There’s a lot of talk about waterfront living at Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty lately. If you haven’t seen it, check out our 2023 Waterfront Report, brimming with insightful information on our area’s waterfront markets for both homebuyers and sellers. It’s summer in the Pacific Northwest and with the longer days comes the chance to revel in our coastal, saltwater, and freshwater gems, from the San Juan Islands to Lake Washington. If you are hearing the water’s siren call, these interior design tips and suggestions will help you make the most of your indoor/outdoor living space, while keeping in mind the nature that surrounds it.

Let Nature Be Your Artwork

Consider a neutral palette for both a clean, fresh look, and to let the view out your windows take center stage. Add in gauzy, simple curtains to soften the space. Crisp white is especially appealing for lake houses, really letting the water be the star and highlighting other nautical décor you’d like to weave into the space. Light blues, greys, greens, and tans, complemented by whimsical textured wallpaper in places, can also give the home a coastal vibe. Go a step farther and install pocket sliding doors so you can open right up to a fresh-air view.

Select Sturdy Furnishings 

Be mindful of sandy, saltwater-soaked footwear and wet outerwear. Outdoor furnishings and interior “mudrooms” where items can be properly dried and stowed will go a long way toward maintaining the beauty of your home, while also capitalizing on the indoor/outdoor lifestyle it allows. As with other spaces in the home, stick with a neutral or nature-inspired color palette. 

Bring in the Light 

We already know how dark and dreary the winter months in the PNW can be. Then again, storm watching can be addicting, and with the right interior design, they can feel downright cozy as the elements rage outside. For that Hygge feel, consider skylights to flood the space with light in the summer, and to hear the pitter-patter of raindrops above as you curl up by the roaring fireplace in the winter. Use a white or light gray ceiling paint to further lighten up the interior space. High ceilings also go a long way to allowing in the natural light.

Work With What You Have

Use what your waterfront home already has to offer, whether that’s wood beams, brick flooring, or built-in cabinetry. A fresh coat of light paint can liven up the space, and floors can be refinished to update the look–consider a light driftwood gray or whitewashed wood flooring for a classic lake house appeal. Prefer a more rustic feel to a lakefront home? Consider darker, more woodsy color hues for kitchen islands, walls, trim, and cabinets. 

Create a Primary Bedroom Oasis 

Create a vacation hideaway at home with soothing color palettes (soft gray or light blue and white, for example). Select soft linen draperies to allow in the light while being mindful of privacy, particularly in ensuite bathrooms. If you prefer a farmhouse vibe, consider an iron canopy bed set on a braided-jute rug, linen sheets, a refinished nightstand, a slipcovered headboard, and, in this case, more plush curtains. 

Add Extra Seating

Inspire gatherings and conversations in the indoor and outdoor spaces of your waterfront home. After all, everyone’s going to want to enjoy the view. Comfy sofas and oversized armchairs in neutral, natural colors, and even a deep fireplace hearth, will provide everyone with the perfect perch.

Remember, Old Can Be New Again 

Embrace a quintessential lake or beach house with open shelves that display vintage tableware or found objects, or an antique table used in the kitchen island juxtaposed with distinctive modern stools. Personalize unexpected places, like powder rooms, with family photos in old-fashioned frames. 

Treat Outdoor Spaces as Living Space

Of course, so much of the appeal of waterfront living is the chance to enjoy life outdoors as much as possible. Use your dens, sunrooms, porches, decks, and other indoor-outdoor spaces as extensions of your home’s livable space. Choose furniture made of natural fibers, add rugs to warm up the area, select discreet lighting, and include potted plants and you’ll have an alfresco room everyone will want to hang out in.