There’s something irresistibly calming about the Coastal Grandmother aesthetic. We’re talking about creamy neutrals, vintage details, and effortless elegance that make your home feel like a serene seaside cottage. Here are four finds to channel this timeless trend with ease…
Add a touch of old-money library charm to your reading nook or side table with this retro desk lamp. The classic pull chain and warm glow scream sophisticated coastal grandmother vibes. Plus, it has built-in USB and Type C ports to keep your phone and tablet charged while you sip chamomile tea.
Nothing says coastal grandmother like a simple, wood dining table perfect for morning croissants or afternoon writing sessions. Its compact square design fits small dining corners while bringing in that organic and understated look.
Drape your dining table with this black-and-white geometric tablecloth for an elegant nod to grandma’s summer coastal cottage. Its soft print elevates even the simplest breakfast setting.
A sleek black geometric bookshelf ties the whole aesthetic together. Style it with ceramic vases, linen-covered books, and framed coastal photography. The whole vibe will channel relaxed, breezy sophistication.
As Apartment Therapy’s Executive Home Director, I head up our decorating, trends, and designer coverage. I studied Media Studies at UVa and Journalism at Columbia and have worked in media for more than a decade. I love homes, heels, the history of art, and hockey — but not necessarily in that order.
Pink decor evokes feelings of happiness and warmth. A pale pink backdrop is a sweet way to elevate a modern interior, introducing light personality and flair. In this set of two modern home interiors, we’ll look at how to get the look just right. In home design number one, we’ll tour a pink and dark green decorated living space with neoclassical wall paneling and crown molding, plus a unique TV focal wall. We’ll also discover a fun pink kitchen design and a pink bedroom with a custom headboard feature wall. The second of our two interiors is a blush pink-infused space with mesmerizing interludes of boldly patterned tiles. Which would you choose?
Pink paintwork flows from the living room walls up onto crown molding here, creating added height. Green panel molding and a small sofa add counteractive dark green elements. Wood flooring is laid diagonally, which visually expands the room.
Opposite the sofa, the TV wall is defined with a unique, geometric application of wood slats, painted green. A cream backdrop makes light contrast behind the slats and provides a visual break from the sweet pink palette. See more ideas for a small living room with TV.
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A white coffee table provides a clean visual pause at the center of the colorful living room. Underneath the table, a living room rug is patterned with classic motifs.
An assortment of indoor plants introduces a botanical theme into the pink and green interior. Muted green drapes heavily frame the large living room window.
A fresh white media console unit is wall mounted underneath the TV. Its linear design is textured with a lightly fluted face. Indoor plants provide natural decoration on top.
The living space has an open connection with the home entryway. To clearly define the two separate zones, the entryway is painted solid green. A wall-mounted, wooden chest of drawers and an elegant arch mirror fashion a convenient dressing spot.
The walls, ceiling, crown molding, baseboards, and even the front door are flooded with the same shade of foliage green. A black entryway bench places a moment of dark contrast into the color-saturated space.
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Back in the living space, a gold circle chandelier echoes the shape of a round, marble dining table. Green upholstered dining chairs seat up to four diners.
Light pink kitchen units draw across the back wall of the living space, closing the layout with a wall of soft color. A white marble backsplash draws cleanly through its center, complemented by a bank of white wall units.
In the pink bedroom design, a panel molded headboard wall is customized with a green, painted arch. The arch encompasses two modern wall sconces, placed on each side of the bed.
A matching globe pendant light hangs above the pink platform bed.
Pink wardrobes meld with the pale pink bedroom walls. Units are installed up against the ceiling line to take advantage of every inch of storage space. Crown molding is placed around the top of the built-in units to achieve a seamless finish.
Two doors at the center of the wardrobe installation slide apart to reveal a walk-in closet. Mirrors are applied to the back of the sliding doors to aid dressing and reflect light.
The walk in wardrobe is fitted with a U-shaped installation of shelves and clothing rails. The lower half of the closet system is reserved for chests of drawers and shoe storage.
A white decor scheme makes the windowless bathroom appear bright and welcoming. Above a wooden vanity unit, an illuminated bathroom mirror brightens the room further still.
White marble tiles clad the shower area and cover the bathroom floor. A frameless shower screen helps the small room feel open and spacious.
Green towels and a green robe bring in a dash of color.
In this home design, blush pink wall decor is cooled with gray accents. Two pink wall shelves create a decorative feature above a small sectional sofa. A stripe of boldly patterned tiles is illuminated around its edge to create an eye-catching focal point.
A neutral area rug calms the living room color scheme. A bespoke shelving unit subtly splits the open-plan living room from the home entryway.
A mirrored closet provides storage in the home entryway. A small upholstered stool is nestled neatly in the corner.
