A close up of shell decor on a wall outside

DESIGN STORIES

Swoony Shells

Decorating a home with shells and shell-inspired decor can stir up evocative memories of sand and sun-filled holidays. Although they certainly fit in a summer home or a home styled for summer, who says they can’t remain a part of the home all year long? If they conjure romance and emotion for you, then feel free to sprinkle them around your home as decorative objects, wall decor, tableware, furniture, and even as fashion.

Decorative table setting with shells, bowls of snacks, candles, and plates for a meal.

Shells as Serving Dishes

First off, start thinking of shells as functional objects. Clam shells and scallops in particular, but others as well, make ideal vessels for serving and of course adding a whimsical decorative touch on your table.

Vianca Soleil shows how to use clam shells for serving various sides in a family style setting (left). The simple scallop shell takes on multiple uses (below, from left) — as a butter dish, an oil holder, and for salt & pepper.

A shell with a serving of creamy, white cheese on a small paper dish, placed on a round table with a glass of water nearby.

A table with a vase of pink and white flowers, a plate of assorted snacks including grapes, sliced bread, and vegetables, and some glasses.

Table set outdoors with a white tablecloth, a large white and blue hydrangea bouquet, shell decorations, two glasses of water, a folded beige and white striped napkin, a plate, and silverware. Green garden with purple flowers and stone wall in the background.

Images from left: tumblr, @kirthanaa, Sense of Spencer

Anais Double Concha Algae ($33 at Carolina Irving & Daughters)

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FOLLOW ALONG

A golden-brown muffin on a decorative ceramic plate, placed on a white lace doily on a wooden table.

Shells as Tableware and Food

Shell shapes and designs can be a fun way to invert guests expectations and surprise and delight at a dinner party.

One way to do that is with shell-shaped molds — use them to create butter, madeleines or whatever your imagination comes up with.

Another option is through the dish itself. Set the table with plates, oyster plates, and serving plates with ornate shell details.

Image: Gohar World

Hand Painted Blue & White Flowers and Shells Dinner Plate ($63 at The Well Appointed House)

Vintage Majolica Style Shell Serving Platter Plate ($148 at Chairish)

Heavy Duty 9 Cup Madeleine Shell Mold ($12.99 at Amazon)

Vintage Apilco France White Shell Porcelain Dishes, Set of 3 ($72 at Chairish)

Vintage Copper Shell shaped Jelly Mold ($16 at Etsy)

Vintage Green Majolica Oyster Plate by Longchamp ($125 at Chairish)

A still life of seashell dishes with a drink glass, green olives, and a cigarette on a light-colored surface.

Shells as Barware

When I first saw this shell martini glass by Centa Project, I was smitten and I needed to track it down. (I wound up making my own but that’s a story for another time.) Whether as a glass, an ice bucket, cocktail stirrer, or coaster, shells add a little fun to cocktail hour. Bonus: using extra scallop shells to serve olives and if so inclined, as an ash tray.

“Nautilus” Salmon Vinyl and Lucite Ice Bucket ($27 at Chairish)

Shell Swizzle Sticks ($98 at The Well Appointed House)

Beach Shells Letterpresses Coasters ($30 at The Well Appointed House)

A collection of perfume bottles, jewelry, and decorative items on a beige surface, including a bottle of Byredo Gypsy Water perfume, a Chanel Coco perfume, a small glass container with dried flowers or potpourri, a ceramic dish with gold jewelry, and a glass vase with a decorative plate or lid behind it.

Shells as Decorative Objects

Shell-inspired accents are a wonderful way to add character and charm to your home decoration. There really is no limit to how they can show up from delicate dishes or a box on a dressing table to a candle holder or a vase on a console table. Especially if they are made of substantial materials, like brass, concrete, or porcelain, they will look sophisticated enough for a non-beach home, all year long.

