Coastal Design and Paint Colors I’ve Used in My Home

I love coastal design. When we moved into our house two years ago, I knew that I wanted to use coastal paint colors throughout. There is a reason that blue is one of the most common colors in homes. Blue reminds us of the ocean and puts us in a relaxing state of mind. This was the exact feel that I wanted in my home.

When it comes to blue, there are a lot of shades and variations. You can have a nautical feel with dark blue and grayish blues. If you want more beach vibes you’ll see light shades of blue and beige colors that remind you of sand. This is why you’ll see this typically mixed together. No matter the shade of blue I think they can be mixed together beautifully.

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7 Coastal Paint Colors In My Home

1. Behr: Half Sea Fog

I loved this shade of blue. It was a trending color in 2022 when I started to design this room and there is a good reason for it. It is a beautiful blue that has a mild grey to it. I paired it with an off white color for the desk top. The whole room is painted half sea fog. I used Behr’s cabinet enamel paint in semi-gloss for the cabinets and bookshelves. The walls are in a satin finish.

Related: How to Paint Cabinets for a Professional Finish

2. Behr: Inked

Crib | Rocking Chair | Baby Monitor

When I designed my sons nursery, I really wanted a board and batten accent wall in a navy blue. I was so locked in on this decision. This navy blue is so stunning and it looks wonderful in person. If you like the color hale navy but want a strong blue undertone, Inked is a great option.

Related: Easy DIY Board and Batten Accent Wall

3. Behr: Platinum

Dresser | Bookshelves | Storage Basket

This is actually the other half of my sons room. Behr platinum is a very silvery gray which I really liked. It paired so nicely with Inked in the previous mention. It is also a very light grey color which keep the room very bright. It also paired well with the white furniture.

4. Benjamin Moore: Boothbay Gray

Handles | Hinges

BM Boothgray is one of the best, if not the best, grayish blue paint color. Depending on your light, the color can look more gray, or it can look more blue. If you like coastal or farmhouse style, this color is a beautiful option for you to use. I updated all of our hardware to a matte black finish. Boothbay gray also pairs really well with gold hardware.

Related: How to Paint a Metal Door in a Weekend

5. Behr: Oceanic Climate

Fridge | Cabinet

Behr Oceanic Climate is a really light blue paint. If you like the traditional coastal design of light blue, natural beige and white, this is a color I would use has my primary color. I will be using this color again in our home. Since I was painting cabinets, I used the Behr cabinet paint. I really like there cabinet paint and it worked very well here.

6. Behr: Ultra Pure White

All of our trim is ultra pure white by Behr. I love classic white doors and trim. It really makes the non-white coastal paint colors really pop throughout our house. Our trim and door are in semi-gloss paint. I personally love the shine of semi-gloss paint. Semi-gloss is also a great choice for easy cleaning. You can easily wipe up dust and spills on semi-gloss which is why I feel like it is a must in my home.

7. Benjamin Moore: Paper White

It’s hard to take a photo of our regular walls but Paper White by Benjamin Moore is the main paint color throughout our home. It is a white with gray tones. It was actually the paint color in our home when we moved in. It likely wouldn’t of been my first choice but I have grown to like it. It also pairs very nicely with many of the coastal paint color in our home.

How to Choose the Right Paint Finish

You know you want to paint but how do you decide on the right finish. Choosing the right finish depends on a few questions. What room are you looking to paint? Are you looking to paint cabinets or trim? Is the area high trafficked or may be in an area that has moisture?

A standard suggestion if you are painting in a room with moisture like a bathroom, semi-gloss or high-gloss paint is the way to go. Semi-gloss and high-gloss are more likely to show imperfections on a wall so you will want to make sure you have a really high quality roller.

For trim and doors, I mentioned that I really like a semi-gloss paint here. It is SO easy to clean. I am a little OCD when it comes to cleaning. I want to be able to easily dust and wipe these high traffic areas so I really like semi-gloss. Some people like a satin finish. Satin doesn’t have has much of a sheen like a semi-gloss. It stills is a more elevated finish look compared to a standard finish on a wall.

For walls, paint is typically in a flat or an eggshell finish. Flat is the most forgiving paint. It really blends well with a wall that might have drywall imperfections. Eggshell is also a nice finish for high-trafficked walls. When painting interior walls, I also like that Behr has a scuff resistant wall paint. I have two boys and I was certain I wanted the scuff resistant paint in eggshell to fight the bumps I know my walls are going to take over the years.

Final Thoughts on Coastal Paint Colors

I hope you have some inspiration on how to use coastal paint colors in your home. I have rounded up my favorite paint colors in other homes that can be located here. If you are looking for how to pair coastal paint colors, this is a great resource for you. Let me know your thoughts and if you try any of these paints colors in your own home.

Related: 6 Best Coastal Blue Paint Colors