How To Create A Beach Theme With A Canopy Swing Set

If you love the beach, surround your canopy swing set with a beach theme. Even if you live far inland, you can create this theme with a little creativity and time.

The color palette is a big part of creating any theme, whether for canopy swing sets or other furniture. For your theme, consider white and pale blue. These colors mimic the shades of water and sand and can therefore provide a strong base for a beach theme. You have many ways to incorporate this color theme. You can paint your canopy swing set if it's made from wood. Or select cushions and outdoor throw pillows that display your theme shades.

Now, you might run into a problem with the color of the canopy. What if you can't find the right color? Actually, you can use the canopy color as an accent color. Maybe the closest color to your scheme you can find is a navy canopy. Use the other colors as your dominant theme, but repeat the navy in one or two other places to pull together a unified look. You can carry this accent color to a planter, the color of your flowers, or even colored glass vases or bottles.

Keep your eye out for unusual pieces at flea markets, yard sales, and discount stores. Accessories that display ocean animals, ships, shells, or other ocean-related items can accompany your beach theme. Really, the possibilities for customizing canopy swing sets are endless. But for a few starting ideas, you might think about shaped candles, antique lanterns, an old chest with an oceanic carving, or a painted-top side table. A canopy swing set can look very charming when surrounded with a few carefully chosen pieces of furniture or accessories. Of course, remember to check painted items or other pieces of furniture for compatibility with the outdoors.

Create a path to your canopy swing set with old paver stones, or any flat rocks that will work as stepping stones. Check with excavation sites to see if they will allow you to take rock they've dug out--maybe for free, or at least for a low price. Once you've laid the stepping-stone path to your canopy swing set, place wood along the edges of the path. Choose wood that looks like pieces of driftwood to build up your beach theme. For a cheap supply of wood, first check with salvage yards or similar places.

Canopy swing sets can look very inviting when paired with flowers or planters. In addition to choosing plants that coordinate with your color scheme, you can add shells to your arrangements. If you collect the shells yourself, you might wish to sterilize them to prevent unpleasant smells. To sterilize, boil the shells in water for about twenty minutes and then allow them to air dry. Alternately, you can soak them overnight in a bleach-and-water mix, rinse them thoroughly, and allow them to air dry.

Place the sterilized shells along the edge of a planter and set the planter next to your canopy swing set. Or, if you prefer not to mess with plants, place the shells in a basket or open pottery. Arrange this container on a side table next to your canopy swing set.

As you can see, canopy swing sets can serve as natural centerpieces for beach themes. The hardest part is finding the accessories that fit together exactly right. But if you take your time finding and choosing the perfect accessories, you can pull off a stunning theme in your back yard.