Nautical Decorating: It’s Fun, Easy and Affordable

The first place to look is on the beach. Seashells and polished stones make great accessories. To clean shells, rinse off sand then soak shells in a diluted solution of white vinegar and water for a few hours to. Driftwood is another another nice accent for nautical decorating.

Photo used under Creative Commons from mush2274.

You can find new items at reasonable prices at discount chains and craft stores. Look for nautical accessories like boats, lighthouses, lanterns, fish and ship's wheels. Check your newspaper circular for sales and sign up for money-saving coupons at the store's website. Consignment shops are springing up everywhere and are a great source for bargains. Become a regular at a local antique shop; get to know the clerk or owner and ask her to call you when items come in that she thinks may interest you. Also consider thrift shops and catalogs.

As mentioned above, the major chains have websites that offer coupons for in store or online shopping. Browse those sites for sale items and check to see if they'll include free shipping. Sign up for email alerts that will let you know when sales are being offered. Surf the net with keywords like nautical decorating, interior décor and home interior

Give your nautical decorating a personal stamp by creating items yourself. Don't be alarmed - you don't have to be a craft wizard. One easy and beautiful project starts with the shells you collected at the beach. Simply arrange them in a pretty glass bowl or on a tray with candles. Fill a hurricane glass with layers of sand, shells and artificial starfish and add a battery powered tea light for ambiance. Make an arrangement with larger shells on a table top or mantle. Complement them with a vase full of dried grasses and cattails gathered from your garden.
Create nautical wall art by gluing shells to a thrift store mirror or tissue box. Shoot your own photographs and create collage of beach scenes. You can buy a collage frame at a craft store or buy a plain one and cut your own mat. Personalize a piece of thrift store furniture with paint and nautical stenciling or paint a stencil on your wall.
Most of all, have fun creating a personal nautical retreat for yourself and your family. Don't rush to get it all done at once. You can save time and money on items that truly appeal to you.