Coastal Cowgirl Interiors, Decor, and Aesthetic

Embracing Coastal Cowgirl Style: Interiors, Decor, and Aesthetic Delights

The Coastal Cowgirl aesthetic, it’s more than a look, more than a vibe and it’s a bit more nuanced than adding cowboy boots and horseshoes to your home decor. It’s a lifestyle where the beauty of serene coastlines and the heart of the wild west merge. This design trend sees the merge of western ruggedness and beach elegance to create an inviting look, no matter where you live.

If you want to get the look, follow along as we share everything you need to know about the coastal cowgirl roots and how to bring it to life in your home today. 

What Exactly is Coastal Cowgirl Design?

You’ve seen the photos all across your Tiktok and Instagram feed and you love the aesthetic —but what exactly is the illusive Coastal Cowgirl trend and how do you make it work in your home without giving a Coastal Grandma vibe?

Coastal Cowgirl Living Room by Studio McGee

The coastal cowgirl trend is a unique and well-balanced blend of a few different interior design styles; primarily Coastal, American Western, Farmhouse, Bohemian and Rustic. In particular, it involves airy fabrics, light-knit materials, and warm-toned neutrals like whites, and creams.

This interior design trend is the perfect blend for design lovers who dream of the beach-inspired interiorbut with a bit more texture, depth, and character in their space. Here, we’ll break down each style so you can start to pull the individual elements to create a coastal cowgirl aesthetic in your own home.

The Coastal Interior Design Style  

The Coastal aesthetic emerged in the 50’s when beach houses became more common and owners wanted a light and breezy aesthetic. It was reimagined in the 80’s as Coastal Grandma when all things wicker, rattan, and knick-knack were added in.

Thanks to reality TV and the evolution of luxury design, it evolved into the aesthetic we often see today which has a variety of subsets, from modern minimalist to classic, or beachcomber.

Coastal Interior Design by Decorilla

Regardless of the type of coastal design, the style is all about creating a calm and inviting space that exudes the peace of the ocean. It’s of course about the seashells and starfish, but even more, it is known for its cool color palette, the prevalence of natural materials, and an infusion of nautical touches with light and airy details.

The American Western Interior Design Style

Started out of necessity in the 18th and 19th centuries in the Western United States, American Western design evokes a sense of ruggedness in the home. Simple and functional furniture prevailed with pieces being made from local wood and animal hides as settlers worked with what the land provided. 

In the decades to follow, the aesthetic became romanticized with variations emerging, ranging from Southwestern and Traditional Western to Modern Western and Ranch style, each with its own unique embellishments on the initially utilitarian style. 

Meanwhile Ranch by Kevin Corn Design

As a generalization of its modern revival, the style is characterized by natural materials and patterns and an earthy color palette. Rusty clay tones and shades of brown make for a grounding base palette while accents of bold turquoise tones and cactus greens add personality. Texture and pattern are a staple in Western design; a terra cotta pot, a woven Navajo rug, exposed wood beams, wood furniture, and colorful textiles all have a home here.

The Farmhouse Interior Design Style

Much like American Western design, the farmhouse style is grounded in the very practical needs of rural homes. It exudes simplicity, functionality, and a naturalness that comes from living off the land. While the overall style declined in the Mid-20th century, elements like shiplap walls and vintage furniture stuck around. The early 21st century brought the aesthetic back into the spotlight with the “modern farmhouse” variation that we see today.

While the overall style declined in the Mid-20th century, elements like shiplap walls and vintage furniture stuck around. The early 21st century brought the aesthetic back into the spotlight with the “modern farmhouse” variation that we see today. 

Modern Farmhouse by Bold RM Design

The aesthetic is known for the warmth of its color palette balanced with crisp white details – think crisp linen curtains and warm wood floors, so dreamy! Its simple elegance highlights natural materials, functional comfort and subtle vintage touches for character. 

The Bohemian Interior Design Style

Bohemian design, known for its free-spirit and artistic approach to interior design, was first recognized in the early 19th century with creatives who didn’t follow the norms of society. Reflecting their lifestyle and occupations — its essence is in eclecticism and individuality. This style evolved with hippies and beatniks in the ’60s and ’70s, and holds its own in modern design, often infused into other styles.

