How to Bring the Beach into Your Home

Oregon Coast

Decorating your home with items found at the beach will set the tone for relaxed living and entertaining. Decorating with a beach theme can liven and lighten your everyday life.

Things You'll Need

• Any of the following:
• Shells
• Small stones/rocks
• Sand
• Driftwood (all sizes)
• Feathers
• Glue (use a strong adhesive for longer life)
• Picture frames, flower pots, nets, candles and other small decorating accessories

Instructions

1. Take a trip to the beach to collect shells, stones, driftwood, feathers and sand. Enjoy your day and use the sun, breeze and waves to give you inspiration for your decorating plans.

2. Pictures frames can be decorated by covering the surface with glue and placing the frame in a pile of sand for the background. After allowing the frame to dry, select from your collection of treasures various shells, small stones and very small interesting pieces of driftwood to glue onto the sand base of the frame. Use multiple frames in similar sizes and designs to display pictures that depict common scenes and hang them in a group. Or use larger pieces from your collection on larger frames and hang in a prominant place.

3. A great wall hanging can be made by purchasing some fishing net material and gluing larger shells and driftwood pieces onto the net in a random pattern. The size of this wall hanging depends entirely on the space you want to decorate and can make an exceptional focal point for the entire room.

4. To decorate flower pots or planters paint a base color (or glue on sand) as a background and glue appropriately sized shells, feathers and driftwood pieces in any pattern you choose. Cover the top of the soil after planting in sand. Tall grasses, such as those you would find at the beach, make a good plant choice for this decorated planter.

5. As you can see from these simple examples, any decorating accessory can be made to fit into a beach theme. Use large shells as candy dishes. Drill holes in large pieces of driftwood to use as candle holders. Fill a small fishbowl one quarter full with sand and place votive candles on top of the sand.

Tips & Warnings

• Gently wash the items you collect at the beach if it will not damage them.

• Watch for broken glass and other hazards when scouring the beach to find treasures. Be careful of sharp edges on shells and driftwood that can cut you. Use newpaper, or other protective materials, when using any type of glue.