Modern Coastal Decor Ideas Featuring Rave Interior Design Beach House

Coastal interior design doesn’t have to mean seashells in every corner. An updated take on the classic seaside aesthetic comes to us from a San Diego designer who expertly incorporates her love of the beach and Southern California living in the colors, details, and textures of her space. The result is a laid-back, relaxing home with plenty of playful, personal touches, comfy furniture, natural light, and unexpected details.

Her trick for creating interiors that leave plenty of room for personalization? Light, neutral CALI vinyl flooring that serves as the perfect foundation for design experimentation.

Meet the Designer

Interior designer Melanie Raver (@raveinteriordesign) is a San Diego based creator known for her playful yet polished approach. Her design philosophy is simple: blend eclectic, unexpected touches with natural coastal influences.
“I feel right at home with the water and the sand on my toes. I love to bring that element into my home. I love a light wood, especially. It brings in the sand, the beach element.”

CALI Floors: A Coastal Foundation

Every design starts from the ground up — and for Melanie, that means choosing the right floors first.

"Flooring is so important. It sets the tone for the entire design. Flooring can be overlooked, but it needs to be one of the first things you're selecting," she says.

For her latest project, she chose Sandbar Oak from CALI's Longboards Collection — a waterproof coastal floor that delivers both style and practicality for San Diego living. Her verdict? "My absolute favorite – extra-long planks, the color is exceptional. It's an extremely realistic LVP."

The wide, sandy-toned planks provide the perfect neutral base for coastal flooring ideas, whether you're going minimalist or layering in eclectic patterns and textures. This CALI flooring design captures authentic driftwood character while handling everything beach life throws at it — from sandy feet to morning coffee spills.

For Melanie, choosing waterproof luxury vinyl meant she could create a beautiful coastal aesthetic without worrying about the wear and tear of real beach house living. The extra-long planks make rooms feel more expansive, while the warm undertones complement her signature mix of color, pattern, and unexpected details.

Design Highlights from the Project

Melanie's San Diego home design showcases how coastal home inspiration can feel fresh and personal rather than predictable. Her approach balances laid-back beach vibes with curated eclectic interior ideas that give each room distinct character.

• Living Spaces: Bright, open rooms layered with vintage and modern finds — bold chairs, midcentury accents, and unique wall treatments — all grounded by the easy neutrality of CALI's Sandbar Oak floors. The light planks let her eclectic furniture choices take center stage without competing for attention.
• Bedrooms: Cozy textiles meet pops of coastal color in spaces made breezier by the warm, sandy tones underfoot. The flooring's natural aesthetic provides the perfect foundation for mixing patterns and textures without overwhelming the rooms.
• Décor Details: Peel-and-stick wallpaper accent walls (Melanie's go-to recommendation), collected art pieces, and unexpected coastal accessories that feel personal rather than themed. Each detail reflects her eclectic sensibility while staying true to Southern California's relaxed energy.

The result? A home that captures authentic San Diego living — stylish but never stuffy, coastal but not clichéd, eclectic but cohesive. It's coastal home inspiration that proves beach house style works anywhere when you start with the right foundation.

How to Bring Modern Coastal Style Home

Ready to recreate this San Diego home inspiration in your own space? Melanie shares her essential eclectic interior design tips for achieving a modern coastal look:

1. Start with a natural base. Light-toned floors like CALI's Sandbar Oak create the perfect neutral foundation, giving you freedom to experiment with bolder colors and patterns without overwhelming the space. This is the cornerstone of successful coastal decorating ideas.
2. Layer textures and patterns. Mix natural materials like linen, rattan, and woven rugs with unexpected elements like bold wallpaper. These eclectic layers add depth while maintaining that relaxed coastal energy.
3. Add statement pieces. Choose furniture and décor that tells your story rather than following a theme. Vintage finds, unique art, and personal treasures make coastal decorating feel authentic instead of staged.
4. Embrace breezy finishes. Keep spaces feeling open and airy with light walls, plenty of natural light, and uncluttered layouts. This approach defines San Diego's signature indoor-outdoor lifestyle.

The key to mastering these coastal decorating ideas? Start with the right foundation. When your floors provide a calm, neutral base, you have the freedom to layer in personality without the space feeling chaotic. That's how eclectic style and coastal living work together seamlessly.

Why Flooring Matters in Design

Whether you’re designing a full-time residence or a beach rental, floors are the foundation of any style.

“Being the owner of a beach rental, you’re concerned about keeping the floors clean and protected. You invest in your floors,” Melanie shares. For her, CALI’s LVP offered the right balance of durability and realism.

“It’s a big debate, whether to choose hardwood or go the vinyl plank route. I personally love the vinyl plank. You just get that extra durability with the vinyl flooring. If you want to go the LVP route with flooring, I really suggest you look at the wear layer. That is super important. It makes me feel comfortable knowing people can come and stay in my home and I can trust that the floors will stay intact, and they’ll look great.”

CALI’s wide range of coastal-inspired luxury vinyl flooring makes it easy to pair eclectic charm with California casual living. Plus, all floors are protected by a 20mil thick wear layer, making them extra scratch resistant, pet-friendly, and easy to clean.

About Melanie's Floors

Melanie chose Sandbar Oak from CALI's Longboards collection — the brand's #1 luxury vinyl line known for extra-long planks that create visual continuity and make rooms feel more expansive. At 70-7/8" long and 9" wide, these planks deliver statement-making impact with authentic wood grain patterns.

The Longboards collection features 100% waterproof construction ideal for coastal living, where sandy feet and ocean breezes are part of daily life. An attached acoustic pad provides comfort underfoot and sound dampening, while the extra-thick 20mil wear layer protects against scratches from pets, furniture, and heavy traffic.

For Melanie, Longboards delivered the trifecta: realistic wood aesthetics, worry-free waterproof performance, and the durability to handle real beach house life. The result is flooring that looks like natural driftwood but performs like modern luxury vinyl — exactly what coastal-inspired San Diego homes demand. As Melanie puts it: “I was on the hunt for the perfect, beachy wood-look flooring, and CALI was exactly what I had been looking for.”