Keep It Simple…But Nice!
Keep It Simple…But Nice should be your mantra when outfitting your beach rental. No doubt you have heard the axiom “Keep It Simple” before. However, you could take that to mean that buying all your furniture from a thrift store and featuring household appliances from the Dynex brand was OK. Sorry, Dynex!
SIMPLE
Simple does not need too much explanation. Everything should be functional and intuitive to your guests. Household appliances should be both easy to use and clean. Furniture should be low maintenance, not prone to smudges or stains, no deep crevices, power features, etc. If consulting a manual is necessary for use, then it is not simple! Keep it simple.
NICE
But Nice! You should furnish similarly to how you would furnish your own house. If the place screams “RENTAL!” at every turn then people will treat it like one. Consider your own experience, even when your vacation budget is tight, you are still looking for the best when you spend your hard earned vacation dollars. Your renters are no different. They are not going to appreciate damaged or mismatched furniture.
HOW TO BE “NICE”
That leads to another important point. It is best to start with a theme and furnish consistent to that theme. The uniformity will convey quality in your profile pictures and net you bookings. For example, we chose a nautical theme for our beach property as that reflects our location. Just do not get too kitschy. In any case, your place should have neutral colors and crowd-pleasing decorations for widespread appeal. If you decorate with a Victorian theme then you are probably going to turn off most renters under sixty years of age. 
Be mindful that while renters will generally be respectful, accidents do happen. Your vacation home furniture will pick up a few scratches. Therefore it is best to invest in quality furniture and small appliances which will prove durable. You make money not having to buy a new blender or sofa every other year. We chose to spend extra for Sunbrella upholstery. Nothing is worse than soiled furniture. (More about Sunbrella to come.) That extra expense up front is worth it if my sofa satisfies guests for additional years before replacement.
Here are some more “nice” items to remember when outfitting your beach house rental:
- Opt for firm mattresses and purchase waterproof mattress pads.
- Remember to be kid-friendly, no sharp corners etc. and consider supplying some children’s cups, pack and plays or baby gates.
- Do not leave personal effects around for your guests. Photos of your family are going make them feel like intruders, put these types of items away in a locked, owner’s closet.
- Consider area rugs in rooms with hardwood floors.
- There should be art on the walls in every room, again just keep it simple (and preferably on theme).
- All windows should have curtains or some type of window treatments.
- And of course, there should be some beach chairs, sand toys, beach umbrellas for your guests to use.
If you keep these things in my mind when outfitting your beach house rental you will be on your way to accomplishing the primary mission of the beach rental owner…attracting quality guests willing to pay top rates for your property!
