4 Iconic Architectural Styles for Beach Homes

A beach home is all about rest and relaxation, but if there’s one thing to worry yourself with before you feel the sand between your toes, it’s finding the right architectural style for your seaside getaway. From coast to coast, there are plenty of luxurious designs you can look to for inspiration, but here are just a few of the more popular styles that you’ll find along the beach.

Coastal Contemporary
With sweeping lines and large walls of glass, contemporary homes are a perfect fit for capturing far-ranging views on the waterfront. While there are certainly more traditional options, there’s just something about the juxtaposition of striking contemporary architecture and natural scenery that creates a unique visual experience.

Mediterranean-Style
The influences of Mediterranean architecture can be spotted along practically any stretch of coastline in the United States. With its red-tiled roofs and stucco walls, this classic style is undoubtedly among the most popular when it comes to luxury waterfront real estate. If you want to bask in Old World elegance, there’s likely no better choice than Mediterranean-style.

Cape Cod
A Cape Cod-style home clad in weathered shingles is about as classic as it gets when it comes to beach residences that exude casual elegance. Although most prevalent in its place of origin—Cape Cod, Massachusetts—this iconic architectural style is a beloved option that’s found all across the country. All you need are some sandy dunes and a salty breeze for this type of architecture to blend right into its surroundings.

Caribbean-Style
From the Bahamas to Barbados, Caribbean-style architecture can take on many different appearances depending on where you look. There is, however, a common vernacular thanks to the shared influences found throughout the Caribbean that often combine elements of British, Dutch, African and Indigenous architectural styles. Today, you’re likely to find Caribbean-style homes from Key West to California, often exhibiting extensive use of bright colors, natural stone and thoughtful design that captures a coastal breeze throughout.