My favorite summer decorating is with coral and shells!
We’ve been doing a little Summer decorating around here, using white coral and oyster shells.
I love using coral and oyster shells to add hints of Summer this time of year.
My love of shells may possibly be influenced from living on the Gulf Coast for many years, but I don’t think you have to live in a Coastal area to enjoy the textures and layers that coral and shells can add to a home.
Decorating our rooms with seashells is a fun way to remind us of summertime memories.
I started by adding a few of these natural nautical treasures in our foyer, to an old shabby garden urn. It was so easy to fill it with white coral.
Coral is just as beautiful as a fine sculpture, and it looks perfect standing alone, or piled in a vessel.
{May contain affiliate links}
Many years ago, I saw a picture in a magazine of a beautiful antique garden urn, filled with white coral, sitting on a kitchen counter.
It was in a home designed by one of my favorite interior designers, Lisa Luby Ryan.
I’ve never forgotten how simple and elegant it looked.
It inspired me to start picking up pieces of white coral when I found them, until I had amassed enough to fill my own urn.
You can also find wonderful pieces of faux white coral on Amazon that will give you the look of natural coral.
Coral, in their different shades of white, adds such a gorgeous textural display to any tabletop.
It’s right at home on my hand painted fish chest in the foyer.
{May contain affiliate links}
Our coffee table in the family room was another ideal place for a Coastal Summer display.
I simply used round oyster balls in different sizes, and a large clam shell holding a faux white orchid and moss balls.
I found some fabulous seashell balls HERE.
Over the years, I’ve developed a love affair with oyster shells. They have such amazing colors and their natural texture is perfect for decorating.
I found this trio of balls encrusted with oyster shells in a shop in Mobile, AL, and usually display them somewhere every Summer.
{May contain affiliate links}
The large clam shell is actually a recent purchase, and it’s faux.
Have you priced a large natural clam shell lately?!? Wow, are they expensive!
Mine is made of plaster and if I didn’t tell you it was faux, you would never know it! It looks so realistic! I found something similar HERE.
I found it this last weekend at an antique market, and grabbed it as soon as I saw it, knowing that I would probably never pay the price for a real clam shell. This is a great substitute.
I filled the clam shell with a faux white orchid, covered the base in layers of preserved moss, and then added a few small moss balls for interest.
Placing it on top of a stack of books gave the vignette added height.
It looks fabulous with the texture of the oyster balls.
A few Summer touches were also added to the guest bedroom, including an oyster encrusted mirror that I made myself many, many years ago!
An oyster shell mirror had been on my wish list for quite a long time, but the prices were astronomical, so I decided to make one myself!
Living on the Gulf Coast, there are quite a few restaurants that specialize in oysters.
One of those restaurants was kind enough to save me boxes of their oyster shells so I could tackle this DIY mirror.
It was such a mess to sterilize them, boiling them in water to clean them. And it was quite smelly!
Afterwards, I found out that you can buy boxes of cleaned oyster shells on Ebay for very little!
If I ever tackle another oyster shell project, that’s where I’ll get them!
I hung the oyster shell mirror over the little French chest, and added a formed oyster shell candle holder that I’ve had forever.
Shells are an inexpensive way to decorate for Summer.
You don’t have to be on the beach to find them. They are an easy pick up at Hobby Lobby, and can give your home that Summer vibe with very little expense.
Amass them in a bowl, decorate a tabletop, or just display a large piece of coral in a special place.
Several years ago, when Nate Berkus had his daytime tv show, he said, “Shells add a sense of sophistication to your home and decor”.
Hmmm…I guess I am on the right track.
Cheers, Cindy
Beautiful collection and elegant displays!!
I love the idea of shells I have several pieces of shells mirror,lamp and coral. I have a mixture of French and shabby chic. I would love to find urn little smaller I have the beautiful piece of coral.
Am loving all the shells and what a beautifully decorated bedroom. Hard to pick a favorite element. The mirror is gorgeous and adds texture and interest. The bed skirt caught my eye. Do you have a source? Thanks.
The bedskirt is from Ballard Designs!
Love it all, Cindy!
