Three Nautical Decor Ideas Inspired by Sailor Tattoos

Nov 9th 2015


Back before planes were used to ship goods, naval vessels sailed the world's waters, bringing products from far off lands to people back home. As these navy men and merchant sailors became more experienced, they got tattoos to symbolize their tenure and travels. If you were in the know, you could tell a sailor's life story just by looking at their body art. If you're thinking about decking your home out in nautical decorations, why not use the symbolic meanings of these images to coordinate your home's new look? Here are a few good ideas you can use. Wall Anchor Decor. After successfully sailing across the Atlantic Ocean and returning home, navy sailors would get an anchor to represent their safe journey. Anchors also represent an unfaltering faith -- they literally and figuratively can keep a person grounded. Wall anchors are attractive pieces of nautical decor, and would look great near a door, to symbolize a hope that the homeowner and their guests have safe travels when leaving. Compasses. Compass tattoos were talismans against losing one's way at sea, and were meant to help sailors have the good luck necessary when traveling in treacherous weathers to arrive safely at their destinations. For similar reasons, compasses and maps have long been excellent pieces of nautical decor. To help bring your home good luck, considering placing compass nautical decor on your mantelpiece or coffee table. Decorating Rope. If a sailor had a tattoo of rope, it meant that at one point in time they were a deckhand. People in this naval position would prepare barges for returning vessels, build tows, perform scheduled maintenance, and generally do a lot of grunt work. If you hang decorative rope on your wall, you can use that nautical decor as a symbol of where you come from -- to remember all the hard work you've done to get where you are in life. These nautical home decorations will look great no matter where you put them, but they'll look even better if they're placed with careful consideration, making them even stronger conversation pieces.

Back before planes were used to ship goods, naval vessels sailed the world's waters, bringing products from far off lands to people back home. As these navy men and merchant sailors became more experienced, they got tattoos to symbolize their tenure and travels. If you were in the know, you could tell a sailor's life story just by looking at their body art.

If you're thinking about decking your home out in nautical decorations, why not use the symbolic meanings of these images to coordinate your home's new look? Here are a few good ideas you can use.

Wall Anchor Decor.
After successfully sailing across the Atlantic Ocean and returning home, navy sailors would get an anchor to represent their safe journey. Anchors also represent an unfaltering faith -- they literally and figuratively can keep a person grounded. Wall anchors are attractive pieces of nautical decor, and would look great near a door, to symbolize a hope that the homeowner and their guests have safe travels when leaving.

Compasses.
Compass tattoos were talismans against losing one's way at sea, and were meant to help sailors have the good luck necessary when traveling in treacherous weathers to arrive safely at their destinations. For similar reasons, compasses and maps have long been excellent pieces of nautical decor. To help bring your home good luck, considering placing compass nautical decor on your mantelpiece or coffee table.

Decorating Rope.
If a sailor had a tattoo of rope, it meant that at one point in time they were a deckhand. People in this naval position would prepare barges for returning vessels, build tows, perform scheduled maintenance, and generally do a lot of grunt work. If you hang decorative rope on your wall, you can use that nautical decor as a symbol of where you come from -- to remember all the hard work you've done to get where you are in life.

These nautical home decorations will look great no matter where you put them, but they'll look even better if they're placed with careful consideration, making them even stronger conversation pieces.