Home Our Best Beach House Plans for Your Vacation Home By Kaitlyn Yarborough Kaitlyn Yarborough Part of the Southern Living team since 2017, Kaitlyn Yarborough is a Georgia native living in Austin, Texas, who covers a wide variety of topics for both the magazine and website, focusing on culture and lifestyle content, as well as travel in the South. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Published on September 28, 2017 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Southern Living Southerners love to escape to the beach for much-needed relaxation and a taste of carefree living, and we dream about having a coastal oasis to call our own. Whether a Lowcountry cottage, beachfront bungalow, or island retreat, a beach vacation home is definitely on the bucket list. These house plans will get you started on your journey to finding the right style for a beach getaway that fits your family. From dreamy wraparound porches to breezy open-air layouts, we guarantee you'll find something you like. 01 of 16 Aiken Street, Plan #1807 Southern Living A mix of simple spaces and natural materials set the tone for this home's relaxed attitude. 4 bedrooms and 4 ½ baths2,223 square feetSee Plan: Aiken Street 02 of 16 Sea Oats Villa, Plan #044 Southern Living An open layout and spacious lounging porch make this plan the ultimate relaxing, lowkey getaway. 3 to 4 bedrooms and 3 baths2,688 square feetSee Plan: Sea Oats Villa 03 of 16 Islander Cottage, Plan #1951 Southern Living Our 2017 Idea House is a quintessential Southern island oasis! With a large porch made for entertaining and a private garden off the master, this modern farmhouse style home is sure to stand out among the traditional seaside retreats. 4 bedrooms and 4 ½ baths3,273 square feetSee Plan: Islander Cottage 04 of 16 Seaside Escape, Plan #1453 Southern Living This plan is a beachfront oasis with plenty of room for the whole family. Wraparound porches make this home perfectly tailored for the beach background. 4 bedrooms and 4 ½ baths2,475 square feetSee Plan: Seaside Escape 05 of 16 St. Simons Retreat, Plan #256 Southern Living Three sets of French doors on the front of this Lowcountry cottage are designed for catching those beachy breezes. 2 bedrooms and 2 ½ baths1,798 square feetSee Plan: St. Simons Retreat 06 of 16 Captain's Watch, Plan #1426 Southern Living With broad front porches and generous windows, this home design demonstrates the timeless beauty of traditional design. Porch spaces live as comfortable, outdoor rooms, so always opt for all-weather furnishings and fabrics. 5 bedrooms and 5 ½ baths4,920 square feetSee Plan: Captain's Watch 07 of 16 Bayside Retreat, Plan #242 Southern Living An interior bridge leads to the eagle's nest, a cozy nook sized for two bunk beds and offering one of the best views. 3 bedrooms and 3 baths1,500 square feetSee Plan: Bayside Retreat 08 of 16 Old Oyster, Plan #1934 Southern Living Amazingly large screened porches make this coastal home perfect for casual, salty vacationers who like to entertain and spend their time outdoors, maybe shucking some oysters! 3 bedrooms and 4 ½ baths3,951 square feetSee Plan: Old Oyster 09 of 16 Bayou Bend, Plan #1745 Southern Living This quaint coastal cottage is rooted in the architectural traditions of the Deep South, but its open floor plan and vibrant interiors are fit for the modern family. 4 bedrooms and 3 ½ baths3,589 square feetSee Plan: Bayou Bend 10 of 16 The Seabrook, Plan #1706 Southern Living This traditional Southern-style coastal home is cozy and inviting. The raised front door and porch area with grand split steps evokes a charming welcome to this getaway home. 4 to 5 bedrooms and 4 ½ baths4,209 square feetSee Plan: The Seabrook 11 of 16 Vintage Lowcountry, Plan #1828 Southern Living This island-style home plan is meant to feel as if it's seen generations of sandy feet and salty air, with an open layout and plenty of porch space to hang out with the family. 3 bedrooms and 3 ½ baths2,768 square feetSee Plan: Vintage Lowcountry 12 of 16 Shoreline Lookout, Plan #1495 Southern Living A spiral staircase leads up to a lookout tower with a stunning view of the crashing waves in this traditional beach-inspired plan. 3 to 4 bedrooms and 3 baths2,220 square feetSee Plan: Shoreline Lookout 13 of 16 Cottage Of The Year, Plan #593 Southern Living Here's a warm and inviting year-round retreat where friends and family can relax. It's a plan that's infinitely versatile with style and location, making it a fail-safe option for any vacation home. 4 bedrooms and 3 ½ baths2,718 square feetSee Plan: Cottage Of The Year 14 of 16 Red Bay Cottage, Plan #748 Southern Living Covered porches and balconies are connected to every bedroom and living area in this plan, making it a breezy dream getaway. 3 bedrooms and 3 baths2,074 square feetSee Plan: Red Bay Cottage 15 of 16 Beach Bungalow, Plan #243 Southern Living This compact plan is the perfect small size for a cozy, quiet vacation home. Plenty of outdoor space allows for open-air relaxation. 2 bedrooms and 1 bath921 square feetSee Plan: Beach Bungalow 16 of 16 Rosemary Cottage, Plan #746 Southern Living Set atop a pile foundation, the floor plan places all bedrooms at entry level and the living spaces on the top floor, not only for safety reasons, but also to maximize your enjoyment of great views. 3 bedrooms and 2 ½ baths1,754 square feetSee Plan: Rosemary Cottage Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit