6 Ways to Reuse Seashells Around Your Home

If you love coastal style, there’s no reason not to incorporate actual seashells into your home as decor—and it doesn’t matter whether you actually live by the water or just wish that you did. Interior designers love how shells can add charm and character to any space.

“I love the idea of incorporating seashells and pieces of coral into your home decor as an authentic way to add a touch of coastal flare,” Kathy Kuo, the founder of Kathy Kuo Home, says. “Shells collected from past trips to special beaches are a lovely way to infuse those memories into your home.”

Plus, the designer adds, shells complement a wide mix of colors and add an organic touch to any room. Sarah Horton, a home content creator, expresses similar thoughts. Horton explains how shells and coral can add a personal touch to any space and are perfect for a relaxed layered look. She’s picked them up by hand or even at antique shops.

If you’re looking for a variety of clever ways to integrate seashells into your home, keep reading. We’re sharing six simple, stylish solutions that you won’t want to miss.

Add Decorative Flair to Tables and Shelves

One of the designers’ favorite ways to incorporate seashells into the home is by displaying them on accent shelving or other surfaces as decor.

“I love to go by the rule of threes in decor vignettes—one vertical item, one horizontal, and one sculptural item,” Kuo says. “An oversized conch or clamshell is a perfect sculptural item to complete any decor triad.”

Kuo recommends using larger shells for this purpose. But if you have lots of smaller shells on hand, you can still get creative and display them another way, such as by placing them inside a decorative bowl, the designer suggests.

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Bring Coastal Charm to the Kitchen

Shells don’t just look nice in the main living spaces, they can also add charm to a kitchen and help to ensure that a coastal theme remains present throughout the house.

Lorna Gross, the founder of Lorna Gross Interior Design, recommends not placing shells too closely together wherever you choose to display them.

“Leave enough space around each shell to appreciate its unique beauty,” Gross says. “Complement seashells with other seaside elements such as coral, glass bottles, whitewashed and distressed woods, and natural or sea creature-inspired objet d’art like seahorses and starfish.”

In terms of hues that look nice alongside seashells, Gross is partial to soft blues and yellows which evoke seaside colors like the water and the sun.

Use Shell-Style Chandeliers

As you shop for lighting for your home, keep an eye out for fixtures that incorporate shells into their design; this is quite common.

Allison Kaminsky, the founder of Lola Tucker Interiors, loves chandeliers and lighting fixtures with seashells because they cast beautiful shadows in a space and bring a touch of coastal charm. They’ll be both beautiful and functional.

Upgrade a Lamp Base

Not looking to majorly overhaul your lighting situation? A crafty hack like this one is an ideal alternative.

When designing a vacation rental owned by a client who collects shells, Jessica Duce, founder of JDuce Design and the Vacation Rental Designers Collective, knew that she wanted to incorporate them into the space. She chose to place them inside of a clear glass lamp so they could be easily integrated into the design scheme.

Get Creative With Planters

Rather than sticking with traditional ceramic planters in the front porch or yard, think a bit outside the box and fill giant clam shells with succulents or other green friends, Kaminsky suggests.

“These natural containers add a coastal touch to indoor or outdoor gardens and make for eye-catching decor,” she says.

Try a Shell to Corral Essentials

Living in Newport Beach, California, Horton has always enjoyed weaving shells into her space to reflect her coastal surroundings. Here, a large, empty seashell sitting on her dresser top serves as an ideal holder for house keys, daily jewelry, and other items that need to be stored in a safe yet accessible manner.