Coastal schemes needn't be bright and whimsical. Stormy grey tones can create a stylish and contemporary space with plenty of atmosphere. Potted coastal reeds bring the seascape indoors and make a sculptural statement in this laidback living room.

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For a modern coastal scheme, create a feature wall of driftwood with rustic sanded wood planks or raw panelling. This textured backdrop is the perfect way to offset a muted dining table dressed with organic linens and a vase of coastal reeds.

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Team inky fabrics with whitewashed furniture for a smart Long Island-inspired scheme. Traditional tastes will appreciate this more elegant take on the coastal trend. Match heavy white wood units with dark blue furnishings and add chrome accessories to complete the luxurious look.

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Smartly striped rugs, oversized nautical pendant lights and blue and white crockery turn this large, bright kitchen into a Hamptons-style hub for the whole family. Created with nautical-inspired accessories that can be changed seasonally, this versatile look can be easily recreated regardless of your existing cabinetry. 

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Deeper denim tones and modular lines will transport your living room to the stylish Mediterranean coastline. The abstract pendant takes on a lobster pot-look and works beautifully teamed with an industrial-style coffee table. Add accessories in natural woven textures and pair with weathered paint and wood to finish the look.

Recycled or faded furniture is a key element to coastal schemes as well-worn and sunbleached surfaces take on an organic feel. Complete a bedroom scheme with light fabrics in nautical-inspired motifs. Mix-and-match pillows look relaxed and interesting – especially the watercolour sailboats, which look as if they're gliding across the bed linen.

Painted wood surrounds on the sink and bath turn a white bathroom suite into a coastal-style space with the addition of some delightful seabird wallpaper. Pebble-white tiles and pale wooden flooring balances the busy scheme keeping it light, airy and inviting.

Not your typical coastal style, but we could just imagine this impressive copper bathtub in a ship captain's quarters. Offset by sailboat roller blinds, this striking look is a sunny success thanks to the unusual colour combination of cool pale blue and warm burnt orange.

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Create a simple yet uplifting gender-neutral nursery scheme with a dreamy white and blue palette. Introduce playful sea animals across artwork and accessories – a sure winner with little ones – then simply update them with more mature seafaring motifs as your child outgrows them.

A pale tonal colour scheme that maximises available light needn't feel bland. Upcycle quirky mismatched chairs with a lick of paint in tonal shades for a bold focal point. Here, azure blue makes a real statement in this dining space, whilst creating a sense of coastal calm and openness.

Give your bedroom a maritime mood with dramatic navy blue walls. The rich tone will instantly transform your space into a cosy, smart and effortlessly elegant retreat. Balance the heavy walls with a light weathered headboard and smartly striped bedlinen. Then, use lighting techniques to create pools of warm light. We love how the brass frame of the tripod lamp shines out from the deep blue behind. 

Here's a coastal living room to satisfy the most ardent of sea lovers. White wood walls make an apt backdrop for matching units, featuring distressed and mismatched drawers. Natural materials are abundant, while a lobster pot pendant light and fish-shaped accessories add a light-hearted feel to the space.

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