5 Fresh Coastal Color Palettes to Bring the Beach Home
Last updated: January 2026
Coastal color palettes have a way of instantly shifting the mood of a space. They feel relaxed without being boring, fresh without trying too hard — inspired by the natural beauty of the coast rather than trends.
What I love most about coastal palettes is their range. They can feel light and airy or moody and dramatic. Soft and neutral or bold and energizing. Feminine, masculine, modern, or nostalgic — all depending on how they’re layered.
Below are five coastal color palettes I return to again and again, both in my artwork and when thinking about how color lives inside a home.
Sand Coastal Color Palette
The Sand Coastal Color Palette is grounded, warm, and quietly calming.
Inspired by sun-washed beaches and shifting light, this palette leans into soft neutrals — beige, cream, sandstone, and gentle earth tones that change subtly throughout the day.
Sand and cream make beautiful base colors for almost any room. They add depth without overpowering and pair effortlessly with both warm and cool accents. This palette works especially well if you want flexibility — it can be layered with deep teal or navy for contrast, or kept light and tonal for a serene look.
Sea Salt Coastal Color Palette
The Sea Salt Coastal Color Palette is subtle, airy, and incredibly versatile.
Think very pale blue, soft beige, and hints of blush or seafoam — colors that almost disappear into the background but quietly shape how a space feels.
Sea salt tones are especially helpful in smaller rooms or darker spaces. They reflect light beautifully and can make a room feel more open and calm without reading as “blue” in an obvious way.
This palette also works well in bright spaces where you want just a whisper of color — think white shelves with pale blue ceramics or soft coastal art layered in gently.
If you’re drawn to understated coastal style, this palette offers a beautiful way to introduce color without overwhelming the room.
Use an ocean wave as inspiration (here are some ideas 😉 and shop my ocean wave print.)
Fresh Air Coastal Color Palette
I named the Fresh Air Coastal Color Palette because it feels exactly like that — palm trees moving in the breeze, blue skies overhead, and the quiet energy of being outdoors.
This palette leans brighter and more playful while still staying balanced. It’s uplifting without being harsh and works beautifully in spaces that get a lot of natural light.
Fresh Air colors are especially great for home offices, creative studios, and kids’ rooms — places where you want calm and energy to coexist.
Benjamin Moore shades like Savannah Green, Raspberry Blush and Conch Shell bring warmth and movement to this palette. Even in small doses, these colors can shift the entire mood of a room.
While this painting is sold, you can find the Solo Palm painting print here.
Bay Blue Coastal Color Palette
The Bay Blue Coastal Color Palette is deeper, moodier, and full of atmosphere.
Bay blue lives somewhere between blue, green, and gray — like the ocean on a cloudy day or the sky before a coastal storm. It feels dramatic without being heavy.
This palette works beautifully as an accent, especially if you like to change your decor seasonally. It leans slightly warmer, making it perfect for fall and winter coastal spaces, while still feeling relaxed and grounded.
Bay blue tones add coziness to kitchens, bathrooms, and bedrooms — especially when paired with warm neutrals and soft textures.
Look for shades like Conch Shell and North Sea Green by Benjamin Moore to build this palette.
Ocean View Coastal Color Palette
The Ocean View Coastal Color Palette is classic, calm, and endlessly livable.
Filled with blue shades touched with hints of green, this palette creates a sense of openness and ease — the kind of space that makes guests want to linger a little longer.
Ocean View colors work beautifully in bedrooms, living rooms, and offices where focus and relaxation need to exist together. They’re soothing without feeling sleepy and bright without being stark.
Consider shades like Tropical Oasis and Whispering Spring as starting points, layered with art or textiles that echo the movement of water.
And for a nice complement to these colors see these prints in my shop: Blue Calm Water Print and Green-blue Tones Calm Waters Print.
Creating Your Own Coastal Color Palette
The ocean is never just one color — it shifts throughout the day and across seasons. That’s what makes coastal palettes so forgiving and beautiful.
When creating your own palette, don’t get hung up on perfection. Nature isn’t perfect, and that’s exactly why it feels balanced and calming. Think like an artist: limit your palette, let the colors relate to one another, and allow small variations to bring interest.
Coastal colors should feel either relaxing or joyful — sometimes both. Whether you layer them through paint, textiles, accessories, or art, the goal is always the same: to create a space that invites you to slow down.
For me, coastal colors feel inviting. They make me want to sit down, pour a cup of coffee, and breathe for a moment.
Whether you live by the water or simply love the feeling it brings, I hope these coastal color palettes help you create a space that feels just as calm.
Which palette speaks to you most?
*Just a note: I am not in any way sponsored by Benjamin Moore—I really just love the quality of their paints 🙂
