Coastal Auntie has entered the chat and joined the interior design family tree. As with most aesthetic movements, this is a design style born from social media and is starting to make waves in interiors.
Seen trending across TikTok and Pinterest, this fresh and youthful twist on the beloved Coastal Grandmother style embodies the breezy, laid-back vibe of coastal living but with a cooler, more modern edge. Think sun-soaked, uber-relaxed rooms with colors inspired by the sea and sand – with a bit of a playful attitude.
Ultimately, the Coastal Auntie aesthetic is perfect for those who crave the serenity of the coast but prefer a vibe that’s less traditional and more contemporary. Here's why we love it so.
What Is The Coastal Auntie Aesthetic?
According to TikTok creator Italia Sofia who coined the term, the Coastal Auntie 'is the perfect mix of your cool single aunt and Coastal Grandmother. She has your Grandmother's closet, but somehow makes it look like she just walked out of a J.Crew catalog from the '90s.'
'She hosts dinner parties, she's effortlessly cool. She is a living Nancy Meyers character.' Taking a leaf out of Nancy Meyers' movie set homes, the Coastal Auntie home feels collected and unique to the person that lives there, and by no means perfectly curated. It's lived in and well-loved.
'It certainly seems like Coastal Grandmother style is here to stay. But, as with many 'viral' decor styles, we're also going to see it change and evolve. Enter Coastal Auntie,' says interior designer Kathy Kuo.
'In a similar vein to Grandmillennial decor, Coastal Auntie is all about putting a youthful twist on an already popular look,' she explains. 'You'll still see plenty of woven materials, soothing ocean-inspired colors, and subtly luxurious accent pieces, but also expect eclectic pops of color, cleaner silhouettes, and brighter and bolder patterns borrowed from 'preppy' culture.'
How To Create A Coastal Auntie Home
In order to create the feel of a laid-back beach house, it is all about creating spaces that feel inviting and warm, yet still on-trend and current. It's the perfect balance between relaxed and refined – which is rather hard to emulate. But we've given it our best shot below.
1. Keep coastal references to a minimum
We've mentioned this before, but if you're looking for advice on how to properly decorate a beach house, the most common coastal decor mistake we see is people going too over-the-top and too literal with the theme.
Try to take a more restrained approach when integrating nods to the seaside, regardless of whether your home is actually beside the sea. It is easy to go overboard, so give yourself set rules like one shell per room. Or keep your nautical stripes feeling contemporary with a muted color scheme.
Focus on texture and color that evoke the coastline rather than relying on overt motifs. For instance, incorporating sandy beige tones, weathered wood, and soft blues can subtly reference the coast without overwhelming the space. The Coastal Auntie's home should hint at the ocean, rather than scream it.
These giant clam shells are so popular on Instagram, and for good reason. Keep it on your kitchen island as a fruit bowl, as a coffee table accessory, or pop in the bathroom.
Mounted in a hand-wrapped linen mat, this distressed framed 'September in Kalamata' painting has a tonal color palette and embraces the moody feel of a stormy seaside.
Whether you use this rope-style door stopper for its purpose or on a shelf as a decor accent, Serena & Lily's Maritime Door Stopper is wrapped beautifully around a cement ball and is weather-friendly for the porch.
2. Start with neutrals and add hints of blue
For the most part, starting with a base of neutrals and then layering in colors, textures, and prints is the hallmark of a refined coastal space.
Decorating with neutrals such as shades of white, beige, gray, and greige serves as the perfect foundation for a space – think of it like the plain white tee of your wardrobe. When combined with subtle blues, wood tones, and woven accents, the result is a space that feels calm, cohesive, and effortlessly elegant.
Look to your wall art, soft furnishings, and painted accents like doors or woodwork to add in color, rather than drenching an entire room. This doesn't mean you're stuck to a minimalist scheme – in fact, far from it.
3. Work in some contemporary accents
What sets the Coastal Auntie apart from more traditional coastal design styles is her embrace of more contemporary materials, mood, and decor.
Take the coastal kitchen above, for example, you can imagine it nestled somewhere near the coastline thanks to the wainscotting and hints of soft blues but what is unique about this space is the use of stainless steel and chrome accents. But this doesn't have to be done solely with metals.
TikToker Taylor Simon makes a great case for why you should add black to every room. Using elements of contemporary decor is all about striking a balance. It’s about adding pieces that stand out but also complement the existing decor so it doesn't feel too jarring.
A great example of a subtle contemporary nod, these nickel-plated aluminum coasters are fashioned in a swirl shape reminiscent of the sea swirl. They’ll add such personality to your dining room table.
Playful and shapely, the Brass Tulip Shell from McGee & Co is made from brass with a shimmering polished nickel finish. It will lend a coastal feel to decorative vignettes from built-in shelves to entryway consoles.
Coastal decor embraces the stripe like no other. These cocktail napkins designed by Hunting Season are perfect for entertaining friends by the sea. Simply add chrome ice cream cups.
4. But also some rustic moments too
The key is to also work in some weather-worn, rustic pieces with a little antique edge. Pairing contemporary pieces with rustic accents all within a coastal aesthetic creates a layered and inviting interior design style.
Interior designer Benji Lewis says: 'Distressed and painted reclaimed furniture is a great look for the Coastal Auntie look, pretty and timeless is the vibe rather than anything overbearing or formal,' he suggests. 'Add sheepskin throws for last thing at night hot toddies on the deck while star gazing before hitting the hay.'
These found or thrifted pieces don't need to make a huge statement and can be as subtle as a mirror, a wooden mantel, a patinated leather armchair, a well-loved vintage rug, or a set of woven baskets to make the room feel more lived-in and welcoming.
5. Don't get caught up on things looking perfect
The Coastal Auntie also loves to curate memories and curated moments in her home. Shift your mindset from creating spaces that have to be meticulously arranged and flawlessly styled and instead adopt a more relaxed, authentic approach.
Consider tokens and trinkets from your travels to use as wall art or decorative additions to your vignettes, and bonus points if they're from seaside trips. Perfection can often feel sterile. What makes a space truly special are the little quirks, the mismatched items, and the layers of personality that tell a story.
This might mean mixing different styles (like contemporary and rustic), incorporating handmade items, or allowing for a bit of asymmetry and clutter in the arrangement of furniture and decor. A home should reflect the people who live in it, and people are not perfect.
Coastal Auntie is where casual meets chic, it's the best of both worlds: traditional coastal decor with a fresh, modern outlook.
This design trend embraces the well-loved comfort and style of coastal living while mixing in a youthful edge. Think rustic pieces mixed with modern accents, soft linens, an even softer color palette, and a sense of whimsy that keeps the space from feeling too formal or overdone.
