There’s a reason so many of us feel calmer by the sea.
In a University of Exeter study of more than 18,000 people across 18 countries, researchers asked people about their visits to ‘blue spaces’, meaning natural places around water. They found that visits to the coast were especially beneficial, with time by the sea linked to some of the strongest mental wellbeing benefits.
So, it makes sense that we’d want to bring a little of that feeling home. Soft grasses moving in the breeze, natural materials, and somewhere comfortable to sit can all give a garden that easy, seaside feel, even if the coast isn’t right on your doorstep.
Of course, finding coastal garden design ideas you love is the easy part, but bringing them together in a way that suits your home, lifestyle and garden conditions can be trickier.
From choosing plants that suit the setting to creating comfortable, sheltered spaces to relax, here are some coastal garden design ideas to help you create a considered outdoor space that works beautifully in everyday life.
1. Create a Relaxed, Natural Garden Layout
For a coastal-inspired garden, start with a layout that feels open and easy to move through. Gently curved paths and planting that spills slightly over the edges can help create the softer feel we associate with the coast.
To create borders that look beautiful and feel part of the wider garden, the RHS recommends thinking carefully about their size, shape and style.
For instance, wider borders can give grasses and other coastal-style planting more room to spread and create movement, while sweeping border shapes can help create a softer, more organic finish in the garden.
Remember to think about how those coastal design features can work around the way you actually use the space.
A sunny dining area could be framed with loose, breezy planting, while a quieter seating spot could be tucked away from the main entertaining area, surrounded by softer textures and natural materials.
Planning these areas together helps the whole space feel coastal and cohesive, rather than like a collection of separate ideas.
2. Choose Coastal Planting That Brings Movement and Texture
Planting is where a coastal garden can really come to life. Ornamental grasses, airy perennials and silvery foliage bring softness, texture and movement, especially when they’re planted in generous groups rather than dotted around individually.
It can also help to take your cues from the landscape itself. Loose shapes, muted colours and plants that move with the breeze can give the garden that easy seaside character without making it look overly themed.
If you’re lucky enough to live close to the sea, though, looks aren’t the only thing to consider. The RHS explains that coastal gardens often have to contend with strong, salt-laden winds, so your planting needs to be able to handle the conditions too.
Silvery, waxy or narrow leaves are often better equipped for more exposed spots, helping you create the look you want without choosing plants that struggle to settle in.
At Raine Garden Design, we can create a planting plan that brings together the right colours and textures for your garden’s conditions, helping you achieve a coastal look that feels natural and suits your setting.
Contact Raine if you’re interested in commissioning a garden or planting plan, with a free initial consultation.
3. Use Natural Materials in Modern Coastal Garden Design
The materials you choose can have just as much impact on the coastal sense as the planting.
Pale stone, gravel, timber and weathered finishes all take their cues from the shoreline, helping the garden connect to the landscape without relying on obvious nautical details.
For a more modern garden design, it helps to keep the material palette fairly simple. Using two or three finishes consistently across paths, seating areas, steps and raised beds can make the whole space feel more considered while still keeping that relaxed seaside character.
For example, you could pair a gravel path with a pale stone terrace, then bring in timber through built-in seating or raised planters. Repeating those materials elsewhere in the garden helps tie each area together and creates a calmer, more cohesive design.
It’s also worth knowing when to stop. Mixing too many different finishes or adding lots of obvious seaside details, such as rope, anchors and shell decorations, can quickly make the space feel themed rather than naturally coastal.
4. Create Shelter Without Losing the Coastal Feel
One of the biggest challenges with coastal garden design is creating a space that is open and airy, while giving you enough shelter to actually enjoy it.
That’s particularly important in exposed locations. The Met Office explains that UK coasts tend to be windier than low-lying inland areas, especially in the north and west, so a little protection can make a big difference to how comfortable your garden is to use.
The key is to create shelter without losing that relaxed coastal character. Slatted timber screens, pergolas, hedging and layered planting can all help filter the wind while still allowing light and movement through the space.
Think carefully about where you place seating and dining areas too. A more protected spot closer to the house might work well for outdoor meals, while an open section of the garden can be left for breezy planting or somewhere to sit and enjoy the view.
Building shelter into the wider coastal garden design can help you create a space that still feels connected to the landscape, but is far more comfortable and practical to use.
Bring Your Coastal Garden Design Ideas Together
It’s easy to collect coastal garden design ideas you love. The harder part is bringing the planting, materials, layout and practical details together in a way that’s right for your home and the way you use your garden.
At Raine Garden Design, we can help turn those ideas into one considered design, creating a coastal-inspired garden that is personal to you and works beautifully day-to-day.
Ready to create your own coastal-inspired garden?
Get in touch with us at studio@rainegardendesign.co.uk to start planning your space.
