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Motifs Many beach goers return home with a collection of shells, beach rocks and smooth bits of colored glass. If you have such a collection, use them to good effect in your outdoor space. Clean up your treasures by running them through a cycle of dishwasher in utensil basket. You can also rub baby oil into rocks to bring out shine that you saw under beach sun.
The most obvious way to display your shells and pebbles is in a clear glass dish or jar, or a flat plate. Try filling a saucer with them and inserting a votive candle. Or if shells themselves are large enough, pour candle wax around a wick in shell cavity itself. Shells can be used in attractive tic-tac-toe games, for stamping fabrics and many other purposes.
You can easily change feel of your beach theme by use of different motifs. Perch a sea-gull on a piece of driftwood draped with a piece of fisherman's net and use a lighthouse or two elsewhere in space, and you'll be reminded of a coastal fishing village. Folding sling chairs, an umbrella and pots of beach grass give a recreational feel to your space. Or combine lighthouses with sailboat silhouettes for a more urban shore look.
Whatever kind of shore you prefer, use these ideas to recreate it at home. Put on a recording of ocean waves lapping on sand, kick off your shoes and enjoy beach!
Debbie Rodgers, the haven maven, owns and operates Paradise Porch, and is dedicated to helping people create outdoor living spaces that nurture and enrich them. Her latest how-to guide “Attracting Butterflies to Your Home and Garden” is now available on her web site. Visit her at www.paradiseporch.com and get a free report on “Eight easy ways to create privacy in your outdoor space”. Mail to debbie@paradiseporch.com