Your Guide to a Beach-Style Bathroom
Create a breezy, casual vibe with coastal colors, bold tile, natural textures and seaside details
Whether you’re tackling a bathroom remodel with the help of a bathroom designer, architect or contractor, being able to pin down your favorite style will help get your project off to a smooth start. If you love an easy, breezy look inspired by sand and sea, beach style might be right for you. Read on for the need-to-know details about this popular bathroom style, including key elements, color palettes, fixtures and finishing touches.
What You Won’t Find in Beach Bathrooms
Beach style can lean traditional, contemporary or somewhere in between — the important thing is to keep the mood relaxed and breezy. Here’s what you won’t see:
Beach style can lean traditional, contemporary or somewhere in between — the important thing is to keep the mood relaxed and breezy. Here’s what you won’t see:
- Heavy window treatments
- Cluttered surfaces
- Elaborate architectural details
- Envelope-pushing trends
- Dark, moody color palette
Coastal Color
Beach bathrooms use colors inspired by the sand, sky and sea to create a sense of place. Crisp white paired with seaside blue is a popular palette, though it’s certainly not the only option. For a more vibrant take, look to leafy greens and bold corals inspired by the tropics.
Colors for beach bathrooms:
Beach bathrooms use colors inspired by the sand, sky and sea to create a sense of place. Crisp white paired with seaside blue is a popular palette, though it’s certainly not the only option. For a more vibrant take, look to leafy greens and bold corals inspired by the tropics.
Colors for beach bathrooms:
- Beachy neutrals. Driftwood, soft beige, white, ocean mist
- Blues and greens. Aqua, sea glass, turquoise, teal, sea green, navy
- Bright accents. Orange, lime, lemon, coral, lobster red
Spacious Shower
When paired with beautiful tile on the shower wall, a simple glass shower enclosure or one that’s partially open becomes a natural focal point. Plus, if your beach-style space happens to be located near an actual beach (which is notably not a requirement), having a roomy shower for rinsing off just makes sense.
When paired with beautiful tile on the shower wall, a simple glass shower enclosure or one that’s partially open becomes a natural focal point. Plus, if your beach-style space happens to be located near an actual beach (which is notably not a requirement), having a roomy shower for rinsing off just makes sense.
Design Detail: Bold Tile
Look for bold, patterned cement tile, fish-scale tile in an oceanic hue, shimmering mother-of-pearl or bright subway tile to boost color and pattern in a beach-style bathroom.
Browse beach-style tile
Look for bold, patterned cement tile, fish-scale tile in an oceanic hue, shimmering mother-of-pearl or bright subway tile to boost color and pattern in a beach-style bathroom.
Browse beach-style tile
Design Detail: Natural Texture
Elements with natural texture evoke the easy, breezy feel of the beach and are especially key in white or neutral beach-style bathrooms. Look for pebble tile, woven accents, rough linen, driftwood, seashells and mother-of-pearl to create rich textural interest.
Find pebble tile in the Houzz Shop
Elements with natural texture evoke the easy, breezy feel of the beach and are especially key in white or neutral beach-style bathrooms. Look for pebble tile, woven accents, rough linen, driftwood, seashells and mother-of-pearl to create rich textural interest.
Find pebble tile in the Houzz Shop
Design Detail: Wall Paneling
Wall paneling — like the shiplap seen in this bathroom from Brandon Architects — calls to mind the casual, breezy look of a vintage beach cottage. Tongue-and-groove and beadboard paneling in fresh white are also good options for beach bathrooms.
Wall paneling — like the shiplap seen in this bathroom from Brandon Architects — calls to mind the casual, breezy look of a vintage beach cottage. Tongue-and-groove and beadboard paneling in fresh white are also good options for beach bathrooms.
Design Detail: Statement Wallpaper
Whatever your take on beach style (such as nautical, tropical or surf-inspired), bold wallpaper can set the tone. Look for wallcoverings featuring nautical charts, geometric patterns or sea-inspired designs — like the jellyfish motif in the Petrie Point Designs bathroom seen here. Proper installation and treatment can greatly reduce the risk of damage from moisture, but if you’re still concerned, consider limiting wallpaper to the powder room, where splashes are less likely.
Whatever your take on beach style (such as nautical, tropical or surf-inspired), bold wallpaper can set the tone. Look for wallcoverings featuring nautical charts, geometric patterns or sea-inspired designs — like the jellyfish motif in the Petrie Point Designs bathroom seen here. Proper installation and treatment can greatly reduce the risk of damage from moisture, but if you’re still concerned, consider limiting wallpaper to the powder room, where splashes are less likely.
Finishing Touches
Keep a beach-style bathroom light and airy with finishing touches that add texture and seaside character. Look for lightweight striped or fringed towels, woven pendant lights, a natural wood stool and ceramic or glass accessories in shades of blue.
Keep a beach-style bathroom light and airy with finishing touches that add texture and seaside character. Look for lightweight striped or fringed towels, woven pendant lights, a natural wood stool and ceramic or glass accessories in shades of blue.
Your turn: Are you a fan of beach style? Describe or show us your favorite beach-style bathroom in the Comments.
See more of this pretty tropical bathroom in South Carolina
More on Houzz
Your Guide to Coastal Style
Browse photos of beach-style bathrooms for inspiration
Find a bathroom designer to get your project started
Shop for beach bathroom products
See more of this pretty tropical bathroom in South Carolina
More on Houzz
Your Guide to Coastal Style
Browse photos of beach-style bathrooms for inspiration
Find a bathroom designer to get your project started
Shop for beach bathroom products
Beach bathrooms are bright and airy with a focus on natural materials, coast-inspired colors and a casual, easygoing mood. Here are some common elements to look for in a beach-style bath: