Summer

DIY Coastal Decorating Made Simple

DIY Coastal Decorating Ideas are the perfect way to bring a serene, beachy vibe into your home, no matter where you live. Whether you’re transforming a cozy living room or adding a nautical touch to a bedroom, coastal décor can make any space feel like a seaside retreat.

From weathered wood accents to ocean-inspired color palettes, these ideas will help you capture the essence of the coast. Incorporate elements like seashells, driftwood, and soft blues to evoke the calming energy of the shore.

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With a few simple DIY projects, you can turn your home into a coastal haven that reflects your love for the sea.

Coastal decorating is not just about aesthetics; it’s about creating a space that feels light, airy, and welcoming. Whether you prefer a minimalist approach or love adding layers of texture, there are countless ways to make this style your own.

Embrace the natural beauty of the ocean and bring it into your living space with these inspiring ideas.

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1. Embrace a Balanced Color Palette

A coastal design thrives on a balanced color palette that reflects the tranquility of the ocean. Focus on soft blues, sandy beiges, and crisp whites to create a serene atmosphere.

Avoid overpowering the room with too many bold accents. Instead, let these subtle hues work together to evoke a sense of calm and relaxation.

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2. Incorporate Natural Textures

Natural textures are key to capturing the essence of coastal style. Think of woven baskets, driftwood accents, and rattan furniture to add depth and dimension to your space.

These elements not only bring in a rustic charm but also create a tactile experience that enhances the coastal vibe without being too on-the-nose.

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3. Use Layered Lighting

Lighting is crucial in a coastal-themed room, and layering different types of lighting can make a big difference. Combine ambient, task, and accent lighting to highlight different areas of the room.

This layered approach not only brightens the space but also adds warmth and a sense of openness, reminiscent of a sunlit beach.

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4. Create Visual Flow with Symmetry

Symmetry can bring a sense of order and calm to your coastal decor. Whether it’s through matching furniture pieces, paired lamps, or balanced wall art, symmetry helps to create a visual flow that is both pleasing and relaxing.

This approach makes your space feel more cohesive and connected, mirroring the effortless harmony found in nature.

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DIY Coastal Decorating Ideas

31. DIY Coastal Farmhouse Candles from Sadie Season Goods

DIY Coastal Farmhouse Candles decorating idea

This item features glass candle holders transformed with a coastal farmhouse style by combining sea glass-inspired paint and chicken wire ribbon sleeves. The glass is coated with sea glass spray paint and sealed with a matte finish, while the chicken wire ribbon is painted and sealed separately before being slid onto the holders for a perfect fit.

The finished candle holders create a charming beach-themed vignette when arranged on a birch wood round with seashell accents. These upcycled pieces offer a simple way to add coastal farmhouse charm using thrifted glass holders and craft materials.

30. Beachcomber Seashell Candle Holder from Running with Sisters

Beachcomber Seashell Candle Holder

This seashell candleholder combines natural beach elements like starfish, pearls, and various shells to create a coastal-inspired decorative piece. The shells are carefully glued around a glass candleholder, with iridescent glitter added to the spaces for a shimmering effect.

The design highlights layering and spacing to achieve an elegant, textured look that evokes seaside charm. It offers a creative way to bring a touch of the ocean indoors, perfect for adding ambiance to any room.

29. Seashell Lights from Martha Stewart

Seashell Lights

28. Beach Candle Decorating Idea (source unknown)

Beach Candle Decorating Idea

These rope-wrapped candle holders create a relaxed, summery vibe with their natural texture and simple design. They feature glass cylinders wrapped partially with jute cord, accented with beach-themed embellishments for a coastal touch.

Making them takes about 20 minutes and requires just a few materials like glass holders, rope, and hot glue. Besides holding candles, they can also serve as vases, terrariums, or decorative containers for small items around the home.

27. Pottery Barn Inspired Rope Wrapped Candleholders from Stone Gable

Pottery Barn Inspired Rope Wrapped Candleholders 

These rope wrapped candle holders add a natural, summery touch to any room with their textured, beach-inspired design. They are made by wrapping jute cord around glass cylinders, creating a warm, inviting glow when lit.

The candle holders can be customized with small embellishments like starfish to enhance their coastal vibe. They also serve multiple purposes, such as holding flowers, succulents, or fairy lights, making them versatile decor pieces.

26. Handmade Shell Candles from Burkatron

Handmade Shell Candles 

These handmade shell candles turn collected seashells into charming tealight holders, combining natural beach finds with simple candle-making. Using deep shells that can stand upright, melted wax is poured inside to create unique, reusable candles that add a coastal touch to any space.

Once the wax cools and hardens, the candles can be lit for a cozy ambiance or refilled after burning out, making them practical and decorative. They work well as small gifts or accents for bathrooms and tables, offering a creative way to personalize home decor with a beach-inspired vibe.

