Interior design styles in Batumi: what survives humidity and rental wear

Choosing between interior design styles in Batumi

In a project we break a style down into materials: floor, walls, cabinet fronts, fabrics, metal. We check each one with three questions: will it survive a damp winter, will it stand up to frequent cleaning if the apartment is rented out, and how will it look in photos. If a material fails, we look for a substitute with the same look rather than give up on the style.

The next question is who the apartment is for. For your own home you can choose a style that needs looking after, such as brass that has to be polished or velvet that has to be cleaned. In a rental there is no time for that kind of care between guests, so we replace anything high-maintenance at the design stage.

A calm base: minimalist, Scandinavian, contemporary, Japandi

These four styles share a light base, simple shapes and few objects. By the sea they are the easiest to live with: there is little small decor to collect dust and moisture, and smooth surfaces are easy to wipe clean. Contemporary is the most flexible of the four, with a calm base and a few pieces with character that are easy to change after a couple of years.

Minimalism needs roomy closed cupboards, otherwise a week after moving in, things end up out in the open. Handleless push-to-open fronts are sensitive to damp: if moisture warps the board, the door no longer closes flush. We fit these fronts where it is dry and use a profile handle by the sink.

Scandinavian style and Japandi rely on light wood. We keep it in the furniture and details, and for the floor we use wood-effect SPC vinyl or engineered wood flooring, which reacts less to humidity. Linen, common in both styles, is practical by the sea because it dries quickly after washing.

Styles with decor: classic, neoclassical, art deco, Provence, boho

A classic interior calls for plaster mouldings, cornices and parquet, and by the sea each of them needs attention. Plaster decor absorbs moisture in the bathroom and kitchen, so there we fit polyurethane mouldings, which are hard to tell from plaster once painted. Instead of solid wood parquet blocks we suggest engineered wood flooring in the same herringbone pattern, because it moves less in a damp winter.

Neoclassical is easier: less decor, a lighter palette, simpler furniture. Art deco is harder, with its brass, velvet, mirrors and dark lacquer. Brass darkens in salt air, so we choose handles and light fittings with a protective coating, and we pick synthetic velvet, which copes better with damp and cleaning. For the bathroom we order moisture-resistant mirrors, because ordinary ones darken at the edges over time.

Provence style means painted wood, floral fabrics and an aged look. In damp air, distressed paint on wood starts to flake for real, so we choose fronts with a factory enamel finish and keep the vintage feel in the fabric patterns and the shapes of the furniture. Boho is put together from textiles, rattan, plants and small objects, and it looks cosy in photos. But fabrics and rattan absorb moisture, and the decor has to be moved every time you clean. From boho we keep the textures and colours and use fewer objects.

Natural styles: Mediterranean, eco, wabi-sabi and Georgian

Mediterranean style looks natural by the sea: white walls, tiles, terracotta, wood and linen. Tiles and mineral plaster cope well with humidity, and lime finishes let vapour through, so the wall can release moisture. Terracotta tiles are porous and stain easily without protection, so we seal them.

Eco and wabi-sabi are built on natural materials and texture: wood, stone, clay, linen, decorative plaster. Textured walls hide small marks, which is a plus in a rental. In the shower we coat microcement and plaster with a protective sealer, and we keep jute and sisal rugs for dry rooms, because in damp conditions they take on moisture and start to smell.

We put together contemporary Georgian style from a calm modern base and pieces by local craftspeople. Glazed ceramics and stone are not affected by moisture, a wool rug needs drying and airing, and carved wood does well with oil that is renewed from time to time. In a rental, such pieces make the photos distinctive: guests see straight away that they are coming to Georgia.

Loft, high-tech and mid-century modern

By the sea, the weak point of a loft interior is metal. Unprotected black steel in open shelving, railings and light fittings rusts quickly, so we use powder-coated steel or aluminium with a black metal finish. Brick, real or as brick-effect tiles, is sealed so that it doesn't absorb moisture or shed dust, and concrete in wet areas gets a protective coating.

High-tech is recognisable by its glass, gloss and chrome. By the sea all of these show every drop and fingerprint, and cheap chrome soon becomes spotted. For a rental we swap the gloss for matt surfaces and keep the clean lines and built-in lighting of the style.

Mid-century modern is known for furniture on slim legs, walnut and teak veneer and graphic light fittings. It suits a humid climate well: air moves under furniture on legs, and the floor is easy to clean. If you are bringing vintage furniture, we inspect the veneer for cracks and lifting before the design starts, and only then draw a recess around the piece.

Which styles photograph well for a rental listing

Listing photos are taken with a wide-angle lens, and that changes how a style comes across. In a wide shot, small decor turns into clutter, dark walls swallow the light and gloss catches reflections from windows and lamps. Interiors with a light base, clean lines and one or two colour accents photograph better: minimalist, contemporary, Scandinavian, Japandi and Mediterranean.

A dark loft or art deco apartment can be rented out too, but the design needs more light sources: shelf lighting, floor lamps, wall lights, picture lights. Without them the room looks gloomier in photos than in real life. You can check how a style works on camera at the 3D stage, before any materials are bought.