45 Coastal Christmas Decorating Ideas

Bring a cool, casual and coastal vibe to your home during the holidays with our tips for incorporating seaside style.

December 06, 2021

By: Maria Conti and Morgan Faulkner

Related To:

Shop This Look

Photo By: Robert Peterson, Rustic White Photography

Photo By: Morgan Faulkner

Photo By: Robert Peterson, Rustic White Photography

Photo By: BlueGrayGal / KPI Media LLC, Viva Lux Photography

Photo By: Rustic White Interiors

Photo By: Robert Peterson, Rustic White Photography

Photo By: Image courtesy of Sand and Sisal

Photo By: David Christensen

Photo By: Robert Peterson, Rustic White Photography

Photo By: Rustic White Interiors

Photo By: Robert Peterson, Rustic White Photography

Photo By: Rustic White Interiors

Photo By: Robert Peterson, Rustic White Photography

Photo By: Rustic White Interiors

Seaside Holiday Decor

Do you live in a seaside locale? Is the beach a cherished vacation spot? Do you love all things nautical? If so, then a breezy coastal Christmas is just the holiday theme for you. With natural elements like driftwood and seashells and nautical color palettes of blues, whites and reds, these coastal Christmas decorating ideas will transport you to a place of toes in the sand, salt in the air and wind in your hair.

See More Photos: Colorful and Coastal Holidays at HGTV Dream Home 2021

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Natural + Nautical

For a subtle nod to coastal style, opt for natural and neutral decor. Here, driftwood garland and burlap ribbon sweep around this rustic-nautical-themed Christmas tree topped with a sailboat. Handcrafted wood slice ornaments pair with glittering white baubles tied with rope, festive starfish and sprigs of eucalyptus.

See More Photos: Colorful and Coastal Holidays at HGTV Dream Home 2021

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

A Blue, Blue Christmas

On this coastal covered patio, Christmas's traditional reds and greens are replaced by snowy white and brilliant blue hues. A collection of ivory pillows and aqua cable-knit throws cozy up the outdoor lounge, while a pair of pines add a wintry touch.

See More Photos: Create a Charming Coastal Holiday With Tips From HGTV Dream Home 2020

Braid a Beachy Wreath

Bring the seaside to your front door, entryway or fireplace with this easy-to-craft coastal wreath. If you can braid, you can make the rope's base, which you'll top with starfish, shells and faux greenery. Use this coastal-chic wreath instead of a standard holiday wreath, or display this year-round and mix in a few shatterproof ornaments for a Christmas fix-up on the fly.

Get the How-To: Craft a Breezy Coastal Wreath

From: Morgan Faulkner

Sailing Away

This colorful dining room takes a cue from the home's New England setting. Model sailboats draped with delicate red bunting take center stage on the dining table, creating an eye-catching display that coordinates with the home's everyday and holiday color scheme. Wrapped packages in red, white and blue flank the centerpiece for a festive addition.

See More Photos: Colorful and Coastal Holidays at HGTV Dream Home 2021

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Spirited Staircase

Christmas celebrations are underway in this coastal foyer with a pair of petite pines and a flocked staircase garland embellished with metallic silver and turquoise ornaments. Ruffled burlap and shell-clad stockings drape the railing and serve as a festive nod to the home's beachy locale.

See More Photos: Create a Charming Coastal Holiday With Tips From HGTV Dream Home 2020

Oh Starry Night

Spiked cider and holiday serenades are enjoyed under the stars at this coastal Carolina home where a pair of Adirondack chairs provide a front-row seat to sweeping Lowcountry views. A starry trio of pendants lights up the scene and adds to the marsh's enchanting ambiance.

See More Photos: Create a Charming Coastal Holiday With Tips From HGTV Dream Home 2020

Coastal Color Palette

Complementing the main living room's color scheme, an updated take on Americana hues decorates the space. Flocked trees create a snowy white base that allows blue and red ornaments to boldly shine. For an utterly cohesive design, repeat the color scheme of your ornaments in your wrapping paper. Select a variety of patterns — plaids, stripes and graphics — in the same hues to create a visually appealing look.

