12 Easy, Breezy Coastal Living Rooms

All in the family

Muted, modern furnishings balanced by warm woods are inviting in the living room. The minimal palette, featuring an abundance of white with hits of neutral, earthy tones, allows the conservatory windows to be the focal point.

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Boathouse chic

A nod to the white buildings of Miami Beach finds expression in the all-white walls of the open structure, and a vase of tropical greens hints at Florida’s towering palm trees. Beyond this, the decor has a minimalist appearance that seamlessly brings the outside in.

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Breezy B.C.

Natural light floods into the family room through large windows and is reflected in the oversized mirror on the mantel. The space’s vibe is classic and coastal, with plush linen-upholstered sofas and rattan accents balanced by nautical trend-forward black patterned toss cushions.

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Coastal cottage

The coffee table, metal chair and lamp – all of which came with the cottage – are complemented with a dynamic mix of pieces, such as the rough-hewn antique console and chic woven leather stools that are easy to move for casual seating.

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Nautical lake house

Bright windows, easy-wash linen slipcovers, and nautical hues evoke a coastal sense of ease in this cottage.

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Coastal Zones

A folding glass-door system opens up to blur the line between the living area and deck. “It was important to have spaces filled with natural light,” says homeowner and designer Jen O’Donnell. Her mandate for this room was comfort with a relaxed vibe. “The deep sofa and distressed leather chairs help create this feeling, and all of the pieces can be easily rearranged if desired.”

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Coastal-style cottage

When it came time to furnish Tradewinds, designer Cory DeFrancisco looked to fashion for visual cues, pulling in nautical Breton stripes and a restrained palette of almost exclusively navy and white. The scheme is most playfully on display in the living room, where paintings of vintage bathing suits draw the eye to the side of the fireplace.

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Beachhouse vibes

The big blue sectional was one of the few pieces saved from the property's original cottage, and it works perfectly here, not only because it fits with the other blues in the decor but also because its leather upholstery is durable enough to stand up to dogs, spills and sand.

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modern coastal

While the living room is designed to take in the vista across the infinity pool and out to Georgian Bay, it also has a natural snugness, thanks to the cozy seating area. When desired, a fireplace or a TV can be summoned from below: “They both recess into the floor when not in use, so the views are uninterrupted,” says designer Tracy Kundell.

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Monochromatic warmth

Instead of opting for a costly fireplace fix, the designers simply painted over the existing gloomy grey brick. They also added muted furnishings to replace the previous disjointed pieces that were there before for an instant airy coastal-inspired refresh.

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Contemporary coastal

With its hand-milled channel-grooved cathedral ceiling, this sitting area in the great room is certainly grand. Hints of gold and dark pops from the lighting, artwork and nearby kitchen make it look sharp, while laid-back furnishings provide a casual air befitting lakeside living.

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Beachy West coast

This Vancouver home's fresh palette was underscored with a quiet nod to beachside living, from the white walls to the warm white oak floors.

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Beachy West coast

This Vancouver home's fresh palette was underscored with a quiet nod to beachside living, from the white walls to the warm white oak floors.

See the full tour.