Make waves at home with a breezy blue and white combo that summons the sea!
By Iris Benaroia
Coastal home decor has a distinct and unforgettable personality. If this style took on a human form, it would become a friendly host, eager to please with a tray of snacks and a cold drink.
This human manifestation of coastal home decorating is no wallflower: it's a friendly yet laid-back persona, bringing calm vibes with its soothing shades of white and blue.
This modern nautical home by Cory DeFrancisco showcases the welcoming charm of a blue and white palette paired with coastal home decor! As seen on Style at Home
There's a lot to love about beach home decor, which is as close as it gets to universal appreciation in the interior design world. There's something inherently calming yet festive about this style, which can instantly make anyone feel as if they're on vacation.
Much of the appeal of this aesthetic stems from its pleasant color combo: contemporary white and nautical blue. This blend works wonderfully in both classic and modern spaces, making it one of the most versatile palettes imaginable. Even those who typically opt for all neutrals, all the time are willing to let a little color into their lives, so long as that color is a pleasant shade of blue.
Highlighting the widespread appeal of coastal blue, Florida-based interior designer Alena Capra explains, “People have aversions to certain colors for their home decor, but I don’t ever really hear people say no to blue." She adds that blue is "the most popular choice for homeowners who want to add color to their decor.”
Another benefit of blue? It takes many forms, so there really is a shade for everyone. From juicy aquamarine to bold navy and even the romantic violet-blue of lapis lazuli, there's an ideal shade of blue for every setting and situation.
Incorporating Seaside Blue in Beach-Inspired Backsplash
When you imagine beach decorations for homes, two trends probably come to mind: comfy furniture and, as we've discussed, pops of nautical blue. Often, these key elements join forces: white rattan furniture with blue cushions or throw pillows, for example. The right furniture can certainly make a difference, but other elements should be added to create a truly beachy effect.
Few additions are as impactful as a beach-inspired backsplash tile, which can instantly turn any space into your own personal oasis. There is no shortage of options for building thematic backsplash into beach home decor, but we're especially fond of these next several coastal home decor ideas.
Seaside Mosaics for a Cloudy Day
Not every magical day at the beach is sunny. There's a certain romantic appeal to a slightly overcast day on the shore, best captured when beach home decor features gray hues with blue undertones. Amplify the effect with these backsplash designs:
Whimsical Shapes
Tap into the latest gray color trends with the curvy, cloud-shaped Sea Glass Cloud Mosaic Tile. Delivering a subtle hint of blue, this whimsical style brings coastal vibes to your space while still allowing you to embrace neutrals.
Honeycomb Glass Tiles
Offering another opportunity to make the most of mosaics, our Blue and White Hexagon Glass Mosaic Tile brings artistry to the forefront with a stunning array of blues and whites.
Coastal Backsplash as a Focal Point
Beachy furniture and wall art may take center stage, but there's no substitute for statement backsplash. These coastal home decor ideas encourage you to play with bold patterns and colors:
Dynamic Fabric-Style Mosaics
Textured tile is a big deal these days, but you can capture the best of this trend with fabric-oriented tiles featuring nautical stripes in an appealing blue-gray hue. We love these Fabrique Blue Grey Hexagon Glass Mosaic Tiles, which blend polished and frosted honeycomb pieces to great effect.
Bold Chevron Backsplash
If you're interested in experimenting with chevron but not quite ready to take the leap, look no further than our Blue Pearl Herringbone Mosaic. This evocative design can transform any bathroom into a beachy retreat while also delivering an unforgettable graphic punch.
Blue Pearl Herringbone Mosaic is ready to transform your bland bathroom into a beachy retreat. Can’t you just smell the salty air?
For cohesion, carry your bathroom's tile colors into other elements in the room to bring in that beach house style. Paint the vanity in a muted cerulean blue or a punchy Tiffany teal. Or choose a dark dusky sky hue à la Pantone’s Color of the Year: Classic Blue! We love it paired with our Pearl Wave White Marble & Mother of Pearl Waterjet Mosaic Tile to glam up a bathroom backsplash with its luminous waves. Simply stunning!
Capra likes Pantone’s pick: “Blue and white really is the most timeless color combo, especially for a coastal look,” says Capra. “It will always resemble the color of the ocean — the caps of the waves are white, and the beautiful water, blue.”
Discover the Motion of the Ocean
Evoking the rhythm of the ocean, our Waterfall Azul Cielo & Thassos Marble Mosaic Tile brings a playful style to your beachy interior. These tonal variations are effortlessly elegant, but also feel whimsical enough for a laid-back space.