Image: A miniature vase holds bits of pink corral and shells by Sense of Spencer

Decorative Assortment of Mixed Shells ($130 at The Well Appointed House)

Cowrie Shell Stash Box ($20 at Jayson Home)

Concrete Shell (starting at $20 at Jayson Home)

Pectin Noblis Plate ($35 at Jayson Home)

Blue Shell Decoupage Wastebasket ($135 at The Well Appointed House)

Doing Goods, Scarlett Recycled Brass Candlestick ($60 at Smallable)

Blue Nautilus Plate ($75 at Jayson Home)

Vintage Brass Shell Planter ($225 at Chairish)

A cozy dining room with a wooden table, two chairs, and a yellow half-wall and door. On the table, there is a beige tablecloth with lemons and a large wooden bowl. A decorative shell-shaped wall sconce is on the white wall above.

Shells as Wall Decor and Lighting

Perhaps one of my favorite examples of using shells as decor is with wall decor and lighting. Sconces shaped like shells, in brass or plaster, offer beautiful decoration while also providing light. There are so many ways to use shells in wall decor that does not scream ‘beach house’ as well, like as a shell encrusted mirror in an elegant bathroom or entry, or framed artwork depicting (or made of) shells, or wall brackets that can be used to display plates or statues.

Image: Emma Milne

Vintage Large Brass Copper Shell Candle Wall Sconce ($47.96 at Etsy)

Vintage Terracotta Shell Brackets ($325 at Chairish)

Living room with a white sofa, decorative pillows, a coffee table with books and a blue bowl, a side table with a blue lamp and a flower arrangement, a wall hanging with a floral tapestry, and a white wall sculpture.

A dining area opening into a kitchen with black and white checkered flooring, green walls, and decorative pink fan-shaped wall art.

Decorative bathroom mirror with a seashell and bead frame, floral arrangement in a glass vase on a marble sink, patterned wallpaper, and wall-mounted light fixtures.

Images from left: @elizabethhaydesign; @la_cotte_farm, shell wall decor by @shellegance; desiretoinspire.net, (photography by James McDonald)

"Fiji Shells in Pink Clay" Giclee Print ($100 at Chairish)

Vintage Seashell Encrusted Mirror ($425 at Charish)

Antique Lithograph of Scallops Sea Shells ($225 at Chairish)

Riviera Shell Framed Wall Art ($483 at Chairish)

A cozy library or reading room with wooden bookshelves filled with books. A large framed portrait of a man hangs on the wall above a marble-topped table that has decorative items like a bust, a shell-shaped object, and a lamp with an adjustable arm. There's a vintage armchair with dark upholstery in the foreground and additional books stacked on the floor and on the table.

Shells as Furniture

Shell motifs, often inspired by grotto imagery, lend themselves to ornate and very beautiful furniture. They may be carved into wood to create a chair or table, printed on fabric used in upholstery, or shaped into marble for a sink. These accents act as a statement piece of design when surrounded by other more traditional pieces to avoid looking coastal themed.

Image: Pierre Le Tan

Grosfeld House Shell Console ($4250 at Chairish)

Mid 20th Century Vintage Italian Hand Carved Grotto Chair ($535 at Chairish)

Clam Shell Natural Stone Sink, Real White Marble Design Sink ($1200 at Etsy)

Vintage Steve Chase Slipper Chairs With Chrome Base ($1600 at Chairish)

A rustic bathroom sink with a scallop-shaped basin, a faucet, a natural sponge, a soap dish, and a small bouquet of pink flowers on the side.

Four white decorative shells on pedestals lined up against a weathered beige wall with a black hanging lantern above on a checkered tile floor.

Close-up of a woman wearing a spiral shell necklace on a black cord around her neck.

Shells as Fashion Accessory

Design is design, whether it’s adorning your home or your body. Just as shells are a unique home accent, they add a stunning touch to an outfit, worn as jewelry or detailing a piece of clothing. A little goes a long way, and it’s the type of design that is timeless.

Image: Lili Claspe