Whether you live on a lake or near an ocean (or just wish you did), incorporating a few fish themed decor items to your room is a great way to give the space a relaxed, aquatic vibe. While seashells are a more common choice for a beach theme, fish are a bit more flexible, both in terms of the settings they evoke, and in size, shape, color, and style. And while seashells are always more or less just seashells, fish themed decor can range from as overt as a trophy bass to as subtle as an abstract painting and everywhere in between.
The most realistic types of fish themed decor, like the aforementioned trophy fish or something like the statue above, are the best fit if you want to create a fishing theme or a look that’s more nautical than beachy. Highly detailed fish figurines or paintings have a very concrete, masculine feel, and are generally pretty dark in terms of color. That means they’re a better match for a fishing lodge or boathouse look than a seaside cottage, and they pair beautifully with lots of natural finished wood.
If you’re interested in the very fine details of different types of fish – the fins and scales, shape and coloration of different species – but don’t want a very dominant fishing or ocean theme, detailed black and white scientific drawings of fish might be more up your alley. These show off the most unique details of some more exotic types of fish, but are neutral enough that they can be used as artwork in just about any space. The antique mirrors and pine wood on these prints give them a nice grayscale feel that fits well with an industrial style, but also allows them to fit in with almost any color scheme.
Most fish themed decor items are a little more abstract, though – less finely detailed and featuring a softer color palette. Driftwood fish wall hangings are a great example of this: the individual pieces of wood give the impression of fins and scales, and the overall shape is easily identifiable as a fish, but the look isn’t anywhere near photorealistic. In fact, the beauty of the piece lies as much in the natural variation of the wood and the unique way the shapes fit together as it does in the actual design of the piece it self.
Driftwood wall hangings are a particularly popular choice right now, not the least because weathered wood has become a hot commodity in all areas of home design. But with a nautical, lakeside, or seaside theme, driftwood does double duty, because it’s not just weathered, but worn and shaped specifically by water. That means that in addition to having a nice rustic, natural quality, it also helps evoke a watery environment. Add to that a simple fish design (as detailed or abstract as you like), and you’ve got a subtle yet strong anchor for the theme.
Fish themed decor items can also be used to add color to a room. Many species of fish have bright, beautiful, vibrantly colored fins and scales, and paintings that depict them make great accent pieces. Again, you can go more or less abstract, depending on your taste: a watercolor will have a very different feel from an oil painting, and of course the color, species, and level of detail can vary almost infinitely, making this a good way to incorporate an aquatic-themed element into a room, regardless of the style or overall color scheme.
If you want something a little more subtle, instead of looking for items that depict or mimic fish outright, try to find items that mimic specific details of fish, particularly the scales. Baskets, lighting fixtures, or even fabrics, wallpaper, or tile can subtly evoke the unique and elegant patterning of fish scales, and help lend a nice relaxed, watery, tropical vibe to your room. A little bit can go a long way, depending on the surrounding decor, but it’s also a pattern that repeats well if you want to use it on a larger scale (no pun intended).
But what do you think? What kind of fish themed decor items would you like to add to your space? Let me know in the comments below!
