5 DIYs to do with your collected treasures

Returning from the beach, you find your bags brimming with seashells and other intriguing treasures washed ashore. To make those memories last, don’t just stash your finds away. Instead, create something distinctive that enhances the personality of your home. So, if you’re looking for unique, non-cliché home décor ideas to showcase your seashells, you’ve come to the right place! 

Garlands

Garlands are back in and taking Pinterest by storm. There’s a reason why, though – they’re pretty and easy to make. Start by making small holes in your shells. They’re not that delicate, so you can take a needle and hammer to make a hole to guide clear fishing gut through. You can vary up your way of stacking the shells as much as you want.  Change up the sizes and distance between the shells, or add extra beads or other ornaments. Once you’ve gotten a couple of strings, you’ll attach it to your stick. You can go get a dowel at your local hardware store, but a more rustic look can be achieved with a branch – even better if you find a piece of driftwood at the beach to bring home. Once your strings are attached to the wood, it’s time to hang it up. Garlands can be hung up above a doorway to create a curtain-like look, or against a wall to add interest. Just know, no matter how you do it, handcrafted garlands are an amazing way to bring nature into your home in a unique, one-of-a-kind way! 

Mirrors

As mirrors can be pricey, a lot of us have opted for plain styles to work with our budget. But, with a little bit of glue and a couple of seashells, you can give your mirror a whole new look. There are tons of ways to go about it – from randomizing the shells, to colour coordinating. You can create an ombre effect by making your shells fade from one colour to the next or vary them according to size to give it a shrinking effect.  The choice is yours. Seashell mirrors are a great focal point to add to your room or bathroom, and an easy way to use up all the shells you’ve been collecting! 

Framed photo

Shaking it up a bit, why not display your seashells with the rest of your pictures? Thrift stores are often hidden gems when it comes to unused frames, so you can grab one there, or go out and get one new. Make sure the frame has a bit more depth to it.  A box frame works best, so you can close up the back again after gluing on your shells. However, after the frame is acquired, the rest is easy sailing.  Get your glue gun out and start sticking! The same concept applies here as with the mirror – choose your route and run with it! Whether you want to do a pattern, or keep it random, the natural, rustic look of the finished frame will definitely add interest to your gallery wall. 

Wreath

Add some charm to your front door with a seashell wreath. if you’re not too into seasonal decorations, you can leave it on year round and keep your door looking as cute as ever. To start your wreath, you can find a polystyrene ring at a craft store. Alternatively create one yourself with an old pool noodle, hose pipe or PVC piping.  Just make sure to pay attention to the inner circumference, as it’ll grow smaller as you add your shells on. And in the same breath as the last two, the glue gun will be your best friend with this DIY! You don’t only have to add shells to your wreath; if you want to get more crafty, add fine twigs and dried eucalyptus leaves, or even dried fruit slices to make it feel more rustic and unique.

Plant holder

If you’re a plant fanatic, finding new ways to display your plants are always a bonus. So, your seashells don’t only have to be decorative; they can be new homes for your plants too. Succulents work the best for this one as they are resilient, don’t require too much water, and are good at finding nooks and crannies to grow in and fill up the space. Take some cuttings let them callous for a couple of days, and pop them into your seashell.  Most don’t need to be propagated before popping them in and will start rooting within a couple of weeks. However, make sure to not overfill your seashell with soil, as it’ll be a nightmare to water if it can run out easily. But, once you’ve found the perfect shell, you can go from there! As long as it has a pocket for soil, your plants will grow.

Take a second to let nature in and put your hours searching the beach for good finds to use! A handcrafted, natural home decoration has the ability to add so much interest and character to your house, and you’ll be able to reflect on your holiday trip every time you have a look around your home.