If 2022 gave us Coastal Grandma — a warm, breezy homage to Nancy Meyers' movies, linen everything and oversized hydrangeas. Now, 2025 is ushering in her cooler, bolder, more modern aunt: Coastal Elite.
Gone are the purely muted tones, shell-filled side tables and softly ruffled slipcovers. Instead, we can now find confident colour pairings, artful contrasts and a more modern point of view — all without sacrificing the airy calm and sophistication that made the original coastal aesthetic so popular.
A Bolder Take on Coastal Colour Palettes.
Firstly, forget trad seaside nauticals — we’re not in anchor-and-rope territory anymore. This is about embracing natural landscapes in all their wild, unpredictable beauty. Think moody coastal paths, rich mossy rockpools, charred driftwood, and then the unexpected punch of yellow gorse against grey skies.
From Soft Neutrals to Confident Contrasts.
To start building the right coastal colour palette, we can start with those familiar serene tonal bases: think our Restful Grey, Graceful Neutral, and maybe a whisper of our Nostalgic Blue paint colours, and then... disrupt it. What about our zingy chartreuse Electric Yellow paint colour on the inner window frame for a literal ray of sunshine? Or perhaps a pop of our Mellow Teal paint hue on the furniture or woodwork? The magic of Coastal Elite is where quiet meets character. Let the base soothe, then let the accents do the talking.
When it comes to recreating the Coastal Elite interior design trend into your own home decor and colour scheme, one particular tone will always be your best friend, ensuring your space feels bright, open and airy, as if the sea is just two steps away. Yes, we're talking about blue, particularly lighter shades of blue like our Serene Blue, Restful Blue and Nostalgic Blue paint colours.
Painting with Emotion, Not Just Aesthetics.
In interior design, Coastal Elite ditches the rigid themes and goes for an emotional palette. Instead of trying to mimic Hampton homes, it’s more about the feeling of ease and natural flow. The trick is to choose colours that resonate with you, ones that invite touch, evoke quiet moments and make you feel connected to all the elements.
Think beyond wood and sea glass, we’re into grit, grain and layers here: raw ceramics, battered leather, textured cotton, small trinkets and unique treasures, Coastal Elite is more about personality than it is conformity, so don’t be afraid to let your space feel lived-in (after all, we aren’t preparing for a magazine shoot here).
For a more secluded, close-to-nature colour vibe, focus on soft, gentle green paint colours like our Calming Green and Nostalgic Green. These YesColours superstars will surely bring the outside in and help you feel truly energised.
Need Help Choosing Paint Colours? We’ve Got You.
There’s perfection in the imperfection and the Coastal Elite interior design trend is the perfect example for that. It's all about embracing the more dynamic side of life with a quiet confidence that whispers ‘I know who I am and I look good doing it’.
Here at YesColours, we pride ourselves on taking colour beyond the surface. Our approach is rooted in applied colour science, emotion-led design and sustainable innovation because we believe your space should not only look good but feel right too.
Whether you're after a subtle shift or a bold transformation, our curated paint collections and expert advice are here to help you express your version of home beautifully. If you need a little extra guidance, you can book a colour consultation with us. We’ll help solve your colour puzzle, with a complimentary option available.
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