Modern Coastal Kitchen Ideas and Trends for 2024

Modern coastal or beach house style is a great way to add an interesting and contemporary look to the kitchen — in fact, it’s the style I chose for my own kitchen! With that in mind, in today’s post I’m sharing some simple tips on how to add a touch of coastal or beach house style to your kitchen in 2024, with images of beautiful coastal kitchen designs, coastal decorating ideas, and more.

Before we renovated our kitchen, I spent months gathering tips, ideas, and inspiration on this topic, and today I’m sharing everything I learned about adding coastal style to the kitchen.  

Whether you’re designing a new kitchen or making choices regarding decorating and updating your current space, I hope you’ll find all sorts of ideas and inspiration in this post. 

First, what does a coastal kitchen look like?

Coastal kitchen style is inherently light, open, and airy.  Inspired by the colors of nature, modern coastal kitchens might include open shelving, wooden beams, baskets, natural fiber rugs, woven light fixtures, and a light color scheme.

Although there are many different approaches to coastal style, my favorite is modern coastal kitchen design, which is light, minimal, and fresh, incorporating a mix of relaxed beach house decor and classic, elevated Hamptons style.

For a coastal look in the kitchen, I recommend starting with a background of white walls and/or cabinets.  Then add in some natural materials, including woven pieces, light wood elements, and lovely textures via rugs, kitchen linens, decor, light fixtures, and counter stools.

For coastal interior design inspiration, you might want to take a look at sites like Serena and Lily, Dear Keaton, Arhaus, or Pottery Barn, all of which beautifully convey what modern coastal style is looking like in 2024. 

You can learn more about kitchen trends for 2024 in my post, Beautiful Kitchen Trends and Design Ideas for 2024.  

And see this year’s most popular design trends in my post, 2024 Home Decor Trends: 10 Ideas to Try This Year.

Is coastal decor going out of style?

Not only is coastal decor still in style in 2024, it’s a timeless, classic look that continues to evolve, expand, and grow in popularity with each passing year.

In fact, Arhaus just released a new coastal furniture collection for outdoor spaces, joining Crate & Barrel and Pottery Barn, both of which launched contemporary coastal home lines last year.

Whether you want to create a modern, boho, farmhouse, cottage, east coast, California casual, or traditional coastal look for your kitchen, coastal style is a versatile, timeless design aesthetic that will last far beyond 2024.

See my post Modern Coastal Decorating Ideas for Your Home for more tips and ideas for decorating your home with contemporary coastal style.  

Elements of coastal kitchen designs

Whether you prefer a relaxed beach house aesthetic or classic East coast style, there are many ways to achieve a beautiful modern coastal look in your kitchen.

Following are 12 elements you’ll typically find in coastal kitchen designs:

1. Coastal style lighting

Both pendant lights and sconces are a great way to create a focal point and add coastal style to your kitchen.  

Most coastal kitchen designs incorporate some type of pendant lighting with fabric or woven shades or in metal finishes — often brass or a mix of glass and brass.

This kitchen features brass and white pendant lights over the kitchen island, bringing a modern coastal touch to the space.  From James May Homes:

I love the modern yet timeless quality of the pendant light fixtures in this space, as well as the coffered ceilings and warm marble countertops.  From Brandon Architects and Patterson Custom Homes:

pendant lights – similar pendant

This chic coastal kitchen design features a mix of brass and glass pendant lights over the island and a statement chandelier over the dining table.  From Kate Marker Interiors:

Beautiful lantern shaped pendant lights and woven counter stools add a striking focal point to this coastal themed kitchen from Studio McGee:

See my post, Modern Kitchen Pendant Lighting Ideas You Will Love, for more modern coastal kitchen lighting ideas.

2. Natural materials

Natural materials are a key element in modern coastal kitchen designs. Things like wooden floors and beams, woven pendant lights, and natural fiber rugs create the warm and inviting atmosphere of a beach house kitchen. 

