Summer's here and the surf's up! Not all of us are at the beach, which is all the more reason to bring the beach home with a cool coastal look. Enter the casual Californian, and with him or her a subset of coastal décor sure to help give you a sunny disposition. California's not just a state; it's also a state of mind. 

As this excellent overview on The Spruce points out, there are several kinds of coastal design, and American coastal itself is breaking down into disparate subcategories. Including California coastal. And as Emily Henderson pointed out so wonderfully in her awesome post on the elements of California style, it may look effortless, but that's the result of good choices and hard work (and sometimes allocating a project's budget to the places where it will make the biggest difference).

So, what is California coastal design and what are five things that you can add that will bring those Californian coastal vibes into your space? Troy Lighting is based in California, so let us be your guide and show you how to ride this wave.

1. Natural Fibers & Materials

Any coastal décor interior starts off with a white, bright interior. Some light blue or sage green for a room is good here and there, too, and dark blue or navy blue in moderation for contrast are always welcome, like a classic breton. From there, it's the accents that matter. Evoke colors of sand and sea with natural fibers along a range of beige and tan colors mixed with a bit of blue.

Bringing in natural materials is essential. Whether we're talking driftwood, woodsy and twiny things, or rough nautical rope and woven rugs, natural fibers and elemental objects are not only a key part of the look, they exude that relaxed feel one gets at the beach. Fixtures and furniture with materials like rattan, bamboo, malacca, and so on are a great way to accomplish this.

Homeowner: Kelsey Sutton of Classic Gray Home | Light: Sawyer by Troy Lighting

As another natural element, wooden beams are another timeless aspect of Californian style, and that is no exception when you combine it with coastal. This bedroom brings the white, bright minimalism together with the natural fibers and the wooden beams for a stunning bedroom. Troy's Raef chandelier speaks to the cathedral-like aura of this space where the relationship is cherished and rest rekindles the homeowners.

Design: Catherine & Bryan Williamson of Beginning in the Middle | Light: Raef Chandelier by Troy Lighting

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Bringing the outdoors inside🌿 with plenty of plants + the organic touch from our Huxley chandelier. —Link in bio for Huxley— Design: @jessicasaramorris

A post shared by Troy Lighting (@troylighting) on Jul 8, 2019 at 8:50am PDT

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Up close and personal with our new Hunters Point pendants in this gorgeous kitchen🖤 Design: @joineryanddesignco —Link in bio for Hunters Point—

A post shared by Troy Lighting (@troylighting) on Jun 20, 2019 at 8:51am PDT

2. Wavy ~ Curvy ~ Groovy

In our last post, we were discussing waves, and how, as a design motif, they're just endlessly cool, endlessly elegant. A few days later, Domino backed us up on it: "The Shape of the Season is Obviously the Wave," they said. And, hey, we're not going to argue with Domino.

Waves of any sort are a definite win in all design schemata, but they're especially apropos in coastal design. Naturally, incorporating something wavy into the space will evoke the ocean meeting the shoreline. (And for true Californian cred, you can take the wave idea one step further and use surfboards as key decorative accents.)

Curvy lines on furniture, iconic wave patterns, grooves cut into lamps and metal—all evoke the sensuous dance of the tides. They're relaxing and easy on the eyes.

Our Sawyer's minimalist form allows the gentle waves of its arms to stand out, while its dark iron frame contrasts with white and off-white spaces, making it a natural choice for a California coastal look.

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Can’t get enough of this dreamy, sun-drenched kitchen featuring our Sawyer chandelier🌿 Design: @kindredvintage Photo: @sharonhughesphoto —Link in bio for Sawyer—

A post shared by Troy Lighting (@troylighting) on Jun 4, 2019 at 12:45pm PDT

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Calming neutrals🌿 plus the perfect amount of contrast from our Sawyer chandelier (link in bio!) Design: @cambridgehomecompany Photo: @travisj_photo

A post shared by Troy Lighting (@troylighting) on Jul 11, 2019 at 8:49am PDT

3. Wrought Iron

The coastal look is essentially a romanticization of the past. On the East Coast, it hearkens back to the days of whaling, when many of the cottages in places like Cape Cod were built and that whole look was developed. On the West Coast, it might be more of a mid-century thing, when Beach Boys tunes were first hitting the airwaves and bohemians like Henry Miller were carving out their niche in a wild Big Sur. Or it might be a conjuring of the rough stuff of Gold Rush pioneers and other Westward-bound folks in earlier days.  The nautical and nostalgic intermingle, but remain firmly grounded in the present with today's style. 

