How to Beautify a Room With Beach Artwork Even When Your Budget Is Squeaky Tight

 Attractive, Affordable Beach Prints & Posters

One of the most popular themes for decorating a bedroom, den or bathroom is the beach. Because most people associate the surf, sand and sunshine with happy days, it's a natural as an interior decor motif.

You'll probably want to select wallpaper or a border that introduces the beach theme and then supplement it with a few beach-related accessories. In a bathroom, you might choose a shower curtain and towels that are "beachy." In a bedroom it can be a bedspread and decorative pillows. In a den, curtains or knick-knacks on a shelf can represent the beach motif.

No matter the room though, you should also consider adding beach-themed artwork. The pictures on your wall will be immediately visible to anyone entering the space and will set the tone for the decor.

Beach artwork offers many fun and attractive options. If you're decorating on a budget, you'll want to shy away from original artwork. While having an authentic original is great, the cost often makes it impractical. Instead, consider reproductions of original paintings and illustrations available as high-quality prints and posters.

The key difference between original art and print reproductions is affordability. The gap between them can be significant. Whereas the sky is the limit on Moderne Gemälde original art, most prints cost just $20-$40. For that price, you can probably afford more than one!

The Many Subjects of Beach Artwork

Once you've honed in on the beach theme, you'll quickly be able to find relevant beach artwork. A search will deliver pictures of children playing in the sand, couples walking along the shore, and teens tanning on colorful towels.

Seashells of every variety are also artist favorites. You'll find images of them poking out of the sand, gathered in a child's plastic bucket, even artfully arranged as mementos on a shelf.

Aquatic animals and sea life are a wonderful variation on the beach theme. Paintings of swimming fish, playful seahorses, smiling dolphins and golden starfishes will brighten any room. Even some of the less visually appealing creatures, like lobsters and crabs, can make for engaging pictures.

Word art combined with sea life can be an intriguing mix. One popular beach print has a detailed illustration of a starfish with the expression, "Create peace of mind with the waves of the ocean and the warm wind tickling your face." What a wonderful sentiment to remind you of the lazy days of summer!

You'll even find straightforward word art like a picture of a crab with the hand-drawn caption "Steamed Crabs." Or an illustration of a shell labeled as a "scallop." These simple but beautiful images would be a lovely addition to any home.

Talented Beach Artists

As you browse through collections of beach artwork, you'll notice that every artist takes a unique approach to depicting their beach subject matter. Some will create realistic and highly detailed images of aquatic animals and sea life, while others will be more abstract, allowing a bit of imagination to enter into their art.

Take note of the works of some of the genre's best-known artists. Paul Brent is a Florida coastal artist who paints colorful watercolors of the beach, seashells, shore birds and sand dollars.

Another Florida artist is Kathleen Denis, who paints watercolors of tropical, coastal and floral scenes in Florida. She says she delights in "capturing the charm" of the locales she paints.

Klaus Strubel has gained recognition for his realistic paintings of lighthouses, many perched on wave-battered, rocky shores. And Australian artist Gerard Kearney creates colorful surf paintings that represent the surf culture of the 60's and 70's, a period he calls a "cool time of innocence and wonder."

Art Fronckowiak does detailed oil paintings in a classical style, depicting palm trees and beach landscapes in what he calls "Old Florida."

Michael Paraskevas is an artist best known for his illustrated children's books. In his fun, colorful style, he paints "big sky, warm sun and beach people."

Diane Romanello does scenic paintings of the beach and palm trees. She is known for her ability to recreate a serene, natural world.

As you can see, you'll have plenty of choices of styles and subjects when choosing your beach art prints.

Choose a Mat & Frame for Your Beach Artwork

Once you've found a beach art print you like, you'll want to get a mat and frame for it. They'll protect your print from getting dirty, creased or faded over time. And they'll focus attention on the image while complementing the style of your room.

You can buy a mat and frame right off the shelf at stores like Michael's, Walmart or Target. However, for optimum results, invest in a custom mat and frame through an art gallery or framing store.

The cost is reasonable, usually under $100, and they'll make a huge difference in the appearance of your print. The right mat and frame will transform it into expensive-looking artwork.