23 Coastal Christmas Decor Ideas to 'Seas' the Holiday
Design your way to beachy Christmas interiors.
Coastal Christmas is a holiday design aesthetic that merges all things Christmas with beachy symbols (think: sea shells, sealife, lighthouses, and sail boats) and coastal color schemes (think: whites, creams, blues, turquoise, and beige). The result is a fresh and fun take on traditional Christmas decor that helps make the holiday season feel like a true vacation. Achieve the seaside escape you deserve this holiday season with these coastal Christmas decor ideas – no matter if you live by the coast or just want to feel like you do!
1. Swap In Coastal Christmas Wall Art
Seasonal wall art is one of the simplest yet most effective coastal Christmas decor ideas to incorporate into your home. Swap out wall art in your entryway, living room, or bedroom and replace them with "beach meets Christmas" artwork. Opt for a nautical theme with wall art featuring a seaside lighthouse donned in festive decor, or have some fun with a Christmas-turned-coastal phrase like "seas-ons greetings". With so many options to choose from, you can cater coastal Christmas wall art exactly to your interior aesthetic.
Themed decorative pillows are another quick and cozy example of coastal holiday decor to add to your Christmas display. Take the decorative pillow above as an example. The pillow features a sand dollar paired with a traditional Christmas phrase for a fun, beachy nod to the holidays. Complement beach-themed holiday pillows with coastal blankets featuring nautical patterns (think: large stripes, anchors, seashells, or rope knots).
Hang a coastal Christmas wreath above the fireplace, in the entry hall, or on your front door for a statement-making display. This is an example of easy coastal Christmas decor ideas that instantly elevate any holiday-themed room to a beach-like retreat. Introduce an evergreen wreath with miniature starfish and seashells for a cool twist on traditional holiday wreaths. Or play up the coastal vibes with a vibrant wreath featuring dyed blue seagrass, seashells, sand dollars, and starfish in different shades of blue, green, and crisp white.
Tip!
When in doubt, you can always easily transform an everyday coastal wreath by weaving in string lights or miniature ornaments for some holiday flair.
There's no need to swap out all of your coastal decor come the holidays! Simply work Christmas accents throughout the room for a touch of the holidays while sticking to your theme. Take the image above, for example. Blue ornaments add a bit of festive sheen to decorative seashell bowls, while tabletop trees composed of overturned shells give a slight nod to the traditional Christmas tree. You can also connect the fresh light hues of seashells, driftwood, and white-washed furnishings with white or beige tabletop trees.
Gather inspiration from your beach trips with this idea. Beachy materials like beach towels can add the perfect coastal accent when used to create a Christmas stocking. Other materials that work well for coastal holiday themes include jute, burlap, and linen. Want to create your own beach towel stockings? Grab a few beach towels and put your sewing skills to work for custom Christmas stockings you can enjoy for years.
Tip!
Learn how to hang your beach-inspired stockings with ease in our guide on How to Hang Stockings Perfectly This Christmas.
6. Try Out a White Christmas Tree
Dream of a white Christmas with a seasonal tree that goes well with your white-washed walls, sun-bleached seashells, and other light and beachy color schemes. Go all white for a fresh, vibrant statement, or create a frosty, snow-covered look with a Christmas tree like the one pictured above. Introduce a nautical candle lantern for added warmth and coastal vibes. Complement white branches with gold or silver ornaments for a beachy christmas tree that airs on the glam side.
Revamp your Christmas tree for a coastal twist with beachy ornaments. Sea creatures, model sailboats, anchors, and seabirds instantly convey the theme of Christmas by the coast without having a full decor overhaul. For the best results, layer in coastal ornaments that match your existing ornament color scheme. This will help to convey a uniform Christmas tree design while still filling out the tree with coastal influences.
Go all out with a nautical-themed Christmas tree that draws inspiration from New England fishing villages. Hang ornaments of old-fashioned helms, compasses, lanterns, anchors, lighthouses, model ships, and miniature lifebuoys.
The best coastal Christmas decor ideas merge Christmas themes and coastal symbols through playful displays. Layer starfish and cement the look with hot glue for a sea-inspired tabletop Christmas tree like you see above. Want another beach-themed take on the classic Christmas tree? Grab one or more pieces of driftwood and place them in a large glass vase. Then add your favorite Christmas ornaments. You may need to thread string through the ornament caps to accommodate driftwood's thickness. You can also set some faux branches on a table, shelf, or sideboard to display ornaments.
Keep your evergreen garland and convey a coastal aesthetic with this idea. Start by weaving Christmas lights through the garland (unless yours is pre-lit). Then tie small shells and starfish to the garland before laying it on your fireplace mantle. Amp up the display with statement conch shells, large decorative starfish, corals, and any other treasures you would usually find on seaside scavenges.
Instantly transform your holiday scheme with coastal Christmas decorations like a large piece of driftwood for your mantlepiece. Start with your go-to Christmas garland for a touch of tradition. Place the driftwood directly in front of the garland to pop against the evergreen foliage. Top off the look with a few well-placed votive candles and a gold champagne tabletop tree.
Tip!
Want to amplify the coastal vibes? Swap out your traditional evergreen garland for a white or gold Christmas garland.
Craft a fun display fit for coffee tables, mantelpieces, dining tables, and display shelves with this quick and easy idea. Start with an empty candle lantern or glass hurricane. Fill in the bottom portion of the container with decorative sand – you can also opt for seashells or a combination of both. Then fill out the rest of the holder with Christmas ball ornaments in a color of your choosing. Stick close to beachy colors with blue ornaments or go for a different look altogether with gold, silver, red, or green ornaments.
