My mate Dave spent three years turning his Melbourne apartment into what he called “coastal chic.” By the time he finished, it looked like a souvenir shop had exploded in his living room: driftwood mirrors, rope lamps, and enough blue-striped cushions to outfit a yacht club. The poor guy thought he was channelling Bondi Beach but ended up with something closer to the Pirates of the Caribbean gift shop.
Authentic coastal style isn’t about buying everything in the beach section of Bunnings. It’s about capturing the laid-back, sun-soaked feeling without making your home look like a themed restaurant.
1. Visit Display Homes and Study Regional Coastal Architecture
Before you start ripping out walls or painting everything white, take a weekend to explore actual coastal areas. Local home builders in Ocean Grove have figured out how to create homes that feel beachy without looking like movie sets, and their display homes are goldmines of practical ideas.
I spent a Saturday touring new builds along the Surf Coast and noticed something interesting. The best ones didn’t scream “beach house”, they whispered it. Wide verandas that effectively block the harsh afternoon sun, not just look pretty. Materials that handle salt spray without looking shabby after one winter. Windows positioned to catch sea breezes but not driving rain.
2. Choose a Palette That Reflects Your Actual Coastline
Pinterest has convinced half of Australia that coastal colours mean white walls and navy accents. Take a walk along your local beach and you’ll see how wrong that is. The Twelve Apostles look nothing like Surfers Paradise, and neither should your colour scheme.
I grew up near Port Campbell, where the limestone cliffs create this gorgeous palette of warm creams, soft greys, and weathered gold. Compare that to the tropical blues and corals up north, or the silvery driftwood tones of Tasmania’s west coast. Your home should reflect where you live, not some generic “coastal” concept.
My sister learned this the hard way when she painted her Geelong kitchen in what the paint tin called “Ocean Breeze Blue.” Under the harsh western light streaming through her windows, it looked like a hospital waiting room. She ended up repainting in a soft sage green that matched the coastal scrub outside her door.
3. Embrace Natural Materials That Age Gracefully
Coastal environments are brutal on materials. Salt, sand, sun, and moisture will destroy anything that’s not up to the challenge. But here’s the thing – the materials that survive also happen to look fantastic as they age.
My parents’ beach shack has had the same spotted gum deck for twenty years. Instead of looking tired, it’s developed this beautiful silver patina that you can’t fake. The bluestone fireplace has weathered to a soft grey that perfectly complements the timber. These materials get better with age, not worse.
Contrast that with my neighbour’s polished marble benchtops that show every watermark, or the friend who installed white tiles that look grubby after every beach day. Fighting against the coastal environment is exhausting and expensive.
4. Create Genuine Indoor-Outdoor Flow
Everyone talks about indoor-outdoor living, but most people get it wrong. It’s not about installing the most oversized sliding doors you can find and calling it a day. It’s about creating spaces that work together seamlessly.
My cousin’s place in Torquay has these modest French doors that open onto a covered deck. Nothing fancy, but the deck has the same flooring as the living room, and the ceiling height matches exactly. When the doors are open, you can’t tell where inside ends and outside begins. It feels like one big room that has a roof over part of it.
Meanwhile, my brother-in-law installed these massive sliding walls that cost a fortune but are closed most of the year because of wind, bugs, or security concerns. He calls it “expensive outdoor furniture storage” for an ironic laugh.
5. Layer Textures Instead of Themes
The coastal homes that feel most authentic don’t try too hard. They’re comfortable, lived-in, and full of interesting textures that happen to evoke the seaside without beating you over the head with it.
My friend Sarah’s place in Lorne is a masterclass in this. Chunky knit throws that look like fishing nets but feel like clouds. Rough pottery that some bright spark could have made from local clay. Linen curtains that move with every breeze. Nothing matches exactly, but everything works together.
She told me her secret: she shops for things that feel good to touch, not things that look beachy. The woven baskets hold kids’ toys, not decorative shells. The driftwood coffee table came from an actual beach walk, not a furniture store. It’s casual without being sloppy, relaxed without being messy.
The best coastal homes feel like they’ve evolved naturally over time, shaped by sun and salt and the rhythms of seaside living. They’re not trying to prove anything – they’re just comfortable places to live, work, and watch the sunset.