Here’s our Waterfall Azul Cielo & Thassos Marble Mosaic Tile ready to upstage that fancy oven you paid zillions for in the kitchen. The fun lines mimic ocean waves.
The tonal variations in the patterned marble tiles make them especially appealing to the artsy set. They’d look amazing on a bathroom wall, too!
Another stand-out seaside number: Triangular Hexagon In Bianco Dolomiti Leyte Blue and Thassos Marble Mosaic Tile. The soft, distinctive honeycombs are a pleasant twist to the grout-heavy format we’re used to. Pair these beauties with brass lighting, plumbing and cabinet pulls for a luxurious feel!
Embrace Coastal Home Decorating With Our Beachy Tile Designs
Carefree, classic, and cool: you’ll never get bored with coastal home decor. Don't be afraid to play with stunning seaside styles. Look to statement mosaics or unique textures to level up your beachiest designs. Add some rattan furniture or driftwood accessories to the mix, and you'll have the makings of the perfect shoreline space.
Modern Coastal Home Decor in Neutral Tones from Jett Set Farmhouse
Now that your tiles are on their way to coastal perfection, consider your furnishings. Rattan, wicker, cane, and sisal (any natural fibers, really) are go-to embellishments in a beach house (and a way to fake it, if your home is a million miles from the ocean).
Cozy Coastal Farmhouse Bedroom Ideas from Home Stories A-Z
So, load up on nubby textures and sea things (think straw storage baskets, pearly seashells, striped pillows in nautical blues and linens and driftwood furniture). The mix is charming and casual and you’ll never tire of. But keep it restrained and airy — which is essentially to coastal style. You want your eye to wander around the room, not stop at every stuffed corner.
Jewel-Inspired Designs
Beach life should feel downright luxurious; this effect will be front and center with our Diamond Sky Glass Pebble Mosaic Sky. These glimmering tiles reflect the natural beauty of gemstones and work wonderfully as accent borders.
Designed to reflect the natural beauty of gemstones, the tiles glimmer underfoot. They’re mesh-mounted and flexible, so they’re easy to install and look amazing as an accent border, shower-niche tile or border tile on floors. These itsy-bitsy beauties are a perfect way to make a splash in a pool!
We love the vibrant color paired with driftwood accents, white shells, and bold red coral to add a modern nautical touch to the perfect coastal home decor!
Another way to go coastal is with white tile instead of blue. Flip it around and bring in blue through your decorative pieces. If you get bored of your blue accessories (it’ll never happen), you can simply match your white tile to a different hue! Our Fabrique White Hexagon Glass Mosaic Tile adds geometric details and a frosted finish for a coastal farmhouse bathroom design!
Another great thing about coastal home decor is that it’s breezy in every way. It effortlessly jumps between several different styles. “You can take it from modern to transitional to traditional,” says Capra. “In south Florida, the modern take on coastal is very popular — as the water is never too far away here, and everyone wants their home to reflect that. Think tile in tones of pretty soft blues and whites, but in clean lines, geometric shapes or even a 3D-wave pattern.”
Tactile Details Add Movement
Capture the whoosh of the waves with a tactile design that would look right at home in an art gallery. We adore these Tango Grey Wave 3D porcelain tiles, which can bring any beach-inspired space to life.
Level Up Beach Decorations for Home With Tantalizing Textures
Coastal home decorating shouldn't center around colors and patterns alone. After all, the sense of touch is a core component of the beach experience — what would a shoreline escapade be without the sand in your toes or the waves at your heels? Bring this effect indoors with textured elements:
Wood-Inspired Chevron
We've already demonstrated how chevron can fit perfectly into a beachy theme, but it takes another step up with wood-style backsplash. We're partial to Recycled Glass Herringbone Mosaics in Blue Wood Color. You'd be forgiven for thinking that these glass tiles are constructed from dreamy driftwood. Despite the recycled glass construction, the intricate array of colors make these tiles appear delightfully textured.A wood-look tile with etches of blue is another way to channel coastal calm at home, which is why we’d like to direct you to exhibit Recycled Glass Herringbone Mosaic in Blue Wood Color.
Timber-Oriented Subway Tiles
Another intriguing take on the wood-style concept, our Blue Wooden Glass Subway Mosaic makes the most of a classic shape but adds a hint of rustic style with a unique aesthetic that blends woodsy and beachy elements. Again, this creates the impression of texture, despite featuring a polished sheen.
Bring all of your beachy-keen coastal cottage dreams to life with help from Tile Club. Browse and shop today to find your favorite styles for an easy, breezy, beautiful ocean-inspired space!
