Shell & Sand Decorating Ideas

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Nautilus Shell Vase

The delicate shape of collected shells and a bag of sand can be more than a reminder of your summer getaway. Cleverly used, they can have many beautiful and practical purposes around the home.
A wide-mouthed, spiral nautilus shell can double as a pearlescent vase for bedroom bouquets.

Nautilus Shell Vase How-To
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Seashell Soap Dish

Want to put your beach finds to practical use? Turn a pair of pretty shells into a soap dish.

Seashell Soap Dish How-To
Photography: Krause, Johansen

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Printed Seashell Pillows

The scallop shell's iconic shape turns pillows into inspired accessories. The linen covers can be store-bought or hand-sewn.

Seashell Pillows How-To
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Metallic Shell Candleholder Centerpiece

A collection of candle-filled shells brings natural charm to the table. Lustrous metallic paint gives them a glamorous look.

Candleholder Centerpiece How-To
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Sand Centerpiece

Light up a table with this sand-and-shell centerpiece. Use candle adhesive to secure slender tapers to the bottom of a clear glass vase. Carefully pour in a few inches of sand, then arrange shells on top. Besides refracting the candlelight for added ambience, the vase will protect the flames from breeze.
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Seashell Lights

A string of beach treasures casts a dreamy glow on a patio or porch. To get the look, decorate a string of small white lights with clean, dry shells. Tape a 2-foot section of lights to your work surface with bulbs lying flat. Apply a thin layer of epoxy along the hinge edge of a shell, and press into place at the base of a light. Repeat for each bulb. Let dry about five minutes before continuing with the next section.
Photography: Ellie Miller

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Shell Salt-and-Pepper Dishes

A half shell was good enough for Botticelli's "The Birth of Venus." Can humble condiments require more? Four clam or scallop shells make a summery set of salt-and-pepper dishes. First, run four shells per set through a dishwasher, secured in the silverware caddy. For the base, turn two shells topside up, and hot-glue them together at the hinge. Glue together the other two shells; then lay them face up and crosswise over the base, and glue.
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Seashell Arrangement

Make waves with an arrangement set in a seashell. The trick is to fit a piece of floral foam inside the shell. Then you can tuck in stems, and they'll stay put. Here, variegated hosta leaves and frilly ferns cup a green-and-white cluster of Queen Anne's lace.You can use a seashell you already have -- the one shown here is a whelk- - or buy one at a crafts store.

Seashell Arrangement How-To
Photography: Wendell T. Webber

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Seashell Night-Light

Substitute the usual plastic shade of a night-light with a shapely beach treasure. Look for shells with a flat surface that you can glue. Sea biscuits, scallops, and sand dollars all work well. Rinse the shell clean or soak in a bucket of water containing a capful of bleach until the shell just turns white. After letting the shell dry completely, apply epoxy glue to a night-light clip, and then press onto flat part of the shell. When dry, attach to socket.
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Shell Mirror

Mercury mirror glass, available at fine glass stores, is well suited to weathered shells. Combine the two to make a beautifully aged mirror.

Shell Mirror How-To
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Photography: Wendell T. Webber

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Shell Sheets

In the summer, crisp white sheets look even more inviting edged with prints made from a few flawlessly shaped scallop shells. Beachcombing for the perfect candidates is half the fun of this project.

Shell Sheets How-To
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Shell-Covered Pots

Embellish clay pots with shells for a beautiful container gardeners will love.

Shell-Covered Pots How-To
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Mussel Shell Wreath

Use a clambake's worth of mussel shells to make this dressed-up summer wreath.

Mussel Shell Wreath How-To
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Oyster Shell Dish

Use this charming oyster shell dish to store jewelry, keys, or any other small item.

Oyster Shell Dish How-To
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Shell Candles

The shells that the ocean cast at your feet this summer -- the ones you so fastidiously collected -- make lovely remembrances of the season with candles formed inside them. Deep shells like scallops, clams, and quahogs work best and burn longest.

Shell Candles How-To
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Seashell Napkins

Even if the only water in sight is in a pitcher, you can still bring the feeling of the beach to your table. Iron these vintage shell designs onto your light-colored linens.

Seashell Napkins How-To
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Shell Bookend

Even when you are relaxing at home, you can still be surrounded by nature. This beachy bookend can be made from a large shell such as a conch, tun, or whelk.

Shell Bookend How-To
Photography: Ellie Miller

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Shell Votives

You can use oversize shells to bring a touch of the seashore -- and a romantic atmosphere -- to an evening at home. We used "lion's paw" shells (Lyropecten nodosus), available inexpensively from online auctions and souvenir shops. Fill a shallow tray with sand, arrange pairs of your prettiest specimens, and place a votive candle at the center of each pair (leaving room for the flames to flicker safely). Set the tray on a low table, and enjoy a quiet drink on the patio.
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Clamshell Wreath

The simple curves and peaceful white hue of clamshells create a rustic wreath for inside or outdoors.

Clamshell Wreath How-To