20 Coastal Bathroom Ideas for a Calming Escape
These beach-themed bathrooms are subtle and sophisticated.
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Whether or not you live near the water, having a beach-themed bathroom allows you to enjoy some spa-like calm at home. Coastal bathroom ideas in particular can transform your space into a serene seaside retreat without the kitschiness often associated with beach-themed decor. We get it—driftwood signs, jars of seashells, and oceanic motifs can feel tired and overdone, but coastal bathroom ideas don't have to be that way.
The best coastal bathroom ideas use texture, color, and finishes to create a laid-back, beachy vibe. Rattan, wicker, natural stone, and wood can bring beach-inspired energy into the space without going overboard. While white and blue are classic choices, you can also incorporate neutrals like gray and brown for a northeastern coastal feel or warm hues to mimic a stunning sunset.
If you're seeking coastal bathroom ideas for your home or summer house, we've got you covered. Our round-up of favorite coastal bathroom ideas from expert interior designers captures the essence of the beach without the clichés. These ideas will help you design a bathroom that feels like a coastal getaway, no matter the season.
More coastal decor inspiration:
- 37 Calming Coastal Bedroom Designs
- Everything You Need to Know About California Coastal Design
- Inside the Coastal Grandmother Interiors Trend
Prioritize the View
If you're lucky enough to be designing a coastal bathroom on the actual coast, use the ocean to your advantage like designer Jon de la Cruz did here. The ceiling-height windows in this primary bathroom allow for the coastline to act as a sort of wallpaper.
Mix Patterns and Prints
This girls' bathroom by Kemble Interiors utilizes three different patterns to create its cheerful and coastal look. The key here is to play with different-sized motifs to allow them to blend seamlessly into the design.
Seek Outdoor Inspiration
A floor-to-ceiling mirror in this Arent & Pyke-designed bathroom highlights the textural stone walls surrounding it. The beach is all about connecting with nature, so embrace the unique look and feel of cut stone.
Stay Playful
Cece Bowman of Kemble Interiors opted for a "twist on the South Florida standard" for this Palm Beach home. Opting not to paint the walls white, she instead looked to subtle patterned wallpapers to bring in that coastal sense of calm. The playful turtle stool is also an homage to the area's wildlife.
Keep It Classic
Blue and white is a timeless color palette for good reason, and it can easily be used in a coastal bathroom idea. This Cate Dunning-designed bathroom makes use of color pairing in different scales (large on the wallpaper, small on the lampshades) to harmonize the space without making it feel too visually busy.
Use Colors From the Sea
Evoking the palette of a moody summer storm, Studio McGee opted for a cool-tone gray that leans blue in the natural light for this shower alcove. By framing just the fixtures in the tile, the entire bathroom looks and feels much larger.
Mimic the Sunset
In this Florida bungalow, blue and green shades run amok, but not in this powder room. Rather than choose the obvious coastal bathroom color palette, designer Chenault James opted to look to the sunset instead. These warm tones remind us of golden hour on summer nights.
Try All-Over Color
Just because we said you didn't have to use the color blue in your coastal bathroom doesn't mean you can't. Opt for an all-over gradient of color similar to this bathroom. Add natural, woven textures to help ground all that high-gloss sheen.
Related Story: The Best Colors to Pair with Blue
Use Patina-Friendly Metals
Every beautifully aged beach house features metals that have been patinaed from exposure to the salt air. To get that same weathered look in your own coastal bathroom idea, opt for finishes and metals (like brass and nickel) that will naturally darken over time.
Choose Green, Not Blue
Turns out, green can evoke oceanic calm just as effectively as blue. This coastal bathroom idea showcases a monochromatic color palette with sage-green tile over a hunter-green vanity. Don't be afraid to embrace the darker shades to contrast the beach's light and bright feeling.
Related Story: The Best Green Paint Colors
Embrace Your Routine
The ocean is the best setting for your morning cold plunge, so why not outfit your coastal bathroom with a sauna to warm you back up afterward? Take inspiration from this airy space's minimal color palette.
Make Use of Natural Light
With no buildings or structures to cast dark shadows, the natural light at the beach is second to none. Keep wired lighting and window treatments in your coastal bathroom to a minimum, and rely on the sun's rays to light up your space wherever possible.
Add Coastal Accents
If you're not yet ready to fully plunge into the coastal design aesthetic, you can easily incorporate smaller accents instead. The block stool in this Seattle home mimics the look of driftwood, providing a subtle nod to the beach.
Don't Be Afraid of Dark Materials
A common finish in coastal bathrooms is an all-white palette. To add depth and character, consider incorporating moodier or darker fixtures that align with real beach environments that inspire you. In this Maui bathroom, where the beaches have a more tropical allure, designer Breeze Giannasio drew inspiration from similar climates found in Bali and Japan. This approach both enhances the visual appeal and creates a more dynamic and sophisticated coastal bathroom idea.
Look to European Beaches
If your coastal bathroom ideas are feeling too kitschy, set your sights on European coastlines for inspiration. Designer Mark D. Sikes opted for floor-to-ceiling tiles in this powder room with not a seashell in sight!
Keep a Pastel Palette
Many coastal bathroom ideas feature pastel colors, and this seafoam-green one, designed by Chenault James Interiors, perfectly complements its Delray Beach, Florida environment.
Create a Sanctuary
The beach is one of the most calming places, so your coastal bathroom should be too. Take note of this Long Island home by Susannah Charbin, nestled in a marsh. An (almost) all-white bathroom is made more interesting with a skylight that bounces sun rays across the textured tile.
Use Natural Textures
Designer Ashley Gilbreath prioritized the oceanfront setting in her Rosemary Beach vacation home. This primary bathroom features woven-framed mirrors from Jamie Young that evoke the natural textures of the shoreline.
Sneak In Some Seaweed
This powder room may not be on the coastline, but the seaweed-hued marble used in this sink alcove evokes that soothing feeling of wading through salt water. The sand-colored wood used throughout only enhances the coastal vibes.
Find Underwater Inspiration
In this coastal bathroom idea by designer Colleen Dowd Saglimbeni, on a floating home no less, the bathroom takes inspiration from its underwater residents. This wallpaper may feel too on-the-nose for some, but the tonal red ceiling and dark wood make it feel like a ship captain's quarters in the best way.
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