, the web, and interiors had to originate somewhere. Where did that spark come from?
It’s safe to say that its origins can be traced back to the world’s most famous beach community, the Hamptons, which is where we also get another name for this design trend: Hamptons style. Located in Long Island’s South Fork, the Hamptons is a series of villages and hamlets that actually started out as a humble farming community in the 19th century. In the late 19th century, affluent folks in the area began to descend on the Hamptons as both a vacation spot and to form a dedicated community.
- The Pruitts of Southampton (TV series)
- The Real Housewives of New York City (TV series)
- Royal Pains (TV series)
- Revenge (TV series)
- Weekend at Bernie’s (movie)
- Something’s Gotta Give (movie)
- Inside Job (movie)
As more audiences were exposed to this part of the country over the decades, they began to notice the distinct design and décor of the area–and sought to replicate it in their own lives.
Characteristics of Coastal Design
It’s important to note that the Hamptons hasn’t been the only inspiration for coastal design. That’s why there are varieties of coastal design, each with its own specific and unique touches that reflect its particular corner of the globe.
Besides coastal design inspired by the Hamptons, there’s also Polynesian or Hawaiian coastal (some would simply call it island style), and Mediterranean coastal, which features the rich heritage of Greece, Italy, and some parts of Spain.
- Neutral colors that feature a gray base (neutral doesn’t have to always be white)
- Cooler color pairings (blues and greens)
- Bold and vibrant colors (turquoises and pinks)
- Reflective surfaces
- Emphasis on texture (whether implied or real) like woven shades and wicker
- Natural light
- Nature themes (incidentally also big in Scandinavian design) like seashells, the sea, sea creatures (crabs, fish, whales, etc.) flowers, coastal-inspired illustrations, and color palettes inspired by the sea
- Natural materials
- Patterns for visual variety, such as stripes of alternating colors
- Soft furnishings
- Architectural details (paneling, crown molding, etc.)
- A mood that evokes calm, relaxation, and comfort
- Nautical décor
Beyond these general qualities of design, each coastal variety has additional characteristics that are well worth exploring.
Hamptons Style Coastal
Hamptons design is idiosyncratic in that it’s unique to northeastern design and décor sensibilities. Look for these traits in true Hamptons style:
- Minimalism
- White space
- Neutral colors that are more on the earth tones side of things (sandy, creamy, etc.)
- Ornamentation for added elegance (chandeliers and mirrors in homes, scripts in font design, etc.)
Hawaiian Coastal Design
It’s not surprising that another locale known for its fabulous beaches would inspire another take on this design trend. While Hawaiian shares many traits with the Hamptons style, it has evolved to showcase some unique touches when it comes to design inspired by the beach. This technique is characterized by the following traits:
- Tropical patterns
- Neutral colors, but specifically more emphasis on whites
- Palpable materials and textures like seagrass, shutters, and dark wood
- Palms
Mediterranean Coastal Design
With the sequel to Mamma Mia! in theatres now, it seems apropos to finish off with the Mediterranean’s version of coastal design. Of note, in contrast with the other two varieties, is the more liberal use of sunbaked colors, giving this take on coastal a warmer feel than the cooler colors punctuated by neutral whites that you see in Hamptons and Hawaiian coastal. In particular, Mediterranean coastal includes the following traits:
- Warm colors (think reds, oranges, yellows, and pinks)
- Terracotta materials and colors
- Engraved detailing
- The presence of heavier materials like metals and irons
Coastal Design in Web Design
Although coastal originated in interior design and architecture, it has since expanded into other niches like what we see and interact with on the web.
Sandals Resorts
Almost a no-brainer, the website of Sandals Resorts is a veritable homage to everything coastal because the nature of its business depends on making vacationing by the seashore look like the greatest thing on the planet. Accordingly, users of this site will notice striking imagery of coastal resorts and environments, but that’s only the beginning.
Coastal Living Magazine Facebook Page
Coastal Living Magazine is a publication that covers all the finer points of beach living and the coast, whether it’s the breaking waves of the seashore, beach activities like surfing, or food and drink for the coastal lifestyle.
Its Facebook page is, expectedly, a treatise on how to apply coastal design to your social media channel. For starters, the magazine’s wordmark logo uses a seafoam-y, bluish-green color that immediately makes readers think of the relaxed, beach atmosphere of the tropics. Then, its Facebook cover page features nature themes like breaking waves, the sands of a beach, and activities (surfing, thanks to the surfboard) to be enjoyed in nature.