Beautiful warm wood cabinetry, natural stone, wooden floors, exposed wooden beams, and coastal-style pendant lights make this lake house kitchen look cohesive and inviting.  From Park and Oak Interior Design:

3. Woven counter stools and bar stools

Coastal style counter stools in beautiful woven textures and materials add a touch of the beach to your kitchen, while also providing comfortable seating at the kitchen island.

Studio McGee – counter stools – pendant lighting

Stools with woven seats and backs or options that incorporate other natural materials are a great choice for a coastal kitchen.

We have the counter stools shown below in our kitchen, and I love the contemporary coastal feeling they bring to our home. 

counter stools – pendant light

The light and airy coastal-inspired kitchen shown below was designed and styled by Studio McGee and Erin Hansen for Christine Andrew.  Here is the source for the beautiful counter stools:

Here’s a great example of modern coastal style in the kitchen, with the gorgeous pendant lighting and woven counter stools taking center stage.  From Pure Salt Interiors:

See my post, Kitchen Counter Stool & Bar Stool Ideas for Every Style and Budget, for more kitchen seating ideas.

4. White walls and cabinetry

White walls and cabinets are a popular choice for modern coastal kitchen designs, because a white background naturally creates a light and airy beach house atmosphere.

Pure Salt Interiors

This elegant coastal kitchen design features crisp white walls and cabinets, as well as statement pendant lighting and woven counter stools.  From Leah Muller Interiors and Luxesource.

White cabinets are the perfect backdrop for other coastal design elements, such as natural materials, light fixtures, window coverings, rugs, and decor.

Intimate Living Interiors

I love this timeless kitchen, with its glass and brass coastal pendant lighting, chrome faucet, and seagrass counter stools set against a backdrop of pure white.  From Salt Design Co.:

In our kitchen, a background of white walls and cabinets (both in White Dove by Benjamin Moore) bring a touch of coastal style to the heart our home:

our kitchen

5. Coastal kitchen backsplash ideas

Whether you’re designing a coastal, beach house, or Hamptons style kitchen, the backsplash should complement the overall look of the space. 

Pure Salt Interiors

Here’s a beautiful beach house style kitchen featuring a shimmering zellige tile backsplash, chic cone pendant lights, and wooden counter stools.  From Pure Salt Interior Design:

White subway tile is an affordable and classic backsplash option, while stone slabs in marble or quartz have recently become a popular modern coastal kitchen backsplash material.

Brandon Architects and Patterson Custom Homes

Gorgeous pendant lighting, blue counter stools, and a mosaic tile backsplash provide a timeless yet modern look in this beautiful coastal-inspired kitchen design, via Pinterest (please advise if you know the source):

This chic kitchen design features a brass finish on the pendant lights, chrome on the faucet and pot filler, and black cabinet pulls.  The patterned tile backsplash ties everything together beautifully.  From Pure Salt Interiors:

A unique Moroccan patterned tile design is the perfect backdrop for the upper cabinets in this modern kitchen design from Pure Salt Interiors:

For more kitchen backsplash ideas, see my post Beautiful Kitchen Backsplash Ideas for Every Style & Budget.

6. Large kitchen islands

A large kitchen island often serves as the centerpiece of modern coastal kitchen designs because it provides plenty of space for food preparation and entertaining.

The great thing about this large kitchen island is its abundant seating and extra storage space.  From Pure Salt Interiors:

This beautiful modern coastal kitchen from Andrea McQueen Design features statement brass pendant lights and a stunning blue kitchen island (in Hale Navy by Benjamin Moore).

See my post, Beautiful Kitchen Island Ideas to Inspire Your Renovation, for more coastal kitchen island ideas.

7. Open shelving

Open shelving is a popular trend in modern coastal kitchen designs. Open shelving allows you to display your favorite dishes and accent pieces while also creating an open and airy feeling.

Pure Salt Interiors

I love this modern kitchen design with open wood shelving and a mix of light and dark cabinetry.  The woven counter stools and wood beams add a contemporary coastal feel to this space.  From Pure Salt Interior Design:

This beautiful coastal kitchen features modern black and white pendant lights, stylish woven counter stools, and the perfect shade of blue (Benjamin Moore James River Gray) on the island and open shelving.  From Julie Howard for Timber Trails Development Company:

Consider using natural materials such as wood for your open shelving to create a beachy vibe.

