One rarely looks at shells as pieces of home decor. But shells in different sizes and shapes, and in their natural colours, look lovely when...
One rarely looks at shells as pieces of home decor. But shells in different sizes and shapes, and in their natural colours, look lovely when crafted onto either a piece of furniture, like the edges of a coffee table, or embedded inside it, on a lamp shade or a photo frame, or simply kept in a shallow basket bunched with coloured marbles in your bathroom.
Shells as decor
If you're the kind who can't get away from a beach vacation without collecting a few shells, you can do quite a few things with them. Have them washed thoroughly with mild bleach, let them dry, and then you can use them. Or, you can simply go to a craft store and buy an assortment of sea shells and get to work creating or enhancing objects with them. Sticking shells using glue on a piece of furniture, say a dresser or even a round mirror, gives it a unique look. You can also stitch them on as tassels or trims for your drapes, or dupattas used to create slip covers. A multitude of small shells can be used to make a wreath for your doorway, while slightly larger shells, including a star shell, can be kept in your bathroom adding aesthetics to the space. If your walls are coloured or wallpapered blue, shells go very well with them.
Embedded
Many people use shells and scatter them inside a long coffee table. They can even be used under transparent flooring, along with coloured pebbles or marbles, and they look lovely if lit up appropriately. Large shells can be kept as garden accents or near a water body. A large quantity of small shells, even if a few are broken, can be kept in a ring around your favourite tree.
Tiles
You also get natural seashells which have been made into shell tiles. These include mother of pearl, black agate or paua (colours of the peacock feathers) and oyster shells in hues that you will love. These tiles can then be fitted into your kitchen or bathroom areas giving the space an aquatic as well as translucent feel.
Containers and curtains
Large, shallow shells can be given a coat of lacquer and used as containers to store nuts, sweets or candy. Smaller shells can be embedded inside a cushion cover, along with reflective marbles, making it a good wall hanging.
Tiny conical and flat shells can be used to make beaded curtains, interspersed with beads and strung on plastic. These ephemeral drapes look nice as partitions or also work well as decorative shower curtains.
You can also keep a small jar of cowri shells in your child's room for his amusement.
