I was invited to view some unique nautical decor in a home that an associate of mine had just completed. I knew from past experience and knowledge of this decorator's style that this was not going to be your average, run of the mill set of sailboat bedding with a color scheme in blue and white for a boy and I was not disappointed.

Modern Baby Bedding Sets

From first glance it was obvious that there were very few new or store bought decorative accessories in the room. The furniture seemed to have been relocated from a Cape Cod cabin after many years of casual use and adapted for use in this child's bedroom. The once white or off white paint on the dresser and armoire was distressed and had long since lost any shine or patina. The term shabby chic falls short when used to describe this eclectic collection of wooden furniture. The pieces were clean and were perfectly appropriate for nautical décor designed for a boy or girl.

Modern Baby Bedding Sets

The centerpiece of the bedroom, the nautical bedding, was a faded, patchwork quilt that looked to have been pieced from scraps salvaged from vintage clothing picked up at a thrift store. The cotton clothing apparently was washed, cut into triangles and stars and then sewn together to complete not only the quilt but a set of matching quilted pillow shams.

The window treatments and the bed skirt put the finishing touch on the vintage nautical decor. The nautical curtains and valances as well as the tailored dust ruffle were made from yards of weathered canvas retrieved from discarded sailcloth that had been removed from a sailboat. The canvas had been fitted with large, brass eyelets with an aged finish to accommodate the tarnished brass cafe curtain rods. No efforts had been made to exclude the frayed spots or the water stained areas of the cloth that had been salvaged from the sails. The fabric was soft and pliable enough to be stitched and pleated in a fashion that blended beautifully with the crisp tailored decorations seen in the rest of the nautical decor.

Without a doubt, this nautical decorating project was a demonstration of an extremely successful recycling effort of the first water. After outliving their usefulness on a sailboat, these sails would have been tossed in the trash only to take up space in a landfill without a second thought. However, my creative friend saw the opportunity to use them as decorations to complete a bedroom filled with vintage nautical nursery decor that was as affordable as it was visually pleasing.

Let this be a decorating tip for those planning a home that features a nautical style of decor. Hit the docks and see if there are any sailboats that are being outfitted with new sails. You will be first in line to get yards and yards of free, heavy duty fabric that could be used to upholster furniture cushions, make throw pillows or create any number of decorative accessories.

Easy, Affordable Ideas For Nautical Decor

Modern Baby Bedding Sets