Welcome to the Beach style home decor style guide where you can see photos of all interiors in the Beach style including kitchens, living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, foyers and more.
Related: All Interior Design Styles | All Residential Architectural Styles | Types of Lots | Types of House Foundations | Types of House Siding
Beach Style Homes (Exteriors)
Check out these spectacular homes showcasing the Beach-style architecture.
1. Wando River Private Residence By DLB Custom Home Design
This is a delightful front view of this Beach-style home showcasing attractive A-frame roofs complemented by light blue wall finish, two garage doors, and a second-floor main entrance through a nice wooden door with built-in windows.
See more. Designed by DLB Custom Home Design
This is the backyard view where you can see two large balconies atop two large rooms with floor-to-ceiling glass windows flanking a gorgeous covered patio with hardwood flooring and stairs leading down to a relaxing poolside with comfortable lawn chairs and a bar.
2. Courtly Elevated Daniel Island Marshfront Home by DLB Custom Home Design
This gorgeous Beach-style house has serene and lush landscaping filled with trees and grass that complements the various gray hues of the house exterior. The gable roofs and A-frame roofs are accented with circular and rectangular windows framed with white that matches the support pillars of the second-floor main entrance.
See more. Designed by DLB Custom Home Design
This backyard view features an amazing pool surrounded by the lush greenery of the landscape. This view of the Beach-style home also showcases the white wooden trellises, one is on the poolside and the other on the third-floor balcony.
3. Light and Airy Hamptons-Queenslander Fusion Home Renovation by Baahouse + BaaStudio
This is a simple and homey view of a Beach-style home with dark roofing accented by a white dormer window standing out against the dark roof but matches with the white exterior of the front porch with redwood flooring to contrast the white support pillars and a dark main door to match the roofs.
See more. Designed by Baahouse + BaaStudio
The view from the back shows you that the house is many times larger that the front view suggests. Here you can see a stunning white second-floor balcony looking over an expansive backyard with a pool surrounded by high white walls matching the white wooden exterior of the house.
4. Gorgeous Beach Style Home with Lots of Deck Space
This is a gorgeous Beach-style home with a high gable and valler dark gray roof complementing the gray wooden finish of the house exterior walls. This is augmented by the warm yellow light coming from the abundance of windows on the first and second floors that are then complemented by the large deck spaces.
See more. Designed by ArchitecturalDesigns.com
On this backyard view of the house, you can see more of that beautiful gray wall finish that contrasts the white lines featured by the various windows, balcony railings as well as on the white garage door with a white fenced walkway beside the house lined with shrubs.
5. Modern Beach Home on Jupiter Island by Hughes Umbanhowar Architects
This is a wonderful fusion of modern elements on a beach-style house right on the beach front raised to prepare for high tides. This is complemented with large glass walls casting warm welcoming lights onto the surrounding deck space bordered with metal railings lit with white lights.
See more. Designed by Hughes Umbanhowar Architects
This view of the modern house shows you the large garage big enough for two cars with a glass garage door with a gray frame that contrasts the beige walls of the house exterior featuring modern windows and a lit staircase leading to the main door with lush trees on the side.
6. Dramatic Beachside Duo Designed by Hughes and Umbanhowar Architects
This modern beach-style home has large glass walls on the two-floor levels to highlight the beachfront view of sand and tropical trees surrounding the property. These large glass walls seem to be supported by large slabs of wood that offer a dramatic aura complemented by a large balcony on the second floor.
See more. Designed by Hughes and Umbanhowar Architects
This backyard view showcases more of that dramatic modern style filled with glass walls and straight lines to emphasize wide open spaces of the backyard that features a pool beside a luxurious and relaxing area that has cushioned lawn chairs and sitting area as well as an outdoor bar.