See More Photos: Colorful and Coastal Holidays at HGTV Dream Home 2021

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Seasonal Centerpiece

Starfish, seashells and sand dollars — oh my! Holiday meals are sure to be special around this beachy dining table. Designer Marian Parsons creates a coastal centerpiece by filling antique pitchers with found seashells, fresh-cut evergreens and mercury glass ornaments. A curling burlap ribbon winds around the separate arrangements to create a cohesive display, while fanned evergreen branches topped with saltwater treasures add even more texture.

Get the How-To: Create a Coastal-Chic Holiday Table

From: Marian Parsons

Sandy Splendor

Watery hues take a back seat to sandy taupe and ivory tones on this coastal Christmas tree. Burlap ribbon cascades from the ornament-crowned treetop and adds movement to the tree's snowy silhouette, while metallic blue ornaments shimmer against the warm twinkle lights.

From: BlueGrayGal

Shells + Cypress

This coastal place setting checks all our boxes with a mix of new-meets-old elements to create timeless holiday appeal. A woven rattan charger provides earthy texture beneath a crisp white dinner plate. A fresh linen napkin folded neatly atop the plate provides a clean base for a fresh-cut cypress twig and a personalized seashell place card.

Get the How-To: Create a Coastal-Chic Holiday Table

From: Marian Parsons

Flag Banner

Make a happy holiday statement with a DIY maritime flag banner. Maritime signal flags can be found at flea markets and thrift stores and given a temporary holiday update with vinyl decals or made permanent with iron-on letters.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Sea Life Garland

Turn seaside treasures into a crafty garland by stringing the shells together with twine. Mix in with faux or fresh evergreens for a coastal Christmas feel.

Decorate a Tote

For a quick holiday fix-up, add self-adhesive letters — available at your local craft store — to a cotton grocery tote. Use the updated tote as part of your holiday decor, or use it to transport holiday gifts and goodies.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Trio of Wreaths

A trio of coastal wreaths highlights this large picture window. Nautical rope, starfish and shells embellish the wreaths of natural and painted blue driftwood.

See More Photos: Colorful and Coastal Holidays at HGTV Dream Home 2021

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Dashing Driftwood Details

A driftwood reindeer combines scavenged shore materials with whimsical holiday spirit in this coastal living room. The home's traditional Christmas tree shimmers nearby with a collection of aqua baubles, snowy white berries, textured pampas picks and striking starfish accents.

Mini Seashell Trees

For a casual coastal look, create tabletop shell trees by covering a trio of foam topiaries in seashells of various colors, textures and shapes with hot glue.

Spell It Out

Give weathered wood planks a holiday update by cutting the boards into rectangular planks. Choose your holiday greeting, then customize each board with handpainted letters, styling the O's like captain's wheels, the S's as ropes and the J's as anchors. For a laid-back look, temporarily lean the letters against the wall, or to properly hang them, add picture hooks to the back.

Seashore Celebration

The countdown to Christmas is in full effect in this cozy family room. A flocked tree dazzles by the sofa with brilliant sapphire, cerulean and frosty blue ornaments. Burlap ribbon wraps the tree with warmth, while fuzzy bottlebrush animals bring texture and charm to the display. The soaring windows are framed with glittering garland and a minimalist driftwood wreath marks the season on the built-in bookcase.

See More Photos: Create a Charming Coastal Holiday With Tips From HGTV Dream Home 2020

Holidays in Full Sail

Model sailboats offer a timeless approach to nautical style. Intended for year-round display, dress them up for the holiday season with a surrounding faux or fresh garland and a few frosted glass ornaments.

Santa's Favorite Stop

This preppy blue and white patio is sure to earn the owners a top spot on Santa's nice list this year. The polished sunroom is dressed to impress with a bowl of glittering champagne ornaments on the coffee table and a twinkling pine, trimmed to the nines, behind the pillow-lined rattan sofa.

Capiz Shell Wreath

For a more textural approach to nautical holiday decor, update a fresh pine wreath with organic embellishments like capiz shells and starfish.

See More Photos: Our Fave Christmas Wreaths, Garlands and Swags

Merry + Bright

This waterfront great room is flocked and festive with shades of white, aqua and red. The airy blue and white hues speak to the coastal setting and create a crisp base that allows the spirited red accents to pop in the cheery design.

