“A bathroom renovation does not come cheap, but there are certainly some updates you can make without breaking the bank.” All you need to do is get purposeful with accessories, and investing in coastal bathroom decor is a small, budget-friendly update you can make that will have a big impact. And making these updates is worth the effort, because the coastal look is timeless, says Kathryn. “Coastal bathrooms evoke a sense of calmness and tranquility, which people love.” Here she shares five of the most impactful ways you can use coastal bathroom decor to create a glorious, bathroom oasis.

1. Introduce colour

One of the distinguishing features of a coastal bathroom is the colour palette. But you don’t need to whip out a paintbrush or install feature tiles to bring calming seaside hues indoors. “When designing a coastal style bathroom, I gravitate toward neutral tones such as white and grey for hard surfaces,” says Kathryn. “I don’t like to incorporate too much colour, and prefer to keep more of a neutral base so the bathroom ages with the times.” 

That’s good news if you currently have an all-white bathroom in desperate need of personality. “I like to bring colour in through manchester,” says Kathryn.

2. Towels

Towels are an easy, affordable way to introduce a coastal colour palette into your bathroom. Kathryn says the trick is to select towels that look luxurious and feel high quality. “To start, try building a ‘summer set’ for the warmer seasons and a ‘winter set’ for the cooler seasons,” says Kathryn. “I tend to gravitate toward soft blues and greens to mimic the ocean and create a cohesive, calming look.”

3. Focus on the focal point

Next, create a focal point by chanelling your efforts towards the bathroom vanity and mirror. 

For the vanity, this can be as simple as investing in new cabinet handles or getting handy with a paintbrush, says Kathryn. “Updating the handles is a visually impactful, low-cost trick to updating the look and feel of your bathroom’s decor.”

Then, make sure the mirror matches the updated vanity. “One of my favourite updates is to upgrade the mirror to a more striking or larger design, says Kathryn. By doing this you turn a hum-drum item in the bathroom into a feature in its own right. “Bonus points if you can upgrade to a mirror with hidden storage to house toiletries and keep counter space tidy.”

4. Fragrance

Don’t forget to harness the power of scent to truly transform your bathroom into a calm oasis. Fragrances with a base of coconut, lemon, ylang ylang, cedarwood and sandalwood are all great choices.

5. Finishing touches

You can have the most beautifully styled bathroom in the world, but if the store-bought products you use have garish labels that clash with the aesthetic you’re going for, it will bring the look of the entire room down. “It’s all about the finishing touches,” says Kathryn, adding “I have always had a pet peeve with ugly toiletry packaging.” 

There are a few ways to fix this problem. The first is to keep items with less-than-ideal packaging hidden from view, tucked away in the vanity or shaving cabinet. The second is to select products with beautiful (and preferably reusable) packaging. Another option is to invest in a matching bathroom set that you can top up as required, which is what Kathryn prefers to do.

“I like to think about every detail, including toiletries and accessories. Instead of using a generic branded soap dispenser, I love to display soap in a uniformed soap set, toothbrush holder and tray.”

Our top coastal bathroom decor picks

01

Cotton waffle bath sheet in seaspray, Dri-Glo

$39.99

Kathryn says her go-to bathroom manchester brand is Dri-Glo, and she especially loves their cotton waffle towel range. “Their towels look luxurious and feel high quality but are also incredibly affordable.” 

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02

Castella ‘Madera’ European beech handle, Temple & Webster

From $44.95

Replace dated vanity handles with something modern, understated and classic coastal. This handle is made from European beech wood and is available in finishes including: brushed gold, matte black, polished chrome, polished gold and satin chrome. 

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03

Greg Natale ‘Avalon’ soap pump in navy, The Iconic

$75

One of Kathryn’s favourite coastal style bathroom sets is the ‘Avalon’ range by Greg Natale. “The entire range is divine, with a distinctive arch silhouette and smooth matte finish. I love to use a complete set to give a bathroom a finished, tailored look,” she says. 

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04

Red cedarwood & suede handwash refill, ZeroCo

$19.99

Clean your hands and care for the planet at the same time. ZeroCo’s red cedarwood and suede-scented hand soap smells divine, won’t strip your hands and you can purchase it on a subscription so you never run out of soap again. The refillable pouch is made from 40% recycled materials, and you can send the pouch back to ZeroCo to get refilled. 

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05

ADP ‘Glacier lite’ shelf vanity, The Blue Space

$1559

A touch of timber will add warmth and texture to a coastal bathroom. This Australian-made wall-hung design is sleek, modern and available in configurations ranging from 600mm width to 1800mm width. The elegant oak finish is durable and easy to keep clean. 

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06

Dri-Glo ‘Byron’ Australian cotton bath mat in linen, Harris Scarfe

$39.99

Soft, absorbent and in a shade that subtly references the sand, this plush bath mat is the perfect addition to any coastal style bathroom.

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07

‘Oceania’ room spray, Peppermint Grove

$29.95

Scent is an important finishing touch, especially in the bathroom. This delicate, ocean-inspired spray by Peppermint Grove features top notes of peppermint, coriander and lavender to create a calming bathroom retreat. 

