Who doesn’t love the laidback, breezy vibe of a beach house?
The coastal design style is all about creating a relaxed, seaside atmosphere in your home, no matter how far away from the ocean you may be.
And there’s no better place to bring in those beachy vibes than the kitchen!
A coastal kitchen design invokes the feeling of a sunny cottage by the shore.
Think whitewashed walls, weathered wood finishes, and accents in soft blue, sea glass green, and sandy taupe.
Natural textures like rattan, driftwood, shells, and stone add to the effortless style.
When designing a coastal kitchen, it’s all about creating a casual, welcoming space for gathering, cooking, and enjoying the simple pleasures in life.
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Whitewash the Walls and Cabinets
One of the hallmarks of the coastal design style is whitewashed wood.
This weathered, timeworn look lends a relaxed vibe and helps reflect light in the space.
Whitewashing your kitchen cabinets and walls is an easy makeover to evoke those sun-bleached beach cottages.
For walls, use a white or pale gray paint and apply it with a roller for an even coat.
Then go back with a wadded up cloth to rub away some of the paint in random areas to create a worn, faded look.
Focus on edges, corners and raised trims to reveal glimpses of the wood underneath.
For cabinetry, sand lightly before painting to open the wood grain.
Apply a white chalk-based paint with a brush for a textured finish that shows distressing.
Once dried, sand again to reveal wood tones and character.
The finish should appear naturally aged and softened by coastal weather.
Whitewashing transforms the entire vibe of a kitchen from standard to serene and beachy.
For even more contrast, pair your distressed white cabinets with walls or an island in a soft ocean-inspired hue like sea glass green or robin’s egg blue.
Simple, breezy elegance!
Install Beadboard Cabinets
Beadboard cabinetry instantly conjures up images of quaint cottage kitchens.
The characteristic vertically grooved boards create visual interest and pair beautifully with whitewashed cabinets.
Beadboard cabinets are most commonly made from pine or poplar.
Choose wider planks for a more contemporary vibe or narrower boards for old-fashioned charm.
Paint them in a crisp white, pale gray, or subtle blue-green.
Consider combining upper beadboard cabinets with lower units in a contrasting shade of white for extra dimension.
For bonus coastal points, look for cabinets with wire mesh doors.
The visible texture keeps items ventilated while lending an easy, relaxed feel.
Open shelving also helps create that casual beach house look.
No need to replace your cabinetry to get the beadboard look either.
Peel-and-stick panels provide an budget-friendly shortcut to transform existing cupboards with coastal cottage charm.
Paired with brass hardware, beadboard cabinets are a surefire way to evoke sun-dappled surfside living.
Use Weathered Wood Finishes
Reclaimed wood and weathered finishes bring texture, depth, and casual comfort to a kitchen design.
Bleached gray barn wood, salvaged timbers, and vintage finds imbue kitchen cabinetry and furnishings with timeworn character.
For a coastal kitchen, think light driftwood or whitewashed oak finishes.
Wood distressed and softened by years in the salty air is perfect for eliciting a beach house vibe.
Things like open shelving, kitchen islands, tables, and even flooring can all utilize reclaimed wood to great effect.
If sourcing genuine reclaimed wood is difficult, there are ways to recreate the coastal worn look:
– Whitewash or bleach new wood to lighten the tone before applying an aged gray stain.
Focus on lightly sanding edges and corners to simulate wear.
– Use rubbed or limed finishes to open the grain and achieve a naturally weathered patina.
A white paint wash and more sanding enhances the coastal charm.
– Wire brush new oak or pine boards aggressively to mimic years of wind and water wear before staining gray.
Rustic barn wood can also be mimicked with wood planers.
With the right finish, even inexpensive woods take on the character of genuine salvaged planks.
Weathered wood adds casual beachside appeal to any kitchen.
Set a Whitewashed Brick or Stone Backsplash
The backsplash is prime real estate for infusing coastal character into your kitchen.
Weathered brick or stone in soft natural tones brings texture and echoes the rocky shores, sand dunes, and beach cliffs found by the sea.
For a relaxed vibe, try a simple white brick backsplash.
Whitewashing helps downplay the red tones while still providing beautiful visual interest.
Pair it with white cabinetry and beach glass tiles for extra light and charm.
Other great coastal backsplash options include:
– Tumbled travertine stone in off-white, sandy brown, or pale gray
– Pebble mosaic tiles resembling natural beachstone
– Oyster shell tile in creamy ivory and pale blue-gray
– Soft white or gray marble subway tile with brushed surface
Whatever you choose, keep the grout lines neutral as well.
Stark white grout competes with the weathered finish, so opt for grout that matches your stone or tile color instead.
This enhances the coastal charm of your dreamy, beach-inspired backsplash.
