41 Unique Coastal Decorating Ideas To Bring That Beach Vibe Into Your Home Instantly
Looking for coastal decorating ideas to decorate your home in beach cottage style but don’t have a large budget? Do you want to make your own beachy decor that is perfect for summer decorating? Check out these best DIY beach cottage style decor ideas that are all easy, fun and can be made inexpensively.
Dreaming of that beachside escape, but stuck at home?
You’d love to have your own personal beach cottage but you are living nowhere near the sea? Yay me to!
I am of the strong opinion that you don’t need ocean views to bring coastal charm into your space. I have been adding beach cottage decor to my very much land-locked homes for years. And it works!
With the right DIY projects and a few creative touches, you can transform your home into a breezy, beach-inspired retreat that feels like summer all year long. Whether you’re near the shore or miles from the coast, coastal decorating is all about relaxed vibes, natural textures, and light, airy colors.
In this collection, I am showing 41 lovely coastal decorating ideas that are not only beautiful but also totally doable on your own (because I personally made each one of them, without spending a lot of time or money on them). From driftwood mirrors to fishnet vases and nautical centerpieces, each project was designed to capture that sun-soaked, laid-back aesthetic that I love so much and I did it without breaking the bank. No professional design skills needed – I promise – just a bit of creativity and a love for seaside style.
What makes coastal decor so irresistible to me is its versatility. My personal home decor design taste leans toward rustic beach cottage, with a good doze of vintage farmhouse style and a delicate mix of white and neutral tones with unexpected pops of seasonal colors. That’s why most of my DIY ideas can be easily customized to match your personal style. Plus, many of these projects use repurposed or natural materials, making them budget-friendly and eco-conscious, too.
So if you’re ready to bring a little salt-air magic into your home, you’re in the right place. Grab your crafting supplies, open the windows to let in that summer breeze, and let’s get started. These 41 coastal DIYs are sure to make your space feel lighter, brighter, and blissfully beachy—no sand required.
Upcycled Coastal Decor Ideas
Creating a cute coastal display can be so easy. If you put together the right accessories it all comes together easily and quick. If you are looking for frugal and cheap decorating ideas for the beach house look, you might like these ideas for reusing books, bottles, jars, and cans. I have used bottles, jam jars, and soda pop cans in my decorating on many occasions, and they show up in various coastal-themed decorations as well. Maybe it is because I love to have a bit of pink wine during those extra long summer evenings. Or maybe because the combination of bottles and summer makes me think of finding a message in a bottle on a deserted beach somewhere. Or maybe because a collection of jam jars with tiny bouquets of flowers is such an easy ‘laissez-faire’ way of decorating that it is perfect for lazy sunny days.
vintage crate summer centerpiece
Beach Themed Vignette With Wine Bottles
Anyway. As you can see I have used vintage bottles, painted bottles, pretty-as-is wine bottles and decorative bottles and they all work. And if you run short on bottles just go to your recycling bin and grab some jars or cans. They will work fine too. Just add some flowers, sea stars and an optional string of lights and you have the perfect and very easy little coastal summer decoration that didn’t cost a cent.
Beach Mantel Decor Ideas Perfect for Summer
I love coastal mantel decor. If you want to make your house look coastal then adding some nautical and beach house style to your fireplace mantel is just the trick. The mantel is usually the focal point of the room. Any decor you add to your mantel will instantly set the tone. In my last home I used a shelf as my mantel. In my current home I don’t even have a mantel. All the more reason to revisit some of my mantels from days before. They are all quite different: from a pallet wood mantel project that is just the perfect everyday mantel, to a mantel made with layering photo frames and one in which I used a big, statement tree branch.