When we renovated our kitchen, we removed two upper cabinets and installed open shelving, which we use every single day.  I love the additional light the removal of the cabinets allowed into this space:

our kitchen

8. A coastal color palette

When it comes to choosing a color palette for a modern coastal kitchen, incorporating hues of the sea, sand, and sky — such as crisp whites, deep blues, and neutral tones — will tie everything together beautifully.

Brandon Architects and Patterson Custom Homes

Dark blue cabinets look gorgeous with brass faucets and cabinet pulls, as shown in this beautiful deep blue kitchen from Anne Rae Design. See more blue kitchen cabinet ideas in my post, Beautiful Blue Kitchen Ideas.

Here’s another view of this beautiful kitchen from Andrea McQueen Design.  That gorgeous combo of blue, white and brass gets me every time!  Here’s a source for the beautiful pendant lights.

Our kitchen also has a blue island (Sherwin Williams Distance) and white cabinets, so I chose brass finishes for the faucet, pendant lighting, and kitchen cabinet hardware to match our decor.

kitchen counter stools

Light wood cabinets or islands are often paired with black hardware for a more modern feel, but brass and chrome look amazing, too, as you can see in beautiful space below, featuring brass pendant lights for a coastal feel.  From James May Homes and CKF Cabinetry:

9. Beach house style decor

Adding beach-inspired decor to your kitchen can help you create a fresh look in your space. However, since modern beach house style is generally carefree and relaxed, it’s easy to go overboard. 

For an elevated coastal look, avoid the overuse of coastal decor like signs, rope accents, anchors, nautical themes, and sea creature motifs.

This beach house kitchen design from Pure Salt Interiors gets it just right, with a neutral color palette and pared-back decor that reflects the relaxed, natural feeling of the beach, without overdoing it:

This lovely California coastal kitchen design, from Caroline Kilmartin, has a wonderful, modern beach house aesthetic, and is a long-time favorite of mine:

See my posts, What is Coastal Grandmother Style? (and why I’m loving this trend) and Chic Modern Beach House Decorating Ideas for more beach house decorating ideas for the kitchen.

10. An open, airy feeling

Creating open spaces is an important element in modern coastal kitchen design. If you’re planning a kitchen renovation, you might consider removing unnecessary walls to create a more open and airy feel.

Woven pendant lights, natural woods, and an abundance of white perfectly convey beach house style in this open-concept kitchen and dining area from The Grove Byron Bay.

High ceilings also create an open and airy atmosphere in a modern coastal kitchen.  And adding architectural details such as crown molding or coffered ceilings brings interest, depth, and character to coastal kitchen designs.

A wonderful example of modern coastal decorating, the kitchen below features an abundance of white, striped counter stools, and a gray-blue kitchen island (in Sherwin Williams Smoky Candle).  From AGK Design Studio and Home Bunch, via Pinterest.

11. Shiplap walls and ceilings

Incorporating a shiplap paneled wall treatment in a coastal or Hamptons style kitchen can add a touch of coastal charm and warmth to a space. 

To achieve a refined look, shiplap can be painted white and installed in a classic horizontal or more modern vertical pattern. 

Using shiplap as a feature wall and backsplash adds visual interest and helps create a focal point in this beautiful kitchen from Work Your Closet.  

In addition, incorporating shiplap on the ceiling brings a cozy, intimate feeling to a coastal farmhouse kitchen.

There’s so much to love about this gorgeous coastal kitchen design. The shiplap ceiling treatment, light wood island and cabinets, zellige tile backsplash, woven counter stools, and fluted pendant lights create a timeless feeling in this space.  From Grayscale Design:

12. Abundant natural light

Large windows and glass doors are another important element in modern coastal kitchen design. They allow natural light to flood into your kitchen, creating an open and airy atmosphere.

