DIY Life

It's summer: the season of sun, sand and surfing! So let's talk about how to incorporate a dash of beach flavor into your interior décor. Specifically, let's talk surfboards.

First up: Enter the DIY Life-Lunar Lounge Coffee Table Giveaway! A beautifully streamlined Eliptikal table is up for grabs. Inspired by 1950s interiors, the Eliptikal also evokes the world of surfing style. Want to win it? Just follow the link to Erin's post and tell us how you would put your own decorative stamp on this baby.

Now, I'll confess, I'm no surfer. However, I love the look of vintage long boards. Yes, they're kind of big and bulky, but they also possess elegant lines. They speak so powerfully of the ocean and outdoors living. Plus they effortlessly add an unexpected, fun twist to any room.Vintage boards look incredible as accent pieces. Leaned up against a wall, inside or out, you've instantly brought a little surf-shop-chic to your home. Boards also look awesome strung from the ceiling -- if you're up for a little extra planning and work. (Hint: Ensure your board is securely anchored!)

Long boards can even be re-purposed as furniture. The surfboard-as-headboard design in the above photo illustrates this beautifully, does it not? I love this! Other new functions for old boards include chairs, benches, bar countertops and, of course, coffee tables.

Speaking of boards-as-furniture, check out another of Lunar Lounge's surf-inspired pieces: the Surf-Board cocktail table, complete with whimsical fin pointing skyward. You could easily achieve a similar look with a vintage board, don't you think?

But don't imagine surfboards only work in kitschy beach-styled interiors. Nope. Put away the seashell wind chimes, dudes. Style blog Habitually Chic's "Surf's Up" post proves that boards look fabulous surrounded by everything from rustic beach-cottage styles to the sleekest of contemporary interiors.

Snag more truly creative ideas from Royal Tiki's post, "Decorating with Surfboards." My favorite tip? Don't feel like you must beautify your old board with paint and polish. All the dings attest to its authenticity and add character. But do redo your board's finish if that fits with your decor and/or the look you want to achieve.