Outdoor Nautical Landscaping Ideas

Planters

• Large outdoor planters can be purchased in sea-inspired shapes like giant clams. Fill one or more of these planters with a tropical-looking palm or colorful flowers to create a nautical decoration on a deck or patio or along a walkway.

Garden Signs

• Create nautical signs for your garden by painting on driftwood. Create identification signs for your plants on small pieces of wood placed on the ground, or create larger signs adorned with nautical poetry, lyrics, your family name or your address.

Garden Art

• Use nautical items to decorate the garden. Glass floats are colorful and eye-catching and lend an instant ocean ambiance. Driftwood is easy and natural and complements other landscaping, while anchors or hooks are bolder with a more direct nautical reference. Ship steering wheels, oars and netting also make for nautically inspired garden art, plain or artistically decorated.

Edging

• Edge your flower beds, lawn, garden or pathways with driftwood, a swath of beach pebbles or a row of seashells. This subtle touch adds nautical character without overpowering the rest of your landscaping or taking the theme too far.

Fencing

• Rope or chain fencing gives your landscaping a nautical atmosphere as well, and it won't matter if it gets worn or rusty; it only adds to the nautical appearance. Simply string your thick rope or chain between fence posts.

Furniture

• Evoke a nautical theme with outdoor furniture. Adirondack chairs are classic, or try wicker or rope patio furniture with red- or blue-and-white-striped cushions. Canvas market umbrellas add to the effect whether in neutral tones, bright colors or stripes.

Hammock

• Enjoy your nautical outdoor landscaping from the comfort of a beach-worthy hammock. Hang it in a secluded corner or a "secret garden." Strengthen your nautical theme with a hammock in stripes or a bright splash of beachy color like tangerine or turquoise.

Nautical Flags

• Nautical flags are signal flags used by ships to communicate. Colorful and graphic, they make striking outdoor decor. Hang them in strings across a yard or porch, raise them on a flagpole, drape them over patio furniture or display them in frames on outside walls that face your garden.