Coastal grandmother style is taking the interior design world by storm — and for good reason! It’s a great way to add a chic, timeless look to every space in your home.
If you’ve been wondering what the coastal grandmother sensation is all about, today I’m taking a look at this interior design trend, including easy ways to bring the coastal grandmother aesthetic to your home, images of beautiful coastal grandmother style interiors, places to shop for coastal grandma decor, and much more.
First, what is coastal grandmother style?
If you’ve been following along for a while, you know how much I love both modern coastal style and Nancy Meyers style interiors, having embraced both looks here on my blog and in our home.
So when I heard about coastal grandmother style, a fusion of coastal décor and the cozy, aspirational lifestyle portrayed in my favorite Nancy Meyers movies, I couldn’t have been more excited.
The term coastal grandmother was first used by Tik Tok influencer Lex Nicoleta and refers to a relaxed, elevated way of living–the kind of chic lifestyle exemplified by Diane Keaton in Something’s Gotta Give and Meryl Streep in It’s Complicated.
I’m sure there are many different takes on the coastal grandma aesthetic, but when I think of coastal grandmother interiors, it conjures up visions of light-filled rooms, fresh flowers, lots of books, comfortable slipcovered furniture, neutral hues, baskets, and natural elements–anything that represents a relaxed, elevated, lighter way of living and decorating.
Incorporating a mix of elevated Hamptons and fresh modern coastal styles, coastal grandmother style is all about adopting a slower-paced, more leisurely lifestyle–even if you don’t live near the coast and/or aren’t a grandmother!
This lifestyle might include making regular trips to the farmers’ market for flowers and baguettes, snipping fresh herbs from your windowsill pots, stopping to enjoy a mid-morning latte and croissant, and owning a collection of Ina Garten’s cookbooks, along with a well-appointed kitchen in which to use them!
All in all, coastal grandmother style interior design is exemplified by a chic, comfortable, and cozy aesthetic that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
How to add a touch of coastal grandma style to your home
The coastal grandmother look embraces all the little things that make a house feel like home — herbs on the kitchen windowsill, bowls of fruit, fresh flowers, plenty of books, cozy slipcovered furniture, casually thrown pillows, and an abundance of natural light.
To bring a coastal grandma aesthetic to your home, start with a background of white walls. Then add in window coverings and seating made from easy-care fabrics like cotton and linen.
Next, layer in some natural elements, including light woods, plenty of baskets, and textured rugs. Finally, accent your spaces with decorative items, throw pillows, and cozy blankets in soft, muted colors of the sea, sand, and sky.
A little bit timeless and a little bit modern–the key to the coastal grandmother aesthetic is all about mastering the mix.
Here’s a great example of a coastal grandmother bedroom. The shiplap walls, driftwood, and four-poster bed add a hint of coastal grandma style to this space:
Since coastal grandmother decor is essentially carefree and relaxed, it’s very easy to go overboard when decorating. Some things to avoid overdoing in a coastal themed home include signs, ropes, anchors, sea creatures, and nautical motifs.
Also, avoid trendy looks (i.e., anything you’re seeing over and over again on Instagram). And when possible, go for real rather than faux.
A thoughtfully curated home should center around you and your lifestyle, so remember to keep things cohesive and meaningful to you.
Here are some suggested elements for capturing the coastal grandmother look. (I borrowed this list from my Nancy Meyers Interiors post, but everything here also applies to coastal grandma interior design):
- Jute, wool or sisal rugs.
- Soft cotton or linen slipcovers and bedding.
- Ceramic or terracotta planters.
- Fresh herbs on the windowsill, a vase of fresh flowers, orchids, or lush plants in terracotta pots. See my post on Orchid Care Tips if you’d like to bring the beauty of orchids to your home.
Jean Stoffer Interior Design – sconces – pulls
- Wooden cutting boards.
- Linen aprons, napkins, and dishtowels.
- Display lovely items used for cooking: a salt & pepper cellar, a marble mortar and pestle, olive oils, wood utensils and rolling pins gathered in a crock.
- If you have a collection of white pitchers or bowls, display it on open shelving in the kitchen or dining room.
- Copper pots and pans displayed on an iron pot hanger.
- Fruits and vegetables on display on kitchen counters, along with wood cutting boards and marble pastry boards.
- Flowing white or off-white curtains in cotton or linen.
- Baskets everywhere.
- Candles.
- Mementos from your travels.
- Lots of books, stacked and displayed on shelves, side tables, console tables, and coffee tables.
- Display your cookbooks. In our kitchen, I use a basket to hold a rotating collection of favorites:
A few places to find furniture, linens, and decor with a light, contemporary coastal grandma aesthetic include Pottery Barn, Jenni Kayne, Dear Keaton, Serena & Lily, Crate & Barrel, and Lulu & Georgia.
