Essential Decorating Ideas for your Florida Beach House

8 Elegant & Modern Coastal Decorating Ideas from Design Consultants


Your Paradise Awaits

The crash of the ocean reaching the shore, the sound of seagulls flying overhead, the quiet breeze blowing through the palm trees right outside your window — all the small signals that remind you to slow down and enjoy the perks of summer. Sometimes these reminders can be easily integrated into your beach house interior design!

Whether you live by the beach and enjoy these luxuries all year round, own a beach rental or you’re dreaming of the day you get to vacation in a beach house of your own, we’re here to help. Creating the perfect summer getaway doesn’t have to be difficult or unattainable. Online design guides with the best outdoor furniture styles and modern beach house décor make finding the right items easy. In fact, we can help your vision pop right out of Coastal Living Magazine and into your home!

Once you’ve found your perfect coastal furniture for your summer home or coastal residence, don’t forget the final touches that make your new space feel like home. We thought we'd give you a little style inspiration with some of our favorite coastal decorating ideas to help you get started.

  • Keep it Colorful
  • Be Natural
  • Go with the (Wood) Grain
  • Make it Modern
  • Bring the Funk
  • Think Multi-Functional
  • Go Green
  • Remember the Romance


“One of the best things about decorating coastal spaces is thinking back on great memories and fun times spent at the beach with family and friends,” Furnitureland South Merchandising Manager Jordan Moser said. “When it comes to coastal décor, it’s all about the details that are important to your personal experience with these serene and relaxing places.”

Let’s talk about these details and explore a few ideas and examples to get our creative juices flowing!

1. Keep It Colorful

Sometimes all you need is a pop of color. We’ve found that vases are a great way to create a color story, but throw pillows, sculptures and rugs will do the trick, too. A ceramic vase adds a splash of color and texture to any elegant coastal décor scheme. And anytime you can incorporate a seashell design element is a perfect time to remind yourself of what’s waiting just outside your door. Possibly the best thing about vases is that they add style to the room all on their own. And when you do have flowers to display, they’re already there waiting for you.



2. Be Natural

Add some beautiful seaside flowers and VOILA! Your lovely, neutral place setting is offset by nature’s most vibrant colors. Once you pick and choose where you’ll incorporate color, remember to make space for a few neutral pieces. A cream glazed ceramic bowl will feel perfectly coastal on a dining room table in a shoreside home that’s looking for a little bit more coastal flair.



3. Go with the (Wood) Grain

Seaside sophistication – metallic sculptures may not adhere to classic coastal vibes, but why not mix it up with a new medium that will take your design from stuffy to classy. They’re not pastel or delicate in any way. They’re the perfect example of a modern coastal and rugged aesthetic! Perfect for a bookshelf or a guest bedroom, this mixed medium idea is sure to set the mood in your coastal living space.

4. Make it Modern

Seaside sophistication – metallic sculptures may not adhere to classic coastal vibes, but why not mix it up with a new medium that will take your design from stuffy to classy. They’re not pastel or delicate in any way. They’re the perfect example of a modern coastal and rugged aesthetic! Perfect for a bookshelf or a guest bedroom, this mixed medium idea is sure to set the mood in your coastal living space.



5. Bring the Funk

Freshen up your space! When you add a little something funky and fun to your beach house or seaside manor, your friends and family will get a taste of your personality in every room. Yes, we’re telling you to buy that pineapple lamp that you love but aren’t sure if you can pull it off. You can, and it might be just the thing that adds a sense of whimsy or a touch of restoration-vintage flair to your room. Wow, this must be our most adored Florida home decorating idea!



6. Think Multi-Functional

Add some utility to your beach house interior design by choosing accessories that combine beautiful form and function. For example, distressed white wood makes a few serving trays look like they washed ashore just for you. Serving trays are made for practicality, breakfast in bed or for carrying a sunny day lunch to your outdoor dining table. Plus, when you’re not using them, you can nest them together and display them as a part of your beach house décor. Small boxes and bowls are other good examples of function at work in the home. They’re ideal for extra storage or a place to drop your keys on the way in the door.



7. Go Green

If you want to add some live greenery to your seaside escape, consider items that include a cement texture. The look is reminiscent of sand without bringing actual sand inside. (Parents, you can thank us later.) Additionally, cascading planters offer a wonderful place to bring a touch of life to your beach house. Like a waterfall, the foliage will flow from one planter to the next with this coastal decorating idea.



8. Remember the Romance

Sit back and relax in the flickering light shining from behind hurricanes perfect for evening candles that set a romantic tone. Pull up a chair beneath a chandelier that’s made of oyster shells for a dinner for two. No matter where you are, light sets the tone for every romantic occasion. And any chance you get to toss in a contemporary reference to beautiful lighthouses you’ll be one step closer to excelling in modern beach house décor.



Sit back and relax in the flickering light shining from behind hurricanes perfect for evening candles that set a romantic tone. Pull up a chair beneath a chandelier that’s made of oyster shells for a dinner for two. No matter where you are, light sets the tone for every romantic occasion. And any chance you get to toss in a contemporary reference to beautiful lighthouses you’ll be one step closer to excelling in modern beach house décor.