How to Decorate with Nautical Charts

I confess, our "crew" has become a little bit obssessed with finding cool ideas for decorating with Nautical Charts.  Full of color and great maritime history, nautical charts are simply a quintessential ingredient to coastal decorating; whether you are a "traditional" nautical decor fan, (anchors, ships wheels, rope, etc.) or just want to add a touch of maritime design to your room.  Check out these fantastic designer looks using seafarer navigation charts in some really creative ways!

1. Beach House in the Bahamas Featured on House of Turquoise - designed by Marshall Watson and Kate Reid. Love how the wall paper is a large whimsical nautical chart reflecting where this gorgeous island home is located! (More on the House of Turquoise Blog)

2.  Nautical Charts as Wall Paper. Discovered this incredible nook created with a large nautical chart custom created wall paper designed by Nautical Chart Wall Paper (these guys do AWESOME work!)  Don't you just love those cleats for drawer pulls too?!

3. Create an art gallery wall with Nautical Charts! This is a great example from the 2014 Coastal Living Coronado Showhouse; framed all in the same sizes and same kinds of non-nonsense frames to keep the look clean, consistent and bright with yellow! (2014 Coastal Living Showhouse)

4.  Frame your location! Love the look of the vintage green "chippy" cabinet, combined against a shiplap styled wall with a large framed nautical chart image of Shelter Island perched just above. From House Beautiful Magazine

5. Create a Triptych with sophistication to highlight your part of the world. Take a look at this gorgeously rendered art that reflects the islands of South Carolina designed by J.Banks Design Group - discovered on Houzz

6. Go all out Nautical!  Why "knot"?  From Michael Ryan Design

7. Make a small bathroom really special with nautical wall paper - love this idea from the Little Balboa Island home designed by Anne Michaelsen-Yahn, the founder of Newport Beach, California-based Anne Michaelsen Design.

8. Go Whimsical - frame a "tourist" version of a vintage nautical chart (so sorry, not sure of original photo source!) 

9. Make your nautical chart art "beach cabin worthy" with barnwood.  Great ideas for framing and instructions from an adorable blogger Blue Roof Cabin! (can't help it - she's also a Northwest girl!)

10.  Keep it Blue Still one of my favorite beach home featured in House Beautiful - I simply adore this deep blue nautical chart that artist Lori Barnaby painted on the walls of a South Hampton guest house, depicting the Long Island Sound just outside the steps.

11. Create a fantastical Tablescape for your next dinner party!  Love these pretty ideas from Cabin and Cottage

12. Create a Basket of Nautical Charts for an amazing art display  I spotted this Pacific Northwest group of vintage nautical charts in a downtown Seattle window display - especially cool in an old oyster/clam wire basket!

So easy to get creative and reflect your love of the sea - especially when you can show off your own coastal destination! 

P.S. Ordering a custom made Nautical Chart Pillow was never easier! We have almost 200 different bays, harbors, and island locales for you to choose from. Pop on over to our Nautical Chart Pillow collection, and search by state for your coastal spot!