7. Surfboard House by BFDO Architects
This Beach-style home has a contemporary vibe to its irregular shape and roofs complemented by a wooden facade that is augmented by the large windows and glass sliding doors where you can see the yellow-lit interiors. This view also showcases the outdoor kitchen with the same wooden style as the spacious hardwood flooring.
See more. Designed by BFDO Architects
This is the beachfront view of the house. It shows that the house is on a raised platform from the sand of the beach to be prepared for high tides. It has also large glass doors and windows on this side to better enjoy the view as well as a second-floor balcony for the same purpose that has a railing matching those on the deck leading to the beach.
8. East Hampton Beach Home by DÉCOR AID
This is the backyard view of this beach-style home showing the A-frame gray roofs that match the gray wooden exterior walls dominated by large glass windows with white frames. This gray aesthetic is also applied to the backyard that has stone flooring and gray cushioned lawn chairs facing the stunning pool.
See more. Designed by DÉCOR AID
This bright and white interior is due to the high ceiling complemented by the tall glass windows that bring in an abundance of natural lighting. The furniture are simple black and white to complement this setup and is given a fireplace with a white mantle for a bit of warmth.
9. Net Zero Ready House with L-Shaped Lanai
This contemporary Beach-style house has a lovely front yard landscaping with tropical trees and bushes as well as a well-manicured lawn of grass that sets a nice foreground for the light hues of the home exterior walls complemented by peculiar dormer windows contrasted by the wooden main door.
See more. Source: Architectural Designs
This backyard view of the light-hued home shows that it is L-shaped giving way to a large space on the backyard with a circular pool surrounded by stone flooring. This place also has a stone firepit on the side surrounded by wooden lawn chairs unlike the wrought iron ones surrounding the pool.
10. Energy-Efficient Luxury Coastal Style House
The wide terracotta walkway lined with lush landscaping leads to this cheerful mustard yellow exterior walls to contrast the lush greenery of the landscape and a couple of large tropical trees guarding the entryway. These yellow walls are complemented by the large white roofs that serve to brighten the walls further.
See more. Source: Architectural Designs
This backyard view puts more emphasis on the modern and contemporary elements of the home. The yellow wall exteriors here are adorned with elegant wall-mounted lanterns flanking large glass doors that lead to the pool side that oozes luxury and comfort.
11. Florida House with Walls of Sliding Glass Doors
The stunning gray hip roofs of this Beach-style home are a perfect fit for the tall white walls with tall glass windows showcasing the warm yellow lights from the interiors. This is paired with the wall-mounted lamps flanking the two-bay garage doors as well as the entryway to the glass main door.
See more. Source: Architectural Designs
This is the homey backyard of this Beach-style home that shows the L-shaped patio with a beautiful wooden ceiling over three different sections supported by white pillars. The first section is a small outdoor kitchen, next is a sitting area with sofas and an outdoor fireplace shared with the third area with a lawn chair by the pool.
12. Exclusive Vacation Home with a Golf Cart Area in Garage
This beautiful front view of the Beach-style home showcases earthy hues on its hip roofs that have a pair of round dormer windows. This earthy hue matches the garage doors as well as the arched main doors flanked with wall-lamps mounted on the beige exterior walls dominated by tall glass windows.
See more. Source: Architectural Designs
The L-shape of the home is featured in this backyard view of the house where the tall glass windows are more prominent on the white wall exteriors. This view also features large open areas with white support columns and warm yellow lights to complement the large pool.
13. Sophisticated Home with Spacious Covered Lanai
The wide terracotta walkway flanked with the lush greenery of the landscape leads to this stunning house that has wide hip roofs over white exterior walls of three sections of the house. There are two low sections flanking a large middle structure that has a second-floor balcony filled with glass windows and glass doors.
See more. Source: Architectural Designs
This backyard view also features two low sections flanking a two-story middle area with a large balcony overlooking the backyard pool that has concrete surroundings accented by the colorful flowering landscape. The large open area on the ground floor by the pool has an outdoor dining area with a wooden table and chairs beside a comfortable sitting area.
