5 ways to bring your coastal design home to life

There’s something undeniably special about life by the coast — the salty breeze, the golden light, and the sense of calm that washes over you the moment you arrive. At The Crescent Estate, we believe that your home should reflect that feeling every single day. Whether you’re building your dream holiday escape or a forever home with a relaxed vibe, coastal design is the key to bringing that "always on holiday" feeling to life. Here are 5 ways to bring your coastal design home to life.

1. Let your location lead the way

“When creating a modern coastal facade, let your location lead the way! Take a look around for colours that capture the essence of your surroundings,” say the design experts at Oak and Orange.

At The Crescent, our vision is to build a cohesive, contemporary coastal neighbourhood to tie in with the location and lifestyle of Crescent Head. That means light colours, natural textures, and materials like timber, weatherboard, stone and brick — thoughtfully combined to enhance each home's connection to the land.

According to our design guidelines, external walls must include at least two complementary finishes, like stone and render or weatherboard and brick. Roofs, gutters and trims are preferred in light colours, and natural finishes like timber beams, fibre cement cladding, and stone accents are encouraged.

2. Design for indoor–outdoor living

A hallmark of modern coastal living is a seamless indoor-outdoor connection. Large sliding doors, alfresco areas, and open-plan spaces allow the home to breathe and flow. As the Three Birds Renovations  team puts it:

 “The indoor/outdoor flow is super important in a beach house. It’s what brings the outdoor, beachy vibe into the house and invites guests out of the house and into the alfresco space.”

At The Crescent, homes must include private open space with at least one 4m x 4m area, and alfresco areas are encouraged as part of the roof design. This allows residents to make the most of the natural setting — think BBQs under the stars, Sunday brunches on the deck, and kids playing barefoot on the lawn. 

3. Coastal character comes from the details

Your interiors should reflect the relaxed, breezy feeling of the coast. According to McDonald Jones Homes:

“Charming nautical and coastal elements, bright airy rooms, and a casual, relaxed aesthetic all help create the coastal beach house interior style. Furniture should be comfortable and relaxed.”

Recommended interior finishes include soft white tones, timber textures, and brass or natural accents. 

Layer in an intentional touch of imperfection by adopting wabi-sabi principles, as referenced by designer Ky Drury:

“I’m inspired by natural and imperfect raw finishes, and the yin and yang of balancing clean lines with an organic feel.”

How to add wabi-sabi warmth:

• Use unfinished timber cabinetry, raw plaster walls, or gently textured concrete.
• Introduce handmade pottery, reclaimed wood fixtures, or linen drapes with subtle fraying.
• Balance sleek architectural lines with organic, tactile finishes for soul and softness.

4. Cathedral ceilings that make a statement

Nothing says coastal luxury like a high raked ceiling, especially when painted in crisp white to reflect the natural light and enhance that breezy, open feel.

​​As Three Birds Renovations suggest, this can be elevated with oversized rattan pendants, exposed beams and ceiling fans — for both aesthetic and airflow. According to The Crescent’s guidelines, minimum internal ceiling heights must be 2700mm on lower floors and 2450mm on upper floors, allowing generous space and natural light to flood in.

A cathedral ceiling draws the eye up and gives your space room to breathe — ideal for an open-plan living area or a breezy master suite at your Crescent Head retreat.

5. Let your landscaping do the talking

Coastal design doesn’t stop at the front door,  it flows right through to your outdoor spaces. Lush landscaping with leafy greens, native grasses, and low-maintenance coastal plants like agaves, salt bush, yucca plants and alocasia (also known as elephant ears) can instantly elevate your home’s street appeal and create that relaxed, resort-like feel.  The goal? A garden that looks and feels like a natural extension of your beachside lifestyle.  

Ready to start designing?

Whether you’re planning to build now or in the future, our team at The Crescent is here to help you bring your vision to life. Download the full design guidelines below, or book a private tour of the estate to see how others are bringing coastal design to life.

Download Our Design Guidelines
Book Your Private Site Tour - thecrescent@arissa.com.au 

Not local? No worries. If you’re wondering how to buy land and build your dream home from afar, we’ve created a helpful guide that walks you through each stage of the process, answers common questions, and gives you the confidence to take the next step — all from wherever you are. Read our Buy &  Build Guide.