Patterned tiles form a mesmerizing kitchen backsplash. Blue-gray kitchen cabinets make a calming contrast. A small bar is installed in front of the kitchen window, where the homeowner can enjoy the view over breakfast or a coffee.
The main dining area is anchored beside a second window in the living space. Glass globe pendant lights cluster above the round table.
Four wooden dining chairs squeeze around the small dining table, creating an intimate setting.
A clear glass vase and dried flowers make a simple but effective centerpiece.
Another vase of dried flowers creates elegant adornment on the kitchen breakfast bar. White roller blinds filter out bright sunshine. A pair of soft brown bar stools complement the colors in the patterned tiled backsplash.
The attractive backsplash treatment cuts around the small, L-shaped kitchen installation. A thin ribbon of LEDs subtly illuminates the feature.
Bold blue accent decor gives this small apartment design a burst of energy. Visualized by Artimitro Interiors, the 61 square meter home interior is punchy and bright, oozing an air of confidence. The bright blue notes are balanced with warm elements of natural wood tone. Wood wall panels clad a living room TV focal wall, which is modernly textured to add interest and style. The wood-paneled wall morphs into a bank of storage near the home entryway, keeping the compact living space free from visual clutter. The blue accents skip over a smooth gray bedroom design but reappear in a showstopping blue bathroom scheme with an underwater feel.
The compact living room comes to life with a textured cobalt blue area rug and matching modern wall art. Two tonal blue scatter cushions take the accent to a modern gray living room sofa. Contrasting yellow accents add upbeat contradictions.
A black living room floor lamp arches in front of the blue and yellow wall art, creating an elegant silhouette. The bedroom door and surrounding wall are picked out in a complementary black finish.
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The frameless door that leads into the home office remains plain white to camouflage cleanly within its wall. The modern gray sofa design features a chaise extension, which creates a fitting L-shape in the compact living room layout.
Modern black track lights run the length of the living room, focussing over the TV statement wall.
The wall behind the gray sofa is tiled with sleek gray granite tiles. The large format tiles add subtle texture to the perimeter of the room. Sheer white window voiles allow natural sunlight to pass through whilst maintaining a level of privacy from the neighboring buildings.
A black marble and wooden coffee table is situated in the center of the living room. Its slatted wood surface conveys a fashion-forward aesthetic. A handmade ceramic vase and a coffee table book create a simple centerpiece.
Oak laminate flooring covers the lounge area, whilst gray granite tiles define the kitchen and dining zone. The tiles offer a hardwearing, easy-clean surface where it matters most.
The large gray tiles are repeated across the kitchen backsplash to achieve a cohesive look.
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Custom-cut, floor-to-ceiling mirrors help make a narrow hallway look brighter and wider. Tiled flooring expands into the home entryway.
The mirrored wall continues all the way to the front door.
Opposite the mirrored wall, a bank of custom-made wooden units offers copious amounts of storage. Their wooden finish is a seamless continuation of the wood-clad TV focal wall in the lounge.
A blue accent piece underlines the wooden storage units, creating fun contrast with the neutral tone.
The wooden panels smoothly wrap the corner of the room. Perforated wooden boards offer added interest and style.
A white kitchen draws around the end of the living space in an L-shaped installation.
The oversized dining room pendant light visually anchors the open-plan dining area in the living space.
A handcrafted decorative vase and bowl make an intriguing dining table centerpiece. Behind the dining zone, a white kitchen faucet contrasts cleanly with the textured gray kitchen backsplash.
A large window fills the dining room with natural light during the daytime. The light reflects wonderfully across the glass tabletop.
Inside the bedroom, the color palette is tranquil in shades of soft gray and white. A slatted headboard feature wall makes a subtle style statement. Black slatted panels close in front of a walk-in wardrobe design.
3D relief art is mounted above a small black bedside table, fashioning a chic ensemble. A small black bedside table lamp provides focused reading light. A black rug offers soft footing around the bed.
Behind the black slatted screens, the walk-in wardrobe features a moody gray decor scheme with a rich wood dressing table and shelves.
The bedroom is a showstopping design with a startling blue palette. Solid blue storage units fashion a unique vanity area. A modern white bathroom basin and a black faucet contrast sharply against the bright backdrop.
An illuminated bathroom mirror and perimeter LEDs intensify the blue color scheme. The mirror’s backlit frame glows atmospherically in the compact vanity nook. The illumination falls upon the white vessel basin, causing it to glow on its dark mount.
The blue perimeter LEDs wash electrifying color down the bathroom walls. The enrapturing color creates a unique atmosphere, almost like an underwater cavern.
Quirky, colorful decor accessories complement the bold bathroom design.
The floor-to-ceiling unit installed beside the bathroom vanity is a utility cupboard. A stacked washing machine and tumble dryer are installed inside. A high shelf offers space for a laundry basket or detergents and fabric softeners.