All of these nautical mantel ideas are quite easy to DIY. These may look elaborate but there is nothing difficult about them. Anyone can do them with just a bit of patience and a capacity to improvise if things don’t quite work out the way you planned. I hope my coastal mantels are an inspiration for you.
layered photo frames summer mantel
72 stunning summer mantel decor ideas
DIY Coastal Decor Ideas
Making your own beach inspired home accessories couldn’t be easier. Those sea elements are all so beautiful all by themselves that they don’t need a lot of embellishments. Arrange them together in some glass containers and you’ll have the prettiest beach candle holders out there. Or just gather them together on a tray for a coastal centerpiece. I love those vintage beach accessories so very much, like the really old and time and sea weathered glass fishing floats. But investing in them can run up a bill. So instead get out some craft paint and modpodge and make them yourself. I made really big ones after a trip to New York where I was inspired at Pottery Barn. While you are at it. Incorporate the current comeback of macrame and add an easy fishnet to a vase or jar. Go have some fun with a bit of Coastal Beach Crafting!
Boho feathers and shells wall hanging
How to Make Wind Chimes From Vintage Silverware
Coastal Centerpiece Ideas
I am a lazy decorator. I confess to having this trait all year round, but most definitely in summer. I love to fancy up my home for the seasons, but in summer I definitely do not want to work hard at it. There are so many other things to do. And living life in the outdoors beckons when the skies are blue and the sun is out. So I will always choose the easy way over the complicated one. If you just line up blue mason jars with white flowers you have brought in the beach colors, in the most gratifying and simple way. Gather some beauties together and arrange them under a cloche and you have instant bliss. Or simply grab an old container or tray and gather candles, shells, sea stars and any beach inspired accessories you can find and drop them all in together. I promise you, if you take half a minute to coordinate the colors and shuffle it all around until it looks good you are done!
Decorating with blue mason jars
Quick and easy summer centerpiece
Coastal Decor Outdoor Ideas
If you are lucky to live in a country where summer is a guarantee for sunny days you are blessed. Here in the low lands we have definitely had our share of rainy and pretty cold summers. All the more reason to spend the days outside when the sun does grace us with her presence. So do not forget your outdoor areas when decorating for summer. When decorating my garden table or terrace for summer, the nautical home decor takes a bit of a step back. I usually just go for the flower route outside. Could be as simple as bouquets of flowers arranged on a homemade terra-cotta tiered tray or lined up in between scattered sea stars and shells. Or maybe it is just happy summer colors in an abundance of flowering plants. Anything that makes your heart sing will do, as long as it beckons you to use your outdoor space as a real living space too.
summer centerpiece for the garden table
summer table decor in the garden
Coastal Home Decor Ideas
Blue and white are my absolute favorite colors for summer. That combination is so fresh and vibrant, especially when it is of the striped variation. Must be those old images of French Garçons on a beach in blue and white striped cardigans. Or the blue and white umbrellas on a Mediterranean beach.
No wonder I love my summer bedroom in blue and white. More recently I did a guest bedroom in a lovely bohemian beach style that was so easy to pull off. Speaking of easy. My bedroom with blue and aqua accents was easy, quick and very lovely too.
When I decorate my living room for the season, I will always incorporate a lot of coastal style decorations. There will probably be a bit of bohemian style mixed in, along with a bit of coastal farmhouse. I don’t follow the rules and stick to one style of home decorating. I go with what looks good in my eyes, what I have on hand (or can create easily) and what I can make work.
summer bedroom in blue and white
12 More Coastal Decorating Ideas and Tips
I share lots of pictures of my living room decorating for summer in a beach house style in my post about my TOP 5 Summer Decorating Tips.
And if you still haven’t had enough than you can read my 7 Easy Hacks for Creating Beach Cottage Style.
Don’t forget to pin this post to your summer / coastal decor board so you can come back to it later.
Marianne,
How nice it was to look back at some of your decorating triumphs. Everything you do is beautiful. The blue and white summer bedroom has always been a favorite of mine. I was so sad when you sold the crocheted coverlet. But…the lovely pictures live on.
I love nautical style, maybe ’cause blue gets the most attention and it’s my favorite color. But there’s something just so comfy and calming about the style.