14. Beach Style Home with Second Floor Balconies
This beautiful Beach-style house has a main entryway flanked by tropical trees and plants on the sides of the terracotta walkway leading to a wooden main door that is lit with the yellow lights of a pendant light matching the wall-mounted lamps on the white wall exterior that is dominated by tall glass windows.
Source: Architectural Designs
This beautiful and bright interior has a white tray ceiling with a ceiling fan hanging over the living room area with various rustic elements on the woven area rug, glass-top coffee table as well as the end table of the beige couches facing a TV mounted on the white wall.
15. Energy-Efficient House with Soaring Ceilings and Transom Windows
The wide gable roofs of this home have red wooden accents on its facade that complements the light blue hues of the wooden wall exteriors. On this front view, you can see the front porch guarded by four support pillars and a wooden staircase leading up to the wooden main door flanked by wall-mounted yellow lamps.
See more. Source: Architectural Designs
The glass sliding doors and French doors lead to this backyard view of the Beach-style house with a wooden staircase leading to a backyard with terracotta walkways complemented by a well-manicured grass lawn bordered by flowering shrubs and tropical trees that go well with the light-hued wooden house exterior.
16. Open-Concept Southern House with Main-Level Primary
This contemporary Beach-style house has a gable and valler roof with an earthy hue to its roofing materials. This matches with the exposed beams above the two garage doors flanked with wall-mounted lamps the same as those flanking the wooden main door that has glass panels on it.
See more. Source: Architectural Designs
This Beach-style home has a simple backyard pool inlaid with concrete walkways leading to an open area at the side of the house that has an outdoor kitchen, as well as a comfortable sitting area with woven wicker, cushioned chairs that go well with the white walls.
17. One-level Beach House with Open-Concept Floor
This is a front view of this gorgeous Beach-style home with a large middle section flanked by two slightly smaller ones all with wide dark gray hip roofs that match the wooden main doors contrasting the white exterior walls. These walls are filled with tall glass windows looking over the lush landscaping of the front yard that flanks the stone patterned walkway.
Source: Architectural Designs
This interior features a high cathedral ceiling with exposed wooden beams supporting a modern ceiling fan in the middle that has a light on it. This hangs over the living room that is open to the kitchen and has a wooden coffee table surrounded by two white sofas as well as gray cushioned armchairs and tufted stools.
18. Upscale House with Sliders for Indoor-Outdoor Living
The wide front yard of this Beach-style home has a light gray stone flooring surrounded by tropical trees and shrubs complementing the white walls of the house. These are dominated by the large glass windows as well as the large wooden garage doors that match the main door with glass panels on it.
See more. Source: Architectural Designs
This simple white interior of the Beach-style home showcases a high white tray ceiling over the living room area with a modern fireplace embedded into its white wall that is accented on each side with golden sculptures. This is a nice background for the variety of cushioned couches and armchairs surrounding the simple coffee table.
19. Modern Beach House with Split Bedrooms
The light gray patterned concrete walkway and driveway leading to this house are adorned with the lush greenery of the landscape as well as the flowers that provide a dash of color to contrast the white exterior walls of this Beach-style house paired with dark gray wide hip roofs.
See more. Source: Architectural Designs
The bright and airy interior of this home is due to the high white ceiling and open walls bringing an abundance of natural lights into the living room that has comfortable beige sectional sofas and a couple of beige leather armchairs facing a modern fireplace inlaid into a large stone column that also supports the TV.
20. Raised Island Ocean Dream House
This front view of the Beach-style home showcases its wide yard with terracotta stone flooring surrounding the two-story house. This yard is accented with tropical plants and trees for the enjoyment of those on the second-floor balcony encircling the house filled with the warm yellow lights coming from pendant lights.
