Use light colors to make boat's interior appear larger

by ROSEMARY SADEZ FRIEDMANN

I'm often asked how to decorate a boat to make it comfortable, yet durable. The key is to make sure all equipment and furnishings hold up well against splashing water, particularly saltwater.

Here are a few suggestions:

— The flooring is important for comfort as well as aesthetics. Boats of any size can have marine-grade carpeting installed for beauty as well as ease under the feet. There are even luxurious carpets that feel like home, but still stand up to water carried in off feet and clothes. These more luxurious carpets do well in large boats with interior rooms. Marine carpet is made to be mold- and mildew-resistant. The carpet is glued down, rather than placed over conventional carpet padding.

— Seating is important, too. If you are purchasing a new boat, check out the comfort of the seats and benches. If you are upgrading a boat, use leather or vinyl for the deck seating, and be sure the foam is marine-grade. Of course, the driver needs a captain's chair. You can add more seating, plus the always-needed storage space, by incorporating built-in storage benches. Be sure to cover the benches with cushions for added comfort.

— We all love the sun, but being out on the boat for hours requires some shade time. You can always turn part of the exterior of your boat into interior space — and an area protected from the sun — by adding a top. A tent top is larger, while a Bimini top gives partial shade. Both come in a variety of colors.

— If space permits, a shower compartment is ideal, particularly if the boat is to be used as a live-aboard. The floor of the shower can be formed fiberglass, and be sure it is skid-resistant. The walls of the shower compartment should be lined with a plastic, laminated finish.

Yacht owners used to opt for luxury interiors with a the-more-elaborate-the-better attitude. But recently, the trend is more streamlined. The economy takes its toll on everyone. But don't worry if you still want the elaborate look. The important thing is not necessarily what is currently popular, but, instead, what you like.

For all sizes of boats, neutral, light colors are popular, which makes the interior appear larger. Whites and beiges are the front-runners in boat-design colors these days.

OK — who has the suntan lotion?

(Rosemary Sadez Friedmann, an interior designer in Naples, Fla., is author of "Mystery of Color."For design inquiries, write to Rosemary at DsgnQuest@aol.com.)