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Were you born to ride the waves? Do the sound of the ocean and the smell of salty water relax you more than anything else on this planet? If so, it is no wonder you are thinking about building a beach cottage. Just imagine not having to pack spare clothes, food and drive to the beach each time you crave some vitamin SEA. Instead, you can wake up to the sound of waves in your cute little cottage right next to the beach. Read the following and find out how you can turn that dream into reality.
Building a cottage right next to the water and having the ocean basically in your yard may sound dreamy, but your dreams can quickly turn into a nightmare when the high tide floods your home. This is especially true if you live in an area where tsunamis and hurricanes happen often. Instead of building your cottage right next to the water, consider putting it further away or higher than sea level.
In some parts of the world, homes are built nextto the water with no problem. However, those areas are not prone to flooding.
If you wish to build close to water, research your geographical area and see whether there are any flood zones you should know about before building. If you cannot find such info online, just ask your realtor.
When you live on the beach, you need plenty of shade to keep the temperature down. Therefore, you may be tempted to plant a lot of trees on your property line. While this may add some aesthetics to your home, you need to keep in mind that trees can become your worst enemy during natural disasters. During hurricane newly planted trees can easily be ripped up and cause damage to your home. Instead of relying on trees to keep your home cool, install insulation rolls. With proper insulation, you can keep that hot air out and save money on air-conditioning.
Does your home feature high ceilings, at least in some areas? If so, consider adding a loft to your cottage. It doesn’t matter if you can only add a tiny loft because in such a small place every square foot counts. Even if you can fit just a single bed or a kid’s play space there, building it will be completely worth it.
When you are building a small beach cottage, you want to maximize the living space.
Standard stairs can take up an unbelievable amount of square footage, so opt for a ship’s ladder instead. This way you will be able to reach your upstairs bedrooms while saving a great deal of space.
What is the point of living on the beach if you cannot see the ocean from most rooms? Install large windows and glass doors to let tons of light in and make your space feel more spacious. Speaking of spaciousness, raising the ceiling in the living room can make your tiny cottage feel much bigger.
Putting a large coffee table in your tiny cottage can turn navigating this space into a nightmare. Instead, get a small portable table and ensure plenty of seating space with a couch. A cute bench is also an option, and so is a window seat. If you have a console table, place a pair of ottomans beneath it.
Living on the beach and spending the entire day inside should be illegal. When you have a small beach cottage, expand your space by investing in the outdoor living area. Build a deck, create a patio, splurge on an outdoor kitchen, and get some cozy furniture so you can spend as much time outside as possible. After all, compared with the cost of adding on to the interior, investing in your outdoor lounge area is a bargain.
With these guidelines in mind you can create the perfect home that allows you to live just minutes from the sun, sand, and all those awesome surfing waves.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aleksandra Djurdjevic
Senior Content Creator
Aleksandra Djurdjevic is a senior writer and editor, covering surf, kayak and various watersports activities. She has previously worked as ESL teacher for English Tochka. Aleksandra graduated from the Comparative Literature department at the Faculty of Philosophy in Serbia. Aleksandra’s love for the ocean / rivers, getting out waves, season after season, seeking epic adventures across the globe helps her continue to be a top expert at CSG.
