21 Easy DIY Beach Themed Crafts to Bring Coastal Vibes Home

Craving that beachy feeling even when you’re miles from the shore? Beach-themed crafts offer the perfect way to capture the seaside’s relaxing atmosphere in your home.

These DIY projects use simple materials—many that you might collect during beach trips like shells, sand, and driftwood—to create beautiful decorations that evoke coastal memories.

Whether you’re looking for a rainy day activity with the kids or wanting to add a nautical touch to your décor, these beach-inspired crafts will transport you straight to your favorite shoreline without leaving home.

1: Sea Glass Picture Frames

Transform plain wooden picture frames with collected sea glass pieces for a stunning ocean-inspired display for your favorite beach photos.

Simply apply glass pieces using strong craft glue in a mosaic pattern, filling gaps with smaller fragments for complete coverage.

Let your creativity flow with color schemes—blues and greens for a classic ocean look, or mix in amber and clear pieces for a sunset beach vibe.

2: Mason Jar Sand Layers

Create beautiful keepsakes from different beaches by layering colored sands in clear mason jars, adding a sophisticated decorative element to any room.

Collect sand from various beaches during your travels, or purchase colored craft sand for a similar effect.

Label each layer with the beach name and date for a personalized memory jar that tells the story of your coastal adventures.

3: Shell Candle Holders

Transform ordinary tea light holders into coastal treasures by gluing various small shells around glass candle containers.

Select shells of similar sizes for a uniform look, or mix different varieties for an eclectic beach-comber style.

The translucent shells create a beautiful diffused light when candles are lit, casting gentle patterns reminiscent of sunlight through ocean water.

4: Driftwood Wall Art

Arrange collected driftwood pieces in a pleasing pattern on canvas or heavy backing board to create stunning natural wall art.

Secure each piece with strong adhesive, leaving natural spacing between wood sections for an organic look.

Enhance your design with small accents like starfish, tiny shells, or sea glass nestled between driftwood pieces for added coastal charm.

5: Beach Memory Shadow Boxes

Display your beach vacation mementos in a shadow box by arranging collected shells, sand, ticket stubs, and photos in an artistic composition.

Add a background of blue scrapbook paper or fabric to represent the ocean and sky, creating depth for your beach treasures.

Include a small label with the location and date to preserve the memory of your special coastal getaway for years to come.

6: Seashell Wind Chimes

Create melodic reminders of ocean breezes by drilling small holes in larger shells and stringing them together with fishing line to make a wind chime.

Vary the lengths of your strings for better movement and sound variety when the wind blows.

Add beads, driftwood pieces, or sea glass between shells for additional visual interest and a personalized coastal sound.

7: Nautical Rope Baskets

Craft functional storage with a beach vibe by coiling and gluing nautical rope into basket shapes, perfect for holding everything from magazines to throw blankets.

Start with a flat spiral base, then build up the sides by gluing each new rope layer to the previous one.

Enhance your basket with shell embellishments or woven in blue ribbon for that classic maritime look that works in any room.

8: Sand Art Bottles

Fill clear glass bottles with layers of colored sand to create miniature beach landscapes that capture the essence of coastal vistas.

Use a small funnel to carefully add distinct layers representing sky, sand, and ocean, varying the thickness for realistic effect.

Add tiny shells or pebbles between layers for dimension, then seal the bottle with a decorative cork for a timeless beach keepsake.

9: Shell-Embellished Mirror Frame

Revitalize a plain mirror by adhering various seashells around the frame, creating a statement piece that reflects coastal elegance.

Sort shells by size, placing larger specimens at corner points and filling in with smaller varieties for complete coverage.

Apply a light coat of pearlescent spray after assembly to unify the look and add a subtle shimmer reminiscent of ocean spray.

10: Beach Scene Terrarium

Craft a miniature beach scene in a glass container using fine sand, small shells, and artificial succulents to bring a slice of shoreline to your tabletop.

Layer white sand on one side for the beach and blue-tinted sand or glass pebbles on the other to represent water.

Add a tiny umbrella, miniature chair, or small driftwood piece to complete your beach diorama with whimsical details.

