Decorating your Mantle with a Coastal Feel!

In creating your coastal-inspired mantle, you’ll want to focus on the serene colors of the shore – soft blue, aqua, sand, beige, white, weathered gray and even shell pink.

Be careful not to choose everything with shells on it! Choosing a few simple pieces with a shell design or adorned with shells and adding other pieces in coastal colors and textures will create a more appealing combination.

For the wall area above the mantle you can use a beveled edge mirror in a coastal color. Depending on the size of your mantle, your might opt to add a vertical swag adorned with shells on each side of the mirror.

Alternatively, you may want to consider a large wreath adorned with shells (we suggest a 22" or larger size). Wall sconces in wood or metal in a serene coastal color are an excellent choice for each side of your coastal wreath.

For the mantle itself, you’ll want to display items with a coastal theme along with items in coastal colors and textures.

Nantucket baskets - just plain or filled with shells and grasses - will give your mantle a terrific coastal feel. Another fabulous selection is a coastal arrangement filled with silk greenery and laden with shells and starfish.

Large starfish and shells, real or resin, are excellent choices!

A picture frame containing a coastal scene print or photograph is also a perfect accent for your mantel. Try just leaning it against the wall rather than standing it upright. Some of the best choices are whitewashed or gray weathered wood frames. You may also want to consider basket frames or frames adorned with shells or a shell design.

Candles and candlesticks are a 'must have' and add a special glimmer to your collection of coastal inspired items when lit. Wooden candlesticks in a coastal color are sometimes the best choice or bring it up a notch with some shell adorned candlesticks and votive candles

Add a weathered shore bird for a superb coastal accent.

Some other items you might find suitable for your coastal-inspired mantel are shell covered balls (sit them on a candle plate), a shell bag vase or a shell topiary.

Have fun creating a showcase coastal-inspired mantel and enjoy all the compliments!

For all your nautical, coastal and tropical home decor needs visit Blue Barnacles at www.bluebarnacles.com

Tropical Decor with Pizzazz!

If you like the feel of a tropical oasis but want to opt for a more upscale and colorful look rather than the browns and greens typical of much tropical decor, try decorating around a stunning black area rug featuring bright tropical designs!

For a gorgeous tropical design area rug that will get you off on the right track, our Parrots Area Rug by Safavieh featuring colorful parrots and tropical vegetation on a black background is a wonderful choice. Adding black painted furniture will really set your color scheme in motion.

Complement your room with colorful lamps that have a tropical appeal such as our Green or Red Shutter Lamps. Add a black framed mirror such as our Black Beveled Frame Mirror to set off the colorful accents.

For a final touch you might want to consider hand made metal wall art in colorful parrot designs. Our Green Military Macaw and Scarlet Macaw Metal Wall Hangings are hand cut from recycled steel 55 gallon drums and hammered to create texture and a rounded life-like appearance.

Put it all together and you'll have a beautiful, upscale and colorful tropical-inspired room you're sure to love!

For all your nautical, coastal and tropical home decor needs visit Blue Barnacles at www.bluebarnacles.com