Coastal style bedroom refresh

The appeal of coastal décor is widespread, even amongst those of us who don’t live near the ocean. Our family home in Ottawa, Canada is about as landlocked as it gets, but that doesn’t stop me from incorporating some coastal vibes into our home. I grew up about 45 minutes from one of the most beautiful inland beaches on the shores of Lake Huron. In addition, childhood trips to the east coast of Canada fostered a lifelong love of the ocean. I think most of us that visit the ocean even just once, fall in love. In this post, Coastal Style Bedroom Refresh, I show you how to add some seaside touches to your bedroom décor.

The Backdrop

The existing décor in your bedroom will determine if adding coastal décor to your room will work. If your walls are painted white, cream, beige, grey, or a shade of blue, you will have an easier time making a coastal style feel authentic in your space. The walls in our Master bedroom are all a creamy white, Alabaster, by Sherwin Williams. In addition to the white walls, the wall behind the bed is adorned with shiplap, which has a relaxed seaside feel. To check out my shiplap tutorial on how I added shiplap to this space, click here. If you love the coastal look, consider adding some shiplap to your space.

Our furniture is also fairly neutral in colour. The poster bed itself doesn’t have a particularly coastal feel to it, but it still works because it has simple lines and the wood tone is fairly neutral. Our white side tables, black bookcase, and white slipcovered chair are well suited to a coastal space. Typically, furniture painted white, pale grey, or a shade of blue, or stained to resemble driftwood, works well for coastal décor. So, if you really love coastal décor, you might want to consider painting some of your furniture a lighter shade.

One more thing- our light beige carpet works really well for coastal style décor. If you have light carpet or white or light wood floors, this look will be easy to pull off. If not, you could add a light-coloured or sisal rug to your space.

The Bedding

Crisp white bedding always reminds me of the ocean, and that’s why I started with these organic cotton white sheets from Boll & Branch. I could have also used a white duvet cover, but I chose a subtly patterned light beige duvet from Homesense to add a little variation and textural interest. The subtle damask pattern adds a touch of femininity. A handmade white throw from Simply French Market adorns the foot of the bed and adds a cottagey feel, while the blue and white accent pillows from Homesense add a touch of colour and seaside charm. I didn’t use ticking stripe in this bedroom refresh, but it is one of my favourite coastal-inspired fabrics.

Styled Tray

A tray on the bed is a simple way to add a little colour and detail to the bed area. This one is simply adorned with a set of three blue candle pillars with white candles and a snake plant in a white pot. The tray and pot are from Homesense and the candle pillars are from Urban Barn. Plants add a natural touch to any space and from a seaside perspective, I think of dune plants and their importance in maintaining dune stability. So yes, bring on the plants when it comes to coastal décor!

Artwork

The beautiful statement piece by Brynn W Casey above the bed sets the mood for the space. It firmly establishes the décor as “seaside”. Coastal artwork is one of the most popular kinds of art, and you should be able to find original art, art posters, and wood signs with seaside quotes. You could even create your own abstract art on a canvas using seaside colours. I think that artwork that evokes the ocean is an essential component of a coastal style bedroom refresh.

Side Tables and Dresser

To one of the side tables, I added a driftwood-toned tray with vintage blue-green glass bottles. This combination reminds me of driftwood and sea glass and helps transport me to the shore. On the other side table, I’ve added some plants. I’ve kept the décor on the antique dresser very simple, with just a seagrass and cotton rope basket from Urban Barn adorned with faux lamb’s ear stems.

Reading Nook

I really didn’t do much with the reading nook. A while ago I slipcovered the mismatched chair and ottoman in a white cotton canvas fabric. And I recently added the aged wood table and cotton rope basket. These neutral elements work well for a seaside feel. The blanket ladder with a sand-coloured throw and light grey painted mirror also work well with this theme. I added a blue throw and blue floral pillow from IKEA to the chair for a touch of colour and to tie in with the blue pillows on the bed.

I hope you have enjoyed this post and have gathered some ideas for your own coastal style bedroom refresh. Have you every incorporated seaside elements into your décor?