See More Photos: Cozy and Coastal Holidays at HGTV Dream Home

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Sea Blues + Silvery Hues

The weathered teal server by this beachfront dining table is styled for the season with shimmering stags, aqua ornaments, eucalyptus garland and cerulean tapers in silver candlesticks. Each leather dining chair is cozied up for guests with a contrasting cable-knit throw and a hot cup of spiked cinnamon cocoa.

See More Photos: Create a Charming Coastal Holiday With Tips From HGTV Dream Home 2020

Beach Towel Stockings

If you're handy with a sewing machine, turn last summer's beach towels into nubby stockings, customizing them to suit each family member.

Ship Ahoy

Instead of a sparkling star, a rustic sailboat tops this Christmas tree. Branches of eucalyptus add layers of green and fullness to the peak.

See More Photos: Colorful and Coastal Holidays at HGTV Dream Home 2021

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Souvenir Tree

Start a new tradition this year by mixing vacation souvenirs into your Christmas tree's theme. Destination keepsakes, like keychains, are easy to pick up while on vacay, and seeing them on your tree year after year will remind you fondly of past travels.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

A Buoy of Joy

Create an eye-catching coffee table composition with coastal accessories incorporated with your usual holiday decor. Here, a blue and white buoy is surrounded by a mix of sparkling and colorful ornaments. Opt for shatter-proof ornaments that look like glass so as not to worry about kids or pets breaking them.

See More Photos: Colorful and Coastal Holidays at HGTV Dream Home 2021

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Sub Shells for Flowers

For small DIY tabletop arrangements that you don't have to water, create bouquets of conch shells. Start with a low, wide-mouthed container like a large sugar jar. Fill the perimeter with sprigs of greenery, then arrange three to five conch shells in the center.

Get the How-To: Create a Coastal-Chic Holiday Table

From: Marian Parsons

Seaside Greetings

A trio of sun-bleached wreaths stacks vertically to create a beachy snowman on this coastal bungalow's front porch. The entry is flanked with potted cypress trees and two sets of glowing silver luminaries. Snow-dusted garland with turquoise, aqua and silver baubles drape across the porch railings to add even more Christmas cheer.

See More Photos: Create a Charming Coastal Holiday With Tips From HGTV Dream Home 2020

Lifesaver Entry Wreath

Add coastal flair, indoors or out, with a DIY wreath made to resemble a ship's lifesaver. To create it, cover a foam wreath form with alternating bands of white and blue nylon rope, securing the ends with hot glue. Add a red burlap banner and use a white paint pen to add the punny greeting.

Heart of the Holidays

This is where the real magic happens — cookies and pies, ham and rolls and all the other deliciousness that comes out of a Christmas kitchen. Functionality is a top priority in such a bustling space, so designer Brian Patrick Flynn keeps decorations to a minimum: pretty natural garland over the window, stockings on the stools, a tiny tree for charm and a glittering wreath over the stove.

See More Photos: Create a Charming Coastal Holiday With Tips From HGTV Dream Home 2020

Try a Beachy Keen Tree

Made from layer on layer of scavenged driftwood, this towering tree adds coastal flair to the corner of comedian Lisa Lampanelli's holiday home.

Take Holiday Celebrations Outdoors

Weather permitting, Christmas Eve is best enjoyed with good people, great food, bubbly booze and unobstructed ocean views. This sunny spot is ready for seasonal celebrations with a flocked pine needle garland and clear containers filled to the brim with gold and silver ornaments.

See More Photos: Cozy and Coastal Holidays at HGTV Dream Home

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Boost Your Faux Trees

This decorated guest room boasts an Americana color palette that's seen throughout the rest of the home, and the holiday decorations fall right in line. Trees deliver full-on texture to the space. Since most faux trees have skinny bases (that give away their fake status), place them in a woven basket, ceramic crock or galvanized bin to give them more visual weight and style.

See More Photos: Colorful and Coastal Holidays at HGTV Dream Home 2021

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Served in Seasonal Style

Christmas breakfast is built on buttermilk biscuits, ooey-gooey cinnamon rolls and spiked spritzers galore. This South Carolina Lowcountry serving station offers guests sweeping views of the adjacent saltwater marsh while fixing their plates and pouring spirits. To set the seasonal scene, a faux pine garland wraps the window with woodsy charm, while a collection of white and aqua ceramic candlesticks holds pillars to illuminate the eats.