25. Designer Seashell Candles from Running with Sisters

Designer Seashell Candles

This item demonstrates how to create decorative seashell candles by embedding shells around a pillar candle core. It involves preparing molds, melting and coloring wax, and carefully layering the wax and shells to achieve a designer look.

The process includes sealing the wick, pouring wax in stages, and using a heat gun to smooth the candle’s surface and reveal the shells. The finished product is a unique, beach-inspired candle that combines craft techniques with elegant home decor.

24. Driftwood Candleholder (source unknown)

Driftwood Candleholder coastal decorating idea

23. Shell Twinkle Lights Jar (source unknown)

Shell Twinkle Lights Jar

22. Driftwood Candleholder from Live Creatively Inspired

Driftwood Candleholder coastal decorating idea

21. Starfish Wall Scones (source unknown)

Starfish Wall wood Scones

20. Round Beach Candle Centerpiece Decorating Idea (source unknown)

Round Beach Candle Centerpiece Decorating Idea

19. Pottery Barn Knockoff Rope Knot Lamp from Down Home Inspiration

Pottery Barn Knockoff Rope Knot Lamp

18. Rustic Twig Lamp from Tim Neve

Rustic driftwood Lamp 

17. Sisal Shade from Sand and Sisal

Sisal Shade

Transform a plain lampshade into a textured, natural-looking piece by wrapping it with sisal rope. The process involves gluing the rope evenly around the shade, creating a warm and rustic aesthetic that complements various décor styles.

Using common supplies like a hot glue gun and sisal rope, this project is affordable and straightforward. The finished shade softens the light slightly, adding a cozy ambiance without overpowering the room’s brightness.

16. Starburst Driftwood Mirror from Sustain My Craft Habit

Starburst Driftwood Mirror coastal decorating idea

This item features a handcrafted round mirror framed with natural driftwood pieces, creating a rustic, coastal-inspired decor element. The mirror is built on a plywood base with a beveled glass center, surrounded by layered driftwood arranged in varying lengths to form an organic, textured border.

The project demonstrates how to transform collected driftwood into a unique home accent by cutting, sanding, and gluing the wood onto the base around the mirror.

It offers a creative way to bring a beachy vibe indoors while repurposing natural materials into functional art.

15. Driftwood Seahorse from Creative in Chicago

Driftwood Seahorse

14. Driftwood Crab Art from Remodelando La Casa

Driftwood Crab Art coastal decorating idea

A summer mantel decorated with a coastal theme features a charming crab made from driftwood pieces arranged on a board. The crab’s design is crafted by tracing a simple outline and assembling various wood fragments to form the body, legs, and claws, creating a rustic and natural look.

Additional elements like a lantern, rope in a vase, starfish, and fishing net complement the driftwood crab, enhancing the beachy vibe of the mantel. This setup brings a fresh, seasonal feel to a family room, making it a welcoming focal point for summer gatherings.

13. DIY Seashell Wall Art from H20 Bungalow

Seashell Wall Art

This coastal seashell wall art combines natural elements with recycled materials to create a charming decorative piece. It features a painted frame backed with cane webbing, onto which flat seashells, starfish, or sand dollars are carefully glued for a tactile, beach-inspired look.

The design offers a simple way to display a growing collection of seashells while adding coastal flair to any room. It can be hung on the wall or arranged in a vignette, making it a versatile and personalized accent for home decor.

12. Sea Glass Mermaid Art from Sand and Sisal

Sea Glass Mermaid Art

This item features a handcrafted mermaid art piece made from cedar wood and decorated with sea glass. The design is traced onto cedar boards, cut out with precision tools, and assembled to create a rustic coastal decoration.

The mermaid is painted lightly to highlight the wood’s natural texture and adorned with a mosaic of sea glass using a strong, waterproof adhesive. The finished piece can be displayed indoors or outdoors, adding a charming seaside touch to any space.

11. Weathered Beach Signs from Crafts by Amanda

Weathered Beach Signs coastal decorating idea

These weathered beach signs offer a way to bring a rustic coastal vibe into your home using simple wooden slats. The process involves painting, tracing, and distressing the wood to create a charming, worn look that fits well in bathroom or beach-themed decor.

The signs feature words like “surf,” “relax,” “beach,” and “sand,” which are carefully painted and then sanded to reveal the wood beneath, enhancing the weathered effect.

Once finished, they can be sealed for durability and displayed indoors or outdoors, adding a personalized touch to your space.

10. Driftwood Anchor from Cherished Vintage

Driftwood Anchor

This item features a handcrafted anchor made from driftwood pieces arranged on a painted plywood base. The design captures a coastal, rustic aesthetic by combining natural wood textures with a soft gray background.

The process involves collecting driftwood, cutting a wooden anchor shape, and gluing the wood pieces onto the base to create a unique, textured art piece. It offers a creative way to bring a beach-inspired element into home decor using found materials.

