If you love the coastal vibe and want to create some of that style in your home, the beach cottage kitchen look could be just what you’re looking for. It’s intimate, accessible and works in any style or size of kitchen, whether you’re lucky enough to live by the sea or not. In this post we’re exploring how to achieve a beach style kitchen in your home, including the best colour schemes, materials and decor to consider to nail the coastal feel.
How to master the beach cottage kitchen look
When it comes to creating your beach-inspired kitchen, there are a few key points to keep in mind. The colours and materials you choose for the interior design are crucial to nailing the coastal style vibe. Thankfully, beach cottage kitchens don’t have to be expensive or fussy – a simple color palette of light colours, natural wood, natural textures and clean cabinetry style all help to create the laidback beach cottage look.
Beach cottage kitchen ideas: colours
Some popular colour palettes for beach cottage kitchens include neutral shades of sand and white, with a touch of contrasting colours such as blue, grey, turquoise or marine green. White cabinets, white walls and light colors help open up small spaces and provide the light and airy feel typically associated with a beach cottage kitchen. Light blue or blue-gray cabinets, a blue backsplash or iridescent tile around the sink help break up the neutral backdrop.
However, there’s no need to be restricted in your choice of coastal colors and a great way of personalising your space is to add colours that are meaningful to you. For example, red painted bar stools might remind you of colourful beach huts, tiled floors may be reminiscent of the colours of a pebble beach or handmade beach decor can help add colour, interest and personality into your kitchen.
Beach cottage kitchen ideas: materials
Natural materials are often a key element of coastal kitchen design schemes. Some of the materials to consider include different types of stone, wood and rattan.
For example, you could hang rattan pendant lights above a kitchen island, have wooden floors, incorporate natural fibers in your table dressings and accessories, have marble countertops, rattan baskets or wicker baskets on hand for storage, or add natural elements such as shells, pebbles or pieces of sea glass to open shelving displays.
Design ideas for beach cottage kitchens
Beach cottage kitchen designs tend to make the most out of natural light, whether there’s plenty of it flowing through big windows, or large light fixtures and neutral colors that help make the room feel lighter and brighter.
Classic shaker style cabinets are a good design choice for a beach cottage style kitchen, as they’re unfussy and help add to the airy feeling and timeless look. If you have space in your kitchen, the addition of a kitchen island makes a nice focal point and can serve as a place to have breakfast in the morning or prepare an evening meal.
Stainless steel appliances are easy to keep clean and add to the design style of a beach kitchen. Choose cabinet hardware in stainless steel to effortlessly blend with the appliances.
10 best beach cottage kitchen ideas
Once you’ve designed your perfect beach cottage kitchen, it’s time for the fun bit – picking out the perfect accessories to complement your look. Here are 10 of the best ideas we’ve found.
1. Harbour wallpaper in stone, Fiona Howard
This neutral wallpaper is a perfect example of beach cottage – coastal but cosy. It features Cornish cottages and boats sailing back into harbour on a soft gentle summer breeze. a 10m by 52cm roll costs £98 and is available from Fiona Howard.
2. Dip dyed fish table runner, The Coastal Lifestyle Company
Set a coastal tone for your table setting with this unusual table runner. Perfect for creating a coastal centerpiece in your kitchen or dining room. 100% cotton and machine washable. Other matching items in this range include napkin, table cloth, apron, tea towel and oven mitt. Table runner £20, available from The Coastal Lifestyle Company.
3. Padstow Harbour art print, Joanne Shaw
A vintage style art poster of Padstow Harbour in Cornwall by acclaimed Newlyn society artist Joanne Short. Three vases of flowers fill the foreground and a clear blue Cornish sky completes this archival quality art poster print. Prices start at £35 for an unframed A3 print, available from The John Dyer Gallery.
4. Parisienne basket in tan, Bohemia Design Ltd
Scrunched up plastic bags aren’t quite the right aesthetic for the coastal look – how about this Parisienne basket instead? It’s a classic market basket, handwoven by artisans in Morocco using locally sourced palm leaf and oiled natural leather. Perfect for farmers’ markets, the beach, or as a stylish home storage basket, it costs £46 from Bohemia Design Ltd.
5. Rustic lighthouse and cottage ornament, Gisela Graham
This decorative wooden ornament is perfect for adding a breath of fresh sea air to a kitchen shelf. Mix it with blue and white china for a cheerful look. £14.99, available from Gisela Graham.
6. Modern coastal prints, Beach House Art
Looking for some suitable artwork? These modern prints take inspiration from the beauty of the coast in the UK. There are lots of designs to choose from including Figure of Eight Knot, Cornwall Vintage Map, Beach Painting Padstow or Cornish Blue Lobster. Available in a range of sizes, prices start at £18 for an unframed print from Beach House Art.
7. Dinky wooden beach huts, The Coastal Lifestyle Company
We love these little huts, which would look perfect on a windowsill or along the top of a wall-mounted kitchen cabinet. These freestanding mini beach huts are made from wood and have a tin roof and are decorated with either a metal flag, or seagull sitting on the roof. Several designs available, £5 each from The Coastal Lifestyle Company.
8. Woven jute rug, Next
This sturdy rug is hand crafted from 100% hard wearing natural and sustainable jute to create a unique woven texture with a 2cm pile height. It’s perfect for high traffic areas, such as by the back door or in front of the cooker. Available in a range of different sizes, prices start at £60 from Next.
9. Wellington wicker pendant light, Fritz Fryer
An airy and light, all natural lighting solution. This wicker light is completely free from any harsh chemicals, hand woven of willow grown in the English wetlands. Hours of craftsmanship and care have gone into the creation of this unusual pendant light, which costs £300 from Fritz Fryer.
10. Blue fish tea towel and dishcloth bundle, Jangneus
This nautical bundle includes matching dishcloths and cotton tea towel of the same fish motif, neatly tied together with a raffia paper ribbon. Swedish dishcloths, unlike plastic sponges, can be washed and reused. They’re made from completely natural materials so are 100% biodegradable, which means that after their long and useful life, you can pop them on the compost heap and they’ll break down naturally. £17, available from Pasoluna.
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