Beach/Coastal Aesthetic: Possible Upcycling Project

For our upcycling projects, the aesthetic is just as important as the function. Our original concept for the hanging lantern was inspired by the energetic, high-contrast world of nightclubs, which involved bold neon lights, sleek materials, and sharp geometric shapes. But what if we were to create the opposite? What would that look like, and how could we achieve it using the same materials?

The beachy, or coastal aesthetic is everything that the nightclub aesthetic is not. Where the nightclub vibe embraces darkness, artificial lights, and high-energy design, the coastal aesthetic is light, natural, and soothing. Instead of dark purples, electric blues, and neon pinks, think pastel blues, soft whites, and sandy neutrals. Instead of sharp, geometric lighting, picture soft, natural glows with gentle movement inspired by ocean waves.

Rather than having sleek, futuristic orbs with flashing LED lights, the lanterns from my current upcycling project transform into delicate, floating jellyfish. The intense glow of the nightclub version is replaced with soft, diffused LED lights. Instead of having the plastic sheet on the bottom of the plastic disposable water bottles, there will be no platform on the bottom to allow for flowing ribbons, twine, or softly frosted plastic that mimics the gentle sway of jellyfish tentacles in the ocean. The overall effect would be calm, dreamy, and organic, bringing a sense of relaxation that you would feel from hanging out at the beach. A baseline of what I would go for can be seen in image (2) by Pinterest.

A sketch of the design I would aim for can be seen above. Surprisingly, I can use many of the same materials to achieve this transformation while completely shifting the aesthetic. Here is a list of the materials that I could use from my current upcycling project:

• Plastic Bottles: Instead of spraying them with glossy black or neon tints, we could paint them in soft pastel hues or give them a sea glass effect using frosted paint.
• Lighting: We can use the same LED lights, but rather than using the mode where the lights change color, they can be set to one specific color, such as a light blue to simulate the ocean vibes.
• Tentacles: We could cut the plastic sheet into flowing coiled pieces or use twine.
• Hanging Mechanism: We could use the rope or PVC pipe which is painted light blue that was planned for my current upcycling project’s hanging mechanism to enhance the coastal feel.

Although many materials from my current upcycling project could be used for the coastal upcycling project, there are some materials that I would like to add, which would significantly help resemble the beach aesthetic. Here is a list of those materials:

• Tentacles: To add to the cut-up plastic sheet, there will be more tentacles by adding light-colored streamers to the bottom of the bottle.
• Paint: In order to represent the colors of relaxation and gentle glow, we could get light-colored paint to make the water bottles have a cleaner appearance.

The transformation from a nightclub-inspired lantern to a peaceful coastal jellyfish lantern is a perfect example of how design choices completely shift an object’s mood and purpose. While both versions serve as unique lighting fixtures, their environments and emotional impact are entirely different. One energizes and stimulates, while the other soothes and relaxes.

Whether you’re drawn to the pulse of the dance floor or the breezy charm of the ocean, upcycling offers a lot of opportunities. Something I have realized is the key is in the details—color, texture, material, and light—all of which can be tweaked to match any aesthetic you dream of.

References:

(1) WallpaperCave, n.d., https://wallpapercave.com/wp/wp7663889.jpg

(2) Pinterest, n.d., https://i.pinimg.com/474x/2a/62/9b/2a629b9e6848be36f3948ff62a721a5a.jpg