Disney’s Aulani Resort
Disney’s resort in Hawaii is understandably more along the island-style variation of coastal. Its website is laid out in a grid pattern that mimics the all-round clean and airy aesthetic of coastal, resulting in a user experience that’s easy to read and appealing. The generous white space around the content blocks helps make this aesthetic pop with all the more vigor.
Coastal Design in Graphic Design
The lazy and soothing colors and eye-popping textures of this design trend make it a perfect fit for graphic design. Here are some standout examples that’ll impress upon you the creative possibilities of this style.
Watercolor Sea Palms Seascape Kit
This digital asset kit features the colors, textures, and elements we’d expect to see in any easygoing coastal scene. The turquoise of the water and the greens of the palms and land produce a relaxing mood, thanks to their cool color scheme. Then, the shading in the palm leaves creates the impression of effective density in the trees, while careful spotting on the water creates the appearance of ocean spray and mist on the surface.
Coastal Multipurpose Theme
This WordPress theme offers a spectacular backdrop for any freelancer’s work and an inspiring presentation for any site visitor. Its minimalist approach that features the soothing calm of purple and pink hues on the horizon line (both above and below the water) screams “Beach vacation!†The breezy and light color scheme contrasts nicely with the texture of the breaking waves, creating an homage to the nature motif that coastal always celebrates.
Classic Coastal Digital Paper
A digital product that showcases the lovely patterns that abound with this design trend, this digital paper comes in a variety of patterns. From chevrons (inverted, V-shaped marks) and stripes to classic marine anchors and dots, these patterns offer a plethora of visual variety to offset the calm and relaxing colors present in this style. Color-wise, this paper features seafoam turquoises, flamingo pinks, and marine blues–all tied together by neutral white.
Coastal Design in Interior Design
Perhaps the biggest contribution to coastal design can be found in interiors. After all, it’s homes in places like the Hamptons that have tremendously helped to popularize this style in pop culture. Here’s a look at how to turn any interior into something that Hamptons living can be proud of.
A Convergence of Traditional and New
One big factor in making any interior coastal is the choice of accessories you bring into your home. Something like a shell or a nautical symbol can go a long way toward telling your guests that you’ve put the stamp of coastal in your home.
There are both traditional and more modern accessories that you can use to convey this look.
- Conchs
- Sand dollars
- Shells
- Driftwood carvings
More modern accessories are:
- Chevron insignias
- Shiplap touches
- Ornamental lanterns
The winning move would be to incorporate both old and new coastal accessories into your home, like a chevron pattern over your mantle and some driftwood carvings in your living room, where they serve as great conversation pieces.
Lots of Light
It makes sense to infuse your interiors with excessive light–coastal areas always enjoy the brilliant sunshine and natural light that makes these environments so appealing. Here’s one surefire trick to brighten up your interior: paint the walls white. Using white walls amplifies the effects of natural light that makes it into your home.
And that segues into another important strategy: windows, specifically large windows. The more windows your home has, the more it’ll be flooded with light, thereby amplifying the coastal effect exponentially. Besides windows, think about adding skylights and glass doors.
Simple Fabrics
Tying into the whole clean and crisp look of white walls and airy modernity, the use of fresh and comfy fabrics in your home is another necessity to achieving coastal design. The goal with these kinds of fabrics isn’t just for aesthetics; it’s also to get to a certain level of comfort that makes you want to relax and take in the sumptuousness of your environment. Ideas for fabrics in a coastal scheme include:
- Cotton rugs
- Linen slipcovers
- Billowy curtains
Of course, going with pure white is always a winner, but so are faded pastels and patterns like stripes, to provide some texture to the eye.
More Than Just the Beach
It’s easy to write off coastal design as being solely about the beach. After all, all its trappings–like sand, sun, and ocean–are mainstays of this design trend, yet there are also sophisticated design elements at work here. The whole lightness and airiness of this design style are due to factors like its cleanness and minimalism, two elements that give this style its unique aesthetic. Overall, achieving coastal means that you have to err on the less-is-more side because this style isn’t about kitsch. It’s about a design that incorporates nature, clever and unassuming decorative touches, and timelessness to make a long-lasting impression.
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Marc is a copywriter and marketer who runs The Glorious Company, a marketing agency. An expert in business and marketing, he helps businesses and companies of all sizes get the most bang for their ad bucks.
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