Home Decor in Costa Rica: A Practical Guide to Decorating for the Tropics

Decorating in the tropics is its own discipline

That gorgeous velvet sofa you loved in a magazine? It will mildew in a Costa Rican green season. Decorating here means working with the climate — and when you do, the result is a home that feels cool, calm and effortlessly tropical.

Materials that thrive here

• Teak, cedar and laurel — local hardwoods that resist humidity and insects.
• Linen and cotton — breathable, washable, and they dry fast.
• Rattan, wicker and bamboo — light, airy, and made for the climate.
• Ceramic and stoneware — cool to the touch and immune to humidity.

What to avoid near the coast

• Particle board and MDF (they swell and crumble)
• Cheap metals that rust in salt air
• Heavy drapes and wall-to-wall carpet (mold magnets)
• Dark, heat-absorbing colors in sun-drenched rooms

A palette that works

Warm whites, sand, clay, sage and ocean blues keep rooms feeling cool and reflect the light. Add warmth with wood tones and texture — a woven throw, a ceramic vase, a linen cushion — rather than heavy color on the walls.

The indoor-outdoor life

In Costa Rica the terrace is often the real living room. Invest in comfortable outdoor seating, good ambient lighting for evenings, and durable textiles that can handle a sudden afternoon downpour.

Shop pieces chosen for this climate

Everything at [Esencia Living](/shop) in Uvita is selected with tropical living in mind — and we deliver anywhere in Costa Rica.