Oyster shells have a shape and surface that make them particularly suitable for small handmade objects. Instead of discarding the shells after a meal, clean examples can be reused for candles, decorative dishes and other details for the home.

Small candles are one of the simplest possibilities. Once the shell has been thoroughly cleaned and dried, melted candle wax can be poured directly into the deeper half of the shell with a wick positioned in the centre. Because every oyster is different, each finished candle has its own shape.

The irregular edge can also be highlighted. A small amount of metallic paint applied around the rim brings attention to the natural outline without covering the pearly interior. Gold works particularly well with the warm tones already present in many oyster shells.

The shells can also become small decorative dishes. A painted interior can hold beads, jewellery or other tiny objects, while an untreated shell can simply be placed among books, ceramics and collected objects.

Mother-of-pearl shells can be used on a larger scale. Overlapping flat pieces creates a surface with subtle differences in colour and reflection, suitable for decorative panels, frames or smaller furniture details.

The key is not to cover every natural characteristic. The uneven surface, variations in colour and irregular edges are precisely what make the material interesting.

Reusing shells in this way also turns something associated with a particular meal or place into an object that can remain in the home afterwards.

Want to use shells beyond the interior?
Discover Seashells on the Summer Table →

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