Timeless and Trendy: Why Coastal Grandmother is the Toast of the Town
Plus, several ideas for bringing the coastal grandmother décor into your home.
It’s a vibe awash in soothing moods and a fresh, laissez-faire attitude. It’s what you feel when you’re surrounded by creamy sand, anchored with elegant strands of sea grass and holding treasures of silky-smooth sea glass.
Feeling it? If yes, you’ve just leveled up to the summer’s hottest trend, the coastal grandma (or coastal grandmother, if you prefer). The word trend here is used loosely. Coastal grandma is how classic elegance and timeless sophistication expresses itself while on vacation at the shore. It’s a stylistic staple driven by the Atlantic seaboard’s clapboard, coastal homes, driftwood, sand-scrubbed boardwalks, and salty air.
Matriarch Mode
In clothing, coastal grandmother style is laid back luxury recognized by loose silhouettes, linens, slouchy, cashmere cardigans and chunky nautical striped sweaters. A wide-brimmed straw or bucket hat, leather slides or espadrilles (remember those?), and handbag in a natural, neutral material polishes the ensemble. The look is relaxed and refined.
Interior Panache
See a house near the water? Odds are high the interior is a thematic nautical ensemble. Coastal grandmother offers a refreshing update. Coastal grandmother interior design jettisons the predictable beachy themes and replaces it with comfortable ease and sophistication.
How do you capture a coastal grandmother décor? Apply the clothing aesthetic to your home. You may even find some ideas from maximalism, hygge, or biophilic design. Here are some guidelines:
Colors: Think of a seascape’s neutral colors. Creams, whites, beiges, soft browns, and earthy blues.
Fabrics and textures: The space should feel soft yet tailored. Tasteful use of wicker, straw, wood, and other natural materials, especially linen.
The extras: Choose items that exude seaside relaxation. Stacks of books, fresh flowers, herbs growing on a windowsill, a single beautiful shell or piece of driftwood, throw pillows, a bowl of fruit from the local farmer’s market — keep it fresh and full, not cluttered.
With coastal grandma, it’s a breezy summer day, regardless the time of year. How nice is that?