Decorating With a Fishing Theme

Some people walk, talk, and live fishing. Nothing wrong with that! The average avid fisherman spends most of their time fishing, planning their next fishing trip, or wishing they were already on their next fishing trip. One way to fill in the time between those important trips is to decorate your environment in a way that shows how serious you are about the sport, and how much it is a part of your lifestyle.

Bearing in mind that there may be others in your household who may not be fishing fanatics, hard as that may be to fathom, there are still ways to showcase your style and still maintain a harmonious environment for all.

If you're decorating a cabin or country home which you use almost exclusively for your outdoor pursuits, you can have a much freer hand with your fishing décor, starting with the outside of your dwelling and continuing to the inside. We'll start there.

A nice carved wooden fish statue can look great in front of your country dwelling. There are country stores who showcase these statues, and plenty of woodcarvers who work from their home. Keep an eye out as you drive through the country for signs about statues or the actual statues out by the road. Woodcarvers tend to live in the country, where they have a better environment for their trade. Find a statue that is the right size and style for you, preferably showing one of your favorite game fish, and put it close to the front door of your home, but not directly on the porch, if there is one.

Just make sure it is immediately visible to all who visit. It is the first statement you make about yourself and what you and your dwelling are all about, and a well-made statue can make a great first impression. If the statue is not already protected with a sealant, you may want to add one to extend it's life, but please do so carefully. You want to protect it, not change it dramatically or take away from its original appeal.

The inside of your dwelling can have a fishing theme and still seem comfortable and inviting. There are, of course, the pictures of your fishing achievements that can be displayed throughout your dwelling. A picture of you holding the biggest fish you ever caught is a great way to get interesting conversation started. Use a frame that does not overwhelm. These types of pictures are telling a story about you, and you want the questions to be about how you caught the fish and where, etc, not "where did you get that great frame?" A metal frame with a subtle fish theme, or a rustic wooden frame would work wonderfully.

Keep the photographs to a minimum. People may feel that they need to comment on every picture, and too many are going to make them feel overwhelmed or eventually bored. A couple photos on the wall, two or three scattered around the main room and/or bedroom, and that's good enough. A medium to large painting or print of fishing, or a woodsy lake or river theme, nicely framed, can work wonders to pull your décor together and set the mood. Put it on a main wall that is immediately visible when visitors enter.

Smaller woodcarvings or stone statues of fish or fishermen are good to put in the main room, but the same rule applies…don't overdo. Two at the most, unless you want a visitor to suddenly stand up and shout, "Okay okay, we know you like to fish already!"

If you like to display your fishing poles, and you think they are pleasing to look at, then by all means, display them. The key to this is the display rack. Spend a little more on a well-made and attractive display rack. Keep your rack on an open wall, not too close to furniture, where it can be seen and appreciated without too much clutter around.

Stay away from fish curtains and fish rugs; they are too much, and not necessary. One fish throw on the back of the couch is okay. A real mounted fish that you have caught is fine, as that can also start interesting conversation. As per the rule, though, remember that less is more.

For your main home, although a fishing theme in your décor is not unheard-of, you want to scale it down. Leave the fishing rack in the garage or storage shed. If you have a family room and a living room, put your mounted fish in the room that is used the least.

Fishing décor can be a great way to showcase who you are, so have fun with it. Here's to happy homes and good fishing!