Nautical Decor For a Breath of Sea Air in the Home and Garden

There is something about the sea that draws many of us like a magnet. Whether it is the negative ions, the relaxing sounds of the waves, the fresh air or just the sheer relief at escaping the city, we just love being by the sea. Many of us love the seas and the oceans, the boats and the ships, yet cannot even swim to save our lives; we love to sit and watch the waves when they are calm, and lashing the beaches, rocks and cliffs when they are being whipped up by a storm.

In the summer, millions of people in the US, Canada, Australia and Europe flock to the coastal towns, villages and cities to be by the sea, the great escape from the year's drudgery inland. Many just laze on the beach, while others venture out on boats; those with a nautical gene rushing through their veins go on sailing and boating holidays, to spend their leisure time out at sea. True mariners spend days or even weeks at sea, and many go diving below the surface to sample the other world of marine life.

Is it any wonder, then, that people have a yearning for nautical items around their home, to remind them of the sea, the coast, their vacations, or in the case of real sailors, their past or current job? No, it is no wonder at all, and nautical decor for the home is commonly sought after. Whether in the form of pictures, bedding, models ships or mirrors, or some other form, thousands of people around the world want a bit of the nautical life brought to their living room, bathroom, dining room and kitchen.

It is not just in homes, either, that nautical themes occur. Before I moved to the Philippines, with its 7106 islands and reliance on the sea, I lived on the south coast of England. Local pubs were often rigged out with ropes and anchors, and other paraphernalia of the local seamen. Inland too, you can sometimes come across a pub that has a nautical theme, never knowing whether the owner or landlord was a sailor or just loved the sea.

There is one other reason that nautical items can be so popular in the home, or at a beach house: they can look very attractive, and lend themselves to some very homely arrangements; and that is why we have this special section on nautical decor.