2025 Coastal Home Design Trends

As we begin 2025, some new coastal home design trends are streaming in through the sea breeze. This year is sure to be filled with fresh, authentic design while staying close to the roots of what makes coastal homes what they are. Read along as we dive into some design trends for 2025 and even some trends we’ve noticed on Kiawah Island. 

Top Ten Trends for 2025

1. Keeping it Light

Keeping a home light and bright allows it to effortlessly blend with the surrounding coastal atmosphere. Mixing white colors with sandy tones and occasional pops of blue creates a tranquil yet thoughtfully designed space.

2. Built-in Shelves 

While shelves displaying coastal décor have been popular for some time, their popularity has surged in the last year. Adding shelves introduces interest to otherwise bland rooms and also saves space, which can be a significant benefit in coastal homes. 

3. Bare Floors

Bare floors are ideal for coastal homes where the setting is often warm or humid, making carpets unnecessary. Instead, tiled flooring, wood, or stone is commonly used to maintain a cooler, temperate interior climate.

4. Nautical Flair

Numerous sea-themed items can complement a coastal home. Model ships, elegant paintings, and antique parts create an authentic feel. However, try to avoid overwhelming a room’s design; less is often more.

5. Statement Beach Lighting

Properly placed lighting can foster a relaxing coastal atmosphere. Warm bulbs and statement lighting fixtures throughout a home invite a sense of calm for both residents and guests.

6. A Sprinkle of Tie-Dye

Accent pieces, like light blue tie-dye throw pillows, can add coastal flair where needed. Simplicity is key; incorporating white and one additional color into tie-dye pieces helps them integrate without dominating a room’s aesthetic.

7. Accent Walls

Accent walls can create seamless transitions between outdoor and indoor aesthetics. For instance, a stone accent wall invites coastal air inside while connecting the interior style to the outdoors. 

8. Blonde Flooring

Strolling along warm, golden sands reflects coastal living. Blonde wood flooring brings this experience indoors, and when illuminated by evening sunlight, it can almost trick the eye into perceiving it as sand.

9. Beachy Bedding

Living on the coast often means being surrounded by seaside colors. Incorporating shades of blue, white, and green into bedding layers creates a cozy retreat that residents will never want to leave.

10. Mix-In Dark Wallpaper

While most beach homes are defined by a light, airy feel, bold and moody wallpaper can enhance a room’s character. Dark green wallpaper in a dining room can lend a brash, bold appearance.

Design Trends on Kiawah Island

On Kiawah Island, stunning coastal homes embrace a variety of natural ecosystems, including rivers, the intercoastal waterway, and the Atlantic Ocean. Like other coastal areas, trends ebb and flow. Here are the coastal design trends visible on the Island this year:

Bold Colors

Rooms featuring bold colors are prevalent on the Island. Whether applied to trim, walls, ceilings, or all three, Kiawah Island residents embrace navy blues and vibrant greens that contrast beautifully with white-washed appliances. 

Wallpaper

As mentioned earlier, accent wallpaper is trending in coastal homes. However, hiring professionals for installation is advisable to avoid the hassle of doing it oneself. Otherwise, the process of installing the new wallpaper may ruin your enjoyment of the finished project altogether. 

Wood and Natural Fibers

Wood and natural fibers are increasingly appearing in coastal homes, particularly in sunrooms or dining areas that naturally connect these styles to the outdoors.

Designing with Nature

Kiawah Island embodies what it means to develop sustainably. South Street Partners, the master developer of the Island’s environmental plan, is fully committed to keeping Kiawah “one with nature.” 

The Designing With Nature mission is as follows: to maintain the delicate balance between the natural world and our relationship with it. By collaborating with expert architects and conservationists, Kiawah Island continually develops and protects the surrounding nature, which, after all, is the star attraction.

Learn More: 50th Anniversary: 50 Years of Designing with Nature 

Find Your Coastal Home on Kiawah Island

Anyone who has visited the Island knows that it is home to some of the most beautiful coastal properties on the East Coast. From traditional homes and cottages to villas and senior living options, one can truly find it all on Kiawah Island.

View our available properties below!