Superyacht interior design ideas

While many of the core design principles from land-based interior design remains relevant in superyacht design, there are several ways in which yacht interior design differs. From structural facets of the yachts build to technical necessities not required in a building, the best designs turn the constraints of physical barriers into opportunities for design features.  

Additionally, while yachts come in all shapes and sizes and with different design styles, the most successful yachts will possess a combination of design elements, which make them appeal to the great majority of potential buyers and charterers. These are the many factors which, when combined, make for the most successful yachts, be they for charter or sale. 

Things to consider with your superyacht interior design

Table decorations, coffee machines, galley equipment, engine room spares, fresh food, frozen food, beverages, tools, bikes... the list goes on and on. Most yachts will grow by between 30 and 100 tons in weight between being delivered and being used by their owners, as all of these essential items are added and need to be stowed somewhere.  

In order to make the most of the storage space on board designers will utilise certain tricks that can have a huge effect. Push-to-open mechanisms or cut out handles that allow storage areas to blend seamlessly into the design are one of the most common methods used by designers. Playing with lines and the level of furniture also allows for a flush design that is fluid to the eye, while disguising necessary storage space.   

The watertoys on offer will always form a large part of a superyacht’s outdoor entertainment offerings, but again they can be bulky and also need to be stored. From submarines to semi-submersibles, foils, jetskis, towables, diving and fishing equipment, inflatable slides and assault courses, the watertoy box is becoming ever larger, and optimising the storage space on the lower deck is no mean task. 

And then there are the non-watertoys that can be used on board, including Tee-it golfing machines, pool and snooker tables, games tables, self-playing pianos and even basketball courts.  It's obvious why yacht support vessels are gaining in popularity as they hugely enhance toy-carrying capacity.

A library of books, board games and games consoles are also a must for rainy days or long passages, while more and more yachts now have dedicated spaces for cinema rooms, and outdoor screen setups for their guests to enjoy. Fortunately, advanced audio-visual technology now allows for digital libraries containing terabytes of content, but even these digital servers will take up valuable cupboard space somewhere on board. 

With society’s emphasis on health and wellbeing, gym equipment is increasingly becoming another desirable facility on board. Many of the larger yachts now have gym areas in a more prominent position on board, rather than hidden away in a convertible cabin, and many now feature air conditioned and purpose-built gyms. Smaller yachts without so much space will usually carry one of two pieces of appropriate gym equipment for use on deck or ashore, which again must be stored out of sight somewhere when not in use.  

On board spas, hammams, or even hair salons have also become popular, with several superyachts now containing facilities that rival many of the best land-based destination spas. And when it comes to beach clubs, the larger yachts can afford the space to offer the complete beach club experience, with the exterior and interior areas at water level offering many of the amenities found on the decks above. However, don’t let the size of yacht put you off – yacht designers are savvy and come up with practical solutions that help the smaller yachts to hold their own when competing against the larger yachts.   

Shell doors (openings in the hull which fold down or up) are also a very common feature, with one, or even up to three folding doors opening up what was previously something of a cave to become a genuine beach club. Balconies too have become de rigueur on the modern luxury yacht.  

One of the most obvious areas for adaptation is the exhaust trunking which runs vertically from the engine room up to the mast, taking up a sizeable portion of the interior volume on the main and upper deck saloons. Making this cut-in a feature rather than a corridor is one of the challenges faced by every yacht designer, as is introducing light into this space, because of course there are no windows in this area. 

Similarly on the sun deck all yachts will require a mast with radar domes and telecommunications equipment above, but often this also is used as a way to introduce shaded areas into the sun deck. Likewise, liferafts and other lifesaving equipment must be hidden from sight, but still easily accessible in the event of an emergency. 

The space required between decks for the air-conditioning ducting system is also usually something of a challenge for designers. Yachts have a maximum air draft for stability reasons (the distance between the water and the top of the yacht), and therefore head heights are always somewhat limited and require maximisation. Most rooms will therefore have domes (also sometimes known as pop-ups) in the centre where head height can be greater than at the edges. Lighting too must be fit into these areas, with the LEDs hidden from sight so that all lighting is indirect and luxurious. 

Interior design highlights 

Gatto uses precious veneers, unique fabrics and marbles throughout the guest areas and accommodation to create a streamlined interior. The custom furniture has been designed to consider the vibrations of the moving yacht, humidity levels and salt water, while at the same time creating a successful aesthetic.  

Whether lounging on the sumptuous sofas in the main saloon or enjoying a gourmet feast at the formal dining table, guests can view their surroundings with ease. Up in the sky lounge a similar set up is achieved, with large windows, and a more relaxed setup for guests to enjoy a good book while bathed in natural daylight.  

The 85.6m (281ft) B2 is one yacht that benefits from a glass encased elevator.  Serving all levels, guests can take the elevator direct from their lower or main deck cabin up to the upper and bridge aft decks where they can sit back and relax on one of the large lounge areas or enjoy al fresco dining.  

Alternatively, guests can head up in the elevator to the sun deck, which includes a jacuzzi dip pool forward surrounded by sunpads and portable loungers aft that can double as an outdoor gym. If guests are seeking sanctuary inside after a day on the water, they also have the option to ride the elevator up to join their fellow guests in the sky lounge located on the bridge deck aft.