8 DIY Beach Decor Ideas Bring Seaside Style To Any Room — On A Dime!
Easy ways to bring the beauty of the beach to your home
You don’t need a beach house to enjoy seaside serenity this summer! Bring the blissful beauty of an oceanside paradise to your space with decorative accents made using a few craft store staples, around-the-house finds and beachy treasures. “Cool colors, sandy textures, serene vibes…coastal-inspired decor brings the beach to mind and offers you and your guests feelings of relaxation and calm,” says DIY pro Katie Striegel (@chiconashoestringdecorating on Instagram). “And bringing the shore to any space or tabletop is easy with simple DIY beachy accents!” From seashell-filled jars to palm-kissed place settings, our easy DIY beach decor ideas are sure to refresh your space and give you a taste of paradise from the comfort of your home. Read on for the easy how-to’s.
DIY beach decor ideas that are so easy to achieve
1. A nautical serving tray perks up a coffee table
“With just a little craft paint, rope and a couple of maritime adornments, you can revive an old photo frame by turning it into a nautical serving tray,” notes Striegel.
To do: Start with a medium-size photo frame with a thick wood border. Slip in a piece of sand-hued scrapbook paper where a photo would go. Next, paint the wood frame white; let dry. Then use painter’s tape to section off 4 horizontal stripes and paint areas between tape navy blue; let dry, then remove tape. Hot-glue brained rope “handles” to the frame as shown. To finish, hot-glue a few craft-store starfish to the frame. Use tray to serve drinks and snacks or hold remotes on a coffee table.
Related: How to Decorate a Coffee Table So It Looks Designer-Worthy — On the Cheap!
2. DIY beach decor idea: Bottles and vases showcase ocean treasures
“These pretty jars offer beachy flair to any surface, but they also bring back sweet memories of fun times at the beach or on vacation,” says Striegel. She recommends collecting a handful of shells during summer day trips or vacations and using those sand treasures for your homemade accents throughout the year.
To do: Fill a glass jar or two with a thin layer of sand (from the beach or craft store). Then top with a handful or two of mini seashells and replace the lid. Display sand- and shell-filled jars alongside empty or sand-filled bottles and vases on a tabletop. Lean a starfish onto wall behind table to finish.
3. Dried blooms and grasses offer breezy, beachy flair
A bouquet of dried white filler flowers (which resemble dune grass, thanks to their color and texture) looks lovely displayed alongside beachy finds.
To do: Gather baby’s breath and Queen Anne’s lace stems in your hand and secure bunch with a rubber band. Next, hang the bunch upside down by attaching the rubber band to a cabinet knob or drawer pull; let blooms air-dry fully. Wrap the bouquet with kraft paper and tie with white ribbon, then display on a tabletop alongside beachy extras like seashells and starfish.
Related: DIY Outdoor Garden Decor Made From Thrifted Finds Will Pretty Up Your Yard
4. DIY beach decor idea: Palm-kissed plates lend resort-worthy style
Topping simple dinner plates with palm leaves and seashell accents creates a relaxing, resort-worthy feel that will impress dinner guests!
To do: For each place setting, top stacked oval plates with palm-like greenery, a seashell ornament and a cutlery bundle cinched with a silver napkin ring. The fabulous finishing flair: Lay an ombré blue runner down the table’s center and top with seashell-shaped salt and pepper shakers and beachy pebbles or small river rocks, then add classic glassware to table.
5. Shell candle cups cast a sunset-inspired glow
Scalloped seashells or clam shells make surprisingly stunning “candle cups” that lend a lovely oceanic ambience to any dinner table or side table.
To do: Start with a few medium or large shells (gather them from the beach or pick a few up from the craft store). Lay the shells upside-down on a tabletop, then add a small tea light-filled candle cup or battery-run tea light candle to center of shell. Tip: For a bigger impact, cluster a few shell-topped candles and extra loose shells on the table.
6. DIY beach decor idea: Fish-shaped plate IDs pretty up place settings
Make guests feel special and help them find their seats with ease at a dinner party by creating too-cute fish IDs!
To create each, simply jot a guest’s name onto an unfinished wood fish ornament from the craft store using a gold permanent marker; let dry. Next, wrap a length of twine around the fish’s tale (for a decorative touch) and another length through the hole; knot ends together. Set each fish atop stacked dinner plates at each place setting.
Tip: For an extra-special touch, place maritime pulleys attached to nautical rope down the center of the table; loop fish ornaments onto pulleys.
7. A coastal vignette brightens a bare corner
Create a beautiful seaside-inspired scene on a buffet or entryway table using a cake plate, a candlestick and beachy craft-store accents.
To do: Set a wooden pedestal in front of a wooden candlestick on a tabletop; place faux coral and a large shell atop the pedestal. Add coiled rope and more coral to the table to finish.
8. DIY beach decor idea: Sailboat apples serve as festive take-home favors
Sweet sail-topped apples make perfect take-home treats for dinner guests.
To make each, punch a hole at the top and bottom of a triangle of blue polka-dotted scrapbook paper; slip a wood skewer through holes. Add a washi tape flag to the sail; stake the skewer into an apple. Use a white food coloring marker to jot a name on the apple. Set finished apples on a platter and display on a buffet table or kitchen countertop.
For more decor ideas, keep reading!
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