11: Coastal Painted Rocks

Transform smooth stones into charming beach art by painting them with ocean motifs like waves, fish, seahorses, or nautical symbols.

Use acrylic paint for vibrant, long-lasting colors and seal with clear varnish to preserve your artwork.

Display your painted stone collection in a glass bowl or scatter them through your garden as cheerful reminders of seaside adventures.

12: Shell-Imprinted Clay Coasters

Create functional art by pressing seashells into air-dry clay to make textured coasters that protect surfaces while evoking coastal memories.

Roll clay to an even thickness, press shells firmly to create detailed impressions, then carefully remove them and trim edges with a knife.

Once dry, paint with soft blue or sandy beige acrylics, seal with waterproof varnish, and add felt backing for scratch-free use on any table.

13: Driftwood and Shell Mobile

Craft a hanging mobile by attaching shells, sea glass, and small beach treasures to a piece of driftwood with varying lengths of fishing line.

Balance your design by evenly distributing heavier items, ensuring the mobile hangs straight and moves gently with air currents.

Hang near a window where light can play through any translucent elements, creating a dynamic display that mimics the movement of ocean tides.

14: Beach Map Art

Showcase your favorite coastal destination by modifying a map print with embellishments like shell outlines, glitter for water, or highlighted beach locations.

Frame your creation in a weathered wood or white frame to enhance the nautical feeling.

Personalize by marking special locations where you’ve created memories, turning geography into a sentimental piece of beach-themed decor.

15: Seashell Tealight Candles

Craft unique candles by using seashells as natural molds, filling larger shells with melted wax and adding wicks for one-of-a-kind lighting.

Choose sturdy shells like large clams or scallops that can hold liquid wax without leaking.

Add a few drops of ocean-scented essential oil before the wax sets to complete the sensory beach experience whenever you light your creation.

16: Rope-Wrapped Vases

Transform ordinary glass vases by wrapping them with nautical rope, creating versatile vessels perfect for displaying beach grasses or fresh flowers.

Secure rope with hot glue, working in sections from bottom to top, maintaining tight, even wrapping for a professional finish.

Add a decorative touch with a thin blue ribbon, small shells, or starfish attached to the finished vase for additional coastal character.

17: Sand Footprint Keepsakes

Preserve precious beach memories by creating plaster casts of footprints made in sand, perfect for recording children’s growth or commemorating special trips.

Press feet into damp sand to create clear impressions, then carefully pour mixed plaster into the footprint and let set completely.

Paint the hardened plaster with clear sealant after setting, adding the date and location on the back for a lasting three-dimensional souvenir.

18: Beach Glass Suncatchers

Create dazzling window decorations by wrapping collected sea glass pieces with thin copper wire and linking them together in cascading designs.

Arrange glass pieces by color gradients—from deep blue to pale green—mimicking the ocean’s various hues.

Hang your finished suncatcher where sunlight will pass through, casting colored shadows that bring the shifting light patterns of underwater scenes indoors.

19: Nautical Rope Picture Frames

Upgrade plain wooden frames with wrapped nautical rope for instant beach cottage charm that showcases your favorite seaside photographs.

Apply strong adhesive to the frame surface, pressing rope into place and working your way completely around the perimeter.

Add small corner embellishments like crossed rope sections or tiny anchors for authentic maritime style that enhances your coastal decor theme.

20: Shell and Driftwood Wind Chime

Combine the textural beauty of weathered driftwood with the gentle sounds of hanging shells to create a multi-sensory reminder of beach breezes.

Drill small holes in a horizontal driftwood piece, then thread fishing line through to hang various sizes of shells at different lengths.

Place your wind chime in a location with natural air movement to enjoy the subtle, soothing sounds reminiscent of shells shifting with incoming tides.

21: Beach Memory Jars

Capture the essence of your favorite beach destination by filling clear jars with collected sand, tiny shells, and other small treasures from your trip.

Add a waterproof label with the location and date to preserve the context of your natural souvenirs.

Arrange multiple jars from different beaches together for a visual travel diary that brings color and texture to bookshelves or windowsills.

Conclusion

These beach-themed crafts bring coastal joy into your home year-round.

Whether you’re preserving vacation memories or creating seaside vibes, each project connects you to the peace and beauty of the shore.