Wow Your Guests with Comfort, Style & Beauty
Owning a beach house or condo on the Alabama and Northwest Florida Gulf Coast is a dream come true for many. To help cover property expenses, many Gulf Coast owners opt for renting their beach homes to vacationers when they are not in use.
For those who choose to rent their properties, maximizing rental income is often a primary goal that is more likely to be achieved when guests have a memorable stay and want to return year after year. This starts with creating a welcoming, comfortable, and stylish atmosphere in your vacation rental.
Here are 10 decor tips from the team at Current Tides Vacation Rentals to help you enhance the appeal of your vacation rental and keep guests returning year after year.
Keep It Coastal Inspired
Embrace a coastal theme by incorporating elements such as seashells, driftwood, and nautical accents. Coastal-inspired decor can include items like anchor-themed throw pillows, beachy wall art, and decorative sea glass jars.
Choose Soothing Colors
Selecting a color palette that reflects the beach and water can create a calming atmosphere. Consider using soft blues, greens, and neutrals for walls, furniture, and decor. These colors can evoke the feeling of being by the sea and create a relaxing environment for your guests.
Avoid Clutter
While it’s tempting to fill your rental property with decor, too many items can make the space feel cramped and overwhelming. Instead, opt for a minimalist approach, focusing on quality over quantity. Use decorative items strategically to enhance the overall look without overcrowding. For example, instead of filling every shelf with knick-knacks, choose a few statement pieces that complement the space.
Select Art Wisely
Artwork can add personality and style to your rental property. Choose pieces that complement the coastal theme, such as beach landscapes or marine life. Consider incorporating local art to give your rental a unique touch that celebrates Gulf Coast culture. For example, you could hang a painting of a local beach or a sculpture of a fish or sea turtle. A marine life painting from award-winning Alabama Gulf Coast artist Nick Cantrell, as shown below, is easy to acquire locally and adds a pop of color to any wall.
Invest in Quality Furnishings
When furnishing your vacation rental, prioritize comfort, durability, and style. Opt for sturdy pieces that are easy to clean and maintain, as they’ll withstand frequent use by guests.
Consider applying Scotchguard to sofas and chairs for easier cleanup between stays. Scotchguard helps form a protective barrier that makes it easier to wipe away spills and prevent stains from setting in. This can help extend the life of your furniture and textiles, keeping them looking newer for longer. Additionally, Scotchgard can also help fabrics resist fading from UV exposure.
By opting for upholstery with coastal-inspired patterns, you can help ensure that your furniture maintains its fresh and inviting look, even after repeated use by guests. These patterns often incorporate elements like shells, sea creatures, or nautical motifs, which not only add to the coastal charm of your space, but they can also help camouflage any minor stains or marks that may occur over time.
Provide Functional Storage
Ensure that your rental property has ample storage for guests to store their belongings. Consider incorporating furniture with built-in storage solutions, such as ottomans with hidden compartments or bedside tables with drawers. Be sure to install sturdy towel bars in bathrooms and provide ample hooks throughout the property for hanging clothing, bags, and even beach towels, as these can help keep clutter at bay.
Use Paint to Keep Your Space Fresh & Clean
When decorating your vacation rental, consider using quality, high-gloss paint that can be easily wiped clean. This type of paint is ideal for high-traffic areas and can withstand the wear and tear of frequent guest stays. To maintain an inviting look, plan to refresh the paint as needed between stays, or at a minimum every other year. This not only keeps your property looking its best, but it also helps protect the walls from damage and stains.
When selecting paint colors, opt for neutral coastal hues that evoke the serene atmosphere of the beach, such as soft blues, sandy beiges, or seafoam greens. These colors help create a relaxing and inviting space for guests to enjoy.
Create Outdoor Living Spaces
With stunning views and Gulf breezes, beach vacationers often prioritize outdoor living. Enhance your outdoor space with comfortable seating, a dining area, and perhaps a grill for al fresco dining if your rental property is a beach house. Consider adding a hammock or a porch swing for guests to relax and enjoy the coastal breeze.
At the beach, rust-proof, Polywood outdoor furniture is ideal for durability. That’s because this type of furniture is designed to withstand the elements, ensuring it remains in good condition for years to come. Unlike traditional wood furniture, Polywood is resistant to rotting, warping, and fading, making it a great choice for coastal environments. Additionally, Polywood furniture requires minimal maintenance, generally only needing to be wiped with soap and water to keep it looking like new.
Upgrade Lighting Fixtures
Lighting can significantly impact the ambiance of your rental property. Replace outdated fixtures with modern, energy-efficient options that complement your coastal theme. Consider adding dimmer switches to control the level of light in different areas of the property, allowing guests to create a relaxing atmosphere.
Offer Thoughtful Extras
Consider providing guests with thoughtful extras that enhance their stay. This could include beach towels, chairs, and umbrellas for days at the shore, or a selection of board games and books for rainy days. Furnishing your kitchen with inexpensive, easy-to-use appliances such as Crockpots, air fryers, and Keurig coffeemakers adds convenience, amplifying a positive guest experience.
By following these decor tips, you can create a welcoming and stylish environment that appeals to guests looking for a Gulf Coast beach getaway. Remember to keep the decor coastal-inspired, choose soothing colors, avoid clutter, make good choices for art, and invest in quality furnishings. With the right decor, you can enhance the guest experience and attract repeat visitors to your vacation rental property.
We’re Here to Help
The team from Current Tides is ready to help you make the most of your vacation rental property. Whether you want to maximize the rental income of your vacation property or desire to maximize personal use and rent it out sparingly to cover some costs, Current Tides will craft a plan that meets your needs and exceeds your expectations.
Our standard is to deliver the highest quality service to our owners while ensuring that our guests’ entire vacation experience is effortless, accommodating, and enjoyable. Relationships are at the core of our business. Contact us at (251) 948-1668 or [email protected] or visit our property management page, and let us get to work for you.
Highlights of the Current Tides Rental Program
- Individualized owner services
- Owner referral incentives
- No start-up fees
- Competitive management fees
- No credit card processing fees
- No travel agent or third-party booking fees when booking on our site
- No additional special marketing fees, unless requested by the owner
- 24/7 online booking and reservation site
- 24-hour on-call service for you and your guests
- Advertising and marketing programs
- Property review to maximize rental income
- Thorough inspection of your property after each departure
- Automated property management system
- Prompt bookkeeping and disbursement of rental net income
- Self-check-in for guest convenience (in specific locations)
If you’re looking for a professional vacation rental management company that puts your needs first, contact Current Tides today. We’re here to make owning a vacation rental property a rewarding and stress-free experience. Contact us at (251) 948-1668 or [email protected] or visit our property management page, and let us get to work for you.