This sunny kitchen design features black framed windows, a chrome faucet, and brass pendant lights.  From Christopher Architecture:

This beautiful coastal style kitchen features a large window over the sink and show-stopping pendant lights in a bronze finish, paired with stylish woven counter stools.  From Salt Design Company:

A beautiful wall of windows, mixed with white kitchen cabinets, black countertops, and brass light fixtures, enhance this lovely Hamptons style kitchen from Jen Langston:

13. Metal finishes

Here’s a bonus tip regarding choosing metal finishes for your kitchen.  Almost every metal finish can work well in a modern coastal kitchen design — especially if you’re keeping the rest of the color scheme fairly light and neutral.  

If you want to mix metals in a coastal kitchen, I recommend mixing cool metals with warm metals to create a nice, eye-pleasing balance.

Warm metals include brass, gold, copper, and oil-rubbed bronze.  Cool metals include chrome, polished nickel, and brushed nickel. 

And black is considered either a cool-toned metal or a neutral and makes a great third metal to balance out your mix, as shown in this beachy boho style kitchen:

Pure Salt Interiors

Here’s another view of the beautiful kitchen from Brandon Architects featured earlier in this post.  I love the mix of sleek polished brass pendant lights and polished nickel hardware in this timeless coastal kitchen design.

See my post, A Simple Guide to Mixing Metals in the Kitchen, for more on choosing metal finishes for your kitchen.

I’m sure it’s clear by now I love a coastal kitchen!  In my opinion, adding a touch of modern coastal design to the kitchen results in a stylish, timeless space. 

Whether you opt for lots of natural elements, glass and brass light fixtures, light woods, or just an abundance of fresh white, there are countless ways to bring a touch of modern coastal decor to your kitchen.  Modern coastal design is all about bringing the natural beauty of the beach and ocean into your home.

For more kitchen decorating ideas, see this post:  Beautiful Kitchen Design Ideas to Inspire Your Next Renovation.

Where to Shop for Coastal Kitchen Decor and Fixtures

Below are a few of my favorite places to shop for coastal style kitchen fixtures, counter stools, and beach house decor in 2024.  See my post, Modern Kitchen Pendant Lighting Ideas You Will Love, for sources for modern coastal kitchen lighting.

Serena & Lily
Dear Keaton
Wayfair
Williams Sonoma
McGee & Co.
Pottery Barn
Rejuvenation
Home Depot
Amazon

And here’s a selection of kitchen counter stools, lighting, backsplash tile ideas, faucets, and door and drawer pulls.

Kitchen Counter Stool Ideas

Kitchen Lighting Ideas

Coastal Kitchen Backsplash Tile Ideas

Kitchen Faucet Ideas

Cabinet Pulls and Knobs

For more modern coastal kitchen design ideas, beach house interior design, kitchen trends, and modern coastal decor, here are a few favorite related posts from the blog:

Beautiful Kitchen Trends and Design Ideas for 2024

2024 Home Decor Trends and Design Styles You Will Love

A Simple Guide to Mixing Metals in the Kitchen

Modern Kitchen Pendant Lighting Ideas You Will Love

Kitchen Counter Stools: Beautiful Ideas for Every Style and Budget

Beautiful Kitchen Design Ideas to Inspire Your Next Renovation

Chic California Casual Style Decorating Ideas for Your Home

Modern Coastal Decorating Ideas for Your Home

Modern Coastal Style Living Room Ideas for 2024

Beautiful Coastal Bathroom Ideas and Trends for 2024

How to Design Your Perfect Kitchen Island, with Layouts, Cabinets & Tips

A Guide to Standard Kitchen Cabinet Dimensions

Color of the Year 2024 + Top Home Color Trends

What is Coastal Grandmother Style? (and why I’m loving this trend)

How to Get the Restoration Hardware Look in Your Home

My Favorite Nancy Meyers Interiors

I hope you found this post informative and helpful!  Please let me know if you have any questions about modern coastal or beach house decor in the kitchen.  Have a wonderful day! xo Jane