Which is why wrought iron is always such a great look for the coastal home. Dark wrought iron with simple, strong lines contrasts with the bright interior and invokes an older world, while today's pieces carry contemporary sensibilities, such as are evident in our Poppy Hill and Sawyer. Mix that in with some nautical rope, like in our Pike Place, and you got yourself a no-brainer. 

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Farmhouse vibes // featuring our Pike Place chandelier🌿 Design: @greybirchdesigns —Link in bio for Pike Place—

A post shared by Troy Lighting (@troylighting) on Jun 12, 2019 at 10:06am PDT

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Our Morgan chandelier looks amazing anywhere you place it, from stairwells to entryways to master bathrooms. Check out our new blog on some of our favorite spaces featuring Morgan. Link in bio! Design: @our_coastal_lakehouse

A post shared by Troy Lighting (@troylighting) on Feb 23, 2018 at 3:52am PST

4. Nautical Accents (But Don't Go Overboard!)

Of course, nothing says coastal living like nautical items. We covered this a while back in a Hudson Valley Lighting post. The challenge is, which accents and how many make for an evocative space with a casual cool? 'Cause tipping the balance is easy.

A decorative paddle or oar, some vintage flotation items (like in the Classic Gray Home picture above), driftwood, lighting that looks like it was from a boat or a lighthouse, some oceanic art—all fine things that add some nautical flavor, giving a space some classic coastal vibes.

Another subtle way to go about it is to add decorative items that look like they are from the ocean in a suggestive sort of way, such as our Uni and Sierra fixtures.

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Our Sierra chandelier is organically stunning, down to every branch-like detail〰️

A post shared by Troy Lighting (@troylighting) on Aug 15, 2018 at 3:51am PDT

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We thought we'd celebrate Friday by sharing this inviting entryway. The glossy white walls, beautiful wood door, and antique rug all come together to create an amazing first impression in @metallicseafoam's beautiful home. Our tide pool bronze #Uni flush mount is thrown into the mix to deliver a dash of drama. | Reposted with permission. #tgif

A post shared by Troy Lighting (@troylighting) on May 5, 2017 at 4:19am PDT

5. Indoor-Outdoor Living

Lastly, Californian living and all coastal types have an easy-breezy flow between indoor and outdoor spaces, where each feels like a natural continuation of the others. Entertaining, relaxing, cooking, and eating can all happen in one space as easily as the other, and can flow naturally between both depending on weather and whim. 

Homeowner: Jillian Harris | Exterior Sconce: Henry Street by Troy Lighting

Indoor-outdoor living is not just about having a comfortable patio/porch/courtyard space and outdoor kitchen. (Although that's certainly part of it, and thoughtful gardening and lighting go a long way to the usability and beauty of this important space.) It's about large windows and glass doors welcoming the aesthetic grandeur of the outdoors and natural light into the space, and having those natural fibers and materials we talked about earlier easing the transition between the two worlds. This is especially true in areas where one transitions from outside to inside, like the entry and the backdoor, or off a kitchen or bedroom.

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Wouldn’t mind waking up in a room with as much natural light as this one😍 Featured lights: Juniper chandelier and Zen table lamp. Design: @cambridgehomecompany

A post shared by Troy Lighting (@troylighting) on Jun 27, 2019 at 9:50am PDT

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Barbecue on this gorgeous patio, anyone? Featured 💡: Beckham exterior sconces Design & Photo: @cambridgehomecompany —Link in bio for Beckham—

A post shared by Troy Lighting (@troylighting) on Jul 16, 2019 at 9:25am PDT

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Super stylish entry featuring our Zen lamps — made even cuter by @housesevendesign’s adorable pup🖤 —Link in bio for Zen—

A post shared by Troy Lighting (@troylighting) on May 21, 2019 at 9:06am PDT

What do you think of the California coastal look?

The water's warm if you feel ready to jump in. Surf along by exploring lights of ours that conjure coastal vibes by clicking below.