How To Decorate A Coastal Dining Room With Color and Textiles

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Today I am sharing how we turned our small dining area into a coastal dining room. Let’s take a look at the elements of modern coastal style and the key steps to achieve that serene, beach-inspired feel in your own space.

Small Coastal Dining Room Ideas

If you search google or pinterest for updated coastal dining room ideas, you will find so many inspiring rooms that your head will spin! It’s very easy to get overwhelmed and not know where to start.

One of the easiest ways to add a coastal theme to your house is start with organic natural fibers. One being these seagrass dining room chairs to create a contrast and texture between the table and buffet as shown below.

The dining room below is from our old house and I will admit, I miss this dining room set!

I love the modern coastal look and I had fun decorating our new lake house “slice of heaven” these past couple months. You can see our coastal living room at the lake house here that I shared last week. 

Some of you may remember our kitchen at our last house (below) and how it opened up into our dining room once our renovation was complete.  We decided a white dining table with seagrass chairs would coordinate nicely with the new white kitchen. 

Here is the new kitchen below.

Today I am breaking down all the components of this room and how to get a coastal dining room look by changing the wall color and decorative elements in the room.

I remember when we sold this house and how sad I was to leave behind all the furniture (the new owners wanted to buy the furniture as well) and decorative elements in this dining room.

I know the new owners were excited to have the space all set up so I was happy about that :). 

How Do You Make a Room Feel Coastal

As time goes by, my taste in decor tends to change and in my early 40’s I started to love the coastal style and wanted to add coastal elements to our home.

We do not live near the water so while it might seem odd to have a coastal theme if you don’t live near the beach, it really does not matter in my opinion. If you like a style, then go with it!

The white coastal dining room table allowed a neutral backdrop for blue coastal decor and earth toned elements.

The previous dining room (below) , which was featured in This Old House Magazine a few years back (that was pretty exciting!), had a dark gray on the walls (see below) and featured bold pops of color.

The dining room was exactly what I wanted at that time in my life but it definitely was not coastal. It was more of a modern cottage theme. 

Let’s take a look at several ways to make a room feel coastal.

1. Modern Coastal Paint Colors

The previous dining room was a dark gray color so we switched it up and went with a light green color called Sea Salt by Sherwin-Williams. Sea Salt wall paint is a blue green color that is light and airy. The wall color is neutral and lends a coastal feel without feeling overly beachy. 

We added a fresh coat of extra-white by Sherwin-Williams to the lower part of the wall and trim.

If you are looking for an all white paint color that is perfect for a coastal inspired room, click through this post, lake house living room remodel painted in Chantilly Lace by Benjamin Moore. It’s gorgeous!

2. Furniture

This set of  seagrass chairs are on sale (or this single chair which is similar to mine) but do not have cushions (great price thought for multiple colors). If you are trying to infuse a coastal theme in your home, seagrass is one of the best ways to accomplish that.

On a side note, you should see this dining room decked out for Christmas! Click through this post, Christmas Coastal Dining Room to see the gorgeous flocked Christmas tree and beautiful blue, white, teal and brown Christmas decorations. 

A trestle style modern farmhouse dining table is the perfect compliment to seagrass dining chairs.

3. Earth Tones and Texture Candles

I wanted to try and add as many different textures to the dining room as possible so the stone candle holders were the perfect choice against the wooden table and seagrass chairs.

Mine are old out but I linked some from Amazon at the bottom of the post that are affordable so you can get the look.

The hutch is one that my grandparents gave me years ago when I bought my first house. It was a light brown oak color so I painted it white to help get the coastal vibe I was going after. I will never forget the day I painted the hutch and my grandfather just about died when I caught me painting it. He was so mad at me! 

4. Tweed or Sisal Rugs

A natural woven rug is a perfect compliment to a coastal room.

I consider rugs an investment piece so one big enough for a dining room will most likely run $800 – $1200 for a good one. BUT they will last and if you get sick of it in your dining room, just move it to your patio!

The seagrass chairs came with the seat cushions which was an added bonus. If you like gray, these are beautiful!

What is Modern Coastal Style?

Whether you are decorating a coastal dining room or living room, there are many ways to make your house look more coastal.

Besides white furniture and seagrass elements, pottery and ceramic pieces in earth toned colors will help add an organic feel to the room.

5 features of modern coastal style:

1. Light and Breezy Color Palette in Coastal Rooms: Modern coastal style, especially in coastal dining rooms and living areas, is defined by a relaxed and serene color scheme. Soft neutrals like sandy beiges, cool blues, and crisp whites are perfect. These colors not only create a calming atmosphere but also reflect the natural beauty of the coastline, essential for any coastal room.
2. Natural Textures in Coastal Style Design: To truly capture the essence of the coast, incorporate natural materials like jute, rattan, and weathered wood in your coastal dining room and other living spaces. These elements are fundamental in creating that authentic beachy feel, adding warmth and a touch of nature to your coastal style interiors.
3. Minimalistic and Clean Lines in Coastal Rooms: The modern coastal look, particularly in coastal dining rooms, focuses on simplicity and elegance. Furniture and decor characterized by clean lines help maintain a fresh and uncluttered atmosphere, a key aspect of contemporary coastal room design.
4. Maximizing Natural Light in Coastal Style Spaces: Emulating the openness of the seaside, modern coastal rooms are designed to be flooded with natural light. In your coastal dining room, consider large windows, sheer curtains, and the use of mirrors to create a space that feels both bright and airy.
5. Sea-Inspired Elements in Coastal Dining Rooms and Living Areas: While it’s important to avoid overly nautical themes, adding subtle sea-inspired details can enhance the coastal style. Think coral prints or seashell decor, which can add a unique character to your coastal dining room and living spaces, tying the entire coastal theme together.

I filled the hutch with a mix of white pottery pieces and wooden cutting boards to tie in the warm tones that are found in the chairs and floor.

Hydrangeas remind me of my great gram and they are the perfect summer flower for any table.

I love how they look with the stone candle holders and cream colored candles. Nothing says classic coastal like hydrangeas and they were the perfect addition to our coastal dining room.

The white dining room table has a section along the bottom of the table that opens and you can store the two leafs.  

Be sure to visit our Amazon Storefront Coastal Living Room and Dining Room for many of the product source.

Our goal was to create a modern coastal dining room to tie the space in with our newly finished white kitchen. I love the new coastal dining room and all the different textures.