Home Decor

Sparkling blue oceans, warm sunny days and sand between your toes are pleasant memories of a day at the beach. Transform those mental seaside images into tactile reminders by adding a few nautical accessories to your home decor. Whether you choose to incorporate a sea-loving theme throughout your entire house or simply scatter a few salty reminders here and there, decorating with nautical accessories can capture the adventurous spirit of the sea.

Walls. Deck your walls with nautical-inspired wall hangings. A gleaming brass cabin porthole mirror supplies a seafaring reminder of a ship’s unique circular windows. It’s also a great conversation piece and provides a sparkling reflection of your room’s furnishings. Add a lifeboat oar accompanied by a string of colorful signal or signal pennants to tastefully adorn a bare wall with a bit of nautical flair. Brightly colored flags are ideal for embellishing your sailboat or boat dock as well as your home’s interior spaces. Hang a boat oar that’s been creatively transformed into a coat rack in a child’s room (oar coat rack). This amusing coat rack is an ideal way to get little ones into the habit of hanging up their caps and coats.

Exterior. Adding nautical accessories to your home’s exterior will greet guests with a hearty, sea captain’s welcome. Hang a burnished brass ship’s bell on an exterior wall beside your front door. In lieu of a ship’s helmsman ringing the bell while on watch, you can ring the bell as a signal for children playing outdoors to come home for lunch or dinner. Add a large ship’s bell to a boathouse or beach cottage to further enhance the coastal ambiance. Prop up a couple of colorful boat oars next to the front door to intensify your home’s seaside aura.

Furniture. Position a wooden, boat-inspired bookcase in your living room, personal office or home library. Stash your books and display your beach memorabilia on a stylish bookcase designed to replicate traditional boat styles. These unique furniture pieces (boat bookcases and tables) provide accommodating function that is accentuated with maritime fashion. Add a nautically-designed coat stand in your home’s foyer or mud room to provide a convenient, whimsical place to hold your hat or jacket.

Other Ideas. Incorporating a few small nautical accessories into your home’s decor can go a long way in creating a seaside atmosphere. Encase several throw pillows with colorful, signal flag pillowcases. Toss a few pillows on sofas, beds or chairs to add an instant punch of colorful nautical flair. Display a ship, yacht or other seaworthy model atop a fireplace mantel to create an eye-catching focal point in your living or family room. Ship models exhibiting expert craftsmanship and attention to detail make great conversation starters..