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Install Weatherproof Farmhouse Sink
What’s a dream coastal kitchen without a charming farmhouse style sink?
The generous proportions and exposed apron front screams vintage cottage charm.
For a beach house, opt for a fireclay or porcelain model – materials that can withstand years of high humidity, salty air, and ocean storms.
Solid surfacing like quartz composite or Dekton also make indestructible coastal-appropriate sinks.
A clean white farmhouse sink provides delightful contrast with weathered gray and blue cabinets.
Or opt for a pale sea glass green version to complement other beachy colors.
Finish your farmhouse sink installation with matte black metal fixtures for an on-trend vibe.
The dark hardware plays beautifully against light coastal cabinetry.
Plus it won’t show water spots from moisture and humidity like polished chrome might.
A farmhouse sink gives even the most modern kitchen a touch of breezy cottage living.
For a sink that lives up to its beach house location, choose a durable fireclay or composite apron front model that can weather storms in style.
Pick Coastal Hued Cabinets or Island
Pops of color rooted in ocean and shore add a free-spirited flair to any coastal kitchen.
Soft sea glass greens, airy blues, sunny yellows, and weathered grays all evoke the colors found in seaside nature.
Painting or staining your cabinetry, island, or accent pieces in beachy hues is an easy way to infuse color and create an inviting coastal kitchen.
Some perfect pairings include:
– Navy blue lower cabinets with pale driftwood uppers
– A seafoam green island against white beadboard cabinetry
– Robin’s egg blue open shelving atop weathered wood cabinets
– Buttery yellow uppers combined with light oak lowers
Even just painting the insides of your cabinets a colorful, happy hue imparts energy and character.
Try coral for a pop of fun behind those driftwood doors!
Don’t be afraid to incorporate more than one coastal color either.
A turquoise glass backsplash pairing with cheery yellow cabinets, for instance, exudes tropical delight.
Whatever dreamy beachside shades you choose, a colorful kitchen instantly says coastal charm.
Add Rattan, Jute, and Wicker Touches
Natural fibers like rattan, seagrass, jute, and wicker bring lovely coastal texture to any kitchen.
Use these breezy materials in furnishings, window coverings, cabinet accents and more.
Rattan bar stools provide a comfortable perch by a kitchen island with artisan appeal.
For windows, try airy linen drapes with textural jute fringe.
Open shelving looks chic lined with wicker baskets for breathe-easy storage.
Handwoven accents also introduce authentic craftsmanship and global coastal flair.
Things like woven wall hangings, natural fiber placemats, and decorative bowls made from water hyacinth or banana leaves inject tropical delight.
Rattan, seagrass and other natural materials instantly lighten up a kitchen with their relaxed, casual vibe.
Incorporating even small touches conjures memories of seaside living and tropical locales.
Let these breathable textures inspire your coastal kitchen decor all year round!
Display Weathered Wood Open Shelving
Open shelving ranks high on the list of easy coastal kitchen ideas.
Airy and relaxed, open shelves give breathing room to display beautiful, beach-inspired treasures.
Weathered wood open shelving adds gorgeous texture and effortless style.
The distressed gray finish pairs beautifully with white walls, pops of coastal color, and captures the breezy essence of coastal life.
Use open shelves strategically around your kitchen.
They create the perfect space to show off:
– Colorful cookware in sea glass tones
– Beachy ceramic tableware like blue and white plates
– Pretty glassware, vases, and bottles
– Natural woven baskets and bowls
– Vintage kitchenware with coastal charm
– Gathered seashells, sea glass, corals and driftwood
If wall-mounted open shelves aren’t possible, even a simple wicker étagère cart in a corner makes for breezy display space.
However you incorporate it, weathered wood open shelving brings priceless cottage character to your coastal kitchen.
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Select Easy-Breezy Flooring
Nothing evokes a beach house like the casual comfort of breezy, beach-ready floors.
Timeworn wood plank floors, concrete, or stone tiles channel weathered coastal textures underfoot.
For wood, choose wider-plank whitewashed oak, driftwood gray floors, or reclaimed barnwood.
The soft patina and worn finish pairs perfectly with coastal kitchens.
Concrete flooring also offers an adaptable foundation for beach-inspired style.
Modern polished concrete or an aged stain treatment opens up design options.
Pair it with jute rugs for cozy areas.
Natural stone tiles in sand, shell and ocean-inspired colors work beautifully too.
Flagstone, limestone, travertine, and pebble floors bring a refined yet relaxed vibe.
Just avoid glossy or slick tiles that may feel out of place.
Whatever easy-breezy flooring you pick, be sure it can withstand coastal humidity, dampness, sandy feet and ocean air.
Your beach house floors need to flex and flow with your laidback lifestyle.
