For most surfers, the ocean is their “home away from home.” If this is you, here are 8 tips to make your home feel like your “home away from home.”
1. Let’s get the obvious out of the way: Use your surfboard as decoration! Mount a surfboard wall rack not only as a functional way to store your boards, but also to add your personal style to the room.
2. If you’re artistic, paint giant waves crashing on your wall. You could even make them break on the ceiling.
3. If you’re not artistic, fake it. Use pre-pasted wall murals or borders to simulate the beach in your room. Wallpaper, murals and borders allow you to be very creative in the theme of your room. And most of them are no longer that sticky, impossible-to-remove wallpaper. Many are just peel and stick!
4. For a creative, and definitely laid-back touch, reupholster your dining room chairs with beach towels. Mix and match complementary patterns and colors to create the ultimate dining room.
5. You can use a small or medium beach ball in the corner of a room to add a touch of color and creativity. But don’t overdo it, one is enough. If you want to put it on a shelf, use a piece of tape to keep it from rolling.
6. Recycle your old boards by turning them into furniture. Surfboards make great coffee tables or shelves, and you can buy the wood sets and brackets to make the legs at most home improvement stores. Or, if you don’t have the time, but have the money, you can always cheat and buy a high-quality, handmade wooden surfboard coffee table.
7. Add some natural appeal with some bamboo shelves to hold books, souvenirs from your surf trips, or all your favorite surf DVDs.
8. And last but not least, the quintessential piece of surf shack decor: the surfboard rug. These now come in all colors, sizes, and prices, so you’re sure to find exactly what you’re looking for. The most popular are the striped ones available in numerous colors to match your decor. If you’re looking for something a little less traditional, surfboard rugs now come in a variety of cool new designs.
It will never replace the ocean, but with these tips you can make your home your second favorite place to be.