Colonial Decor Living Room Ideas from a Coastal New England Home

Step into a coastal New England home where Colonial decor meets timeless charm.

In this post, I’m sharing how we styled the living room in our early American home in Maine, complete with antique furniture, historic color palettes, and vintage accents that reflect both Colonial roots and seaside living.

Whether you love old house charm, are decorating a historic home, or simply want ideas for Colonial-style living room decor, you’ll find inspiration here.

This post is part of my Styling Tip series, where I share vintage-inspired decorating ideas from our homes in Maine and Vermont. If you love simple, timeless styling with a story to tell, you’ll find more ideas in these styling tips below:

Colonial Decor Living Room Ideas for a Coastal New England Home

Looking to bring Colonial decor into your living room in a way that feels fresh and personal? In our early American home in coastal Maine, I’ve layered traditional Colonial elements with a mix of coastal charm and cottage warmth. Whether you live in a historic house or simply love the character of classic New England design, these ideas offer a relaxed approach to styling a Colonial-inspired living room that feels lived-in, layered, and uniquely yours.

Our Raeside-Dame Colonial Home and the Story Behind This Space

Our Colonial-style living room is part of a Raeside-Dame home, an early American replica built over 30 years ago for my parents along the seacoast of Maine. Raeside and Dame were two craftsmen known for designing and building historically inspired homes that reflected the charm and structure of 18th-century New England architecture.

My parents filled this home with cherished antiques and vintage pieces she collected over a lifetime, and it was truly her dream home. Today, I’ve inherited this space and continued to build upon her Colonial decor style, layering in coastal elements, vintage finds, and cottage warmth to create a living room that reflects both past and present. That’s what I’m sharing with you in this post: a personal and evolving take on Colonial decor, grounded in family history and New England style.

Inside Our Coastal New England Colonial Living Room

Our Colonial-style living room features many of the architectural hallmarks of early American homes, with a coastal New England twist. The space is grounded by wide softwood pine floors and anchored by a classic red brick fireplace complete with a hearth and simple wood mantel. Exposed dark wood ceiling beams stand out beautifully against the clean Simply White walls, creating that rich contrast so often seen in traditional Colonial decor.

A full wall of windows lets in the natural Maine light, and we added custom-built-in curtain rods to frame the view while keeping the look understated and authentic to the period. Every element, right down to the trim and floorboards, honors the craftsmanship and character of Colonial New England homes, while allowing space for softer, cottage-style touches.

Blending Colonial Style Decor with a Coastal New England Look

Colonial homes are known for their rich wood tones, functional layouts, and historic character, but they can also feel dark or overly formal. In our Maine living room, I’ve mixed Colonial style decor with coastal and cottage elements to create a space that honors its early American roots while feeling relaxed, layered, and personal. Here’s how I styled each element of the room, using meaningful family pieces, antique finds, and a light, airy color palette.

Fireplace Mantel and Hearth Styling in a Colonial Living Room

The red brick fireplace is original to the home and one of its defining Colonial features. In keeping with historic simplicity, I styled the mantel with a few key elements from my mother’s pewter collection, two pewter plates, two candlesticks, and a framed antique print of the Nubble Lighthouse in York, Maine.

These classic pieces reflect true Colonial decor, while the lighthouse print adds a coastal nod and a personal touch. In Colonial times, fireplaces were the center of the home and often shared space with dining areas, but here it serves as a cozy focal point we use regularly in the fall, winter, and spring.

Antique Furnishings with a Coastal Cottage Feel

This living room is layered with antique furniture pieces passed down from my mother, including a favorite blue hutch that was even featured in Country Sampler Magazine. I added a red armchair with a matching ottoman to bring in a cheerful accent color, and a vintage wicker chair with blue and red pillows to echo the room’s brighter palette. Explore more in this Nautical Decor Ideas: A Vintage Coastal Corner You’ll Love post.

Two antique dressers add a unique touch. They bring that old-world Colonial charm into the living space while providing much-needed storage for seasonal decor, candles, and firewood accessories. I styled one dresser with a vintage driftwood seabird collection for a hint of coastal whimsy.

The large sectional is from Four Seasons Furniture and is fully slipcovered, perfect for life with a Bernese Mountain Dog. The washable slipcovers make it easy to keep things fresh while allowing me to swap out colors as the seasons change.

