Even if you don’t live by the sea, there’s undoubtedly a beach lover in everyone. Whether it’s sunny skies, the sight of endless ocean, the sound of waves crashing into the shore, or the way weathered wood warms your soul, there’s something about the beach that instantly puts you at ease. So it makes sense that this interior design style would make waves as well.

Tile Shown: Essentials 3x9 Hood River, Daisy 6" Hexagon
When it comes to coastal style, you can invoke (or at least imply) these elements without having a beach house dream home or a bathroom filled with sailboat kitsch. Laying a fresh, neutral foundation and layering it with beach themed accents and well-loved decor is key to achieving a casually comfortable coastal bathroom.
Try these design ideas for a perfect beach style bathroom.

Architectural Elements
Coastal Style is all about bringing outdoor elements in. Open layouts framed by high ceilings offer plenty of breathing room for natural light to fill up the space. Details like beadboard wainscoting, open shelving, and shingled or clapboard exteriors lend a vintage, cottage-inspired feel that’s both casual and homey.

Tile Shown: Adriatic Sea 6" Hexagon // Design: Wellrooted LLC // Image: Mallory Shelton
Materials
Natural wood reigns in a classic coastal bathroom. Even if it’s only hinted at as an accent on the bathroom vanity or driftwood on the windowsill, it helps to bring depth and character to bathroom decor. Rustic and woven textures like sisal, jute, burlap, and linen all help to bring organic dimension, especially when it’s layered over classic coastal’s transitional aesthetic.
This also makes tile and brick excellent finishes for a coastal themed bathroom.
This bathroom hits all the right coastal design elements with shiplap walls, a knotty rope framed mirror, natural wood, white wall tile, and specialty-shaped star and cross tile in contrasting white Calcite and ever so appropriate Sea Glass.

Tile Shown: Calcite 3x6, Calcite Mini Star and Cross, Sea Glass Mini Star and Cross // Design & Image: Stephanie Feinerman Design
Color Scheme
Colors inspired by the shore define a Coastal aesthetic. Neutrals like crisp whites and sandy browns offer a fresh foundation for layering on your favorite beach-inspired accents. Sometimes a white bathroom with the right coastal decor is all you need like this small bathroom by Sarah Sherman Samuel with warm white tile throughout and just a hint of beachy color on the floor.

Tile Shown: Tusk 3x6, Salton Sea 3x6 // Design: Sarah Sherman Samuel // Image: Raquel Langworthy Photography
But let’s not forget about blue. Whether it’s tropical teal or pretty periwinkle or preppy navy, almost any shade of blue will do (plus maybe a hint of yellow and coral to liven things up with a bright pop of color).

Tile Shown: Naples Blue Ogee Drop, White Wash Mini Star and Cross, White Wash 3x6 // Design: Bright Bazaar
It’s also easy to play with pattern when working colors into your beach bathroom with nautical stripes being an obvious choice.

Tile Shown: 3x12 Glass Barn Swallow Matte, 3x12 Glass Dove Matte // Design: Marni Mervis // Image: Tiffany Thompson, Duett Interiors
This bathroom takes pattern in a new creative direction with a clever design of Hexite tile arranged to look like beach balls in the sand.

Tile Shown: Hexite Tile in Chateau, Frond, Desert Bloom, White Wash, and Neptune // Design & Image: Leslie Murchie
Tile for a Coastal Bathroom
Taking inspiration from beach cottages and seaside style, a coastal style bathroom should feel like an escape. And unless you’re lucky enough to have a bathroom with a beach view, creating a quintessential coastal bathroom will require some blue, teal or sea-inspired green (how much you want is up to you). However, you’ll see that it won’t take much to transform your bathroom into a sea-inspired retreat.

Tile Shown: Aegean Sea 4x4 // Design: Born & Raised Renovation, Inc. // Image: Christopher Domowicz
Mosaics
Maybe it’s the way it subtly glitters in the light like the sun reflecting across the ocean, but there’s something about tile mosaics that feels just right in a coastal bathroom. Use mosaic tile as a statement backdrop on the floor, paired with a soft, solid blue or overcast grey like in this bathroom for a soothing contrast.

Tile Shown: Overcast 3x6, Egret + Condor Matte 1 x 1 & 1 x 2 Pinwheel
Statement Showers
Sometimes a blue shower is all you need to create an ocean-inspired oasis. Our tile’s natural variation adds a rippling effect that feels just right for a seaside escape, especially in our Wave shaped ceramic tile.

Tile Shown: Lake Tahoe Wave // Design: Elemental Green // Image: Jill Tiongco Photography
Ogee Drop
One of our most popular patterns, Ogee Drop gives this Coastal bathroom’s cool palette a playful perspective like this shower that looks like the waves on the sea.

Tile Shown: Adriatic Sea 4x4, Adriatic Sea Ogee Drop // Design: Studio 42 Design // Image: Kelley Bedoloto
Handpainted Tile
Just a hint of pattern can make all the difference. This bathroom’s classic coastal color scheme gets even more beach vibrations with handpainted tile reminiscent of the currents and swell of the ocean.

Tile Shown: Ripple in Neutral Motif // Design: Stonewood Kitchen and Bath // Image: Megan Gery
Gray Malin's beach house on Lake Michigan features a bathroom blending all the colors of the lake with our handpainted Grange floor tile.

Tile Shown: Grange in Warm Motif // Design: Kate Lester Interiors // Image: Gray Malin
Ready to order tile for your coastal bathroom? Order color samples now. Need some help? Simply call, chat, or fill out our Design Assistance Form and one of our talented Design Consultants will get back to you shortly.