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Coastal kitchen ideas
A coastal modern kitchen should feel like a bright room near the sea, with no anchors or rope knots in sight. Painted tongue-and-groove units in white or sand, a pale worktop, bleached wood floors and a splashback of soft sea-glass green tiles supply the colour. Woven pendants, rattan-backed stools and linen at the window bring texture. It suits homes with good daylight and anyone who prefers an airy, easy-going kitchen, and it adapts to city flats as readily as to seaside houses.
Try Coastal on a photo of your kitchen
Palette
- Soft white (#f3f1ea)
- Sand (#d8c7a6)
- Sea-glass green (#8db3ac)
- Driftwood grey (#b9b2a6)
Key pieces
- White or sand-painted tongue-and-groove doors
- Sea-glass green handmade tile splashback
- Pale quartz or whitewashed oak worktop
- Woven rattan or seagrass pendants
- Rattan-backed or whitewashed wooden stools
- Brushed nickel or polished chrome taps
Materials and finishes
- Bleached and whitewashed oak
- Glazed ceramic tiles with soft colour variation
- Rattan, rope and jute in small doses
- Brushed nickel
- Pale porcelain or limewashed plaster
Tips
- Bleached wood floors hide crumbs better than dark ones but still need a tough lacquer in a kitchen. A matt oak-effect porcelain tile is the low-maintenance alternative near the sink.
- Hang a pale roller blind or a short sheer linen panel at the window instead of full curtains, and keep any fabric well clear of the hob.
- In a north-facing kitchen, paint the units a creamy white rather than a cool one and lean on oak and rattan for warmth, because a blue-green palette can feel chilly without strong sun.
What to avoid
- Anchors, ship wheels and nautical motifs
- Dark cabinets or dark worktops
- Heavy, ornate light fittings
Questions
Which worktop suits a coastal kitchen, and how much upkeep does it need?
Pale quartz with a soft grey vein is the easiest: no sealing, good stain resistance and close to the sandy, light feel. Whitewashed oak looks softer but needs oiling every few months and quick drying around the sink. Honed marble fits visually but etches with lemon juice, so it suits careful cooks only.
Are tongue-and-groove cabinet doors hard to keep clean?
The grooves collect a little grease near the hob, but a painted eggshell or factory-sprayed finish wipes down with warm soapy water. If that is a worry, use panelled doors on the island and wall units only, and plain slab fronts beside the cooker where splashes are heaviest.
More kitchen styles
- Scandinavian kitchen ideas
- Japandi kitchen ideas
- Mid-Century Modern kitchen ideas
- Minimalist kitchen ideas
- Industrial kitchen ideas
- Boho kitchen ideas
- Modern Farmhouse kitchen ideas
Coastal in other rooms
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