Discover 25 stunning seashell crafts for adults, from shell bookends to wreaths, perfect for coastal and beach-inspired home decor.
If your pockets are always stuffed with shells after a walk on the beach, you’re in precisely the right place. There’s something magical about collecting seashells and turning them into beautiful crafts that capture the easygoing spirit of coastal living.
Shell crafts are one of the simplest and most satisfying ways to bring a laid-back, beachy vibe into your home. Whether you’re dreaming of a bright white cottage by the sea or want to add a touch of breezy charm to your space, these DIYs let you infuse every room with hints of driftwood, sand, and salty air.
I’ve rounded up some of my favourite seashell crafts and DIYs for adults. These ideas will help you celebrate summer, bring a bit of the ocean into your home, and spend some satisfying hours crafting.
Seashell Crafts for Adults
Bring breezy coastal vibes home with this inspiring roundup of 25 unique seashell crafts and DIYs for adults. From quirky trinket dishes and beachy wreaths to stunning shell bookends and boho decor, discover fun projects perfect for summer crafting and creating thoughtful, personalised gifts.
How to Create Beautiful Decoupage Shell Dishes Easily
Turn plain shells into gorgeous little trinket dishes with this fun and creative decoupage project. Perfect for adding a splash of coastal charm to your dresser or coffee table, these unique dishes make great gifts and look like something you’d find in a boutique, only way more personal and meaningful.
DIY Seashell Artwork Ideas & Tutorial
Vanessa demonstrates how to transform collected beach shells into stunning, framed art. After cleaning and arranging the shells on a wooden canvas, she creates a beautiful piece that captures coastal memories and adds breezy charm to any room. Perfect for personal decor or a thoughtful gift
Scallop Shell Bookends with Coastal Charm
Looking for a creative way to combine coastal vibes with everyday functionality? These scallop shell concrete bookends are just the ticket. You’ll cast chunky concrete blocks, partially embedding your favorite shells to create a chic, beachy design that’s made to hold upright your summer reads. They feel modern and organic all at once, like bringing a little bit of the shoreline straight to your bookshelf.
DIY Oyster Shell Candles
These charming shell candles bring a touch of the seaside to any space, adding a cozy, beachy glow that’s both beautiful and unique. They’re perfect as sweet little gifts for friends who love the ocean or as decorative accents that instantly make your home feel like a breezy coastal getaway.
How to Make a Sentimental DIY Seashell Wreath
Got a stash of beach shells from your last trip? This fun tutorial shows you how to turn them into a gorgeous wreath that’ll bring a breezy, coastal vibe right to your front door. It’s such a pretty way to keep those seaside memories alive!
Seashell Craft Idea: Air Dry Clay Paint Palette
This seashell paint palette is an absolute delight for anyone who loves crafting. A splashy twist on your usual artist setup. Picture using a scallop shell as your paint well, the ridges perfect for palette mixing. It’s quirky, functional, and makes any art session feel like it’s happening by the seaside.
DIY mussel shell craft that looks like a protea flower
Ever thought of turning blue mussel shells into stunning faux protea flowers? This playful DIY shows you how to layer the shells around a stick for quirky, coastal blooms that look straight out of a design magazine. Perfect for a vase or a unique handmade gift with beachy vibes.
Gilded Seashells: Two Easy Ways to Get the Beachy Glam Look
Want to give your shells a luxe upgrade? This chic tutorial shows two simple techniques—brushing on liquid gilding or applying metallic leaf sheets—to turn ordinary shells into stunning gold or silver accents. These glam gems are perfect for styling your coffee table, decorating a frame, or gifting something shiny and special.
How To Make A DIY Beach Tray with Seashells (Seashell Serving Tray)
Remember that round wooden tray sitting unused? This fun project transforms it into a gorgeous coastal serving tray. You'll mix sand and Mod Podge to create a textured base, press in your favorite shells and driftwood bits, then seal it all under smooth epoxy resin. The result is like a mini beach preserved in a tray, perfect for coffee table decor or outdoor entertaining.
Seashell Decor Ideas: Seashell Basket
This charming craft brings a beachy twist to a simple wicker basket—perfect for souvenirs or flowers. The post walks you through cleaning your shells, arranging them around the rim, and gluing them in place for a fresh coastal accent that’s both cute and practical.
How To Make An Oyster Shell Valentine’s Day Wreath
This unique adult Valentine’s craft turns rustic oyster shells into a gorgeous heart-shaped wreath, perfect for adding coastal charm to your February decor. The natural textures of the shells make the wreath feel both romantic and earthy, and it’s such a creative twist on traditional Valentine’s decorations
Glamorous Oyster Shell Ornament
Looking for a sweet little project that’ll give your home a dash of coastal holiday charm? This oyster shell ornament is perfect. It’s natural, elegant, and just a bit whimsical—like capturing a whisper of the sea to hang on your tree (or use as a year-round accent).
