Coastal and industrial interior design styles have finally come together, and I’ve gotta declare: I’m pretty obsessed with the result.
Now, I know that coastal and industrial styles have borrowed characteristics from each other before. I mean, a classic coastal style often features some small elements of rusticity and age. But for the most part, the coastal style keeps the weathered materials fairly light in weight and colour. Almost a bohemian coastal, if anything (as explored here).
The look we’re checking out today is anything but lightweight though. It’s not the airy, seaside vibe you’d normally get from coastal. But it’s not as masculine and heavy as a typical industrial interior design style either. It’s somewhere in between. A perfect blend of both worlds, you could say.
The imagery in this post comes courtesy of Sheridan. It features pieces from their new-season range and I’m in lurve with it all.
Tactile to the Max!
Texture is a great place to start in terms of explaining how to get this look right, because there’s loads of it here.
As you scroll through the images in the post, you’ll notice that every one is packed with delightful decor in tactile finishes. By that I mean, gorgeous textures you want to touch. They’re interesting. They’re weathered. They’re aged. They appear handmade. Each piece feels like it could tell a story, and that it’s lived a life.
The harder textures are a combination of rough moments, like in the tabletop and ceramics above, married with smoother concretes and metals.
The softer materials are wonderfully woven (like in throws and rugs). Plus you’ll notice the linen slip covers on sofas and armchairs; so typical of a coastal interior design scheme, though not in traditional coastal colours.
Metal is the texture that blends the coastal and industrial interior design schemes together though. And weathered but darker wood.
“There are so many layers in this coastal-industrial look, which means it’s a winning style approach for the colder months”.
A Moody Colour Palette
A classic coastal style is very white for the most part; punctuated with blonde timbers and blue-green accents. That colour palette is significantly darkened in this new, blended look. It picks up a lot of the darkness you see in an industrial design scheme, and blends it with all those whites, beiges and creams.
The result: a scheme that feels clean but earthy, light but dark, soothing but gritty. White is no longer the base tone in this look. Soft grey tones are the dominant ones here, layered with rusty browns, bone and cream colours, inky blues and the occasional drop of dark green. It’s a winning colour palette, and it all feels rather balanced.
The look can be softened though, if you’re finding it too dark. Simply bring in more oatmeal tones and light timbers.
Your Cheat Sheet for Creating this Look
Making this look work doesn’t have to be stressful, either! Pulling off a coastal industrial interior design vibe at your place is simple. Just keep the following in mind:
- Keep the colour palette moody; charcoal grey, beige, black and blue
- Bring in weathered woods, wicker, handmade ceramics and branches
- Soften the look with soft furnishings featuring cable knits and tassels
- Keep pattern to a minimum; colour and texture are the elements that create interest
- Metal ties the two styles together; try it in side and coffee tables, stools or dining chairs
- This look has depth; ensure you decorate with homewares that tell a story
Hopefully these images and my style tips have inspired you to try combining coastal and industrial interior design styles together at your place. Drop me a comment below if you have any additional questions!
I have been working this style for a couple of years and it is perfect for those of us who live in a coastal region but don’t want to go beachy beige because we love moody interiors. This article is spot on about letting texture and moody colors dominate with dispatches of sand and lighter earthy tones playing minor roles through pottery, some textiles, wicker elements. etc. This style also looks great with brick- think old waterfront buildings. I am so pleased to see this as an emerging style because it is very nice to live in, allowing for creativity and use of older pieces without going farmhouse or beach or nautical cottage. Both the female and the male in this home love it and we see no reason to change- it’s great to settle into an interior vibe we truly love and that has withstood the test of time. We also added our own art by taking pictures of our favorite rocky beaches and waterfront haunts and having them blown up into large either gray/black and white, sepia or color phots and framed them. Gorgeous and brings lots of cheerful memories. Nice job on explaining this style!
This coastal / industrial design is AWESOME! I’ve always wondered how to put the two styles together and now I know. What I can’t get over is that it’s way better than I imagined. I have a really great coastal picture that I bring out in the winter because it has that moody vibe. I tell my friends that I’m going for a beachy look but it’s the beach at night! Ha! I live in a Victorian apartment in Alameda, Ca. It’s a small island city near San Francisco, and coastal industrial is the perfect description.
I realize this post is from a few years back, but I’m so glad I came across it!
Thanks Chris Carroll, you really have an eye for design.