For more ideas on modern coastal decor, Nancy Meyers interiors, and beach house style, you might be interested in these popular posts from the blog:
- Modern Coastal Decorating Ideas for Your Home
- My Favorite Nancy Meyers Interiors (and How to Get Her Style)
- Modern Beach House Decorating Ideas
Coastal Grandmother Decorating Ideas for Your Home
Below, you’ll find inspiration photos from Pinterest (along with a few images from our home) filled with ideas for incorporating a fresh take on the coastal grandmother aesthetic in your living room, bedroom, entryway, and home.
The coastal grandmother aesthetic is based on a calming color palette drawn from nature, complete with soft neutral tones and textures, as shown in this beautiful bedroom sitting area:
A blue and white ginger jar, natural fiber rug, and glorious blue door create the quintessential coastal entryway, located on Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina.
I love the soft color palette and interesting tones and textures in this lovely coastal themed bedroom:
Lily Pad Cottage – light fixture
This beautiful guest bedroom offers a beautiful example of chic coastal style:
I love this charming reading nook under the stairs—the perfect spot for a coastal grandmother to enjoy a good book!
Layered tones and textures in neutral hues, as well as a striped jute rug, lend a coastal grandmother aesthetic to this beautiful bedroom:
A light and airy coastal living room decorated in soft neutral colors:
A fully-equipped coastal grandmother kitchen with amazing views:
I love the thoughtful layering and interesting tones and textures in this beautiful coastal bedroom from Pure Salt Interiors:
This beautiful living room exudes chic coastal grandmother style:
This elegant kitchen incorporates a hint of coastal grandma style via the brass pendants and charming potted topiaries:
Christopher Architecture and Interiors
This stylish bathroom design incorporates plenty of white, light wood elements, and natural woven textures–the perfect spot for a coastal grandmother to relax in the tub:
A beautiful modern coastal home with stunning woven pendant lights and beautiful sliding doors (painted in Benjamin Moore James River Gray):
Julie Howard for Timber Trails Homes
A dreamy primary bedroom, layered with soft bedding and interesting textures:
Janette Mallory Interiors – light fixture
Offering a wonderful example of a kitchen any coastal grandma would love, this space features an abundance of storage, chic striped counter stools, and a beautiful gray-blue island (in Sherwin Williams Smoky Candle).
A mix of linen pillows–and even a woven light fixture–can be used to create a coastal grandmother look in the bedroom. Of course, cotton is always a great option, too. H&M is a wonderful source for affordable linen pillow covers and bedding.
Pure Salt Interiors – light fixture
A stylish outdoor dining area, perfect for family gatherings:
A lovely coastal bedroom design with a wood canopy bed and a light and airy aesthetic:
Pure Salt Interiors – handwoven rug – similar canopy bed
This elegant kitchen design features black countertops, crisp white cabinets, and timeless brass finishes, exuding a chic coastal grandmother aesthetic:
A sunny breakfast nook, perfect for enjoying a cup of coffee and a croissant:
Timber Trails Development Company – dining chairs – similar pendant – rug
A chic coastal home with a stunning entryway and gorgeous pendant lights, perfect for welcoming friends and family:
Here are the same stylish pendant lights in a charming kitchen design (and here’s a similar, less expensive version):
Contemporary artwork is a great way to add a touch of laidback coastal grandmother style to the bedroom:
This stunning Amagansett home, with its expansive views of the sea and sky, is the epitome of chic coastal grandmother style:
Noor Property Group, Rue Magazine
I love the fresh, relaxed feeling and interesting textures in this coastal bedroom design:
This chic coastal grandmother bedroom is decorated in soft neutral tones, linen bedding, and lots of interesting textures:
There’s so much to love about this beautiful coastal kitchen design. It’s a great example of the perfect way to combine light and dark, cool and warm, open and inviting. The cabinet color is Hale Navy by Benjamin Moore.
Andrea McQueen Design – pendant lights
This beautiful living room, with its tasteful mix of blues and neutrals, conveys a relaxed, elevated coastal grandmother aesthetic:
Here’s another view of this beautiful modern coastal living room design:
A beautiful living room with sky-high beamed ceilings, layered textures, neutral tones, and a cozy sectional:
This California coastal kitchen, with its charming beach house aesthetic, is a long-time favorite of mine:
Hanging rattan chairs, white furniture, sea glass blues, and a natural sisal rug add contemporary take on beach cottage style to this coastal home:
Julie Howard for Timber Trails Development Company, via Home Bunch – hanging rattan chair
This chic open-concept living room, kitchen, and dining area offers a fresh take on coastal style:
Pure Salt Interiors – similar sectionals here, here, here, here, and here – similar coffee table here, here, and here
A dark blue vanity, as well as brass lantern sconces and a large basket, bring a coastal feeling to this lovely bathroom design:
This timeless kitchen design gets a touch of coastal grandmother style from the chic pendant lights and counter stools:
In the beautiful space below, the wooden beams, neutral color palette, striped pillows, shelf styling, and pop of classic blue on the cabinetry and in the rug, bring a fresh and comfortable feeling to this coastal living room:
This dreamy coastal farmhouse bedroom features a rattan nightstand, woven bed, black chandelier, and lovely soft tones of blue and blush.
