Donostia is not just any city. It is changing light, calm sea (or not so calm), walks in the fine rain, and an intense social life between the Old Town, the Center, and Gros. All of that is noticeable in the houses: apartments with high ceilings, narrow but elongated dwellings, living rooms with large windows to the bay, or interior patios that are crying out for a second life.
If you are thinking of renovating or redecorating your home in Donostia, this interior design guide will help you make smart, functional, and very aesthetic decisions, aligned with your day-to-day life and with the city in which you live.
1. Keys to interior design in Donostia
1.1. Natural Light: the most Strategic Asset of your Home
In Donostia, the light is soft, often filtered by clouds and rain. That is why interior design has to work in favor of each ray of sunshine:
- Light and warm colors on walls and ceilings to multiply the light.
- Light fabrics in curtains (linen, cotton voile) that filter without darkening.
- Furniture with clean lines, raised from the floor, that allows light to “circulate.”
- Use of strategic mirrors to bring clarity to hallways and interior areas.
Current trends point to earth tones, beiges, greige, and warm neutrals as a chromatic base, which provide a feeling of comfort compared to pure white, already in retreat in many decoration proposals.
1.2. Materials that Connect with the Environment
Interior design and decoration of 2025 look to nature: woods, stone, plant fibers, and textured finishes. The idea is to create spaces that feel honest, durable, and sustainable.
In Donostia, this fits like a glove:
- Natural woods (oak, walnut, ash) in quality furniture.
- Wood or stone-look porcelain floors that withstand the pace of life (and humidity).
- Natural textiles (wool, cotton, linen) in sofas, rugs, and bedding.
- Details in handmade ceramics and blown glass that provide warmth.
At Santa Catalina Decoración, you work with international high-design brands such as Artisan, Extendo, and Novamobili, which precisely focus on solid woods, careful finishes, and modular and timeless pieces, ideal for residential and contract projects in the city.
1.3. Donostian Houses: Real Meters vs. “Perceived” Meters
Another classic of Donostia: compact homes in the Center or Gros, and larger apartments in neighborhoods such as Antiguo, Aiete, or Miramón. The challenge is to gain a feeling of spaciousness without sacrificing storage.
Some interior design strategies that work very well:
- Opting for modular furniture: bookcases, cabinets, and day/night solutions that adjust to the millimeter.
- Designing integrated storage (benches under windows, custom closet fronts, open dressing rooms).
- Creating “flex” zones: a corner that serves as an office during the week and as a reading area on the weekend.
The modular and customizable solutions offered by European firms specializing in furniture systems are a key lever to get the most out of every meter.
2. How to approach an interior design project in Donostia step by step
2.1. Phase 1 – Space Audit and Briefing
Before thinking about sofas or lamps, it is time to zoom out:
- Analyze the floor plan: orientation, natural light points, passage areas, structural walls.
- Define objectives: more storage? unify living room and kitchen? create a bedroom + dressing room suite?
- Lifestyle: telecommuting, children, pets, hobbies… Interior design should accompany your real routine, not just a pretty picture.
In this phase, the accompaniment of a local interior design studio makes a difference: they know the type of buildings in Donostia, they know how materials behave with humidity, and they handle trusted guilds to execute the work from beginning to end.
2.2. Phase 2 – Distribution and Concept Proposal
Here the “masterplan” is defined:
- Redistribution of partitions and circulations.
- Day areas (living room, kitchen, dining room) vs. night areas (bedrooms, bathrooms).
- Visual concept: color palette, materials, type of furniture and lighting.
Ideally, work with plans, renders, and moodboards to visualize the result before touching a single tile. This minimizes surprises and makes decisions with data, not on impulse.
2.3. Phase 3 – Selection of Furniture, Lighting, and Textiles
Once the concept is defined, it goes into detail:
- Main furniture: sofa, dining table, chairs, bed, cabinets, support pieces (sideboards, dressers).
- Layered lighting: general, punctual, and ambient, combining ceiling lamps, sconces, and floor/table lamps.
- Textiles: rugs, curtains, bedding, cushions. They are key to “dress” the space without overloading it.
Working with high-design brands allows you to incorporate pieces with better ergonomics, durability, and design consistent with the overall aesthetics of the home.
2.4. Phase 4 – Execution with Guilds and Monitoring
If the project includes renovation, success lies in coordination:
- Planning of deadlines by phases (demolitions, installations, carpentry, painting, furniture assembly).
- Coordination of guilds to avoid downtime.
- Supervision of finishes and final adjustments.
Having a single point of contact that manages guilds, timings, and technical decisions reduces stress and ensures that the final result resembles the renders… or even improves them.
3. Key areas of the Donostian home: practical ideas
3.1. Living-dining Room with Views (or without Them)
- A sofa with clean lines in neutral tones, combined with a light coffee table in natural wood.
- Modular bookcases or shelves that take advantage of the height without saturating the wall.
- A touch of color in cushions, prints, or an iconic armchair, keeping the base calm.
3.2. Efficient and Social Kitchen
- L or U distributions to take advantage of walls and generate work surfaces.
- Light bars or islands for informal breakfasts and dinners.
- Moisture-resistant and easy-to-clean materials: technical countertops, washable fronts, continuous floors.
3.3. Bedrooms that Really Invite You to Rest
- Upholstered or wooden headboards that provide warmth.
- Soft textiles, in layers (sheets, plaid, cushions) in relaxing tones.
- Adjustable lighting: reading sconces and warm indirect light.
3.4. Hybrid Spaces: Office, Play Area, Occasional Guest
- Multifunction furniture: sofa beds, folding tables, desks integrated into bookcases.
- Modular systems that recombine shelves, panels, and closed modules over time.
- Light separations: open shelves, sliding panels, curtains.
4. When do you need an interior design studio in Donostia?
Very simple: when you want to go from “getting by” to “living well” in your home.
A studio specializing in decoration and interior design in Donostia:
- Translates your ideas into a viable and well-dimensioned project.
- Adjusts the design to the real space, the budget, and the deadlines.
- Accesses exclusive furniture, lighting, and textile firms that you will not find in any store.
- Coordinates guilds, installers, and times so that you only worry about choosing between two shades of cushion (which is already enough).
Are you considering a renovation or want to redesign your living room, bedroom, or second residence in Donostia?
At Santa Catalina Decoración we help you define the project, select furniture from exclusive firms, and coordinate the complete execution.