28 Shell Art Ideas | Framed Seashell Wall Art

Creating beautiful art with shells. 

This great selection of shell art ideas provides you with all the inspiration you need to frame your own seashells and enjoy them as wall art. You find examples of lovely seashell arrangements, museum style shell art, as well as shells mounted on wood planks. Plus, interior decor ideas that show you how to decorate with your shell art. 

Let your imagination and creativity flow when creating your shell art. Play around with your seashells until you have a happy arrangement! The picture shows framed shell art by Sanibel Shell Art, made from hand picked shells that are arranged in solid wood frames.

Shell Shadow Box Display Ideas

Tips on How to Create Shell Art

Plan Your Design: 

Before you start gluing shells onto your base, sketch out a rough design or layout on paper. Consider patterns, shapes, and color combinations you'd like to incorporate. You can create abstract designs, geometric patterns, floral arrangements, or even realistic scenes. 

Arrange Your Shells:

Lay out your shells on the base according to your design plan. Play around with different arrangements until you're happy with the look. Consider mixing different types of shells to add texture and visual interest to your piece.

 Add Extra Details:

If desired, you can paint the shells or the background to enhance the overall look of your art. You can also incorporate other embellishments like seaglass, beads, pearls, or small pieces of driftwood to add depth and dimension to your design.

Kara Miller Interiors on Instagram

Here is an idea for educational shell art! Seashells are framed with their names included. Seen at Salty Sea Art on Etsy. 

Using the same type of shell to compose a pattern can also lead to stunning results as seen in this Oyster Shell Art from Pottery Barn.

 

Another Shell Shadow Box Idea from Pottery Barn shows how to make modern shell art. To create a modern flair, Paint your Shells the same color. See this shell shadow box in a Coastal Office!

Shop Coastal at these Affiliate Stores

Framed Seashells Idea from Nuriart on Etsy
The Shells are Painted in the same color as the frames which makes this shell really vibrant. In this case, shells are plaster, but you can create shell art like this with seashells that are similar in size and shape. 
21 Ideas for Painting Shells

Grouping of deep shadow box frames with shells from Craftberry Bush. When composing your shell art there are three things to consider. The frame, background and arrangement of shells. To bring them together, all you need is your imagination and a hot glue gun. 

Shell art on black. A compelling assortment of small Coquina shells from Sanibel Island, FL. Featured on Displays Inspired by the Natural History Museum. The shells are also known as butterfly shells. It's easy to see why. Each shell has its own pencil drawn compartment. An inexpensive white Ribba frame from Ikea was used.

 

For this Framed Shell Art a recycled frame was used and burlap as a background (hot glued to a cardboard) which gives this framed shell wall art a sandy feel. Also note, there is no glass. You can touch the shells. And a very useful tip: Lay out the shells then take a picture so you remember the placement.

Similar sized shells are lined up in rows making for a visually stunning shell art piece. Also in the mix are some other small beach treasures washed up on the shore. Created by Lily & Sea on Instagram. 

A variety of shells art tightly grouped together and adhered into a rustic distressed picture frame. Original source unknown.

The idea of a Beach Collage is a little different from all the other shell art projects. It's like framing a slice of beach. Created by Natasha Burns. Original source no longer available.

Fill a Shadow Box with your Seashells. Easy to pull off, and striking in look. A deep enough shadow box can also be displayed free standing.

Create abstract shell art. Featured on Gallery Worthy Framing Ideas for Shells, Seaglass and Beach Pebbles. By Beached Art.

Mount Seashells on Wood for a casual rustic look. Original source unknown.

With a wood board as frame you can create anything, such as a Shell Mosaic heart. Featured on DIY Seashell Hearts Wall Art. Original source no longer available.

Create any shape with your shells to make a special themed shell art piece like this from Lily & Sea Shell Art UK. 

Shell & Beach Mosaic Ideas

For this shell art an anchor template was used to glue the shells onto. Idea by Shell Shop Treasures.

Black makes for a dramatic background. In this case a black velour fabric covers a sturdy foam core board. Via My Pinterest.

An outstanding Gallery Walls of shell art in a dining room via Traditional Home, featured on Slipcovered Furniture 101. For tips and tricks, read How to Hang a Picture Grouping.

Coastal Gallery Walls

Shadow Box Frames were used to play off the shell pattern in a Dash & Albert seashell rug, featured on Nautical Rugs. Via Redbook Mag.

Shell Art in the Bathroom. Pieces of beach vacation memorabilia.

Shells arranged by color and size. By Sand and Sisal.

Sailor Valentines are intrinsic pieces of shell art. Here you see a collection of them in a Rustic Seaside Cottage in Maine. It's one of the owners most treasured collections. 

17 Above the Bed Coastal Decor Ideas

A bunch of frames unified with paint, each displaying a single shell. By Tobi Fairley. via Traditional Home.

 

Printer Tray Shell Displays are not what you consider your typical shell art, but they are too gorgeous to leave out. This printer tray shell art, created by Michelle Snowden offers many little compartments to highlight shells.

The background of your shell art can have a big visual impact as this shell art illustrated. It looks like the background is a Painted Abstract Ocean. Original source unknown.

And some Beach Memories are organized and displayed in a ways that I consider them shell art as well.

 Shop Coastal

at these Affiliate Stores