This living room from Serena & Lily, with its white sectional and neutral tones and textures, beautifully captures chic coastal grandmother style:
This chic coastal kitchen features sleek black and white pendant lights, stylish woven counter stools, and the perfect shade of blue-gray (Benjamin Moore James River Gray) on the island.
Julie Howard for Timber Trails Development Company
Striped cushions, sleek lanterns, and a chic sectional create a beautiful coastal outdoor living area:
Design Works, via Style Me Pretty
This beautiful coastal grandmother bedroom features a beaded chandelier, woven canopy bed, light wood nightstands, and a cozy sitting area to enjoy a quiet moment:
A beautiful coastal grandmother style living room, featuring woven lounge chairs, a tiered chandelier, wood coffee table, round rug, and dreamy artwork:
Love all the chic coastal grandmother touches in this small living room, which is actually part of a charming coastal casita:
Pure Salt Interiors – similar coffee table here, here, and here
Here’s a beautiful coastal themed living room with a round woven ottoman and four light gray swivel chairs:
This beautiful living area off the kitchen incorporates soft neutrals, wood beams, and a gorgeous grouping of chairs around a striking coffee table to create a luxurious, yet approachable, coastal aesthetic.
We have a similar small living room in our home, which we call our hearth room or keeping room, where we hang out and watch TV most evenings.
Because we have plenty of natural lighting in here, I like to bring a bit of coastal style to this space, via a round wood coffee table, natural textures, coastal wall art, a blue and white area rug, and white slipcovered seating:
White slipcovered furniture is my favorite — I especially love how it looks paired with a chunky jute rug:
pillow – rug – similar sofa
Here’s another view of our living room from earlier this year, showing our easy-care white swivel chairs–they’re such an easy way to add a relaxed coastal aesthetic to any space:
And here’s a look at our coastal inspired living room from last summer. As you’ll see, I like to change things up in here pretty often! But, no matter what, I always try to keep this space feeling relaxed, light, and welcoming.
Natural textures and touches of blue and white add a coastal cottage feeling to our kitchen:
Crisp blues and whites lend a coastal grandmother aesthetic to our primary bedroom:
Ginger jars are always a great idea in a coastal home–especially in the entryway. This little blue and white jar has made the rounds throughout our house, but I especially love it here in our entryway:
Our covered patio features an abundance of crisp blues and whites, via billowy outdoor curtains, comfy cushions, rugs, Chinoiserie-inspired pots, and plenty of flowers:
coastal grandmother decor
Final Thoughts
As I’m sure you’ve guessed, I love everything about this stylish mix of modern coastal décor and Nancy Meyers style!
If you feel the same way, I hope you found some ideas and inspiration to help you bring a touch of coastal grandmother interior design style to your home.
Just for fun, if you’re also interested in dressing like a chic coastal grandma (á la Diane Keaton in Something’s Gotta Give), here are a few coastal grandmother clothing finds I love:
Wishing you a beautiful day! xo Jane
For more coastal decorating ideas and inspiration, here are a few favorite related posts from the blog:
Modern Coastal Decorating Ideas for Your Home
How to Add a Touch of Nancy Meyers Style to Your Kitchen and Home
Modern Coastal Living Room Ideas
Restoration Hardware Style: How to Get the RH Look for Less
Beautiful Kitchen Design Ideas to Inspire Your Next Renovation
Beautiful and Affordable Turkish Oushak Runners for the Kitchen
50 Beautiful Modern Bathroom Design Ideas You Will Love
A Simple Guide to Mixing Metals in the Bathroom
The New 2022 Studio McGee Target Collection
How to Install Decorative Wall Molding: An Easy Weekend DIY Project
Colors of the Year + Top Home Color Trends for 2023
2022 Home Decor Trends and Design Styles You Will Love
Designer Spotlight: Pure Salt Interiors
A Simple Guide to Mixing Metals in the Kitchen
Modern Bedroom Design Ideas for a Dreamy Master Suite
50 Modern Living Rooms filled with Inspiration
Modern Kitchen Pendant Lighting Ideas You Will Love
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