Nautical Decor Ideas: A Vintage Coastal Corner You’ll Love

Looking to add a touch of coastal charm to your home?

These nautical decor ideas bring vintage style to life in a cozy corner of our coastal Maine living room.

Inspired by a whimsical farm stand bouquet and styled with antique seabirds, thrifted finds, and sailboat-themed textiles, this space captures the essence of seaside nostalgia in every detail.

Nautical Decor Elements for a Cozy Vintage Coastal Look

Nautical decor, coastal style, beachy vibes—whatever you call it, it’s all about bringing the charm of the seaside into your home. Whether you’re lucky enough to live by the water or just love the look, nautical decor adds a breezy, relaxed feel that’s perfect for vintage styling. Think stripes, seaside treasures, and natural textures that feel like summer all year long. Here are some easy ways to add nautical flair to your favorite corners.

How to Create a Nautical Decor Corner with Vintage Coastal Charm

How to Bring a Nautical Theme Home?

Let’s chat about garlic scapes, nautical vases, sea birds, driftwood, Dawson’s paintings, vintage dressers, blues and reds, drapes, pillows, and more!

Unexpected Nautical Inspiration from a Farm Stand Find

You never know where your home decor inspiration will come from—am I right? For this cozy nautical corner in our coastal Maine living room, it all started with a simple bouquet I picked up at a roadside farm stand.

Nestled inside? A mix of dill and garlic scapes that not only smelled like summer but looked wonderfully whimsical in a vintage silver champagne bucket.

Coastal Vases That Double as Nautical Candle Holders

A week later, most of the bouquet had wilted—but those garlic scapes? Still going strong. Their twisty, sculptural shapes had me swooning, and I knew they needed a special home. That’s when I spotted the tall blue glass vases I picked up from one of my favorite local spots, The Shops at Cape Neddick.

These coastal vases are tall, elegant, and totally nautical.

And here’s the best part: flip them over and they double as candlestick holders!

I use the taller set here in Maine, and I keep a smaller set up in Vermont, styled with candles or candies depending on the season.

Double-duty decor for the win!

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These whimsical garlic scapes and coastal blue vases set the tone for this entire nautical decor vignette. From here, I leaned into vintage charm—seabirds, driftwood, nautical prints, and a classic red, white, and blue color palette.

Decorating with Vintage Seabirds and Driftwood

One of my favorite parts of this nautical decor corner is a collection of vintage seabirds perched on aged driftwood—each one once part of my mother’s cherished coastal collection.

These sweet sculptures add instant seaside charm and a nostalgic nod to beachcombing days gone by.

Placed on a vintage wooden dresser beneath soft blue garlic scapes, the driftwood textures and weathered paint tones help create a relaxed, layered look that’s full of coastal character.

Why I Collect Montague Dawson Nautical Paintings

Hanging above this coastal corner is a framed sailing ship print by Montague Dawson, one of my favorite maritime artists to collect. Dawson (1890–1973) was a British painter known for his dramatic depictions of 18th- and 19th-century sailing ships—his work captures that classic nautical spirit so beautifully.

I found this piece, titled Neck and Neck, during a day of antiquing down east in Maine, and later stumbled upon another Dawson print, A Winning Tack, for under $30 while treasure-hunting in Vermont.

Both now hang in our coastal Maine home and bring that weathered, seafaring charm I love. The soft pastel colors, aged matting, and vintage frames feel right at home in this space.

Nautical Curtains with a Vintage Yacht Story

These nautical drapes are one of my all-time favorite vintage finds—and they come with quite the backstory. Originally custom-made for a yacht in the 1970s, they’re decked out in bold red, white, and blue with classic sailboats and ship wheels (also called helms!) woven right into the pattern.

I discovered them at an antique shop, and the moment I saw them, I knew they were meant for our living room in coastal Maine.

Not only did they fit our windows perfectly—like they were made for the space—but they brought instant charm, color, and conversation to the room.

They’re not your everyday curtains, and that’s exactly why I love them. One-of-a-kind vintage drapes like these can completely transform a room and infuse it with personality and nautical flair.

Learn more of these curtains in this Coastal Curtains for Living Room: A Nautical Vintage Story post.

Decorating with Vintage Dressers in a Coastal Living Room

If there’s one piece I can’t live without in home decorating, it’s a vintage dresser. I truly have one in every room—living room, bedrooms, bathrooms, even the sunroom! They add instant warmth, character, and a collected-over-time look that works beautifully with nautical decor.

You can find vintage dressers and antique bureaus in all shapes and sizes, often for under $100 at thrift stores and secondhand shops.

In this coastal Maine corner, a wooden dresser anchors the space beneath vintage seabirds, nautical curtains, and my beloved Montague Dawson painting.

Add a thrifted lamp, a round nautical pillow, and some antique artwork, and you’ve got a cozy little vignette full of story and charm.

You may also enjoy a couple more of these posts all about vintage dressers:

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Styling with Antique Easels and Nautical Wall Art

One of my favorite ways to add depth and charm to a coastal corner is with an antique easel and a vintage seaside painting. I picked up this wooden easel last summer while antiquing at Cabot Mills in down east Maine, and I love moving it around the room.

Right now, it’s holding a beautiful lighthouse painting I thrifted—another piece that adds to our nautical decor story.

II hope this quaint little corner of nautical decor with its vintage wow factor sparked a bit of inspiration for your own home today. Whether you’re styling with shorebirds, driftwood, vintage sailboat paintings, or even a few whimsical garlic scapes in a coastal vase, it’s all about creating spaces that feel personal, cozy, and full of seaside charm.

Nautical decor is about more than just anchors and ship wheels—it’s about crafting a peaceful, refreshing atmosphere that reminds us of the sea. By incorporating vintage pieces, coastal colors, and meaningful treasures, you can bring that laid-back ocean breeze indoors and enjoy it all year long.

More Nautical Decor Ideas from Around Our Home:

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Shop The Nautical Look

Want to bring this cozy coastal style into your own home? Here are a few pieces similar to what I’ve used in this vintage nautical decor corner.

This post may contain affiliate links, which won’t change your price but will share some commission.