Decorating with Seashells

I’m a lover of shells and enjoy decorating with seashells in EVERY season.

In our seaside home they work, but you don’t have to live close to the shore to add pretty shells into your home decor.

It’s the first Saturday of July which means it’s time for some Cozy Living hosted by my friend Jennifer. I thought a post all about decorating with shells would be a perfect way to celebrate cozy living!

Did you know when we moved to our home 9 years ago, I packed up 10 boxes of shells. I can only imaging how many I have now!!!

I decided to highlight not 1 or 2 ideas but 20! I hope you enjoy this post as much as I did writing it and hope you love my friends’ cozy ideas (featured at the bottom of the post).

Why You’ll Love Decorating with Seashells

• the warm textures and colors
• it’s affordable
• it’s eco friendly – often times you can gather some on beach walks
• A bowl of shells or a collection scattered across a shelf makes a home feel warmer and more inviting.

Decorating with Shells – 20 Ideas

If you like one of the ideas you see listed, simply click on the button to get more information on that decorating idea.

1. Create a Floating Starfish Wreath

This wreath was fun to make and instantly says coastal style for summer.

2. Hang a Pretty Shell Mirror

My mom bought me this beautiful mirror at Brimfield Antique Show probably 10 years ago now but you could make one similar for your home either using a variety of shells or all white.

3. Accentuate Shiplap with Shells

In our coastal pool house I used the texture of shells to highlight the pretty white paneling. You can learn more about using shiplap in your home.

4. Create a Crushed Shell Patio

When our pool house was a She Shed we created a coastal inspired patio with crushed shells. Get more patio ideas!

5. Fill an Ironstone Bowl with Shells

This is one of my favorite ways of displaying shells. I love putting them in old ironstone platters and bowls. They also look lovely in vintage jelly moulds and urns, it gives such a classic understated and elegant look. I always like to share posts about decorating with antiques and my love for ironstone.

6. Styling an Office Bookshelf

Rich dark walls, weathered wood, leatherbound books – all look great with a scattering of shells.

7. Fill a Giant Clam Shell

I love decorating with this giant clam shell. In fact, I’ve filled this one with succulents, piled it high with vintage fishing floats, and filled it with houseplants. This shell also works well for entertaining – you can fill it with ice and put soda, beer, or small bottles of wine / champagne in it.

8. Shell Candles

Hand pour candles in shells for the prettiest gift or table accent.

9. A Coastal Printers Tray

Upcycle an old printers tray into a wall display for your shell collection.

10. Pretty Shell Lighting

In our coastal bedroom we incorporated lots of shells – (you know how much I love them) including bedside lamps (similar), a capiz pendant, and shell sconces.

11. Airplants in Shells

Spiky air plants look so whimsical when placed in sea urchin and snail shells, especially when layered into a carved wooden bowl.

12. A collection of shells and a vintage bottle

This vintage soda bottle came all the way from Bermuda and I simply LOVE that color blue. It looks dreamy in a clear modern glass bowl with lots of shells!

13. Crushed Shell Flower Beds

I adore this look and it’s perfect if you live near the sea. Our plants seem to love this style mulch, too. If you use crushed shells for garden and flower beds – just know that the shells bleach out in the sun, but when they first arrive they are darker in color.

14. Thrifted Centerpiece

As you all know, I love vintage and antique treasures. I found an old utility drawer and dressed it up with fresh flowers and loads of shells.

15. Summer Shelf Styling Tips

Bring the outside in! I filled a driftwood bowl with shells and also decorated our raw edge shelves with beach treasures and this free printable watercolor seascape I created.

16. Sea Fan Wall Art

Okay, I know sea fans aren’t technically shells but I think this goes with the theme here! We made these pretty sea fan planked art from scratch.

17. A Topiary Form with Shells

This is another upcycled idea with shells! A vintage topiary form filled with shells is airy and whimsical – perfect for summer decor!

18. Simple Vignette

A very simple vignette with a few shells, recycled glass beads, and a white washed bowl. Throw this together in less than two minutes for an instantly coastal look!

19. Scatter Clamshells on a Tablescape

Scatter clam shells (found on the beach), fresh greenery, and dahlias for a truly magical and romantic tablescape!

20. A Simple Conch Shell

Finally just a very very simple idea of adding a large shell to any surface – a console, a shelf, a table. A single shell looks perfect anywhere. This beautiful shell was gifted to me by a reader who knows I LOVE shells. I love decorating with it!

Want more ideas from my friends for July?

See all the fun ideas below:

 

Drying Peony Buds / Decorating with Seashells / Mixed Berry Galette

 

Visiting Cozy Northern California / Budget Décor with Big Impact

Let’s Stay Connected…

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