Love the coral and oyster shells. My husband and I lived in Charleston SC for seven or eight years so I have purchased pieces of coral. I have admired the oyster shell mirrors but never purchased one. Thanks for sharing your lovely home and ideas. Jean
Oh my word , this was yet another wonderful interesting post. Thank you so much. I know you may not remember this but would you by any chance remember the paint color in the bedroom with the clock over the bed? I love your blog and I have made my home so much nicer after learning from you. I have made a few purchases also. I am going slowly but making a difference.These coral pieces also are lovely. I have damask pale blue and cream and beige wall paper and I am taking down ajacent paper. I love the color of your room here and think that color would go well. I have a million paint chip cards and am totally lost in the sauce. Thank you for sharing your home with all of us.
Thank you so much, Rose! The wall color in the bedroom was Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray!
I’m always a bit obsessed with large natural decor pieces. They’re so striking
Hi Cindy,
I just loved reading your post about adding shells to summer decor! My family and I just returned from Anna Maria Island, FL, and we came home with a load of shells. I’ve collected shells from every beach I’ve ever been to and have even collected sea glass I found in Antigua. You’ve given me some inspiration for displaying my shells. I love your look!
Thanks,
Michele Magalassi
That’s wonderful, Michele! Thank you!
Cindy, I just love that everything you do fits perfectly into your own style. Even with the beachy coral, you retain that stunning French character that your entire home exudes. It’s really beautiful!
Cindy, every morning, I look for your post in my email before anything else! Makes a lovely and inspiring start to my day!! I love the clam shell with the orchid. Is the orchid real or faux? I’ve been on the hunt for a faux one, but they’re frightfully expensive! Have a wonderful day!
Thank you so much, Kathryn! The orchid is faux! I’ve tried raising the live ones, and invariably I always kill them!
Ohhhhh my goodness, how truly wonderful!!!! Sooooooo love!!!!!
Thank you, Wendy!
As much as I love the coral…that urn makes my heart flutter. Beautiful!
Thank you, Ann!
Your vignettes are so, so lovely! I do have small glass containers that I put out during the summer filled with sea glass, small shells & pieces of driftwood I’ve collected at the beach over the years.
There’s something about pieces from the sea that tug at my heartstrings! Thanks for commenting, Margarita!
Love all your shells Cindy – especially those fabulous oyster balls! Wow, I have never seen one before, and now I’m thinking I need to find one! 😉
Your decor is just perfect for summer ~ now I’m ready for some warm weather!!
Sheila
xo
Thanks, Sheila!
I look for new posts from you everyday! I just love everything you do. We are building a new home this summer and your lovely home is a big inspiration for mine!
Is the lamp on your hand painted fish chest and the tall vessel next to it new? They both are stunning pieces! I don’t remember seeing them…and trust me, I study every shot you post!!!
Warm hugs from Maine.
Hi Shelley! The lamp is one that I’ve had for sale in our online shop for awhile that never sold. It’s made from an antique church altar candlestick, so of course I love it. I wasn’t completely sure I wanted to sell it to begin with, so since it didn’t sell, I decided to use it myself! The large floor candlestick beside the chest is one I found at an estate sale several months ago. It was in pieces, and hubby had to put it all back together for me. Thankfully all of the pieces were there! Congratulations on your new home! How exciting!
The white coral in the urn is just beautiful in its simplicity. I love it. I’ve had my eye out for a similar urn but they are either way too expensive or much too large to use indoors. After seeing your arrangement I’ll try even harder to find one. I couldn’t imagine what made you think of putting it together with the coral. Thanks for sharing your secret.
Thank you, Margo! Yes, those urns can be hard to find and quite expensive! Keep looking, I’m sure you’ll find just the right one!
Good morning! Totally not the same thing at all, but your oyster shell mirror experience made me think of a project that my daughter and I did years ago for my granddaughter. I don’t know if you are familiar with Donna Moss, a designer from Dallas., the Queen of Bling! She made a jewel covered mirror for her granddaughter and I loved it! My daughter and I went to yard sales, flea markets, went thru our jewelry boxes, grandma’s jewelry box! No ones jewelry box was safe ! I remember wishing there was some place where I could just buy a bag of mismatched costume jewelry— with lots of bling of course. I never found a source for “a bag” and just did it the hard way. But every time I see that little girl looking at every piece of jewelry on that mirror, I’m so glad we did it for her. I think sometimes doing things the hard way makes me appreciate it more but, then, sometimes the hard way is just hard. Always look forward to your blog. Thanks so much for sharing!
Oh, I love that story, Claire! What a wonderful memory! Thank you so much for commenting!