Create a fresh feel for your home with these beautiful and simple ideas.

1. Make a simple collage of beach cabins using striped and checked fabric scraps (above). Buy a frame with three or four precut windows in the mount. Cut a piece of white card to fit the frame. Use a photocopier to enlarge the template to suit, and use the template as a guide to cut fabric shapes. Positioning each cabin in the centre of each window, glue the fabric to the white card. Draw a few flying seagulls at random to complete the picture.

2 Use a collection of odd buttons to customise a straw beach bag. Enlarge the template on a photocopier to suit the size of your bag. Lightly mark the design in pencil on the bag. Arrange the buttons on the paper template first, then sew in place on the bag.

Complete the nautical look with striped lining. Remove existing lining and use as a pattern to make new lining. Turn under top edge of new lining and stitch by hand to the top of the bag.

3 Create a seashell mobile for your deck. If shells don't have a natural hole, drill fine holes through them (centre top) and driftwood (centre and near each end). Suspending it from a rail as you work, assemble your mobile.

Start by knotting the twine at one end. Thread the other end through a hole in shell, then thread through a hole in driftwood. Allowing the shell to dangle, temporarily tie a loose knot. Repeat until mobile is complete. Make adjustments for balance, knot securely and trim ends.

4 Examine driftwood to see if it forms the shape of a letter. If so, let it inspire a greeting or sentiment. Here, the word ‘Love' was created using pieces of driftwood hauled home from the beach. The ‘o' was made by winding a length of grapevine. If you don't live close to the beach, consider using bare branches and ivy vine (or a tortured willow wreath) from your backyard.

More inspiration

For dazzling evenings and events, fill vases with sand and fat white candles. Use these impromptu hurricane lamps to line steps, brighten tabletops or define the edges of a patio or walkway.

For instant coastal charm, make hooks for your framed photos with fabric in seafaring colours, then top each with a glued-on starfish.