Source: Architectural Designs
This is a closer view of the beautiful second-floor balcony of the Beach-style home featuring the iron patterned railings surrounding the balcony. This view shows an outdoor-style dining area right outside the living room area with hardwood flooring complemented by the large wooden structure housing the TV.
Beach-Style Interior Examples (by Room)
The following are photo examples of beach-style interiors (room-by-room). Below each photo are links that take you to extensive beach-style photo galleries for each room.
The following examples are from this house (Designed by Chango & Co).
Living Rooms
See more beach-style living rooms here.
This stunning living room has a wooden cathedral ceiling with white exposed beams matching the white walls that are illuminated by the natural lights coming in from the tall glass windows that brighten the white cushioned sofa set facing a fireplace inlaid into the white walls.
Kitchens
See more beach-style kitchens here.
This is a small and simple kitchen within a great room dominated by bare wooden walls and a high cathedral ceiling that has exposed wooden beams supporting a white pendant light over the U-shaped peninsula with a dark gray countertop.
Dining Rooms
This homey and warm dining room has a hardwood flooring that complements the rustic wooden chairs and wooden cushioned bench surrounding the wooden table that is topped with pendant lights in rustic woven hoods.
Bedrooms
See more beach-style bedrooms here.
This beautiful bedroom has a bright welcome to the morning with its glass doors bringing in natural lights on the white bed that contrasts the hardwood flooring but complements the gray walls with framed artworks over its white headboard flanked with wooden bedside tables.
Bathrooms
See more beach-style bathrooms here.
The white freestanding bathtub of this luxurious bathroom is placed by a wide glass window that has a wonderful lakeside view. This brings in natural light on the white marble flooring that is complemented by the large gray wooden structure housing two vanity areas.
Entry Halls
Upon entry of this wonderful Beach-house, you will be welcome by a foyer that has hardwood flooring matching the wooden ceiling and the low shelving with decors. This is a nice framing for the highlight which is the amazing view offered by the tall glass windows.
Beach Style Home Landscaping
See more beach-style landscaping here.
This is lush landscaping that complements the amazing view surrounding the house. This is done with unimposing trees and plants that do not compete for attention but rather directs your view to the beautiful scenery framed with low hedges and shrubs as well as lush well-manicured lawns.
What is Beach Home decor?
A wonderful combination of the best parts of other home styles, the beach house exemplifies calmness, creativity, and simplicity while staying cozy and inviting. The main design elements of beach style are:
- Extensive wood construction – very little brickwork is used in these homes, except perhaps in the underlying framing but wood is usually used over that. The rustic cottage look is the essential style point and is immediately evocative of white, sandy beaches and sea-borne breezes.
- Open floor plans – to maximize cool air coming from the ocean, the interior of these homes is largely open and unimpeded by bulky, hindering furniture. This makes the interior breathe and feels wonderful on a warm spring or summer day.
- Neutral colors, primarily whites, used in the palette – these bright whites, crisp yellows, and pale blues make the sandy cottage life in a beach house feel like a vacation every day.
- Flowing curtains – these houses opt for open-window designs, and curtains – if they’re present – are flowy, airy, and allow breezes to flow off the water and through the home.
- Light fabrics – as with the curtains and the color of the home itself, light fabrics in the furniture help keep everything neutral, calm and relaxing.
Interior Features
The interior of a beach home exemplifies the cozy aspects of a cottage, the eclectic decor of a bungalow, and the design accents of a country or rustic home. The result is a very natural interior that uses the simple beauty of wood construction as one of its strong points.
- Shiplap cladding on the primary support beams throughout the house gives a rustic, sturdy feel to the walls, ceilings, window, and door frames. This wood is perfect for painting a strong blue to contrast the mostly white walls, especially around windows and doors.
- The open floor concept allows people in three or more different rooms to seamlessly carry on conversations. The person cooking or making drinks doesn’t need to come around a corner to stay connected, which makes these homes so welcoming and great for hosting guests.