Minimalist Boho Interior Design

With variations in both the minimalist and maximalist end of the spectrum, bohemian design is characterized by layers, texture, a cohesive color palette often with pops of personality, greenery, vintage elements, and global influences.

The Rustic Interior Design Style

The roots of the Rustic design aesthetic lies in the earliest of homes where natural materials and simple construction prevailed, similar to American Western as a necessity of working with what the land provided. It later evolved as the Arts + Crafts movement took hold and became more of an intentional aesthetic decision, popular for log cabins, mountain retreats, and lodges, evoking a sense of simplicity and escape from our modern, fast paced lifestyle.

Rustic Lodge by AHG Interiors

From organic textures and materials to an earth tone and neutral color palette, the rustic aesthetic is all about the natural elements. Finishes and materials are often intentionally worn and weathered to give a ‘lived in’ look that feel warm and welcoming. 

Bringing It All Together: Creating the Coastal Cowgirl Look In Your Home

Okay, enough with history class, how do these styles come together? To create the perfect Coastal Cowgirl interior design aesthetic in your home, we’ll focus on what they have in common:

1. Color: A neutral base for your color palette with accents that feel earthy and natural. 
2. Materials: Natural all the way! Woods, linens, and natural textiles.
3. Form & Function: These styles are all about function first, but form has a very important purpose, elements in these design styles are made to work and designed to be beautiful.
4. Texture: Both the physical texture of the materials that are brought in and the visual texture of the patterns will work together to create a layered look that feels cohesive.

Combining the beauty of the beach with the charm of the West, while tying to incorporate rustic and farmhouse style gives that Bohemian layering you can’t live without! Read on for more details to create this look.

Color Palette

The key to the perfect color palette is neutral tones — creams, warm whites, and wood tones. These tones ground and tie the space into the natural elements,paired with the colors that feel right to you. Color can vary from the bold tones found in the traditional western Navajo textiles, which often feature the turquoise tones of the sea, to earthy palettes of rust, warm oranges and sage greens. 

Coastal Cowgirl Palette by BHG

Our favorite approach? Subduing the colors of the coast into dreamy, dusty hues that just breathe life and character into the spaces in your home. It’s the perfect balance of ranch and reef.

Materials

Coastal cowgirl decor is all about natural materials. Think anything from wood, linen and leather to cowhide, denim, and jute. Any furniture and decor you could bring in that layers these materials and brings them together will help to add personality and texture to your space. 

Try adding a few statement pieces that incorporate a mix of materials to bring a touch of elegance and character to your space. For example, a good, lived-in leather chair, with a minimalist, reclaimed wood coffee table, and a textural, natural material area rug are a perfect pairing.

Home Decor, and Accents

Home decor, and accents are where you can really let your personal style shine through with this style! Here are a few smaller coastal cowgirl decor ideas you can bring into your home that will add instant personality:

Wall Art: Get inspired with fun and playful wall art or serene western scenes on your walls.

Cowgirl Wall Art & Cowgirl Boots Canvas

Throw Pillows: This is a great place to play with pattern and color throughout your home and is a great place to take chances.

Coastal Boho Pillow & Coastal Cowhide Pillow

Wall Mirrors: Mirrors reflect natural light and add depth to any space, don’t be afraid to choose a mirror with a decorative frame that really highlights the aesthetic.

Concho Cross Rustic Mirror & Kiln Dried Hardwood Mirror

Sculpture & Vases: Chic sculptures are a hot home decor trend that we love – the key here is the materiality. Try terra cotta, clay pottery, and driftwood for something unexpected. 

Driftwood Steed I Sculpture & Terra Cotta Table Vase

Cowgirl Accessories: Anything from a hat wall to cowboy boots matching your color palette on a mantle can work to bring that western flair.

Boho Hat Holder & Resin Wall Decor

The key, more than anything, with this style is to make it your own. Using the Coastal aesthetic you know and love as your base palette and infusing in the elements of Western, Boho, Rustic, and Farmhouse, you can create a space that is uniquely you and exudes a Coastal Cowgirl vibe in no time.

If you’d like to view more tips on creating the perfect Coastal Cowgirl interior, visit our YouTube video.