A Coastal Home Isn't Complete Without A Decorative DIY Sea Mantle

Coastal interior design draws on natural elements like sand, surf, and sky to bring maritime color and serenity into the home. If you want to decorate your home like a beach house, nothing says seaside charm like a collection of shells and starfish. The question is, where to put them? A crackling fire is a staple in any nautical homestead and the perfect spot for these ornaments. Rather than sitting them on top of the hearth, create a custom shore-inspired mantle using furnace cement and a little creativity.

In this stunning nautical DIY, you'll bring the ocean into your home by permanently adhering collected shells to a portion of your fireplace. It sounds challenging, but for Instagram user, Clare Sullivan, the results speak for themselves. To achieve the look, she masked off a section of her mantle, spackled it with cement, and affixed starfish, conches, and clams in a preplanned pattern. Check out how to get the look yourself with a little initiative and an eye for beachy design.

Bring the beach into your home with this adorable DIY sea mantle. All you need to start is a collection of assorted shells, some high-heat furnace cement, like the 32-ounce containers at The Home Depot for $7.98, and a roll of painter's tape, also at The Home Depot for $5.98. Make sure the bonding agent used is designed for high temperatures if it's going on a working fireplace. For the embellishments, you can collect them during beach excursions, or purchase them from craft stores. Michaels has a multipack for $8.99. Once you've gathered your coastal supplies, it's time to transform the hearth.

Begin by deciding on the design you want for your shells. Lay them out ahead of time to be sure you like the look. You may even want to add in some other oceanfront decorations, such as sea glass or driftwood. Amazon sells the glass for $9.99. Next, tape off the section of the mantle you want to cover. Apply the cement and add your decor. The bonding dries slowly but holds well, so take your time to perfect the motif. The finished look is a custom maritime statement piece that will turn your living room into a beachy escape.