Quaint Nautical Decor Corner With primitive antiques including a red chair, wooden dresser and coastal prints.

Do you love coastal, nautical, and vintage decor? Today, I’m sharing how I created a quaint little nautical corner in our home’s living room in Coastal Maine with that vintage wow factor.

Nautical Decor

Nautical decor, also known as coastal or beach-inspired decor, is a popular interior design style that draws inspiration from the sea, ships, and coastal elements. It evokes a sense of relaxation, tranquility, and a connection to the ocean. Whether you live by the coast or simply want to bring a beachy vibe into your home, nautical decor can create a serene and breezy atmosphere.

Here are some key elements and ideas to incorporate nautical decor into your living space:

  • Colors: Nautical decor typically revolves around a palette of whites, blues, and neutrals. Think crisp white walls, navy blue accents, and sandy beige tones. These colors mimic the hues of the ocean and sandy beaches.
  • Stripes and Patterns: Stripes are a classic nautical motif. Incorporate them into your decor through striped rugs, pillows, or even wallpaper. Other patterns commonly found in nautical decor include anchors, sailboats, and seashells.
  • Natural Materials: To bring in a coastal feel, opt for natural materials such as jute, rattan, and weathered wood. Wicker furniture, rope accents, and driftwood decor pieces can add texture and warmth to your space.
  • Nautical Accessories: Incorporate nautical accessories to complete the look. Hang a ship’s wheel on the wall, display vintage maritime maps or navigational instruments, and use rope or netting as decorative elements. Seashells, coral, and starfish can be displayed in glass jars or used as accents in a centerpiece.
  • Anchors and Sails: Incorporate elements from sailing and boating, such as anchor motifs or sail-inspired decor. Hang a large anchor on a wall or use small anchor-shaped hooks to hang towels or hats. Consider using sailcloth as curtains or upholstery fabric.
  • Lighting: Use lighting fixtures that resemble lanterns or marine-inspired fixtures like porthole-style wall sconces. Soft, warm lighting can create a cozy and inviting atmosphere.
  • Nautical Artwork: Hang coastal-themed artwork on your walls to enhance the nautical ambiance. Paintings or prints depicting sailboats, lighthouses, or beach scenes can add a touch of coastal charm.
  • Textiles: Choose fabrics that evoke a relaxed, beachy feel. Lightweight linen or cotton curtains, throw pillows with marine-inspired prints, and striped or anchor-patterned bedding can all contribute to the nautical aesthetic.
  • Seating and Furniture: Opt for comfortable seating with a casual beachy vibe. Wicker or rattan chairs, slip-covered sofas, or Adirondack chairs can create a laid-back coastal look. Choose furniture pieces with a weathered or distressed finish for a more authentic feel.
  • Nautical Details: Finally, don’t forget the small details that can make a big impact. Display glass jars filled with sand and seashells, use nautical-themed hooks for hanging towels or coats and incorporate coastal-inspired signage or quotes.

Nautical Decor Vintage Inspired

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!

Garlic Scapes – Unusual Nautical Decor

And it was all inspired by this garlic scapes flower bouquet that I picked up at a roadside farm stand last week. You never know where your inspiration may come from, am I right?

Antique coastal vibe furniture in living room corner.

You see, the flower bouquet included dill and garlic scapes, which also projected a captivating summer fragrance.

You may see and read more in the Irresistible New England Antique Barn Sale | Budget Friendly post.

Nautical Glass Vases

However, a week later, the flowers had wilted, but the garlic scapes were still hardy and thriving. They were whimsical, and I loved their natural beauty.

And staring right at me were these two tall coastal vases I had purchased at one of my favorite local shops, The Shops at Cape Neddick. They were the perfect pieces to display tall garlic scapes in.

Blue glass vase filling with water in sink.

What I also love about these nautical vases is that if you tip them upside down, you can add a candle, turning them into candleholders.

Yeah, for a dual purpose!

I have a tall set and another smaller set back in Vermont.

Nautical Candle Sticks

You may also enjoy How to Repurpose an Oil Lamp into a Unique Flowers Vase post.

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

These nautical vases/candleholders, now displaying the garlic scapes, create a sense of whimsy with a root of summertime essence.

Garlic Scapes in Nautical Vase

You may be inspired by this Antiquing 101: A Guide From the Trail post.

Vintage Nautical Sea Birds & Driftwood

A scattering of vintage sea birds on old driftwood that were once my mother’s collections cast an affection for the sea and a desired coastal quaintness.

Nautical sea birds with garlic scapes in vases.

You may also be inspired by this Plant Decor in Living Room Book Nook post.

Montague Dawson Painting

The sailing painting on the wall is by Montague Dawson and is thrifted.

Montague Dawson RSMA, FRSA (1890–1973) was a British painter who was renowned as a maritime artist. His famous paintings depict sailing ships, usually clippers or warships of the 18th and 19th centuries.

