River rocks are some of the most beautiful stones you’ll find and are perfect for earthy, natural decorating.

Smooth and polished from centuries spent beneath rushing river waters, river rocks come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Their variation of different colors such as brown, grey, white, black, and buttery beige makes them ideal for fitting in with any decor. Their round, oblong, and even slightly flattened shapes even make them perfect for fitting together in a mosaic of patterns. The rivers of Nashville are full of these beautiful rounded rocks and they’re ready to become a part of your landscape.

Here are 5 great idea on how to decorate with river rocks that will impress everyone that visits your home.

1. Give a New Look to an Old Fireplace

Large, single color river rocks are perfect for covering over a tired old fireplace frame. Here are a few examples of a fireplace using river rock. Beautiful, right?

More adventurous decorators may even want to experiment with multi-colored rocks. Simply remove whatever cover is currently framing your fireplace (such as tile or plaster) and use mortar to set large, multi-shaped river rocks up in its place. You can even throw in a few medium-sized rocks for a more natural, varied appearance. A fireplace with a river rock exterior gives the whole room a more modern feel and definitely makes for more cozy family nights around the fire in the winter.

2. Bring Nature into the Shower 

Use small, multi-colored river rocks to create a textured (and non-slip) shower floor that makes you feel like you’re bathing in an outdoor waterfall. Doesn’t that sound relaxing?! Make sure they’re firmly set in a secure mortar or concrete base. You can go one step further if you’re ambitious and line your shower walls with river rocks, too. The soothing appearance of water running over stone all around you completes the whole “outdoors while inside” illusion and may make it so you never want your daily shower to end. HGTV has some great examples here.

3. Create a Storybook Garden Path

River rocks are perfect for making picturesque garden paths. Instead of having dirt paths or concrete slabs in your garden to create walkways, you can lay down cobbled streets of river rocks that will make your garden look like it belongs in a book of fairy tales. You don’t even need any mortar or glue to create this enchanting look. Simply mark the area of your projected path with chalk or string, then lay down a medium-thick layer of river rocks of varying sizes along your path. You can remove the grass from the path first, or leave it in place for the possibility of charming individual blades or flowering weeds to peek through the rocks. Most garden paths look the best with one color of river rock, so choose the one you like best and create your own magical outdoor sanctuary.

4. Add a Dramatic Flair to a Room with a Stone Wall

A common saying today is “go big or go home.” You can definitely go big by covering an entire wall of your home with river rocks. You can use any size, shape, or color for this project. However, the best look normally comes from a mix of multi-shaped medium and small stones of a uniform color. Just do one wall in one room for a dramatic flair that people will notice. The stones give the

wall a fascinating texture and the contrast of it against the regular walls in the rest of the room is captivating. You can drill holes after the rocks have set to hang pictures, mirrors, and other decorations according to your preference.

5. Accents, Accents Everywhere

Sometimes, small can be sweet. One of the simplest ways to bring river rocks into your home is to use them as accent pieces. Fill up clear containers with them, add plastic plants, and set them all over the house. Scatter them loosely across a mantle and add framed photos and candles in between them. Glue small ones around the edges of picture frames and mirrors for an unexpected bit of decorating magic. Anywhere and everywhere, be creative!

Inspired?

We hope this provides you with the inspiration you need to find the perfect spot(s) in your home to decorate with river rock. Whether it is a couple small centerpieces, or a whole accent wall, we have no doubt it will be beautiful!

The post Truly Inspiring Home Decor Using River Rocks appeared first on The Rock Place.