- Porthole windows are common in beach houses, as they open easily and look adorable. These often have a fixed screen, and in some cases are merely an accent point where a small plant or knickknack can be framed by natural light.
- Built-in, hanging lighting is a must in a beach home. The ceilings are often somewhat high as these homes are typically 1 story, and hanging lights help bring a comfy, inviting feel to a room that might otherwise feel austere and too large.
- Wooden interiors are extremely common, often in place of what would normally be drywall to separate rooms. Wood is the primary building material but it’s also the biggest charm point of a beach house because it evokes the feeling of a simple cabin living near the ocean or a lake.
- Accent rugs are common, as wall-to-wall carpeting is not. Anyone living near a beach does not want to track sand all over a carpet, and less carpeting means a cooler, larger-feeling environment. A good throw rug really ties the colors of the room together when the primary palette is white, grey, and light blue.
- Gold fixtures on faucets, bathrooms, and gold tile accents mesh well with the deep navy blues and crisp whites that are the primary color scheme of these homes.
- Decor that is straight from the beach outside is common, including candles nested in the sand, driftwood, and beach grasses in urns and vases around the home.
- Bleached wooden floors are easy to keep free of dirt and look remarkable, adding a feeling of crisp cleanliness to these homes.
Exterior Features
If you changed the paint job and plucked the beach house from the side of the ocean, it would fit perfectly in a forest as a cabin. These homes are primarily constructed of wood, making them cheap, quick to build but also unique and homey.
- Wooden framing covered in burnished wood siding works well for the humidity and wind of the beach and doesn’t have to stand up to the freezing temperatures, ice, and hail that vinyl siding does in other environments. It looks amazing and lasts a long time.
- Little brickwork, and what stones are used are light-colored and rough-hewn. This adds to the natural and free-flowing style of the beach house.
- Landscaping is commonly made up of natural stones, white stone paths or gardens, and small accents with drought-resistant local plants. Traditional lawns aren’t common with beach houses, as the vibrant green is difficult to maintain and clashes in a bad way with the nice crisp whites of the rest of the property.
- Short porches with calm, overhanging eaves make the perfect place to hang out on a cool evening as the breeze blows over you.
- Lots of windows with slatted shutters to enjoy the beach wind. Additionally, the shutters will have the ability to be fastened down in the event of a rough storm, which sometimes occurs in the areas beach houses are most frequently built.
- Water features are common, like ponds, gravel gutters, and fountains. These help to tie in the association of water and look amazing in a gravel garden or surrounded by other stone landscaping features like retaining walls.
Furniture styles
Furniture in a beach style house is all about comfort and relaxed elegance. Wooden futons with overstuffed cushions make for a great lounge area and can work outside on the porch or inside in the sitting room.
Tall stools up against a breakfast bar or kitchen island is a common addition, especially since the dining rooms, living room, and kitchen are typically connected. An open floor plan means less clutter, less furniture but a cozier feeling of togetherness.
Gold and brass fixtures on the cabinets, as well as on the hanging lights are extremely common, as is track lighting set in the lower parts of the ceiling.
End tables make great accent pieces in beach houses as they can be covered in many different knickknacks, decorations, and beach-related items. These and the common bookshelves are always wooden, usually reclaimed wood, and typically a natural color or painted white.
Materials
Wood is the name of the game with a beach house. Very little stone is used, as these homes often only have 1 story and are little more than cabins.
- Hardwood that is resistant to blowing sand and humidity. These include cherry, walnut, and mahogany, but beach homes tend to use more oak and teak, as their colors are lighter and the nude wood looks better and takes to white paint better.
- Whitestone, if there is any, is used in its most natural state. This means rough edges, unsymmetrical shapes, and less uniformity in placement. In these cases, the stones are almost always a facade, though they are real stones; they simply are stacked in front of the lowest level of the wooden exterior wall.