A deep drawer underneath the bathroom sink is perfect for stowing away toiletries, makeup, and hair-styling equipment.
A walk-in shower area is located on the other side of the utility unit. Large format gray tiles clad the walls and floor of the shower enclosure. The tiles secure a style link with the living space and home entryway.
Inside the shower area, a black showerhead darkly contrasts with the gray tiled walls. LED perimeter lights create restful mood lighting.
A hand-held shower rinser is convenient for cleaning down the enclosure.
Space-saving tips abound in this highly functional tiny rooftop apartment, located in Italy. Designed by Gon Architects, Casa Gialla is an ingenious transformation that packs a powerful punch. A host of built-in bespoke storage solutions are crammed into a wall of solid, bold yellow units. The bank of bright units hold two double wardrobes, a secret entryway to the bedroom, a roll-out kitchen island and desk combo, plus a bank of bookshelves, and multiple cupboards of varying sizes. The majority of joinery in the apartment serves multiple roles, delivering new aspects to the interior. Out on the compact terrace, the multifunctional theme continues with a bench that transforms into an outdoor bathtub.
One long wall of eye-catching yellow units is home to many functions of this apartment. One of these multifunctional parts is a roll-out island with storage tucked inside its base. The movable island is utilized as a part of the kitchen layout, as a dining bar, and as a comfortable workstation.
Two closets offer ample storage for the one-bedroom apartment. Upper cabinets make good use of the vertical storage space in the main living area.
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The small sofa is lightweight, which means it can be moved around the apartment with ease to accommodate different needs. When pushed to the far end of the room, it opens up the kitchen to receive the island on castors. When the sofa is in a central location, it teams with a drop-down projector screen to fashion a living room theatre.
The one-bedroom apartment is ingeniously adapted to offer guest accommodation with a pull-down bed design, which drops into the main living space. By day, the bed is completely concealed within a wall of inconspicuous flat, white units.
A permanent home workspace is installed in the corner of the living room. The bespoke corner desk design fits two people. The desk receives natural sunlight and a blissful breeze from a small window above it.
On top of the white desk, a cheerful yellow vase adds a pop of color. The unique timepiece is The Ordinary Purposes Clock, designed by Hundreds Tens Units.
A small round dining table and two chairs are pleasantly anchored in place by a column of display shelves that reside in the yellow wall of storage. A small indoor plant peeps out from the shelving nook.
Another indoor plant is revealed from behind a yellow curtain in the storage wall. The curtained window opens the bedroom up to natural light from the living room.
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The yellow bedroom door stands flush with the storage wall.
With the curtain drawn back and the door open, the windowless bedroom becomes a bright and airy space.
Wardrobes are tucked by the foot of the bed. A small ensuite bathroom is accessed via a sliding pocket door.
Inside the ensuite bathroom, a vessel basin is mounted on a bright yellow corner shelf that opens up the space. Open wall shelves make toiletries easy to grab.
The projector unit descends from an upper cabinet in the bank of storage.
Yellow mosaic tiles form a colorful threshold into the bedroom.
Wicker planters add a warm, natural element that complements the yellow decor.
A small selection of books and decorative items add further splashes of color.
The kitchen is an understated white installation with concealed appliances.
Out on the compact terrace area, a built-in bench is decorated with sunny yellow mosaic tiles and a sky-blue seat cushion.
An assortment of throw pillows nestles into the corner of the custom bench shape.
The top of the bench opens up on hinges to reveal a hidden bathtub inside.
Bifold glass doors connect the terrace area with the apartment interior to achieve one connected indoor-outdoor living space.
The outdoor bench makes a perfect reading nook with blissful fresh air. Depending on the time of day, the bench is either a glorious sun trap or a corner of cool shade.
The final door in the yellow feature wall is the entry door to the apartment.
A yellow outdoor chair adds another colorful note to the small terrace.
An outdoor shower affixes a fun red accent onto the white stucco wall. The water thunders down amongst a display of lush outdoor plants to create a fresh and uplifting bathing experience.
The small dining table and two chairs can be lifted out onto the balcony for an alfresco dining occasion.
A matt white kitchen faucet and a simple white backsplash blend with the matching kitchen units. The monochrome design creates a peaceful visual that does not compete with the bright feature wall.
A skylight fills the living space with natural illumination.
At the end of the kitchen run, a custom-cut mirror reflects the elegant arch of the kitchen faucet and a display of colorful decorative vases. A white integrated oven sits quietly in the white kitchen layout.
Section drawings, transitioning from the back of the apartment to the front terrace.
In this 3D drawing of the apartment, we see all the storage aspects of the home. This includes the yellow feature wall of storage units, the white kitchen, the pull-down guest bed, and the bedroom wardrobes.
Apartment floor plan. Here, we see the complete layout of the ensuite bathroom design. A sliding pocket door separates the WC and basin area from a walk-through shower enclosure.