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08

Abbotson linen ticking stripe robe, Sheridan

$249.99

No luxurious bathroom is complete without a comfy robe to wrap yourself in at the end of a long soak in the tub. This robe features a classic, coastal stripe and is made from 100% Belgian linen flax which has been pre-washed for extra softness.

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09

Momo handles ‘New Hampton’ cup pulls, The Blue Space

$21

In a classic, coastal Hamptons style bathroom, you can’t go wrong with polished nickel cup drawer handles. This style of handle is best suited to shaker style cabinet fronts but can work equally well with farmhouse, vintage and traditional cabinetry too.

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10

‘Aberdeen’ round travertine bathroom tray, Adairs

$69.99

Made from travertine stone, this tray will corrale bathroom toiletries together and add texture as well as a soft, sandy hue to your counter.

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The post 5 ways to create a chic coastal bathroom with decor appeared first on Home Beautiful.

Luckily, Coco Tully, owner and creative director of Cote Interiors says the secret is simple: have a bit of fun and make design decisions that are uniquely yours.

“Look beyond what’s already been done for inspiration. Go for a coastal walk, sit on the beach, look at the ocean on a cloudy day, study the patterns in the rocks and the colours in the foliage. You’ll be surprised how much you see when you really look closely!” she says, adding, “I also love to ask my clients about their dream holiday destination and let that inspire the design.”

So if you want to create a beach bathroom that feels like a portal to the Hamptons, Positano or simply your favourite local beach, these expert tips will give you plenty of ideas to inspire a complete bathroom makeover.

What are the best colours for coastal bathrooms? 

Colours like blue, crisp whites, grey and sandy neutrals are synonymous with the coastal look, but the choice of specific colours will come down to: the mood you’re aiming to create, the natural surroundings of your home, your choice of statement tiles (or wallpaper) and the amount of sunlight your bathroom receives. 

Coco recommends seeking inspiration from nature, rather than adopting a palette of prescribed colours. “Be it the land, the water, or the sky, you can draw the perfect blend of hues directly from nature. For a sunny and bright scheme, I like to use crisp whites, cool aquas, mint greens, light oaks and sandy beiges.

“If we are going for a subtler palette, I tend toward pale greys, silver gum or sage green, and watery blues. You can also bring a moody vibe to a coastal bathroom by incorporating stormy blue-greens, steel grey, navy and deeper timber tones,” she says. 

A coastal bathroom doesn’t always mean selecting cool colours either, says Coco. “To create a Mediterranean coastal vibe, I look to the landscape for warmer whites, soft terracottas, and hints of brown.”

Coastal bathroom finishes 

While nailing the colour palette is undoubtedly important, the unsung hero of the most successful modern coastal bathrooms is an abundance of texture. 

“I gravitate towards natural and handmade materials when designing a coastal bathroom,” says Coco. “Handmade tiles reflect the light in an almost sea-like manner. Natural stone is beautifully reminiscent of ocean cliffs. A timber vanity or stool brings instant warmth.

“The coastal aesthetic lends itself to playing with unexpected design elements. It can be as simple as a fresh take on tile layouts or an interesting tapware finish,” says Coco. “Living metal finishes patina over time, adding character and depth.”

It’s also important to think about your choice of wall covering too. Floor-to-ceiling tiling may be a practical option, but it can end up making the room feel cold and clinical. “Go big and bold with quirky wallpaper or a daring paint colour,” says Coco.

Another wall treatment she loves for coastal homes is V-groove panelling (just be sure to select panelling designed for wet areas to prevent warping over time).

Making your coastal bathroom unique

Coco recently went big and bold when designing her own bathroom. “I had been eyeing this Cole & Son ‘Acquario’ wallpaper for years and knew this was the perfect space to finally use it. I chose to really let the wallpaper be the standout feature by keeping the other finishes pretty simple,” she says.

“The other benefit of designing the room this way is that, if you ever get tired of the fish, the wallpaper is super easy to change!”

Coastal style bathrooms have been done a million times over, but the secret to creating a timeless space you love is to head to the beach, be inspired by your surroundings, pay attention to the layering of textures and finishes and to inject fun and personality into the space.

Coco’s final words of advice: “Don’t be afraid to make some unexpected choices – those are often the ones my clients love most in the end!”

Coastal style bathroom paint colours

Your ideal coastal bathroom colour palette and colours will be unique to your home, but these calming hues may be a great place to start:

Whites

• Paper Plane, Tint
• Lexicon Quarter, Dulux
• Cloud White, Benjamin Moore

Neutrals

• Couch Potato, Tint
• Muslin, Benjamin Moore

Greys

• Refer to the Stars, Tint
• Soothe, Haymes

Blues

• Mindful, Haymes
• Paradise Blue, Haymes
• San Francisco Bay, Benjamin Moore
• Ocean Air, Benjamin Moore
• Do Not Disturb, Tint
• Coastal Drift, Dulux

Greens

• Inner Self, Tint
• Seamist, Haymes

The post How to create a timeless coastal bathroom that transcends cliches appeared first on Home Beautiful.