9. DIY Starburst Mirror from Sgt. Pepper’s Kitchen

DIY paint stick Starburst Mirror

This project creates a striking starburst mirror using a simple round mirror and wooden shims arranged around its edge. The shims are glued in layers to build texture and dimension, then spray painted to achieve a cohesive, polished look that serves as a bold focal point in any room.

The finished mirror is lightweight and easy to hang, making it suitable for various wall spaces without heavy-duty mounting hardware. It adds a cozy, inviting vibe by drawing the eye and enhancing the overall decor with its handcrafted charm.

8. Coastal Pallet Mirror from Dwelling in Happiness

Coastal Pallet Mirror decorating idea

7. Beach Pallet Wall Art (Source Unknown)

Beach painted Pallet Wall Art coastal decorating idea

This item features a simple craft project that transforms seashells and a small wooden canvas into charming beach-themed art. The process involves painting the canvas, letting it dry, and then gluing the shells onto the surface, creating a decorative piece perfect for a coastal-inspired room or party setting.

The materials needed are affordable and easy to find, including acrylic paint, shells, a wooden canvas, and strong adhesive. The finished shell art can serve as a unique decoration, party favor, or a fun DIY activity for gatherings with a seaside vibe.

6. Shell Art Canvas from The Party Teacher

Shell Art Canvas

This item features a simple craft project that transforms a plain wood canvas into charming shell art. It involves painting the canvas and then gluing natural shells onto it, creating a beach-inspired decoration perfect for a room makeover or party setting.

The process requires only a few inexpensive supplies, including acrylic paint, shells, and a strong adhesive. The result is a personalized, coastal-themed piece that can serve as wall art, a party favor, or a decorative accent for dessert tables.

 5. Seashell Photography Pallet Art (source unknown)

 Seashell Photography Pallet Art

This item features a charming DIY sign crafted from an upcycled cabinet door, painted white with the word “aloha” stenciled across it. The letter “o” is transformed into a pineapple shape using scallop seashells, with a painted crown completing the tropical design.

The sign blends rustic and beachy elements, perfect for adding a Hawaiian-inspired touch to home decor. It demonstrates how to repurpose thrifted materials into a personalized and meaningful piece that celebrates kindness and harmony.

4. Seashell Pineapple Sign from My Pinterventures

Seashell Pineapple Sign coastal decorating idea

This item features a decorative sign made from an upcycled cabinet door, painted with the word “aloha” and adorned with scallop seashells arranged to form a pineapple inside the letter “o.

” The design combines hand-painted lettering with natural elements to create a beach-inspired, tropical look that reflects Hawaiian culture and spirit.

The process involves sanding and painting the wood base, applying stencils for precise lettering, and carefully gluing seashells to complete the pineapple shape. The finished piece serves as a charming, handmade decor item that brings a coastal vibe and a warm greeting into any living space.

3. Salt Paint Sign from The Shabby Creek Cottage

Salt Paint Sign

This item demonstrates how to create a textured salt paint that mimics the weathered, chippy look of beach cottage finishes. The mixture combines plaster of Paris, water, acrylic paint, and kosher salt to achieve a thick, crackled surface that enhances any DIY project with a rustic, aged appearance.

Users will experience a hands-on painting technique that encourages applying the paint thickly and messily to build texture. As the paint dries and is sanded, it reveals a unique finish that adds character and charm to furniture, signs, or decorative pieces.

2. Shell Wall Art from Our Unexpected Journey

dangling Shell Wall Art coastal decorating idea

This item shares practical strategies for maintaining a clean and serene home environment while preparing a house for sale. It emphasizes decluttering, minimizing personal items, and organizing children’s toys to create a tidy, inviting space that is easier to keep clean on short notice.

The content also highlights simple decorative updates that enhance the home’s appeal without adding clutter. It captures the experience of reducing stress through order and calm, showing how thoughtful adjustments can make a busy household feel more peaceful and ready for potential buyers.

1. Framed Shell Art from Sand and Sisal

Framed Shell Art 

How can I incorporate coastal elements without making my home look too themed?

To achieve a coastal vibe without going overboard, use subtle accents. Incorporate neutral tones like whites, tans, and soft blues, and layer them with coastal-inspired textures like rope or woven baskets.

Adding minimalist artwork featuring ocean scenes or abstract patterns can also keep the space stylish yet cohesive.

What colors work best for a coastal-themed room?

The key to coastal colors is staying within a soft, muted palette. Whites, sandy beiges, and light blues are staples. You can also add touches of seafoam green or sunset coral for a bit of contrast.

The goal is to create a space that feels calm and relaxing.

How can I make my coastal decor feel more modern?

For a more contemporary take on coastal decor, mix traditional elements like seashells or coral with sleek, modern furniture. Opt for clean lines and minimalist designs in your furniture, and pair them with metallic accents like brushed nickel or chrome to add a touch of sophistication.

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Samantha Nicole

Here at the EHL, it's all about delicious, easy recipes for casual entertaining. So come and join me at the beach, relax and enjoy the food.