Seashell Coasters Made With Resin
Ever thought about turning your favorite shells into stylish coasters? This fun DIY shows how to fill jar lids (or coaster molds) with a few choice shells and clear resin for a set of beach-inspired coasters. There’s even a video demo on mixing the resin, so it’s totally beginner-friendly.
Personalized Map Seashell Gift
Turning a plain shell into a sentimental keepsake, this clever DIY uses a map of a favorite city or hometown, to decoupage the inside of a shell, then frames it for display. It’s such a thoughtful, personal gift idea for men who love travel or treasure a special place by the sea. Perfect for his den, office, or commemorating a shared coastal trip.
DIY Seashell & Bead Wind Chime
Have a bunch of shells and beads lying around? This easy DIY shows how to drill holes, string shells with colorful beads, and assemble them into a breezy wind chime perfect for your porch.
Scented Decorative Seashell Balls
Looking for a unique gift idea for a friend who loves the beach? These scented seashell balls are adorable and easy to make. Just tuck pretty shells into a foam ball, add a sprinkle of glitter, and finish with a spritz of your favorite scent. They’re perfect for displaying in a bowl or on a shelf—and they’ll remind your friend of sunny, breezy days by the sea every time they catch a whiff.
Create a Beautiful and Modern Shell Hanging Decoration
Looking for a touch of DIY Boho decor? This laid-back shell and driftwood wall hanging is exactly the kind of easy, breezy project you’ll love. Just string your favorite shells (no drilling required), tie them to a piece of driftwood, and hang it up for instant coastal charm with a boho twist.
Anthropologie Style DIY Oyster Shell Trinket Dish
Want a cute little dish that looks straight out of a fancy boutique? This project turns an oyster shell into a chic trinket holder with a bit of paint and gold trim. It’s a fun, easy way to add coastal charm to your dresser, or to make a sweet gift for a friend.
Beachy Seashell Shadowbox
If you've got a collection of tiny shells lying around, you'll love this laid‑back DIY. Use a cookie cutter as a mini frame, press in your favorite little shells, and you've got a cute, custom piece of coastal shadow box wall art that’s easy to make and full of charm. It’s like capturing a bit of the beach in a mini gallery piece.
How to Make a DIY Ring Holder From a Scallop Shell
These quirky scallop shell trinket dishes are such a fun way to bring the beach home—and they’re even cuter when you add little sea creatures or figurines inside to keep your rings company! Each dish is one of a kind, and the playful combo of shells and tiny critters makes them feel like a mini seaside scene that’s both practical and totally charming.
DIY Oyster Shell Mirror on a Budget
If your walls could use a bit of seaside sass, this oyster shell mirror is just the ticket. No two shells are the same, so each mirror becomes a quirky, one-of-a-kind piece.
DIY Shell Covered Pot
Looking to jazz up a plain planter? This charming DIY shows how to cover a pot with seashells for a whimsical, beachy twist. It’s super satisfying to mix and match shells as you go, and the result is an adorable little planter full of coastal charm.
How to make seashell tassels as boho beach decor
Ever thought about turning your shell collection into something that sways and jingles? These boho-inspired seashell tassels are the perfect blend of coastal charm and laid-back style. You string shells onto braided jute to create a dreamy hanging accent. Great above a doorway, on your porch, or styled with other boho décor.
How To Make Oyster Shell Christmas Tree
How adorable are these? This project shows you how to layer oyster shells into a stunning table top Christmas tree, complete with a festive bow on top. It’s the perfect mix of coastal charm and holiday cheer, making it a unique centerpiece or a quirky addition to your Christmas decor.
DIY Bowl of Out of Seashells
This creative DIY uses an inflated balloon as a mold to build a unique oyster shell bowl—how cool is that? You glue shells around the bottom half of the balloon, let it dry, then pop it to reveal a stunning, one-of-a-kind coastal bowl. It’s a quirky, eye-catching piece that looks amazing as a centerpiece or to hold little treasures.
I hope you found loads of fun ideas in these seashell crafts to bring some breezy beach vibes into your home. Whether you’re making a quirky trinket dish, a cute shell ornament, or a statement wreath, these projects are such a great way to relive your seaside adventures.
If you’re in the mood for more creative fun, be sure to check out the other summer crafts for adults and tropical crafts on the site; they’re packed with bright, happy DIYs perfect for the season. And if you love vintage art, don’t miss the gorgeous vintage seashell posters on Picture Box Blue