- Windows are traditional glass, often modern sliding windows. Beach homes, however, utilize a lot of fixed-glass windows like portholes, bay windows, and the like. Smaller accent windows will often be made of actual beach glass that’s been blown together to make beautiful, multicolored pieces that illuminate the interior with rainbow splashes.
Decor
The decor of a beach home has very little guidance, much like a bungalow. These homes are perfect for wandering souls, artists, and bohemian people who want a place to show off their eclectic sides.
- Seafaring antiques, like parts of boats (especially brass or gold fixtures), lanterns, or other similar pieces. This includes nautically themed kitsch pieces for a hutch or display case.
- Lots of local art as these homes are combinations of styles and a mesh of personalities and backgrounds. It’s common to find paintings, sculptures, and luminaries throughout a beach house that do not in any way share an author or theme.
- Beach-borne items like jarred sand or driftwood sculptures, and art made by other local beachgoers.
- Fulgurite, which is glass made when lighting strikes the beach, is a common and impressive design piece. These stones are expensive at a good size, but they’re incredibly unique and utterly beautiful.
- Wooden frames on mirrors and pictures are used to contrast the white walls and ceilings, and often the support beams – always exposed – are painted a contrasting color as well.
- Brass or gold statuary on bookshelves or display cases adds a touch of elegance to any cozy little beach house.
- Seashells are a common design element, either holding a candle or as the centerpiece of a larger display.
- Cabana stripes on furniture or window coverings, and especially on large porch umbrellas outside.
Styles that mix well with it
The beach house is basically just a cabin or other country home but on the waterfront instead of the forest. These homes mix well with a variety of similar styles, including:
- Rustic design elements like exposed rock and wood walls would look great in a beach home, as long as the colors mesh.
- The open floor plan of a bungalow or the one-room design of a cabin makes for great interior flow to a beach house. This lets everyone talk and mingles without feeling cut off from the rest of the party or family.
- The cozy interior of a farmhouse, especially the wooden sliding or saloon-style doors makes the beach house cute but not tacky. The biggest draw of the beach house is how it looks and sounds like it’s cold and Spartan but it feels warm and inviting.
History of the beach style house
Beach houses as we know them are old, based on simple fishing shacks from the 1800s and 1900s. These homes only needed to shelter fishermen in the most basic sense and were often simply a place for people to go on the weekend to fish, swim, surf, and relax. Like all of the best home designs, modern beach houses are built around this original model, starting with simple wooden construction and building out from that.
As the beach house style became more attractive to people visiting California, Florida, and the Carolinas, an increasing number of permanent, better-constructed beach houses started to dot the waterfront. These homes took the basic idea of the sea shack and added more sophistication and purposeful design. Where the shacks were places for dad to go to get away with his buddies, the new advent of the beach house was a place for the whole family to enjoy the ocean.
Modern beach houses are bigger, more elaborate mirrors of their old forms; they’re larger, with better materials and design that’s made to last decades rather than seasons or years. The addition of special glass for the windows, expensive and elegant furniture, and in some cases an additional story speaks to the transition of the beach house from a fishing necessity to a potential home for a family.
Why does the beach style look so great?
The beach house style is comfortable and classic, clean yet cozy. The interior antiques, clean white walls, and crisp, contrasting colors make a brilliant image but also invite you in to snooze in the cool afternoon breeze. The hardwood floors look and feel amazing, and don’t hold on to pesky sand the way a carpet would, and the open floor plan makes entertaining or simply hanging out with your family much more cozy and congenial.
Beach houses look so great because they present a sense that they’re not trying to look amazing, and yet they do. Simple and clean while being warm and comfortable and incorporating the best of the nature around them, the beach house is traditional, cool, and timeless.
Today, beach houses are, for the most part, still a simple yet elegant way to visit the ocean. Though the construction isn’t any more elaborate or difficult, it’s the property itself that’s become increasingly expensive. But the beach house style is still hugely popular and as long as the sea meets water, these homes will always be in demand.
