Adding driftwood touches can be an easy and inexpensive (or even free) way to give your home a coastal cottage vibe. Driftwood artists creat
e everything from jewelry to furniture using these beach finds, but you can also make a statement with very simple techniques. I’ve collected piles of the treasure from Annapolis, Maryland and other happy places for my home and my shop. You can find interesting pieces on riverbanks and ocean beaches, especially where the shoreline curves to allow accumulation. The hard part is just not taking everything you find home!
Once you gather your treasure you will need to do just a little prep and then you are ready to create. Follow these easy steps to turn a raw treasure into a beautiful piece for your home.
Prepping Driftwood
- Spritz. First give it a good hosing off. Don’t be tempted to use a power washer as this will raise the grain too much and remove that lovely patina from the sea.
- De-crud. Remove any remaining mud, bark, decay, critters. As perfect as driftwood appears in shops it often does not land on the beach quite that way. There may be small pieces of bark attached, a bit of decay, even some prior residents. After trying many different tools I found the best tool for this is actually a paint can opener. The little hook on the end is great for reaching into all the nooks and crannies.
- Smooth. Sometimes a piece is almost perfect but might have a small jagged edge. You can fix this! I used to do this with sandpaper and a lot of elbow grease until I was introduced to the wonders of a Dremel tool. The sanding wheel makes the job super easy. It does create a huge mess so make sure to do this step outdoors. I like to leave the shape as natural as possible so use the tool with a light touch and sparingly.
- Sand. Lightly sweep over the piece with fine sandpaper to remove splinters or rough spots. I use waterproof sandpaper because by this point my driftwood is always wet. You can get a pack at the dollar store.
- Scrub. The scrubby side of a sponge gives a final polish and cleans off any stuck dirt.
- Sanitize. Especially if your piece is from the river you need to make sure it is bacteria free. There are lots of ways to do this, depending on the size and planned use. An easy way is to soak the piece in a bleach solution. Do some tests to get the look you like as the bleach will lighten the wood if you use a lot or leave it in for long. I like a lighter look so I use about a cup of bleach and soak it for several hours in the laundry room sink, filing the rest with water. For larger pieces try the bathtub or wheelbarrow. If you are planning to use the piece for an aquarium you will need to use a different technique which is a bit more cumbersome. TIP: to keep the driftwood submerged lay a wire rack, such as a baking rack, over the wood and use large rocks or other heavy items to hold it down
- Sun until done! Lay your pieces out in direct sunlight for at least 2 days, flipping once. This both expedites the drying time and lightens the wood a bit. If you happen to have a puppy you will need to watch your driftwood closely, I’ve lost many perfect pieces to my pooch.
Turning Driftwood into Decor
So now that your beautiful piece of driftwood is ready what to do with it? Occasionally a piece is so exquisite that you should do nothing. It is a work of art by Mother Nature and ready to make a statement in your home. But there are lots of easy DIY projects to transform those treasures too. Here are some really simple things you can make with your driftwood.
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- Jewelry hanger. If you follow my shop you know I make A LOT of these. The first one I made was for myself because my necklaces were forever tangled and I wanted something with a ton of hooks that wouldn’t take any tabletop space. To make one just tie twine or leather cord for hanging on each and and screw-in cup hooks. Voila. I sometimes paint on designs or color. TIP: add the hanging twine to determine how it hangs before you add the hooks. You may need to adjust he knots to change which part of the piece displays.
- Rustic painting. I often paint seascapes or boho designs. Not such a great artist? No worries! Try sanding over the image after the paint dries to give the piece the look of something that washed up on the shore and was once a lovely painting.
- Sconce. If you have a hollow piece lucky you! Get some battery-operated LED string lights and either wrap or insert them, depending on the size of the hollow. This can make a great sconce. I once sold a fabulous hollow piece with lights and the buyer asked if I could make another. If only!
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driftwood key chain by Sweep of Sand Wall art. Just hang it. You can do this either by tying the ends with twine or by drilling holes. Vegan suede cord works great as it has some stretch and comes in great colors.
- Beach sign. If you have a piece that is reclaimed wood (some sort of lumber that ended up as driftwood) with a flat side you can add lettering to make beachy signs like “To the Sea…” . Use stencils or go freehand.
- Centerpiece. Be creative! Add candles or flowers depending on your party theme. Or you can join multiple similarly colored pieces together with twine.
- Holiday ornaments. Add some color, a mini painting, sugar glitter, or other bobbles. To hang drill a small hole on the top and add an eye screw hook. Use yarn or twine for hanging.
driftwood firewood - Floating key chain. If you got this far you already know how well driftwood floats. This makes it perfect for beach cottage keys. Again pre-drill a small hole on top and use an eye screw hook. I like to add some beachy colored paint and distress it for a chippy-paint look. Add whatever beads and bobbles you like and attach to a key ring chain. When you’re done hang it from your key rack.
- Firewood. Seriously! I once put a pile of driftwood in the fireplace just as a temporary storage solution. So cute! I absolutely love it and keep it there always. Just make sure your family knows not to light a match!
If this sounds like too much there are many incredible driftwood artist on Etsy. One of my absolute favorites is Driftwood Sails Toni makes the most adorable mini cottages with amazing details like tiny ladders to the sea. Perfect for your cottage. She will even make custom pieces.
If you like a dramatic piece I am in love with the fantastic furniture and candelabra creations of Drifting Concepts. Their work seems to defy gravity!
Having natural elements like driftwood in your home can bring a beautiful sense of calm to your decor. They also make great conversation pieces, whether you do-it-yourself or purchase your piece. It all starts with a walk on the beach. Don’t blame me if you become obsessed.
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sweep of sand, coastal home decor
surf city, nc & bethesda, md
