Home and office: finding boating theme decor

Many boating enthusiasts like to decorate a home or office around a nautical theme. Boating theme decor can be found in many different types of shops, and sometimes unexpected treasures can be discovered in unlikely places. Keeping an eye out for nautical decor while shopping becomes second nature to one who is intent on finding just the right accessories for the perfectly decorated room, whether one prefers antiques or a more modern look.

Developing a plan for the room to be decorated with a boating theme is a good first step. Too many accessories will sometimes make the room have a cluttered appearance unless a collection is grouped on shelves, a table, or other platform, so deciding just what kind of nautical accessories one wants is important. Many fabrics can be found with a boating motif, so check furniture stores for sofas and chairs, and department stores for curtains, pillows, comforters, towels, and other linens. Throw rugs, tapestries, and coverlets are also available in nautical styles at department stores, from catalogs, and online shops, and framed pictures, photos, shadowboxes, tin signs, and other wall hangings could also be selected. Shop for these at antique shops, galleries, and at specialty shops, especially those found in coastal areas.

Boating accessories are readily available, and there is a wide variety from which to choose. Shops that sell home decor usually have some items with nautical themes, and antique and junk shops will often yield unusual or one-of-a-kind items. Some popular boating-themed accessories include models of schooners, or ships in a bottle, lamps with a lighthouse or ship model base, water globes containing nautical scenes, curio shelves in a rowboat or canoe shape, and small crystal sailboats. Other accessories include brass ship lanterns, brass hourglass timers, wooden ships' wheels, anchors, ships' bells, brass portholes made into clocks, and mirrors that reflect a boating theme.

To achieve an uncluttered look, concentrate on finding a couple of large, unique pieces, several medium-sized pieces, or a number of small, grouped items. For instance, a real estate office in a coastal area could have a large rowboat-shaped shelf system to hold brochures, a ship's life preserver as a door hanging, various ship models on each desk, and paintings on nautical subjects to decorate on a boating theme. Found materials, or actual fishing and boating gear, can be used as decorations also, so browse at hardware, marine, and sporting stores for reasonably priced items. A few lobster traps stacked outside a door, wind chimes made from fishing lures, or a tole-painted oar could welcome visitors in a nautical way.

Beach or lake cottages are often decorated using a boating theme; one room could be chosen for the theme, or accessories could be spread throughout the home. Bathroom and kitchen accessories are readily available in shops specializing in home decor; nautical-themed wallpaper and wallpaper borders can be found in home supply stores and online, and towels, shower curtains, soap dishes, platters, mugs, and other bath and kitchen items can be found at most department and discount stores to accent the boating theme.

While many inexpensive nautical-themed items suitable for casual decorating can be found in discount stores and mall shops, more expensive accessories of higher quality can be found in antique shops, furniture stores, art galleries, book stores, and from private dealers and online auctions. A painting of a nautical scene, a first edition copy of a book on a boating subject, an exquisite scrimshaw box, or a signed photo of a well-known boating enthusiast would be examples of higher quality accessories that would complement a boating theme. As too many accessories on the same theme can overwhelm a room, choosing accessories that blend in with the existing decor but still show the boating interest is wise.

Many boating enthusiasts find items to use in decorating while traveling, and objects that have a good story behind them are always more interesting. A collection of photos of family members on boating expeditions always makes a nice display; put the photos in similar frames and arrange on a wall, or use out-of-the-ordinary frames arranged on a table or mantle for smaller photos. It's really not hard to decorate using a boating theme if a little planning is done beforehand, and collections that take years to accumulate are usually among the most prized.