In this post: You’ll find 6 simple ways to create a cozy farmhouse look.

The Coastal Farmhouse style is all about comfort, simplicity, and natural beauty.

It doesn’t take a full renovation to update your home if you’re hoping to achieve this cozy coastal farmhouse ambiance. A few thoughtful changes can transform your space.

My previous article, 9 Colors for the Coastal Farmhouse Look, shared 9 soft blue-gray colors to use. This leads us to number 1 on the list:

1. Choose a soft, neutral color palette with 3-5 colors.

The Coastal Farmhouse look has colors that are soft and muted with neutrals, blue-grays, and green-grays. Choosing 3-5 colors is recommended to keep the home and rooms cohesive. Too many colors create a choppy and distracting look, instead of a calm and cohesive one.

Examples of soft, neutral colors:

Warm Whites: Sherwin-Williams Winter Walk, Snowbound, and Alabaster, a fan favorite.

Soft Grays: Sherwin-Williams Repose Gray, Agreeable Gray, and Drift of Mist

Sandy Taupes: Accessible Beige, Shiitake, and Natural Linen

2. Layer Natural Textures

One of the best ways to create a cozy, coastal farmhouse look welcoming atmosphere is by layering natural textures that invite both comfort and character. There’s a timeless charm in combining elements like linen, cotton, rattan, wicker, driftwood, and metal—each material bringing its own depth, warmth, and tactile appeal.

• Linen & Cotton: Picture a soft white linen bedspread, light and breathable, paired with a mushroom-colored cotton throw casually draped at the foot of the bed. The mix of textures—crisp and cozy—creates a space that feels relaxed yet refined.

• Rattan & Wicker: In the living room, a rattan accent chair adds an airy, organic feel. Nestled beside it, a woven wicker basket spills over with chunky blankets, inviting you to curl up and stay awhile.

• Driftwood & Metal: In the bathroom, the natural grain of a weathered driftwood mirror softens the space, while matte black metal hooks and fixtures add just the right amount of contrast—rustic and modern working in perfect harmony.

3. Let the Light In

Nothing warms up a person like being out in the sunshine. The same goes for our homes; they need sunlight to glow. The best way to maximize the amount of light in a room is to either hang sheer curtains and/or add warm light bulbs.

The best color temperature is between 2700K-3000K or LED bulbs that say “Soft White” or “Warm White.” Smart bulbs are also a great option as you can adjust the warmth and brightness.

4. Use Greenery

Live plants bring so much character to a space. A few low- maintenance options are fiddle leaf figs, eucalyptus, olive trees, pothos and philodendrons.

Whether you have room for a large olive tree or just enough space for a vining philodendrons, they add life, softness, and a natural pop of color.

And let’s be honest, the faux plants can look just as good. Places such as Hobby Lobby, Home Goods, and Target have a great selection of greenery that can add just as much life to your home and you don’t have to worry about maintaining them.

5. Focus on Function and Comfort

A cozy aspect of the Coastal Farmhouse vibe is that it not only is it beautiful, but it’s also livable. Adding cozy throws, soft sectionals, and layered bedding is inviting. Your home becomes a sanctuary and a place to relax after a long day.

6. Test Paint Colors in Real Life

It can be so tempting to upload a photo of your room and virtually “paint” the walls with different colors. And while that can be fun to play around with, it’s not an accurate way to see how a color will truly look in your home.

There are so many factors that affect how we perceive color—like natural light, shadows, finishes, and even the time of day. Relying on a computer rendering or the lighting in a paint store can lead to a totally different result than what you expected once the paint is actually on your walls.

Here are a few simple tips to help you confidently test your paint colors in real life:

• Head to your local paint store and grab a sample (or a few!) of the colors you’re considering.
• Paint a square on a piece of white poster board and be sure to label it with the paint name and brand. Trust me—label everything. It’s easy to forget which color is which!
• Move your sample around from room to room and observe it at different times of day. Morning light might make a color look cool and crisp, while evening light could pull out unexpected undertones—like green, beige, or even purple.

Taking the time to test your colors in your own space, with your own light, is one of the best ways to avoid disappointment and find a color you’ll love every time you walk into the room.

Sherwin-Williams also has a peel and stick paint sample of each color that you can order.

Final Thoughts

Creating a cozy coastal farmhouse home doesn’t require a complete overhaul—it’s all about thoughtful layers, natural textures, and choosing elements that bring warmth and personality into your space. By blending soft, neutral colors with woven materials, greenery, and the right lighting, you can design a home that feels both fresh and lived-in.

Don’t forget to test your paint colors in real life, embrace the charm of imperfection, and most importantly—create a space that feels like you. Cozy, functional, and effortlessly beautiful.