How do you furnish your second home for the Caribbean climate?

Are you thinking of buying a second home on Curaçao, Aruba, or Bonaire? The interior will likely look very different from what you’re used to in the Netherlands. This is because life there revolves mainly around the outdoors, and the trade winds are taken into account when building luxury homes.

Naturally, you’ll want to take full advantage of that pleasant breeze so that the rooms are always cooled naturally. What’s the best way to furnish your home on a Caribbean island? Find out in this new edition of Burbach Roycroft Insights.

The bright Caribbean sun provides beautiful, natural light. When designing the interior, people often opt for light colors and natural materials so that heat isn’t trapped inside the space. In addition, the constant trade winds are a major advantage.

With a smart layout, the flow of this cooling breeze isn’t blocked by bulky furniture. A spacious, airy arrangement is usually preferred. This ensures that fresh air always flows comfortably throughout the entire living space.

On the islands, indoor living blends seamlessly with outdoor living. The spacious veranda or porch often serves as the main living room. Extending the same style or materials from the interior to the exterior creates a sense of calm and unity in the design.

Weather-resistant, high-quality furniture that can withstand the salty sea air and strong sunlight is widely used.

Luxury Caribbean homes rarely feature standard glass windows. Instead, high-quality wooden or aluminum shutters are typically chosen. These shutters filter the bright sunlight while allowing the cooling trade winds to flow freely indoors.

By combining the shutters with discreet insect screens, unwanted guests such as mosquitoes are also kept out. This creates a very comfortable, airy, and peaceful indoor environment.

On the Caribbean islands, the sun sets relatively early all year round. However, the wonderful outdoor lifestyle continues just as before. It is therefore recommended that you pay close attention to a well-thought-out lighting plan.

With atmospheric, warm lighting on the porch, by the pool, and in the tropical garden, the home’s luxurious ambiance is beautifully highlighted even in the evening hours.

Most of the luxury homes in our portfolio already feature high-quality and tasteful finishes. Naturally, Burbach Roycroft is a real estate agency, not an interior design firm. In the high-end market, further personalization of the interior design is therefore often outsourced to an experienced interior designer.

These specialists have specific experience with Caribbean design. They know exactly which furniture and materials perform best in this specific climate. By outsourcing this work, a beautiful, custom-made end result is created without you having to lift a finger.

Are you looking for an exclusive second home in the Caribbean? Feel free to browse the available, exclusive properties in the Burbach Roycroft portfolio. If you see a property that appeals to you, we can schedule a viewing right away.

An experienced real estate agent will take plenty of time to give you a leisurely tour. Would you also like to be the first to know about our new listings? Then sign up for the exclusive Burbach Roycroft updates.

Natural, breathable materials such as linen, rattan, cotton, and teak perform best. These materials retain little heat and are highly resistant to local weather conditions.

Do not place large pieces of furniture directly in front of doors and windows. Keep walkways clear so that the breeze can flow unobstructed through the home and provide natural cooling.

It isn’t mandatory, but it is strongly recommended. A local designer has access to the right suppliers and knows exactly what does and doesn’t work in a tropical climate. This saves a lot of time and ensures a high-quality result.