More than one-third of people in the United States — over 120 million — live in coastal or waterfront counties. For these people, decorating their homes can be a tough task, as there are limited themes that fit such a lifestyle: It’s nautical decorations or bust.
The home furnishing and decor industry is closing in on being worth $100 billion in the United States alone, so people are willing to spend money for the right look. In these coastal areas, the options for nautical decorations are numerous — some of them are more subtle than others.
While using treated wood or weather-beaten styles for tables, walls, and furniture can help achieve a nautical look, there are more glaring and fun examples. A common sight is a life preserver on the wall or a nautical clock in the shape of a wooden ship wheel. Or, if you’re feeling overly brave, you can swap out a clock shaped like a wheel for an actual decorative ship wheel — you could really lean in and go for pirate decorations all around!
Most people in the United States actually dislike their home decor; only about 20% are happy with it. This means you’re not alone if you feel hesitant about redecorating. However, it’s not all bad. A majority of both men and women would rather shop for their homes than shop for shoes.
So what do you do if you want these nautical decorations in your home? Get out there and find them, of course. If you’re a store-browser, local retailers in coastal cities tend to eat up this style. If you’re willing to pay a little extra, seek out the small businesses who offer handmade, locally sourced items. If you’d rather get a deal, major retailers are aware of what’s popular — a Google search of “nautical decorations” brings up millions upon millions of results. You can simply choose a retailer that you trust.
Be sure to detemrine how “into” the nautical theme you’d like to get. While pricey, a small replica sailboat can be a good jumping-off point and is not as intrusive as some of the larger objects you might find. A giant globe, an old timey map, or a full-sized oar/paddle on the wall would be more cumbersome, but would also add to the feel of a waterfront lodge.
There are countless ways to go with nautical decorations, it’s up to you how deep you want to dive in.
