5 Decorating Tips for Coastal-Inspired Wall Art

Swaying palm trees, shimmering water, windblown grass: There is something inherently soothing about coastal imagery, and incorporating coastal wall art can make your space feel tranquil. But what if your aesthetic leans more minimalist than beach shack? Here are five ways to decorate with tropical photography prints that feel intentional, elevated, and completely your own.

1. Choose a Limited Palette for Your Coastal Art

Minimalism is about being intentional. So start by taking a long look around your space, and defining what you’re excited to bring to it. 

Consider: What are your room’s core colors? Then take a look at the color wheel — yes, that color wheel, from elementary school art class. What are the complementary colors? Keep that in mind as you select your coastal wall art. For example, a room with rich caramel-colored accents, which has orange undertones, will naturally bring out the bright turquoise in tropical water imagery.

Scared of color? Make a statement with bold texture instead. I’m a sucker for palmetto detail shots for this very reason.

2. Go Big, Not Busy

Don’t get me wrong, I love a gallery wall (and many of my prints work well together for just that — more on that below). But if you have the wall space, consider one large-scale print that anchors a room. A single, oversized piece can add a sense of calm and balance, especially if it evokes open skies, distant horizons, or simple natural shapes.

Look for coastal photographs with breathing room — like a cluster of palm plants against a wide expanse of blue — to give your busy mind a place to linger.

What do you want this artwork will capture about coastal living? Is it the zing of fresh air? The joys of living simply? That time you went to the Bahamas and gleefully took a million pictures of palm trees? (Just me?)

3. Mind the Frame (and Mat)

The frame is part of the art. For coastal-inspired spaces, I love frames in natural wood and metallic gold to echo the warm undertones in tropical settings. But you’ll also see examples where I’ve gone for something on the other end of that spectrum, like a shiny plastic peach frame that makes an image’s citrus highlights sing.

Go with your heart. Step back and squint. Remember that, if your goal is a minimalist interior, less is typically more.

A note on matting: Follow your gut, and the goal of the piece in the space you’re hanging it. Unless you specifically request otherwise, all of my prints come with a 1/2-inch white border, which ensure that the inner line of your frame won’t block any of the image. Consider adding a mat (and accordingly, sizing up to a larger frame): On some coastal wall art, that extra breathing room really anchors the piece. On others, it makes the image pop off the wall and grab your attention. 

The question is: What are your goals for your coastal artwork? Do you want a piece that commands attention? That infuses a space with energy? That quietly sets a soothing mood?

If you’re going for subtlety, matting should be subtle too — or you may be able to skip it altogether. There are no wrong answers.

4. Play with Placement

Mix and match images from the collection to create a wall art cluster that fills your space and has the same “wow” of a much larger-scale piece.

Think beyond the expected. A palm tree print above a sofa is lovely — but what about framing a smaller piece above a nightstand, leaning a large print on a console, or creating a trio of small square prints down a hallway?

Unexpected placements give tropical prints a modern twist and allow you to experience them in new ways as you move through your home.

Playing with smaller sizes is also an affordable way to learn what you like. You can mix and match images from Coastal Palms Art to create a wall art cluster that fills your space and has the same “wow” of a much larger-scale piece.

5. Make Sure Your Coastal Wall Art Feels Personal

When choosing any art, tune into what — wait for it — sparks joy. Yes, I mean it. Focus on what feels right when you gaze at it.

For tropics-inspired pieces, I think this comes down to defining your goals. What are you hoping this artwork will capture about coastal living? Is it the zing of fresh air? Try a windswept palm forest. The joys of living simply? Maybe a rustic beach swing. That time you went to the Bahamas and gleefully took a million pictures of palm trees? (Just me?)

My point: Art goes beyond surface-level definitions, which means that coastal-inspired wall art does not need to be literal. A close-up of palm fronds, a textured ocean cove, or shadows melting into tropical leaves can bring calm and beauty into your space — without any seagulls in sight.

Long story short, dear minimalists:

Look for prints that reflect your personal connection to nature, travel, or tranquility.

Because the best coastal wall art tells a story — quietly, beautifully, and on your own terms.

Looking for elevated tropical prints? Explore the Coastal Palms Art collection — photography prints designed for calm, minimal spaces and ocean-loving souls.