I found this Dawson framed print while Antiquing Down East, A Day’s Jaunt last summer. It was a steal, too… This one is called “Neck and Neck.”

Quaint Nautical Decor Corner With a Vintage Wow Factor

And then I found another framed Dawson print for under $30 when I was antiquing in Vermont, which now hangs in our adjacent Maine dining room, named “A Winning Tack.”

You may also enjoy the 21 Vintage Finds: 4 Days Thrifting in Coastal Maine post.

Check out this vintage haul from back in April when I found it in the 38 Antique Flower Arrangements & One Vintage Student Plant Press post.

I’m also looking to find more of Dawson’s paintings. The pastel colors, aged mats, and antique frames fit so beautifully into the theme of this old coastal home.

You may also enjoy A Bernese Mountain Dog & The Gift of a Whale post.

Nautical Drapes

You may also enjoy the Coastal Curtains for Living Room: A Nautical Vintage Story post. These blue and red sailboat drapes are one of my favorite thrifted finds. They were originally custom-made for a yacht back in the ’70s.

Nautical Drapes in Window

Vintage Dressers

Decorating with vintage dressers, I can honestly say I have one in every room in our home.

Old bureaus come in all shapes and sizes and are an effortless way to add cozy warmth and charm to a corner, bedroom, bathroom, dining room, sunroom, etc.

You can also find them very affordably at thrift stores and second-hand shops. I don’t think I’ve paid over $100 for any of our vintage dressers.

Quaint Nautical Decor Corner With a Vintage Wow Factor

Oh, and the lamp and round nautical pillow are also thrifted…

What color furniture goes well with a coastal living room? At our home, I embrace blues and reds with vintage woods. And the living room sectional is classic linen with navy blue woven throughout. It is also a slipcover, so it can be easily washed and feels like summer. I have also found that light blues and pastels go well with a pop of red for color.

Quaint Nautical Decor Corner With a Vintage Wow Factor
Summer Ready Coastal Maine Home Living Room

You may see more of this Coastal Maine home’s living room in posts like:

Christmas Old Colonial Fireplace, Hearth, and Mantel

Beachcombing, Blue Mussels, and an Antique Bowl

Cozy Couch Moments

This antique easel with a lighthouse painting is regularly moved around in this room. I picked it up last summer at Cabot Mill Antiques in Downeast, Maine.

Quaint Nautical Decor Corner With a Vintage Wow Factor

I hope this quaint little nautical decor corner with that vintage wow factor inspired you today. Whether adding shore birds, driftwood, shells, nautical paintings, or garlic scapes to your favorite vase, it’s all about what makes our homes cozy and enjoyable for each one of us.

I’m so glad you dropped by, and if you are new to my blog, welcome! I hope you enjoyed visiting our Home in Coastal Maine with us today.

Quaint Nautical Decor Corner With a Vintage Wow Factor

Nautical decor is all about creating a soothing and refreshing atmosphere reminiscent of the sea. By incorporating these elements and ideas, you can bring the coastal charm into your home and enjoy a relaxing and breezy ambiance year-round.

A Vintage Affair

If you have any thoughts, comments, or suggestions, I’d love to hear from you. Please share in the comments below. And be sure to share this blog post link with your friends who are also vintage enthusiasts.

Do you have a flair for all things vintage, too? I would love to see and feature you in our Reader’s Showcase Series. A place for you to share and be recognized for your talents and passion for all things thrifting, vintage, and antique decor-related inspired by your time here with Dabbling & Decorating. Email me at annck@dabblinganddecorating.com

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13 Comments

  1. Teresa Brown says:

    I am a nautical enthusiast so I like it all.

  2. Charming and uplifting without resorting to corny, go to objects.
    Love it!

  3. Cindy@CountyRoad407 says:

    I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more perfect home for nautical treasures. Seriously, I love it all! The colors, the vintage treasures and how you’ve laid out your furniture pieces. It’s stunning! pinned

    1. Thank you so much Cindy, I’m so glad you like it my friend, and I’m always so happy to see you when you pop in.

  4. Linda Scott says:

    Love your homes. The curtains in this home in Maine are awesome! We are a bit nautical ourselves as we don’t live far from the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. So I really can appreciate them! I’m sure you’re thrilled you found them! Enjoy your summer!!

    1. Thank you Linda I’m so glad you like them⛵️ They were originally custom made for a boat in the 70s⛵️⛵️

  5. Kathy Munday says:

    Hi Ann and Ella
    Love. Love. Love the garlic scapes! I e never seen them before but my daughter lives within minutes of a garlic farm so I will be searching for them! Also love the “dual purpose” vases. You always find the coolest items! Thank you for sharing!!

    1. Of course Kathy, I’m glad you liked them. I thought they were a fun idea too. Hope you’re having a nice summer!