A fishing net gives a room an instant nautical or seaside vibe; even more so if the net is decked out in a variety of shells and starfish. Choosing a new net from a decor supplier or outdoor outfitter means you won't have to spend time cleaning the net before using it as decor; or select a more weathered, but still clean net for a more worn, natural appearance. Shells and starfish may be from your own collection gathered from beaches over the years, from a seaside gift shop, or even a craft store.
Place two removable stick-on wall hooks high up on a wall, or on two adjacent walls; for example, above a headboard on one wall, or in a corner of a bedroom over a reading nook.
Span the fishing net between the two hooks by bunching the netting and looping two corners over one hook, two over the second, resulting in a hammocklike appearance. Remove and readjust one of the hooks if necessary to create the desired amount of draping.
Place a small assortment of large shells and starfish in the net, enough to give it a natural look as if the items had been caught in the net. If the net hangs low in the center, the grouping will be bunched together. For a net that spans a greater area, entwine shells within the crossed fibers of the netting, or tie them in place with short pieces of fishing line, which will be invisible from across the room. Fishing line also keeps starfish tied and aligned as you'd like.
Create a "fringe" of small seashells by cutting one piece of fishing line or narrow twine for each shell, two to three inches long. Loop one piece of line through each predrilled shell hole, then tie the loop in desirable locations along the bottom of the net. If the net is old and has loose fibers, tie the shells directly to the hanging strands instead.