Easy DIY Buoy Garland: Upcycle Wine Corks for Beach Cottage Charm
Hey friends, I love adding cottage charm to our beach cottage with DIY touches. I decided I’d upcycle wine corks by making an easy DIY buoy garland to decorate the shelving above our bed. With just a few wine corks, craft paint, and Dollar Tree jute rope, I was able to add a little color to brighten the space. It would also be perfect for adding to a decorative tray or on a pegboard. I’ll show you how easy it is to make one of these fun, budget-friendly garlands yourself.
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DIY Coastal Buoy Garland: Personalized Beach Cottage Decor
A beach cottage is all about capturing that serene, carefree coastal vibe, and a DIY buoy garland made from upcycled wine corks fits right in. But beyond just looking good, there are several wonderful reasons why this simple craft is an ideal addition to a seaside retreat or to add a coastal vibe to any home.
- Bring the essence of the coast indoors! Buoys are iconic symbols of seaside life, evoking images of fishing boats, salty air, and the rhythmic sound of waves.
- Sustainable and thrifty decorating idea. In a world increasingly focused on eco-conscious living, upcycling wine corks is a brilliant way to give new life to materials that would otherwise be discarded.
- A DIY buoy garland offers an opportunity for personalized decor. Unlike mass-produced decorations, your handmade garland can tell a unique story. Each wine cork can be personalized to represent a special memory, person, or place.
Supplies For DIY Garland
With just a few recycled wine corks you will only need a few additional supplies to make a personalized garland. You can make your garland as long as you desire so the number of corks is optional.
- Recycled Wine Corks – If you don’t have wine corks, check with restaurants or bars for free ones. Most are happy to give you a few.
- Craft Paints – I used 5 different colors. You can choose what colors work best for your decor.
- Small Eye Hooks
- Jute Twine
- Small Paint Brushes
Paint Wine Corks
The first step is to protect your painting surface, and then paint the wine corks to resemble nautical buoys. I used a combination of red, white, and shades of blue to match my beach cottage decor. You can use any combination that works with your decor.
I painted each cork with two or three colors and with a variety of combinations.
I painted one color and allowed it to dry before adding a second color. I found it easier if I let each color to dry before moving to the next step. After all the paint colors are in place, set the corks aside until dry.
Add Eye Hooks
Once the paint is dry, add an eye hook to both ends of each cork. Just press the tip of the screw into the center of the cork and twist until the eye hook is against the cork.
Add Jute Twine To Make Garland
Next, begin attaching each buoy to the others with a length of jute twine. Begin by cutting the cut approximately 36 inches and fold in half. Run the two open ends of the twine through the eye hook. Pull the ends through the loop at the other end and pull taut to secure in the eye hook.
Optional Figure 8 knots
I decided to add figure 8 knots between each buoy on the garland. You can tie simple knots if you prefer. If you want to make the figure 8 knots, here’s a quick tutorial.
I added two knots between each wine cork buoy. Then attach the loose end of the twine to the next buoy.
Insider Tip
I was careful the mix the color combinations as I tied the buoy’s together. I also added the most significant buoys at the center so they would be most visible if hanging on a peg board.
Add Jute Tassel
Finally, I added a jute tassel to each end of the DIY Buoy Garland. You can see details about making a jute garland at How to Make A Simple Jute Tassel.
How To Decorate With DIY Buoy Garland
I knew exactly where I wanted to use the DIY buoy garland at our beach cottage. The shelf above our bed is filled with a large dough bowl and neutral nautical decor. I have wanted to add some color to the vignette, and the buoys are a perfect addition.
They add just enough bright color to draw attention to the other decor such as the DIY Flower Lampshades.
The personalized corks have Kure Beach and 1943 est. for the year the beach cottage was built. I’ve already thought about additional personalization that I could add such as they year we purchased the cottage.
Other ways that you can display a buoy garland….
- Add it to a tray or bowl on a coffee or side table.
- Drap the garland from a shelf, or pegboards.
- Use invisible command hooks to drape over a doorway.
In Conclusion
The buoy garland turned out great and it was so easy and inexpensive to make. There are many options for recycling wine corks including adding them to the planters to help retain moisture in your potting soil. For another craft idea, see How To Make A Wine Cork Christmas Tree.
I hope you enjoyed todays tutorial and I look forward to sharing my next adventure with you.
What a cute idea!!! I look forward to making one personalized for our travels. Thank you for sharing!
Ashley,
That’s such a great idea! Thank you for sharing. Let me know when you get it made. I’d love to share on my Sunday’s DRA. Have a great week.