Breeze Into Coastal Landscapes: Design for Wind and Waves

Coastal landscaping offers unique opportunities and challenges. Salty winds are tough on plants and people, yet the breeze brings anticipation and motion — an opportunity to bring the garden alive with flowing grasses and loosely textured plants.

The ocean itself inspires: open vistas and natural beauty ask for broad plant swathes, naturalistic curves, and colors that don't overwhelm sand and sea. Yet the seaside evokes childlike play — don't shy from bolder colors in planting or decor. Brighter oranges, corals, and golds recall glorious sunsets and enliven outdoor living.

Let these eight designer landscapes inspire your seaside escape.

Debora Carl Landscape Design: Using elements reflecting the ocean theme helps landscapes fit surroundings. Here, a flowing carpet of blue succulents echoes calming sea ripples. Bonus: succulents perform well in sandy coastal soils and tolerate salt winds.

Debora Carl Landscape Design: Pale hardscape colors feel right among sunshine and sand. Lighter paving echoes white beach sands and doesn't absorb as much heat — more comfortable to walk on.

Lankford Associates Landscape Architects: This curvaceous walkway brings to mind a meandering river flowing into the bay. Ornamental grasses and thyme make natural accompaniments with their sense of flow and movement.

Lankford Associates Landscape Architects: Weathered wood Adirondack chair fits beautifully with muted tones of this windswept coastal garden.

The Garden Route Company: You needn't tone down personal style at the coast. For many, seaside means holidays and happy childhood times — why not incorporate that festive spirit? These chairs have fun, yet their swooping shape fits curving water's edge lines.

Randy Thueme Design Inc.: Craggy boulders double as seating, nodding to the rocky hillside. Creeping thyme softens the flagstone patio, making it inviting by the fire.

Randy Thueme Design Inc.: While many coastal gardens reflect natural surroundings, this is a gorgeous contemporary approach. Olive trees have a cloudlike appearance softening architecture, and swaying grasses bring lively feeling to the home.

Debora Carl Landscape Design: Coastal vistas are majestic — landscaping should follow suit. Mass plantings elevate a single species into a real theme. Mexican feather grass has softly textured appearance and moves with the breeze.

Jeffrey Gordon Smith Landscape Architecture: Above all, coastal gardens need a comfortable gathering place to enjoy the view. This patio and firepit area nestles into the landscape for wind protection and harmonious look.

Tell us: Which coastal gardening photos speak to your style? Any tips of your own? Share in the Comments.