Designing Interiors Around Views

How to Design Luxury Interiors That Maximise Ocean, City, and Garden Views Through Layout, Windows, and Furnishings

Imagine waking to the gentle caress of dawn spilling across an endless ocean horizon, each wave catching the light like liquid silver. Or consider an evening in a penthouse where the city’s glittering skyline unfolds like a living tapestry just beyond your glass wall, an ever-changing masterpiece painted in neon and stars. For the discerning home-owner, a view is not a mere backdrop; it is an intrinsic part of the living experience, a silent partner that shapes mood, rhythm, and connection to the outside world.

At Studio 8687, we believe that designing interiors around these views is an art form, a thoughtful choreography where architecture, layout, and furnishings become the frame that elevates the vista from scenery to spectacle. This is not about placing furniture near windows; it’s about crafting a seamless dialogue between your interior sanctuary and the expansive world beyond, turning everyday moments into sublime experiences.

In this article, we will explore how to harness the power of external perspectives, be it the tranquil ocean, the vibrant cityscape, or the serene garden, through intelligent design choices that celebrate and enhance your unique setting. Because when interiors are designed with the view as a muse, every glance outside becomes a journey, every space feels infinitely larger, and your home truly becomes a masterpiece of connection and calm.

Kameeldoring Estate

Defining “The View”, Types & Emotional Impact

A view is far more than a mere visual asset; it is a storyteller that sets the emotional tone of your home. Whether it’s the endless expanse of the ocean, the vibrant pulse of a cityscape, or the calming embrace of a garden or mountain vista, each type of view carries its own character and invites a unique interior response.

Ocean views, with their vast horizons and rhythmic waves, evoke a sense of calm and continuity. They inspire interiors that flow effortlessly, echoing the gentle undulation of the sea. Imagine a living space bathed in soft, natural light where sheer curtains billow gently, inviting the ocean breeze inside. Furniture here tends to be low-profile and sculptural, crafted from natural textures that blend harmoniously with sand, sky, and sea, creating a seamless dialogue between indoors and out.

In contrast, cityscape views crackle with energy and sophistication. The towering silhouettes and twinkling lights of an urban skyline become a living artwork framed by expansive glass walls. Interiors complement this dynamism through sleek lines, reflective surfaces, and carefully curated palettes of urban neutrals accented with metallic finishes. The furniture is purposeful and minimalist, allowing the dramatic cityscape to take centre stage, transforming your living room into a private gallery of nocturnal glamour.

Meanwhile, garden and mountain views offer a refuge of renewal and tranquillity. They invite biophilic design principles, bringing the outside in through natural materials, earthy tones, and lush greenery. Picture a cosy reading nook nestled beside an operable window where dappled sunlight filters through leaves, creating a sanctuary infused with nature’s quiet vitality. Here, the interiors echo the outdoor palette, blurring the boundary between interior comfort and natural serenity.

When considering your own home, it is essential to ask: Which view resonates most deeply with your lifestyle and emotional needs? How do the shifting seasons and changing light influence your daily connection with the outside world? By understanding the unique qualities of your vista, you can tailor your interiors; through textures, colours, and layout, to enhance this powerful relationship.

To see these principles in action, look to Olson Kundig’s Malibu cliffside retreat, where panoramic ocean views shape an open, flowing spatial arrangement that feels both grand and intimate. Or take inspiration from CetraRuddy’s New York penthouse, where a ‘picture window’ approach frames the city skyline like a living canvas, reminding us that in design, sometimes the frame is as crucial as the view it holds.

Architectural & Layout Strategies: Anchoring the View Within Your Home

Designing interiors around a prized view begins long before furniture is selected or paint colours are chosen; it starts with spatial storytelling. Your home’s architecture and layout become the stage upon which the view is showcased, transforming everyday living into a curated experience where every glance outside feels deliberate and profound.

The key lies in understanding and controlling sightlines, those invisible threads that connect your eyes to the outside world. Open-plan layouts often serve as an ideal canvas, dissolving barriers between rooms to allow uninterrupted visual flow toward the vista. Imagine a spacious living and dining area where your gaze travels effortlessly from a hand crafted sofa to a sweeping ocean horizon beyond glass walls. Yet, open plans are not one-size-fits-all; defined zones can also heighten the impact of a view by framing it as a dramatic focal point within intimate settings, like a master suite or study. The challenge is to balance openness with purposeful enclosure so that the view remains accessible yet cherished.

Circulation paths offer another subtle but powerful opportunity. Thoughtfully planned corridors and transitions can become “view corridors,” guiding movement while drawing attention to scenic snapshots framed by windows or glass doors. Consider a breeze way that threads through a garden, where every step reveals a new leafy vignette, or a loggia that extends the living room outdoors, blending interior comfort with nature’s textures and scents.

A crucial question for every home-owner is where the view should take precedence. Should it belong to shared communal spaces where guests gather, or should it be reserved as a private treasure for bedrooms and personal retreats? The answer depends on your lifestyle and how you want to experience your surroundings. Some prefer the energy of a city skyline as a backdrop to lively entertaining spaces, while others seek the quiet embrace of a garden vista as a lullaby in their sleeping quarters.

One of the best ways to envision this is through architectural precedents like Richard Neutra’s Kaufmann Desert House, where spatial axes are meticulously oriented toward mountain ridges, ensuring the landscape dominates every key room. Or Peter Zumthor’s Therme Vals, where intimate pools and resting areas frame alpine panoramas, creating a dialogue between human scale and natural grandeur.

