If the ocean inspires you, you should probably consider surrounding yourself with a room fully themed in nautical décor. This is not to be confused with pirates and underwater motifs. The nautical term has more to do with maritime. Think sailboats, life preservers, and buoys. Creating a theme that is unique and geared towards sailing the seas can be as rewarding as it is challenging. A good place to start is by finding some visual inspiration. A favorite painting or even a magazine article may be something you can draw ideas from. After you have developed some basic ideas, you should think about what kind of furniture you want to use.

When decorating with a nautical decor, the furniture will be an important element of the theme. You don’t need to paint an anchor on your coffee table, but using classic solid pieces will really help your design stand out. Good quality wooden furniture can help you achieve the nautical spirit. You can choose wooden furniture with lots of pine knots as an ode to the deck of a ship. Or you could get a nice dark maple with brass hardware. You can get unfinished wood furniture and choose to stain it yourself or paint it a fresh white. Think about your visual inspiration and try to replicate the colors you see.

Getting key pieces is very important to find other accessories that fit your theme. If you choose the captain’s hat as your key piece, build your color palette around it. A nice mix of navy blue and yellow or gold will help pull the room together nicely. Choose some pretty cushions or perhaps a braided rug in the designated colors. Try not to stray too far from the color palette, but one or two pieces in bold, contrasting colors can help create a creative space.

For a truly nautical themed room, finding the best antiques, hardware, lighting, and wall art will complete the idea. If you’ve gone for a clean, modern look, try finding subtle things like lamps and globes. If you like the old look, then go for decorative lanterns, old wooden chests, and aged books. Finding items to decorate the wall will also help make the space welcoming. The walls don’t have to be completely plastered with nautical-themed art, but it does take a good selection of things to catch the eye. Don’t just think about painting, you can use nautical flags in a border around the top of the room or a framed life jacket as wall art.

The successful creation of a nautical themed room will depend on being able to visualize an entire space. Themed pieces will be easy to buy, but keeping a consistent feel will be difficult if you don’t know where you’re going. Choose a key element to develop a color palette and the rest of the room around it. Getting the right wall art will really make the room pop and help tie the whole room together. As long as you keep your visual inspiration in mind, the decorating process will go smoothly.