an't steal away to the beach every day? Create your own private beach retreat. Bare your windows with simple sheers or canvas covers, replace heavy-looking floor throws with sea grass mats, then scatter shells throughout the house for instant beach chic.

Pretty shells all in a row. The simplest way to decorate with shells is still one of the prettiest. To bring summer to any room, arrange a grouping of shells along a windowsill or mantle. Go for a soothing monochromatic look by using shells similar in size and color. Liven your living room with a colorful mix of everyday and exotic shells. If you find a conch shell, use it as a bookend or to "anchor" a collection.

Shellful containers. Fill a large apothecary jar with an artful assortment of shells. Or heap a small wicker basket with shells and place it in the center of a coffee or dining table. Glue rows of small clam shells around the rims of terra cotta pots and plant seeds or a starter plant for the perfect windowsill focus.

Beach votives. Place candle wicks into medium-size clam shells and fill with melted paraffin wax to create candles, or fill a dozen small-size shells to create tiny tea lights. Simply cut a store-bought wick so that it's 2" longer than the depth of your shell, tie one end to a pencil and place the pencil across the top of the shell so the wick is suspended above the center. Melt the wax in a double boiler (to improvise, melt wax in a coffee can that has been placed in a pot of boiling water), then pour the melted wax into your shell, filling it to the rim. Let wax harden for 1 hour, then trim the wick to 3/4".

On the half shell. Sprinkle ocean-scented potpourri on half of a large clam shell. Use the second half of the clam shell as a soap dish, either for bar soap or tiny decorative shell soaps, which can be found at most bed and bath stores.

Shore décor. Beach up your bathroom by gluing shells to shower curtain rings and ends of towel bars and curtain rods – shells make fabulous finials!

Helpful Hint: Short on shells? Stroll on over to Michaels® Stores.

Hot Hint: To scent shells, marinate them in a beach-scented essential oil and enclose in a Ziploc® bag for 48 hours. When removed, the shells will smell like a waft of sea breeze!