It’s hard to believe, but we’ve now owned our two 30A rentals for several years! Hola Beaches has been nearly four and a half years and we’re approaching the second year of owning Hola Beaches Casita! With that, we’ve learned so many of the ins and outs of short-term rentals versus long-term rentals (which was the only experience we had prior). We’ve also had to replace a lot of furniture, rugs and decor over the years. Today I thought it would be fun to share what has held up really well in high-traffic homes and what hasn’t.
This post is sponsored by Wayfair and contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. You can read my full disclosure policy here. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
The combination of heavy traffic, sand, sunscreen and large families can take it’s toll on a beach house rental over time! Particularly when the coastal aesthetic thrives on whites, blues, and neutrals! But, we’ve found some affordable gems over the years that have held up great in these conditions! Nearly all of the affordable items we have in both homes can be found on Wayfair. They’re definitely a one-stop shop when it comes to furnishing a home top to bottom, without everything looking like it came from the same store. If you’re looking to do an affordable spring refresh around your home, they have so many great pieces for just that. Let’s jump into the items that have worked really well for us over the years.
I’ll start with these swivel chairs (that are available in five colors). Not only are they beautiful, they have held up very well. We use Folex for any spots and have been able to keep them very clean. Today’s price is honestly the lowest I’ve ever seen them sell for in the three years we’ve owned them! They are such an incredible value! We had tried another set of budget-friendly chairs in here for the first year and they barely made it a year before needing to be replaced. So I’ve been thrilled with how well these have held up! When it comes to rugs in high-traffic areas, I think it’s key to also get a good rug pad. I love this rug and it has held up great, but I cheaped out with a mesh foam pad, and I need to prioritize getting it swapped for a thicker one. The current one shifts and bunches all the time and doesn’t keep the rug in place. I also prefer to use indoor/outdoor rug options like this one when possible for easier cleanup!
These light blue barrel chairs are another incredible find. The craziest part is, I bought ours for Casita second-hand from someone in our neighborhood. She had several kids but they looked almost perfect when I bought them from her. They’ve now been in Casita for nearly two years and still look every bit as good! I’ve found that by going with swivel chairs, guests are less likely to pick up furniture and move it where they want (yes, it happens). The rug, storage cabinets, recycled glass vase, and oyster art are also from Wayfair. With this particular rug, I’d only recommend it if you have a vacuum where you can either turn off the brushes or use a hard surface attachement to avoid snagging the decorative white loops. Otherwise it’s another great option!
SOURCES: Light Blue Barrel Chairs | Rug | Storage Cabinets | Recycled Glass Vase | Oyster Art | Counter Stools
We have chosen to invest in more expensive sofas/sectionals that have slipcovers (including backups), so it’s great to find more affordable armchair options that are also durable and easy to clean!
Peeking out in the photo above is another favorite – these woven counter stools! We loved them so much when we bought them at Hola Beaches four and a half years ago, we used them again at Casita almost two years ago. They’ve held up remarkably well and are so easy to clean. We actually had another set when we first moved to Florida that we used personally and our tenants bought them from us when we moved out and they moved in! I love all of the fun colors and patterns they offer (like stripes!) and they come in both counter and bar heights.
There are a few items in the primary suite at Hola Beaches Casita that have also worked incredibly well for us. This upholstered bed is still one of my favorite finds! It’s more of a mid-price item, but an incredible look for less option to the bed we have in our personal bedroom. The color is gorgeous and the skirt around the base makes it look so high-end. It comes in several colors, as well, for different aesthetics. We also loved this rug so much we added one to our guest bedroom at home. The background is a combo of cream and light gray and the ombre grid pattern really helps to disguise a lot!
SOURCES: Upholstered Bed | Grid Rug | Coral Art | Paintstroke Pillow Fabric | Designer Look for Less Lamps
At Casita, we also used these darling scalloped headboards. There were already bed frames in the room when we purchased the house and they were two of the only items we kept. So these headboards were the perfect solution! Despite being white, they still looked brand new when we donated them a few weeks back (we ultimately decided to get full over full bunks in here to sleep more people). The velvet material is much easier to clean than a cotton or canvas in this type of setting. This striped rug has also held up very well! On the flip side, we had a similar look rug at Hola Beaches (not from Wayfair) that needs replaced. To me it looked dirty from day one. The lighter stripe is just a bit too muddy for me and it also seems to collect snagged fibers. So the one shown below is a much better option!
SOURCES: Scalloped Headboards | Cabinet | Striped Rug
In the dining room at Casita, we went with these rattan side chairs and armchairs that we’ve loved for years and years. With rattan, you do run the risk in a rental (or really anywhere that’s high-traffic) that it can break. We did have one of the chair legs start to unravel just recently, but it was easy to glue back the rows that had come loose and it looked completely new again. But a major perk of these designer look-for-less chairs is that the seat covers are removable and washable!
Here you can see the same chairs in our carriage house dining room. This table and rug are also great budget-friendly finds.
And if you’re looking for a very sturdy but affordable nightstand, these bamboo style nightstands have held up great! Unlike most affordable nightstands, these come mostly assembled (you just have to attach the legs which is quick). They’re also offered in navy blue and green options! Structurally and visually, this bed frame has held up great and the price is hard to beat! Personally I don’t love the thinner profile of the wings, but it’s a really great option for a rental! Side note: I ordered these hanging rope lamps for our new house and they’re a great look for less to the designer version in this space that I found at a local consignment store! And if you like the look of these wall baskets, I found this set for significantly less than what I paid for ours!
I hope you found this helpful! Let me know if you have any questions!
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Can you fix the link for the first blue chairs- the link is incorrect and I am interested in them!
Hmmm. Both of them are pointing to the correct location for me – so odd! See if this direct link works for you! https://rstyle.me/+tGgN4TzSbapUzVY0Jjq2NA
Could you please share the source of the rattan/wicker dining table pendant? I don’t see it in the post. Thanks!
Absolutely! It now comes in two stains (we have the darker one). Here’s the link: https://go.shopmy.us/p-42603642