A Summer Home: October 2009 Newsletter

Furnishing a vacation rental property is very different than furnishing a home. Commercial-grade furnishings are necessary to best protect your investment and withstand the heavy wear and environmental elements of coastal vacation rental properties commonly face.

Upholstery:

*Choose a sleeper sofa with a commercial sleeper mechanism. This component is designed to be opened & closed every day of the rental season, whereas residential sleeper sofas are designed to be pulled out only once or twice a year.
*Be sure the sleeper sofa has a 6" innerspring mattress - this is the thickest mattress that can be put into a sleeper mechanism. It will give your sofa the best wearability & be more comfortable for your guests.
*High-density flame retardant seat foam wears better over time & also offers a necessary safety measure - if a guest burns a hole in a seat it will not ignite the fabric or spread any further.
* A solid wood frame is the basis of a sturdy, durable piece of furniture.
*Heavy-weight woven upholstery fabrics of polyester blends wear best in a coastal rental environment. Inevitable accidents, stains, suntan lotion, sun exposure, & other wear would heavily damage a cotton fabric.
*Arm caps should be included on all upholstered pieces. The arms on upholstered furniture take a lot of wear, so this will give you some extra protection.

Draperies:

*Thermal blackout lining both blocks bright morning sunlight, which can be bothersome to sleeping guests, as well as keeps your property cool in the summer & warm in the winter.
*Fade-resistant fabrics offer the longest-lasting solution for the direct sunlight coastal window treatments face.
*An easy-to-use, heavy-duty installation system protects your draperies & keeps hands off the fabrics.

Bedspreads:

*Specialty hospitality-style bedspreads in synthetic print materials wear better against possible stains, suntan lotion, & other mishaps than cotton bedspreads.
*Fade-resistant fabrics offer longer-lasting protection against bright direct sun exposure.
*The bed-in-a-bag does not well work in a rental environment. One-piece throw bedspreads create a completed look & are easier for housekeeping to keep up with.

Furnishings:

*Vacationers want carefree, hard surfaces on tables & dressers, like glass tops. These are easy to keep clean & will not leave stains or condensation "rings" behind.
*Durable rattan pieces work best in coastal rentals. They do not chip like painted furniture or solid pieces & are sturdier than "wood" pieces, which are mostly particle board.
*Bedroom dressers, nightstands, and chests with gliders on the sides of the drawers are typically sturdier and more durable than drawers with middle gliders.

A Summer Home has more than 20 years experience furnishing coastal resorts & rental properties wtih decorative & durable furnishings. Contact us with any questions or for a complimentary unit inspection if you need further assistance or to request fabric samples.