BEAUTIFUL & EASY PILLOW STYLING:
10 Tips for Styling Coastal Pillows 

Here are are top 10 Coastal Pillow Styling Tips to get any beginner styling fast.

Why Throw Pillows Offer the Perfect Balance of Function and Style?

When creating a coastal-inspired living room, throw pillows are your secret weapon. They're the perfect way to introduce seaside charm without overwhelming your space or budget. And this is about turning any coastal sofa into a stunning coastal centerpiece with just the right pillow combination. Whether you're embracing the breezy Hampton's look or a more tropical coastal vibe, these ten tips will guide you to create a professional-looking arrangement, even if you're just beginning your coastal design journey.

START AT THE CORNERS & LAYER INWARDS

Your pillow journey begins with the corner pillows, which serve as anchors for your entire arrangement. These foundational pieces set the tone for scale, color, and overall vibe.

TIP #1

This methodical approach prevents the common beginner mistake of collecting mismatched pillows that don't work well together.

TIP #2

IDENTIFY YOUR BASE STYLE PREFERENCE:
FORMAL OR CASUAL

Make your first step - before selecting specific pillows - to identify whether you prefer a formal or casual coastal look, as this dictates your overall arrangement.

For a classic, elegant, more formal coastal feel, opt for symmetry. This means identical pillows mirrored on either side of your sofa, creating a balanced and orderly arrangement. Imagine a perfectly serene, calm ocean horizon.

Remember, there's no wrong choice—this is simply about identifying your personal preference for the foundation of your design.

If you prefer a more laid-back, lived-in coastal cottage or beach house feel, asymmetry is your friend. Mix different pillow and positions for an un-fussy, organically styled look. Think of natural seashells scattered artfully on the sand.

CHOOSE PATTERNS FIRST, THEN COLORS

At Totally Coast we have discovered there are actually many different methods for creating a coastal throw pillow combination. Combine this with the fact that are so many throw pillows to choose from, and it can quickly get very overwhelming. 

The good news is...there is a method that makes it easier than the rest. 

This one starts with choosing your favorite styles of coastal patterns first, and then choosing your pillows color palette, second. We have found this is the most focused and enjoyable approach, because it is the easiest path to discovering all the coastal style pillows you will love combined on your sofa.

TIP #3

Muted Seafoam Green with 
Linen Texture

Muted Blue Faded Stripes with 
LInen Texture

SOME EXAMPLES:

This is the most minimalist of all coastal styles and predominantly uses color as the most decorative statement of its throw pillows. A subtle texture can be used for adding a bit more interest. This creates the most serene of all coastal styles.

TIP #4

THE FIRST PATTERN IS YOUR SIGNATURE PATTERN

Now the fun begins: identify your most decorative - signature - pattern first!

Before choosing any specific pillows, identify your preferred type of coastal pattern for your most decorative accent pillow/s in your pillow combination - choose from the "coastal pattern categories " listed below.

Note: Coastal patterns aren't one-size-fits-all; they range from subtle whispers to bold statements. When choosing your signature pattern category, think about the overall "strength" of the coastal reference you want:

From the six (6) different Coastal Pattern/Design categories below,
choose the coastal style you would love for the MOST DECORATIVE pattern in your throw pillow combination.

CHOOSE YOUR FAVORITE COASTAL PATTERN CATEGORY

Artistic Block Print Dotted Pattern

The modern coastal style still uses a minimalist approach but steps it up to using fine lines, very subtle geometric/line patterns, or subtle abstract interpretations of natural elements. (e.g. thin geometric grids). These subtle references maintain a level of sophisticated modern style.

Fine Lines or Very Subtle Stripes

SOME EXAMPLES:

Ornate Coastal Granddaughter Pattern

This coastal pattern category includes elegant floral and decorative patterns that you would know as Hamptons style, Coastal Grandmother, Coastal Granddaughter and Chinoiserie. The common design values are elegance and decorative. They all have a refined, sophisticated coastal flair.

Hamptons Style Pattern

SOME EXAMPLES:

Blue & White Awning Stripes

Monochrome Sandy Neutral Classic Stripes

These are the iconic expressions of coastal style which use bolder stripes including the classic Cabana Stripes, Awning Stripes and larger abstract coastal shapes. These are typically more pronounced stripes, checks, or larger-scaled contemporary patterns. 

SOME EXAMPLES:

Shells in Sandy Neutral & White

These are explicitly beach-themed patterns and designs – such as seashells, starfish, coral, anchors, or marine life imagery. (e.g., realistic shell prints, abstract fish designs). The aim with these "Beach Coastal" patterns/designs is to choose ones that maintain your relaxing vibe. 

Blue & White Coral Pattern

SOME EXAMPLES:

Blue & White Awning Stripes

Monochrome Sandy Neutral Classic Stripes

These patterns & designs include lush botanicals, palm trees, varied palm leaf patterns, coastal plants and flower designs, and tropical style patterns that bring a coastal natural botanical element into your coastal style living room or home.  

SOME EXAMPLES:

The minimalist's patterns - blocks of color - can be a great supporting pattern for any other coastal pattern.

TIP #5

CHOOSE YOUR COMPLIMENTING COASTAL PATTERNS

In this step you will choose 1-2 complimenting coastal patterns categories. These pattern styles will play supporting roles for your "most decorative pattern" (you chose in the previous step). So the amount of "coastal reference" of these pattern categories will be equal or less than your decorative pattern. Start by choosing the most decorative of your supporting pattern category, and then progress to the least decorative one.

Work your way through the list of "Coastal Pattern Categories", and note down which 2 categories you like the most as your supporting patterns. You can choose "your most decorative" category again as a supporting pattern - if you want to emphasize that you love of that particular style of pattern. 

Think about the overall - combined - "strength" of the coastal reference you want from your entire pillow combination.

From the six (6) different Coastal Pattern/Design categories below,
choose 1 - 2 that you would love as the SUPPORTING pattern/design in your throw pillow combination.

CHOOSE YOUR FAVORITE COASTAL SUPPORTING PATTERNS CATEGORIES

The modern coastal patterns are great all-round supporting patterns for any other more decorative coastal pattern.

MUTED COLORS = SERENITY + SOPHISTICATION

TIP #4

To maintain the sophisticated modern coastal aesthetic keep your colors muted, not vibrant—these muted colors appear more luxurious and relaxing against both white pillows and your white sofa.

CONNECT TO YOUR ROOM'S COLOR PALETTE

TIP #5

Look around your room and identify your room's color palette. These are the colors you want to connect with in your pillow combination to creates a feeling of flo and harmony. Choose 1 to 3 of these colors for your pillows color palette. 

ALWAYS INCLUDE WHITE

TIP #5

No matter what your room’s primary color is, always use white in some of your pillows (at least as the color of one pattern and one background. This ensures you include some the coastal "freshness" only white can give you.

FORMAL vs CASUAL

TIP #6

Look around your room and identify your room's color palette. These are the colors you want to connect with in your pillow combination. This connection creates a feeling of flow, harmony and relaxation in your room and your pillow combination.