See More Photos: Create a Charming Coastal Holiday With Tips From HGTV Dream Home 2020

Coastal Flourishes

Nautical life is on full display in this home's bonus room. A snowy white tree is adorned with anchors, rope, and yes, even buoys. Ornaments in shades of blue, coral and gold hang all over the tree, with metallic baubles creating dimension and catching the light.

See More Photos: Colorful and Coastal Holidays at HGTV Dream Home 2021

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Nautical Stocking Hangers

Add an extra layer of coastal charm to your holiday stockings with hangers in beachy shapes. Here, rustic burlap stockings are given a seaside touch with brass hangers shaped as lobsters and anchors.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Baby, It's Cold Outside

Coastal colors are put on ice in this frosty and festive living room. Designer Brian Patrick Flynn draws on the home's existing teal and gray color palette to create an arctic-inspired Christmas display complete with a lofty flocked pine, a frostbitten wreath and a perky polar bear toss pillow. Metallic ornaments shimmer in varied oceanic hues against the snowy branches, while an embroidered navy ribbon wraps the tree with splashy contrast.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Circles of Wonder

Deck your windows with glittering holiday wreaths. These flocked-in-silver wreaths with metallic blue and silver ornaments match the garlands wrapped around the porch railing. For a seamless look, hang wreaths with hidden hooks. Hooks with a suction cup, adhesive strip or magnetic backing (one magnet goes on the other side of the glass to hold it in place) won't be seen once the wreath is hung in place.

See More Photos: Create a Charming Coastal Holiday With Tips From HGTV Dream Home 2020

Repurpose Driftwood

To put a coastal spin on a sculptural section of found driftwood, dress it up like a tabletop Christmas tree by knotting glass ornaments (or seashells and starfish) onto each branch.

Get Snuggly

Get ready to curl up with a good book on a cold winter's night by dressing your sofa in plush throws and pillows. While you don't have to replace all your pillows with holiday versions, find one whimsical option, like this pillow featuring a whale wearing a wreath, to add a moment of cheer.

See More Photos: Colorful and Coastal Holidays at HGTV Dream Home 2021

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Recreate the Beach in a Bauble

Similar to creating a snow globe, DIY beach scene ornaments are easy to make. Remove the cap from a large glass or plastic ornament and pour in a layer of sand. Then, drop in small seashells or sea glass, replace the ornament's cap, add ribbon and hang on the tree.

See More Photos: 85 Easy DIY Holiday Ornaments for All Ages

Start the Season on the Front Porch

To honor its coastal setting, the front porch of this house in Portland, Maine was jazzed up for the holidays with nods to boating culture and a classic New England palette of reds and blues.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Fishing Cabin Vibes

If you want to bring a kitschy look to your coastal holiday, collect vintage items with outdoorsy seaside charm and group them together artfully.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Driftwood Touches

Driftwood for Christmas? Yes! Keep your coastal holiday decor natural and organic by incorporating found elements mixed with classic holiday touches like glass ball ornaments and lush pine garland.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

45 Coastal Christmas Decorating Ideas

Related To:

Shop This Look

Seaside Holiday Decor

Natural + Nautical

A Blue, Blue Christmas

Braid a Beachy Wreath

Sailing Away

Spirited Staircase

Oh Starry Night

Coastal Color Palette

Seasonal Centerpiece

Sandy Splendor

Shells + Cypress

Flag Banner

Sea Life Garland

Decorate a Tote

Trio of Wreaths

Dashing Driftwood Details

Mini Seashell Trees

Spell It Out

Seashore Celebration

Holidays in Full Sail

Santa's Favorite Stop

Capiz Shell Wreath

Merry + Bright

Sea Blues + Silvery Hues

Beach Towel Stockings

Ship Ahoy

Souvenir Tree

A Buoy of Joy

Sub Shells for Flowers

Seaside Greetings

Lifesaver Entry Wreath

Heart of the Holidays

Try a Beachy Keen Tree

Take Holiday Celebrations Outdoors

Boost Your Faux Trees

Served in Seasonal Style

Coastal Flourishes

Nautical Stocking Hangers

Baby, It's Cold Outside

Circles of Wonder

Repurpose Driftwood

Get Snuggly

Recreate the Beach in a Bauble

Start the Season on the Front Porch

Fishing Cabin Vibes

Driftwood Touches

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