Vintage Window Treatments with New England Character

One of the most unique pieces in the room is the set of custom curtains I found while antiquing at the York Antiques Gallery in Maine. Originally made for a yacht, the retro sailboat print adds a playful coastal vibe while softening the lines of the wall of windows. These custom curtain rods were built into the room to frame the natural light while keeping the overall look cohesive with the home’s Colonial structure. Learn more in this Coastal Curtains: Custom Yacht Drapes in Maine Home post.

Colonial living rooms typically feature classic and refined furniture pieces. Look for pieces with clean lines, elegant curves, and sturdy craftsmanship. Common furniture pieces include wingback chairs, camelback sofas, wooden coffee tables, and upholstered armchairs.

Colonial-Inspired Wall Decor and Ceiling Accents

The walls are adorned with a collection of Montauk Dawson sailboat prints, adding a subtle pastel palette that softens the dark wood beams. On the ceiling beams themselves, I’ve hung a few antique baskets in neutral tones with pops of red and blue to carry color throughout the room in an understated way. The art and hanging baskets help balance the Colonial formality with a more collected, lived-in feel.

Flooring and Rugs in a Colonial Living Room

The original softwood pine floors are a defining feature of this Raeside-Dame home, adding to the warmth and character of the space. To soften the floors, I’ve layered in antique braided rugs made by my mother, each one handmade and full of memory. I also added a cozy blue and white area rug underfoot for everyday comfort and to brighten up the deeper wood tones.

Living Room Color Palette: Colonial with a Coastal Twist

Colonial homes tend to lean dark with their heavy woodwork and trim, so I intentionally introduced lighter hues to lift the space. Blue and white serve as the foundation, with pops of red through furniture and accessories to keep things feeling vibrant and balanced. The Simply White walls allow the darker beams and antiques to shine without making the room feel heavy. Flowers on the coffee table, an old butter churn that belonged to my mother, bring seasonal color and softness to the space year-round.

Sentimental Touches That Bring the Room to Life

One of my favorite details is a pair of antique binoculars that belonged to my father. They now sit on the windowsill where he once loved to watch the ocean. As a child, I remember him showing me how to look for whales through them, and now they feel right at home in this space filled with family history.

How to Bring Colonial Decor to Life in Your Own Home

Whether you’re decorating a historic Colonial home or simply love the charm of New England-inspired design, there are so many ways to make this style your own. By layering in family heirlooms, coastal finds, antique furniture, and softer cottage accents, you can create a Colonial-style living room that feels warm, personal, and welcoming.

For me, this space is more than just a reflection of a design style, it’s a tribute to the home my parents created and the stories woven into every detail.

Have a Colonial-style room of your own? I’d love to hear how you’ve styled it, leave a comment below or tag me on Instagram!

Want to see more of our Colonial home and how we’ve blended antique, coastal, and cottage decor throughout the entire space? This full home tour from 2022 gives you a closer look at every room, from the cozy living room to the sunroom and beyond.

Click below to watch the full Colonial home tour video and explore more of our Raeside-Dame New England home design:

Frequently Asked Questions About Colonial Decor

What is Colonial decor style?
Colonial decor is inspired by 17th- and 18th-century American homes and features classic design elements like dark wood furniture, exposed beams, antique textiles, and simple, functional details. It often includes pewter, brass, spindle-back chairs, and natural materials like wood and linen.

How do you decorate a Colonial living room without making it feel too dark?
Colonial homes tend to have dark wood features, so adding lighter elements like white or neutral walls, soft blue accents, and airy textiles helps brighten the space. Incorporating coastal or cottage-style pieces, like slipcovered furniture or vintage artwork, can keep the room feeling fresh and inviting.

Can you mix Colonial decor with coastal and cottage styles?
Yes! Mixing Colonial decor with coastal and cottage elements creates a relaxed and layered look. Think antique dressers with seaside art, blue and white pottery on dark wood, or braided rugs alongside light slipcovers. It’s all about honoring tradition while making it feel personal and lived-in.

What are Raeside-Dame homes?
Raeside-Dame homes are historically inspired replicas of early American Colonial architecture, often found along the New England seacoast. Built with attention to period details, these homes reflect the charm and craftsmanship of 18th-century New England design, and ours was built for my parents over 30 years ago.

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