30+ Nautical home decor ideas anyone can do. Summer decorating can be light, easy and simple. Come be inspired by these real life examples of beach decorating. I have rounded up lots of examples of summer decorating I have done through the years. As I was working on this post it became immediately clear that when it comes to summer decor for my home a beach theme is pretty evident. I seem to go the nautical route for my summer decor every year. And why wouldn’t I?! Doesn’t thinking of summer not immediately bring back memories of days spent in the sun on a beach playing in the waves? Is there anything better than long walks along a shoreline while on a scavenger hunt for driftwood, shells, and washed up sea stars? So even though I live nowhere near the sea I’ll always try to turn my home into a beach cabin in the summer.
I loved revisiting some of my older posts for this roundup. I hope you will enjoy visiting my 30+ nautical home decor ideas too.
Nautical home decor ideas: playing with bottles
I have used bottles in my decorating on many occasions, and they show up in various coastal themed decorations as well. Maybe it is because I love to have a bit of pink wine during those extra long summer evenings. Or maybe because the combination of bottles and summer makes me think of finding a message in a bottle on a deserted beach somewhere. Or maybe because a collection of bottles with tiny bouquets of flowers is such an easy ‘laissez-faire’ way of decorating that is perfect for lazy sunny days.
Anyway. As you can see I have used vintage bottles, painted bottles, pretty-as-is wine bottles and decorative bottles and they all work. Just add some flowers, sea stars and an optional string of lights and you have the perfect and very easy little nautical summer decoration with bottles.
vintage crate summer centerpiece
summer vignette with wine bottles
Nautical home decor ideas: summer mantel decorating
You knew this one was coming, didn’t you! How could I not revisit some of the mantel decorations I did for summer. In many rooms the mantel is the focus of attention so adding some seasonal decor there instantly moves the whole room into the new season. In my last home I used a shelf as my mantel. In my current home I don’t even have a mantel. All the more reason to revisit some of my mantels from days before. They are all quite different from a pallet wood mantel project, to a mantel made with layering photo frames and one in which I used a big, statement branch. And yet I think they all clearly have something in common. My love for coastal decorating shines through. And my need to always make it quite simple. These may look elaborate but there is nothing difficult about them. Anyone can do them with just a bit of patience and a capacity to improvise if things don’t quite work out the way you planned. I hope my nautical mantels are an inspiration for you.
Nautical home decor ideas: coastal crafting
Making your own beach inspired home accessories couldn’t be easier. Those sea elements are all so beautiful all by themselves that they don’t need a lot of embellishments. Arrange them together in some glass containers and you’ll have the prettiest beach lanterns out there. Or just gather them together on a tray for a coastal centerpiece. I love those vintage beach accessories so very much, like the really old and time and sea weathered glass floats. But investing in them can run up a bill. So instead get out some craft paint and modpodge and make them yourself. I made really big ones after a trip to New York where I was inspired at Pottery Barn. While you are at it. Incorporate the current comeback of macrame and add an easy fishnet to a vase or jar. Go have some fun with a bit of Coastal Crafting!
Nautical home decor ideas: quick and easy vignettes
As I said before. I am a lazy decorator. I confess to having this trait all year round, but most definitely in summer. I love to fancy up my home for the seasons, but in summer I definitely do not want to work hard at it. There are so many other things to do. And living life in the outdoors beckons when the skies are blue and the sun is out. So I will always choose the easy way over the complicated one. If you just line up blue mason jars with white flowers you have brought in the beach colors, in the most gratifying and simple way. Gather some beauties together and arrange them under a cloche and you have instant bliss. Or simply grab an old container or tray and gather candles, shells, sea stars and any beach inspired accessories you can find and drop them all in together. I promise you, if you take half a minute to coordinate the colors and shuffle it all around until it looks good you are done!
Quick and easy summer vignette
Nautical home decor ideas: outdoor summer decorating
If you are lucky to live in a country where summer is a guarantee for sunny days you are blessed. Here in the low lands we have definitely had our share of rainy and pretty cold summers. All the more reason to spend the days outside when the sun does grace us with her presence. So do not forget your outdoor areas when decorating for summer. When decorating my garden table or terrace for summer, the nautical home decor takes a bit of a step back. I usually just go for the flower route outside. Could be simple bouquets of flowers arranged on a homemade terra-cotta etagere or lined up in between scattered sea stars and shells. Or maybe it is just happy summer colors in an abundance of flowering plants. Anything that makes your heart sing will do, as long as it beckons you to use your outdoor space as a real living space too.
summer centerpiece for the garden table
summer table decor in the garden
Nautical home decor ideas : bonus summer bedroom
Blue and white are my absolute favorite colors for summer. That combination is so fresh and vibrant, especially when it is of the striped variation. Must be those old images of French Garçons on a beach in blue and white striped cardigans. Or the blue and white umbrellas on a Mediterranean beach. A couple of years ago I combined some brand new bedding with a vintage crochet bedspread in the colors blue and white and it was a winner! It gave my bedroom in instant summer vibe that needed very little else to give that true summertime feeling.
This bedroom and everything in it is a memory now. But this summer bedroom decor is a happy memory that I love to revisit. Maybe you do too.
If you still can’t get enough of summer decorating you might like this last post too. There are even more nautical home decor ideas in a roundup I did of favorite summer mantels of fellow bloggers:
Happy summer to you and have fun decorating your summer home!