At Studio 8687, we approach spatial planning as a bespoke choreography, meticulously tailoring every layout to honour your unique view and lifestyle. Because when architecture frames the vista with intention, your home ceases to be just a shelter; it becomes a living, breathing extension of the world outside.

Furniture & Accessory Positioning: Curating the Interior to Celebrate the View

Once the architectural frame and window placement have set the stage, the art of furniture and accessory positioning takes centre spotlight, ensuring that your interior both honours and enhances the view without overshadowing it. In a home designed around breathtaking vistas, every piece of furniture becomes a supporting actor, placed with precision to elevate the narrative unfolding outside.

Seating arrangements should invite lingering moments of appreciation. “View-anchored” layouts, such as an L-shaped sofa angled toward floor-to-ceiling glass or a swivel lounge chair positioned like a throne for private reflection, create intentional focus. Low-profile furniture with clean lines avoids interrupting sightlines, while sculptural forms can mirror the natural contours of the landscape, whether the undulating ocean waves or jagged city rooftops.

Materiality plays a pivotal role in this dialogue. Soft linens, warm woods, and muted stone echo the outdoor palette, gently blurring boundaries between interior and exterior. Accessories such as rugs and coffee tables can carry subtle colour references or textures found in the vista, say, sandy beige tones reflecting a beach, or charcoal grays mimicking urban concrete, linking inside and outside in harmonious conversation.

Lighting also shapes how views are perceived throughout the day. Strategic use of layered, dimmable fixtures ensures that interior light complements, rather than competes with, natural light spilling in. At dusk, soft ambient lighting can enhance the glow of a city skyline or cast warm highlights that mimic sunset hues over a garden.

Crucially, the interior should never feel like it competes with the outside world. Instead, it acts as a refined stage that frames and elevates the view. This balance requires restraint and intentionality, a minimalist approach that celebrates spaciousness and clarity over clutter, where every element is purposeful.

A beautiful example is Kelly Wearstler’s ocean front interiors, where transparent resin consoles and delicate furnishings preserve sweeping views, allowing the ever-changing seascape to remain the star. Or Studio MK27’s São Paulo residences, where minimalist furniture quietly supports the grandeur of a sprawling urban panorama, creating spaces that breathe and inspire.

At Studio 8687, we curate interiors that don’t just complement your view, they celebrate it, transforming your home into a sanctuary where every detail is in perfect harmony with the world outside.

Integrating Sustainable & Smart Elements: Enhancing Views with Eco-Luxury and Innovation

In the pursuit of interiors that celebrate exceptional views, sustainability and smart technology emerge as essential allies, ensuring that your home remains both breathtaking and responsible in a rapidly evolving world. At Studio 8687, we believe that true luxury embraces environmental stewardship without compromising aesthetics or comfort.

Sustainable design begins with passive strategies that harmonize with the view. Thoughtful roof overhangs and shading devices can protect interiors from harsh midday sun, preserving both comfort and the clarity of the vista. Thermal mass materials like polished concrete or stone floors absorb and release heat, creating natural temperature regulation that complements expansive glazing. By orienting spaces to maximize natural light while minimizing heat gain, your home becomes a living, breathing ecosystem in sync with its environment.

Smart home integrations further refine this balance. Automated blinds and daylight sensors adjust shading in real-time, reducing glare while maintaining uninterrupted views. These systems can be programmed to adapt to the changing angle of the sun throughout the day or to preserve privacy without sacrificing connection to the outdoors. Imagine the gentle dimming of glass at sunset, perfectly timed to soften light while unveiling a panoramic cityscape’s evening glow.

Biophilic design elements, such as green roofs and living walls, extend garden or mountain views inward, creating a seamless transition between your home and nature. These lush installations not only enhance air quality but also provide tactile and visual textures that enrich your sensory experience, turning interiors into verdant sanctuaries.

Real-world examples speak volumes: Studio MK27’s Casa Paraty integrates green façades that blur the lines between interior comfort and the surrounding landscape, while Gensler’s Net Zero-certified offices demonstrate how solar-responsive shading can be both an architectural feature and a sustainability imperative.

Ultimately, sustainability and smart technology are not add-ons but integral threads woven into the fabric of view-centric design. They ensure that your home remains comfortable, energy-efficient, and visually stunning year-round, an enduring testament to the fusion of beauty, innovation, and responsibility.

Veldstone Estate

Designing interiors around views is an invitation to reimagine the very way you live, transforming your home into a sanctuary where every glance beyond the glass becomes a moment of awe, calm, and connection. From the rhythmic serenity of ocean horizons to the electric pulse of city skylines and the gentle embrace of gardens and mountains, your view is the silent protagonist of your home’s story.

Through purposeful architecture, precise window placement, carefully curated furnishings, and the integration of sustainable, smart technologies, Studio 8687 crafts spaces that do more than frame the outside world; they celebrate it. The interplay between interior and exterior becomes a symphony of light, texture, and emotion, where the boundary between home and nature gracefully dissolves.

We invite you to envision a residence where your unique view is not just seen but felt, a living artwork that evolves with the day and seasons, elevating your everyday experience. When interiors honour and enhance the vista, your home becomes more than a place to live; it becomes a timeless masterpiece of connection and tranquillity.

Let Studio 8687 guide you in bringing this vision to life. Together, we can create a bespoke design that captures your view’s essence and transforms it into a daily source of inspiration and joy.