Design Tip - Ocean Decor

In Florida, we suffer through a few cold days in the winter (you can literally count them on one hand), but pretty much divide our year between a humid summer and a beautiful spring-like winter. Here, sun, sand, and water are everywhere, which is why Florida is such a popular tourist destination. There's just something magical about the sound of the surf and the sand between your toes. If you want to bring that breezy, sun-soaked magic home with you, we recommend working shells and coral into your decor. To do it well, skip the jar of sand and shells on the coffee table. Instead, try arranging several nicely sized pieces (coral, shells, starfish, or whatever suits your fancy) in a cabinet, like this:

or this:

For the walls, let's also skip the tired seascape painting, and instead try a collection of coral or shell prints:

or a collection of like finds (although resist the temptation to clutter):

Finally, for another great way to bring the ocean home, we love the idea of planning a refined dinner party outdoors using large shells for bowls. If kept simple, the look is exquisite:

-images via pheoehoward.net, housebeautiful.com, myhomeideas.com.