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Go coastal with D-I-Y beach house decor

Itching for the beach this summer? Amy Goodman, contributing editor at Coastal Living magazine, reveals how to bring the beach to you with these inexpensive D-I-Y home decor projects. Oar coat rackSuppliesAn oar or piece of driftwoodPrimer or sandpaperWall paintDrillDrawer pulls or hooksD-ringsSand or prime the oar, then paint it in the color of your choice. To attach the drawer pulls, drill a h

Itching for the beach this summer? Amy Goodman, contributing editor at Coastal Living magazine, reveals how to bring the beach to you with these inexpensive D-I-Y home decor projects. 

Oar coat rack

TODAY
Today

Supplies

  • An oar or piece of driftwood
  • Primer or sandpaper
  • Wall paint
  • Drill
  • Drawer pulls or hooks
  • D-rings

Sand or prime the oar, then paint it in the color of your choice. To attach the drawer pulls, drill a hole slightly smaller than the drawer pull’s screw, then screw in the pull tightly into the hole. Space the pulls or hooks evenly down the oar’s handle. 

Shell mirror

TODAY
Today

Supplies

  • Mirror
  • Sea shells
  • Baby oil (optional)
  • Hot glue gun & sticks

If shells were collected from the beach, soak them in one part water and one part bleach to remove any lingering smell. You may also rub a bit of baby oil on the shells to get them to shine. Use a hot glue gun to attach the shells to the frame. Make sure to start with the larger shells first and space them throughout the frame so that they don’t all end up on the same side. Once the larger shells are in place, fill in the gaps with smaller shells.

Allow the mirror to dry for several hours before hanging.

Nautical lamp

TODAY
Today

Supplies

  • Lamp
  • Hot glue gun
  • ¼-inch thick rope
  • Scissors

Remove the lamp shade. Start at the top of the lamp base and add a ring of hot glue around the top edge. Moving carefully and quickly, begin to wrap the rope around the lamp, tucking the rope’s end slightly underneath the next row to create a seamless look. Wind the rope around the base towards the bottom, adding a 2-inch line of hot glue at different spots in every row. Continue until you reach the bottom edge. Make sure to line up each row next to the one before so as to not leave any gaps. When you reach the end of the base, add a dollop of hot glue to the end of the rope to keep it from fraying. 

Ginger jars

TODAY
Today

Supplies

  • Ginger jars
  • Sand
  • Shells
  • Sea glass
  • Starfish

Put sand in a Ziploc and snip a small corner of the bag to funnel the sand neatly into the jar. Fill each jar up to half way with sand. Wipe away any fly-away grains with a paper towel and glass cleaner. Place different beach elements onto the top of the sand, such as sea glass, shells or star fish. 

Shell-stamped pillows

TODAY
Today

Supplies

  • Linen or cotton pillow cases
  • Small paintbrushes
  • Acrylic paint
  • Cardboard pieces
  • Fan-shaped seashells with deep ridges

Insert a piece of cardboard in the pillow case to keep the paint from seeping through to the back of the pillow case as you work. Use a paintbrush to coat a shell with paint. Avoid applying too much, but enough so that it comes off the shell easily. Consider practicing on a sample piece of fabric or piece of paper before stamping the pillow. Select what paint colors you want to use and assign each shell its own color.

Stamp one color across the entire width of the pillow, placing the stamps about one-inch apart. Apply paint to another shell and apply to the pillow, filling in the gaps between the first stamp. Repeat with other colors until the pillow case is completed.

Leave the cardboard in the case until it is completely dry, then insert the pillow.