Do you want to make your home look like a beach paradise? Here’s your guide to DIY beach decor, including decorative sand and shells.

So, you’ve finally saved up enough money to buy the beach vacation home of your dreams. It’s not only a smart financial decision, it’s also going to bring you and your family tons of happiness over the years.

You can’t wait to sit at your table and enjoy eating homemade crab cakes. You’re beyond excited about relaxing on the comfortable outdoor furniture on your front porch. You’re also thrilled about relaxing in your giant, beach-themed living room.

The only problem?

You don’t actually have any decor ideas yet!

From decorative sand to seashell decorating tips, this post has got you covered. You don’t have to spend a ton of money to make your beach home look like a million bucks.

Instead, try the interior design advice and DIY decorative sand and seashell ideas in this post.

Elevate The Mason Jar

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that mason jars are one of the hottest decor trends of the moment.

Not only are they incredibly affordable, they’ll also multi-functional. Let’s take a look at a few of our favorite DIY crafts with mason jars, seashells, and decorative sand.

Beach-Themed Spice Jars

Looking for a place to store your kitchen spices (especially Old Bay, for when you make your famous shrimp cocktail?) Look no further than the traditional mason jar. Of course, since you’re decorating for a beach home, you’ll want to give it a seaside look.

Tie one of your favorite seashells around the mouth of the jar to give it an extra festive look.

You can poke a hole in the top of a seashell using a needle, if needed. Then, take a piece of raffia ribbon and thread it through the seashell hole. Simply wrap it around the mouth of the jar and finish with an elegant bow that’s visible in the front.

As an added bonus?

These mason jars are an awesome craft activity, and they’re easy for children of any age to complete. This is the perfect activity for a rainy day at the beach!

Decorative Sand Candle Holders

Another awesome craft you can pull off with a mason jar, a freestanding candle, and decorative sand?

Why not make an elegant set of candle holders that can line the centerpiece of your kitchen table or illuminate your windowsill?

This is another craft that’s not only affordable, but so easy that even the most DIY-challenged members of your family can pull it off.

Start by scooping up about a cup of decorative sand in the color of your choice. Look for an option that matches the wall color of your home, or even the accent pillows you’ve chosen for your couch to tie everything together.

If you need to dye the sand yourself, no problem. To make your own decorative sand, put the sand in a ziplock bag and add one teaspoon of food coloring and two teaspoons of — wait for it — antibacterial hand gel.

Then, just shake it up, and let it dry for about twenty minutes on some parchment paper. (If needed, you can score more detailed instructions on making decorative sand here.)

Then, just pour the sand into the base of the mason jar, and toss in your candle. If needed, you can melt a few drops of wax into the decorative sand to create a sturdier base.

Make A Seashell Wreath

We know that there’s nothing more that you and your family love more than collecting beautiful seashells while you go for walks along the beach.

The problem?

You’ve collected so many seashells that it’s starting to feel like they’re overtaking your entire beach home!

Instead of throwing them out (and risking meltdowns from the youngest members of your family) use them in a DIY craft project instead.

Clamshells will work especially well for this type of wreath, since they’re more even and easier to place than other kinds of shells.

Also pick up some hot glue, wind wire, nails, and a wreath in the size of your choice to act as a base. Pick up some straw to fill the metal wreath, if needed.

Once you’ve filled your wreath with straw, wrap your wind wire around it about once every half-inch.

Then, put hot glue on the inside of your clamshells, and get ready to rim them around the wreath. It might take a few tries to position everything perfectly. For best results, start with the larger shells on the outside, and work with smaller ones on the interior of the wreath.

Let it dry for a few hours, and then hang it on your front door to welcome guests to your home!

Decorative Sand And Seashell Bookends

Let’s face it: few things are better than a beach read.

From trashy romance novels that you wouldn’t be caught dead reading anywhere else to international bestsellers? We know that all you need is the sand, the sun, and a good book to be happy.

Of course, you’re not exactly going to take your e-reader down to the beach with you. What if high tide suddenly sneaks up on you, ruining your electronics? Or even worse, what if your e-reader dies right as you’re getting to the really juicy part of the novel?

This means that you probably own a lot of paperbacks. And while we all love that old book smell, we don’t always love storing rows and rows of books.

The good news?

Decorative sand, vases, and seashells can help you to elevate the look of your bookshelves and serve as bookends in the process.

They’re also quick and easy to create!

How To Make Your Bookends

Start by pouring decorative sand in the base of your vase.

When you’re choosing a vase, consider going for a more elegant, spherical option. Pour enough sand so that you’re certain that the bookends will be able to support the weight of your favorite reads.

Pro tip: for hardback books, use more sand.

Then, once you’ve spread an even layer of decorative sand across the base? It’s time to start arranging your seashells.

You can simply pour an assortment of shells on top of the sand for a more casual look. Or, you can arrange your seashells in a pattern to create a seashell zen garden in your vase.

Sand Unity Vases For Special Occasions

The final craft on our list of the things that you can do with sand is perfect for the most special of all seaside occasions — the beach wedding.

Many couples today love the idea of having a sand unity ceremony as a part of their wedding. Essentially, each member of the couple takes a handful of sand from the beach, and then places it inside of a vase or jar, symbolizing the joining of their two lives together.

You can use sand as well — especially if you’re not interested in getting your hands dirty on your wedding day!

Or, you can simply use the steps we mentioned above to dye the sand two different colors — one for each member of the couple. Plus, this allows you to create awesome patterns with the sand once you display it in a vase.

And speaking of displaying it?

Many couples choose to use a special commemorative sand ceremony kit that comes with a beautiful glass jar and display stand.

We think this makes a stunning — and not to mention, moving — addition to any themed beach decor. Put it next to a row of pictures from your wedding day, and even include some scattered seashells you collected at your seaside wedding on the same shelf.

Which Of These Decorative Sand And Seashell Decor Ideas Will You Try?

We hope that this post has helped you to realize that you don’t need to spend a ton of money in order to decorate your beach home like a professional.

With a little sand and some seashells that you’ve collected on the beach? You have all the materials you need to turn your house into a home.

Looking for even more decorating ideas? Need some inspiration and advice when it comes to the best places to buy your vacation home? Want to learn more about how to look your best while on the beach?

We’ve got you covered.

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