20 Coastal Design Tips From HGTV Dream Home

Revisit the beach beauties of HGTV Dream Homes past and browse coastal design tips from our favorite seaside houses.

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November 11, 2015

By: Dana Dalrymple

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Anchors Aweigh

Anchoring the guest bedroom design at HGTV Dream Home 2015, a sculptural adornment above the bed is a statement piece that calls to the home's location and ties the room together. A complimentary blue and orange color scheme mimics a Martha's Vineyard coastal sunset.

Mix Modern With Traditional

Bright green walls and a mixture of traditional and modern decor bring a new twist to coastal design in the HGTV Dream Home 2013 dining room. The vintage styling of all-weather woven armchairs recalls turn-of-the-century wicker patio furniture, and when paired with modern upholstered side chairs lend visual interest.

Antique Furnishings

Bright white wainscotting lends formality to the HGTV Dream Home 2004 entryway. Decorating with seashells and antique architectural elements warms up the entryway and adds old Southern charm to this Georgia home.

Bright White

The stunning two-story living room at HGTV Dream Home 2015 joins with the dining room for an open, airy and light great room. Bright whites and neutrals allow for coastal blue accents to pop.

Balance Bold Colors

Bold green walls in the guest bedroom call out to the tropical Florida location of HGTV Dream Home 2008 in Islamorada, Florida. Although the color is strong, it's balanced by black and white accents.

Blue Beadboard

Blue beadboard walls bring a beach house vibe and New England charm into the HGTV Dream Home 2015 guest bathroom.

Mounted Coral

A natural fan coral, whitewashed and mounted on a linen mat, references the coastal location of HGTV Dream Home 2013 in Charleston, SC and continues the master bedroom's subtle theme of beachcombing treasures.

Control the Color Palette

"When you have a great view, you need to control your color palette," says interior designer Linda Woodrum. To take full advantage of outstanding views surrounding HGTV Dream Home 2008, she used tropical foliage, dark floors, white walls, and coral rose furnishings. A dozen large throw pillows keep the room monochromatic, but add texture and interest.

Coastal Touches

Coastal touches in the great room mixed with a white and blue color palette allude HGTV Dream Home 2015’s Cape Cod location and give off a fun, fresh vibe in this common space.

Breezy Linen Curtains

Grand windows on each of the corner walls flood the HGTV Dream Home 2004 dining room with natural light and bring the grass and marsh practically indoors. The doors open to allow a breeze to flow through linen curtains and make for a beachy dining atmosphere.

Silver Signage

The word "bay" is spelled out in large silver letters for a fun and decorative eleement at HGTV Dream Home 2008 in Islamorada, FL. Two baskets, one green and one wicker, contain colorful pastel towels in vivid pink and cool blue, perfect for grabbing on your way out the door for a swim in the warm waters.

The Bolder the Better

Bright colored furniture and artwork add a playful touch to this whimsical kids' bedroom at HGTV Dream Home 2015. “Designing this bedroom was a mix of bringing hot, bright colors together to make this room really pop," says interior designer Linda Woodrum. "We brought in the sisal rug to calm it down. It’s always a process of layering to get things to work.”

Reflection of Surroundings

The HGTV Dream Home 2008 master bedroom is truly a tropical retreat, featuring a cool blue color scheme matched with antique white furnishings and a balcony with incredible views of the Florida Bay. "When designing a space for a home that is so strongly influenced by its setting, you need to choose furniture and accessories that reflect the subject of its surroundings," says interior designer Monica Pederson. "The shell prints, real starfish attached with screw eyes and shell plates have the feeling of objects found after a long day at the beach."

Vibrant Red Hues

"This beautiful study, with red-on-red colors, has beautiful cabinetry, bookshelves and decorative objects" says HGTV Dream Home 2004 interior designer Linda Woodrum. Behind the desk, the wall makes a strong statement with four bold nautical prints, accurately evoking the ship-and-sea themes found throughout the house.

Touch of Aqua

Aqua accents in the HGTV Dream Home 2008 media room bring a fun, tropical vibe to neutral walls and brown wicker seating. "The room is almost totally colorless, except for a pop of aqua," says interior designer Linda Woodrum.

Pull Colors From Surroundings

"The wall colors came from the marsh," says interior designer Linda Woodrum of the HGTV Dream Home 2013 powder room. "What locals call 'pluff mud' is the brown, and the wonderful green of the marsh grass is used for the stripes and shows up in the vanity. Since the horizontal green stripe is narrow, the intensity of its color is amplified and energized against the matte brown walls, the same feeling one gets as the marsh grass moves in the breeze."

Dark Wainscoting

For a more rustic approach to coastal design, dark wainscoting amplifies the impact of the tower room at HGTV Dream Home 2004 and departs from the whitewashed beadboard found throughout the rest of the home.

Sandy Porcelain Tile

The floor and wall surfaces in the HGTV Dream Home 2013 master bathroom are clad in travertine-style porcelain tile, lending a sandy, beach effect. The light green accessories and beach-themed artwork add to the coastal feel.

Vibrant, Bold Colors

If there's one thing that really stands out at HGTV Dream Home 2008, it's the use of bold, vibrant colors. The second-floor sitting room makes its statement with vibrant orange walls and ceiling, and broad white stripes around the day lounge. "It just feels tropical. It's a great melon color that's rich and warm," says interior designer Linda Woodrum. "This whole room is kind of a fantasy, just a bit more craziness."

All in the Details

The day lounge at HGTV Dream Home 2008 is in a nook behind a floor-to-ceiling canvas curtain with tiny seashells along the edge. "It's all about building on the location of the home", says Linda. "And the white stripes around the day lounge add some definition and make it pop."