How to Style A Space With An Ocean View

Here in the magic city, luxury real estate revolves around the palm trees, tropical atmosphere, and unique lifestyle that the southeastern coast of Florida provides. Beachfront properties and condos are a dime a dozen here in Miami but there's one thing that all those who admire oceanfront living crave the most -that is the view. They want that gorgeous indigo landscape shimmering right outside their window and who can blame them? Many people from all over the world invest in Miami real estate to have that signature ocean view.

Of course, Miami is only one of many places that boasts stunning ocean and beachfront views. For example, places like Southern California also have many beautiful oceanfront properties that offer a similar lifestyle. Having an ocean view is already a huge selling point for many looking at oceanfront property but how can we highlight this and what should we avoid when decorating a space that already possesses such a strong feature? Let’s find out..

What are some ways we can capitalize on the view?

As a luxury home staging company, we strive to make every space we work on appealing to most viewers taking into consideration what surrounds the property. An ocean view is always a pleasure to work with but there are certain things we do to make sure that this significant characteristic of the home is highlighted in the proper manner. First, you must consider visibility. It is important that as a huge part of what makes the space unique, the view should not be obstructed in any way. Then you must look at what else you will include in the space to make sure these items will not distract from the view or clash with it in any way. Those two steps will significantly impact how well your oceanview space is set up. Now that we know what to think about when working with an oceanview, let’s discuss the details of this a bit further.

What furniture works best for displaying your ocean view?

Reflecting back on the topic of visibility that we discussed earlier, you want to make sure the furniture pieces you incorporate in the space do not take away from the view. Most oceanfront properties will have large or floor-to-ceiling windows. This means you have amazing visibility of the ocean and we should be able to enjoy the view from any part of the space. For this reason, when we style a living area with large windows that have impressive views beyond them, we use low profile sofas and accent chairs so that they aren’t obstructed. It is best to keep all major furniture pieces low and minimal so that the important detail, the view, is the star of the show. Also, you should stick to light neutral colors for your furniture to, again, make sure you’re not taking away from the view.

This kind of space is also a great opportunity to get creative with your furniture choices. For example, if you have a view like the one depicted in the image below (from our “Beachfront Condo In the Sky” Project), you might want to have your chairs and sofa in a position where you can witness the view. Because of the configuration of the space in this example, we decided to go with swivel chairs so that one may look at the television or a guest they have across from them but also swivel around and enjoy that amazing view. Think of things like this when working in an unconventional space with a view worth swivelling for!

What decor and accents work best for ocean view spaces?

Similar to the advice given about what kind of furniture you should use in a space like this, stick to lighter and more natural tones when it comes to the decor and accents of your ocean view space. You definitely want to veer away from any dramatic or bold colors in this scenario because it is a distraction. The whole idea of this is to capitalize on and highlight the ocean landscape right outside your window. If you have a big art piece or heavy and dark curtains in the way, it will only keep you from acknowledging the beauty everyone can appreciate from being able to see the ocean right from your space.

Because of the nature and location this category of property exists in, a light coastal style will appeal to a wider audience than something more niche. Apart from visibility and distraction, you want all of your accents to make sense with the geography so that it doesn't clash. On the other hand, you don’t always have to be completely coastal and there are many ways to accomplish a contemporary vibe in your ocean view condo or home. For more information on that specifically, check out our article “How To Be Coastal And Contemporary”.