What better way to combine beachy aesthetics with Christmas then with a fun figurine that merges the two? Go for a Santa figurine with an untraditional blue hat and coat featuring a sandy seashell trim and nautical rope belt. Or think tropical with a fun Christmas figurine featuring beach slogans, clothing, and backdrops. Place coastal Christmas figurines anywhere that needs a holiday pick-me-up! Add interest to your coffee table, kitchen island, dining table centerpiece, mantle, or bookshelf with little-to-no-effort on your part for a fun impact.
Filter for coastal-inspired Christmas figurines using the "Search this Category" tab located at the bottom of the filter options on product pages. Search "coastal," "beach," and "nautical" for the best results.
Add a bit of Christmas to your coastal coffee table with some simple decor upgrades. Start with a small Christmas garland to wrap around the edges of the table. Then grab a tray made of weathered wood and tuck it in the center of the coffee table. Fill in the tray with a candle lantern that can be both beachy and Christmassy. Display a nautical rope knot sculpture and a few ornaments to tie in the Christmas theme.
Consider coastal Christmas decorating ideas that play up sandy colors for a warm ambience. Start by cascading a beige or golden ribbon across your mantle. Anchor the ribbon with decorative driftwood. Frame the mantle with a few gold or wood tabletop trees to connect to the color scheme. Amplify the theme with a model sailboat and carefully-placed Christmas ornaments in gold and silver shades. Swap in Christmas stockings in neutral colors to complete the sandy presentation. You can recreate this look on your dining table, sideboard, or entryway table for an equally stunning arrangement.
Get creative with a fun coastal Christmas scene that combines shades of blue, nautical notes, and Christmas symbols. Start by sprinkling artificial snow on the desired spot. Add layers with stacked Christmas presents and a starfish tree or another cool coastal Christmas sculpture. Position a nautical Christmas nutcracker on the opposite side and round out the display with a rope knot ornament in a rich blue finish. Complete the display with a few tealight candles set in upside-down seashells. Recreate this look on your mantle, kitchen island, entryway table, dining table centerpiece, wall shelves.
Tip!
Incorporate nautical rope into your coastal Christmas decor by checking out our DIY Knotted Jute Net Bottles guide.
17. Welcome Your Guests With a Coastal Christmas Entrance
Convey your seaside holiday theme from the moment your guests walk in. Use decorative presents with starfish instead of bows to frame your entryway bench. Fit your coastal side table with a traditional tabletop tree decked out in starfish, seashells, or coastal-themed ornaments. Add a couple rope knot sculptures for a nautical feel and warm texture. Keep your evergreen garland traditional and add a few decorative Christmas pillows to your entryway bench. Make sure you choose pillows with blue designs to connect to the beachy aesthetic. Dedicate a couple spare coat hooks to coastal-themed stockings stuffed with sprigs of evergreen, seashells, and holiday treats.
Coastal Christmas decor ideas take wintery colors and make them beachy. Silvers and blues are a great color combo when looking to merge seaside living with traditional Christmas decor. This is because this color scheme also represents the blueness of the ocean and the silvery sheen that occurs when the sun hits the water. Recreate the look above by opting for a tree with frosted silvery branches. Dress the tree with vibrant blue ornaments in any shape/design you want. From here, you can further convey the coastal theme by adding coastal ornaments in shades of blue, silver, cream, or white.
Be prepared to host this holiday season (whether you're by the shore or not) with a fresh and festive coastal centerpiece. Start by covering your dining table in a neutral beige tablecloth. Add nautical dimension with a blue-striped table runner down the center of the table. Now create that centerpiece! Lay a greenery garland along the center of the table runner for a fresh look. Nest a piece of decorative driftwood on top of the greenery and place votive candles along the display for a warm ambience. Complete the coastal Christmas centerpiece by scattering small starfish and seashells around the edges.
Tip!
Get more Christmas dining inspiration with 9 Christmas Centerpiece Ideas.
There are so many ways you can use coral in your coastal-themed Christmas decor. Create an airy look on a bookshelf with strung-up ornaments and seashells suspended around a striking coral sculpture. Or use a coral sculpture as a makeshift Christmas tree for your bookshelf. Hang miniature ornaments that complement its color (think: light blue and white ornaments for seafoam blue coral displays).
Make your traditional Christmas tree blend in amongst your nautical decor and seashell wall art by reenvisioning your tree decorations. Snowflakes symbolize winter while maintaining a similar shape as starfish. Paring these makes for a tree that says Christmas and coastal all at once. Start with an assortment of starfish and snowflake ornaments. Place the starfish first to ensure that you evenly spread them throughout the tree. Then go in with your snowflake ornaments to fill in any blank space and you're done!
Create a coastal Christmas tree that speaks to your seaside activities or meaningful emblems. Lobster trap buoy ornaments give a nod to coastal fishing and add a quirky look to your tree. Elevate this display by pairing it with lobster ornaments and beige ribbons to resemble ropes.
Filter using the "Search this Category" tab at the bottom of the filter options on the product page. Search "lobster" for the most relevant search results.
Cultivate your own coastal tree topper with some ornaments, a large starfish base, and some hot glue. Start with a large decorative starfish to use as your blank canvas. This eases the process of creating the distinctive starfish shape and ensures the display stays together. With your starfish picked out, sift through your ornament boxes or select an assortment of mini ornaments to work with. Turn on some holiday tunes and have fun with ornament placement as you hot glue the ornaments to the starfish. Allow the arrangement to dry and then enjoy!
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