Make A Statement with Driftwood Decor
Found objects from the sea make stunning decorative accents and really complete the coastal vibe.
Weathered driftwood, washed-up buoys, oars, lobster traps – let your imagination run wild with beachy finds!
Bleached-out driftwood is ideal for layering into shelving displays.
Prop weathered pieces under glassware or ceramics for whimsical height.
Hang smaller pieces with rope or twine above cabinets for an artisanal touch.
A statement driftwood piece also shines as a kitchen island centerpiece.
Imagine a sculptural tree root base or organic stump shape serving as an unexpected natural “table”.
Top with lanterns, shells, or candles for beautiful ambiance.
Salvaged or ready-made lobster traps work nicely for storage baskets.
Use one to hold fruits or stack dishes inside.
Just make sure to clean or seal driftwood and other reclaimed pieces to prevent mold or smells.
Nautical accents like oars, buoys, anchors, and ship wheels make fun wall art when thoughtfully arranged.
Those authentic found objects call to mind laidback days in coastal destinations – and serve as cool conversational pieces!
Incorporate Oceanic Colors and Materials
The sea itself provides no shortage of inspiring colors and textures to include in beach house kitchen decor.
Soft seafoam greens, salty ocean blues, and sandy beiges drawn straight from seaside nature infuse peaceful color.
Handcrafted ceramic tiles glazed in pale coastal hues make a dreamy backsplash.
Watch for variegated tiles that capture the color play of ocean waves and foam.
Or opt for actual shell mosaics to bring the essence of the sea indoors.
Tableware and serving pieces finished in oceanic colors also reinforce the coastal atmosphere.
Airy ceramics, frosted sea glassware, and woven placemats in watery blues and greens bring breezy beauty to everyday dining.
Echo the textures of the shore with accessories too.
Natural coral and shell bowls, matte beach glass vases, stone and wood cutting boards feel Both beautiful and utilitarian.
Use these colors and materials thoughtfully throughout your coastal kitchen.
They’ll constantly evoke the relaxing sights, textures, and palette of the seashore no matter how landlocked your home may be.
Add Portholes and Coastal Signage
Fun beach-inspired touches like portholes, signage, and accessories bring coastal kitchens to life.
These playful nautical details capture the imagination and conjure up dreams of New England harbors or tropical island escapes.
Begin by accenting cabinets or walls with round porthole mirrors.
Their classic ship window shape immediately signals seaside whimsy.
Display them high or low, solo or clustered together.
Position over a farmhouse sink for an extra cute touch.
Incorporate hand-painted signs that say things like “Fresh Seafood Daily” or “Eat Beach Sleep Repeat”.
Mount them on the walls or lean against the backsplash for character.
For extra personality, use coastal-inspired dish and towel signs on open shelving.
Choose sweet sayings like “You’re a Starfish”, “Seas the Day”, or “Home is Where the Anchor Drops” for an instant mood boost.
Porthole accents, creative signage and cheeky dish towels contribute infectiously fun details.
They help tell the story of your beach cottage kitchen.
With just a touch of maritime merriment, you’ll be set sailing for coastal tranquility.
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Bring In Lots of Greenery and Sunny Florals
No coastal kitchen is complete without plenty of cheery floral and botanic touches.
Houseplants, fresh flowers, citrus trees – all that lovely greenery evokes carefree days in seaside gardens and markets.
Start by displaying air plants, mini palm trees or orchids for a taste of the tropics.
Citrus trees in pots freshen the kitchen with zesty fruit and vibrant evergreen foliage.
Indoor herb gardens provide both visual and culinary delight.
Use floral patterns in kitchen linens, dishware and textiles to echo lively gardens.
Bright sunny prints with daisies, hydrangeas, poppies and other happy blooms feel right at home.
Just avoid overly fussy patterns that may compete with breezy coastal simplicity.
When possible, open those kitchen windows wide to breeze in actual sea air!
Create a window box herb garden for ornament and use.
Infuse your days with natural beauty and the cheerful palette found along every dazzling coastline.
The beach-inspired kitchen design ideas featured here offer endless options to infuse breezy seaside style into your space.
The beauty of the coastal look lies in its relaxed simplicity.
Focus on light-filled, unfussy spaces that evoke oceanfront living.
Source timeworn finishes like reclaimed barnwood, or opt for budget-friendly faux treatments.
Incorporate soft oceanic hues, beachy accessories, playful nautical details, and lush greenery.
Above all, let your kitchen reflect the easygoing pleasures of seaside living.
With these tips and designs, you’ll be enjoying your own cozy coastal cottage kitchen in no time.
Get ready to soak in the laidback, dreamy atmosphere you’d find in any charming beach house.
Just add ocean breezes, umbrella drinks, sandy feet, and the soothing sound of waves in the background.
