decorating a Short Term rental

dining room and living room of a beach side condominium. Walls are white, floor is light gray tile, and furnishings are contemporary. the ocean is visible out of floor to ceiling windows across the room.

My sister and I are from Florida and because of that we are lucky enough to regularly get interior design projects in our home town of Daytona Beach despite our interior design business being located in Frisco Texas.

For this project we were hired to decorate this two bedroom condominium on the east coast of Florida and prepare it to be a short term rental.

Even though this condo sits right on the beach I wanted to be sparing with the coastal theme- the ocean is right out the windows so no one will need sea shells and fish nets to remind them that they are staying on the beach. So the level of “coastal” found in this condo is actually pretty similar to the contemporary coastal bedroom project we recently completed in Prosper, TX. Besides a few palm branches and one black and white pool-side photograph, the connections to the coast are mainly through the color palette: sandy beige, light gray, gray blue, and light wood tones, with touches of black to ground everything.

All decor was selected based on its ability to have maximum impact without needing a lot of supporting items- because this will be a short-term rental it’s important that surfaces are easy to clean and not complicated for the housekeeping professional to set back up. Plus while I love a more fully styled look for a residence, in an Air BnB too much decor can look cluttered and give the feeling that you’re staying in someone’s home. So for decorating a short term rental I prefer minimal decor.

dining area of a condominium with white walls and light gray tile floor. The table and chairs and white and wood, and on the wall hangs a black and white photograph of swimmers at a pool.

Another aspect of prepping this condominium for vacation rentals was making sure it was stocked with the supplies renters will need during their stay. This included dishes, basic kitchen utensils, cleaning supplies, towels and linens, and items like games and beach supplies.

wood credenza with doors open showing board games stacked inside. On the wall above the credenza hangs a large piece of abstract art.

Decorating this condo was a lot of fun and it makes me happy to think of all the vacationers who will enjoy staying in it. Interior design for a short term rental is different than working on someone’s primary residence; it was a lot of fun in its own unique way. And the view while working wasn’t bad! ;)

living room with view of the ocean out floor to ceiling windows.

dining room with white and wood table and chairs set and a wood credenza. The table has a black bowl in the center. The credenza has a white vase with palm branches and black and white abstract art hanging above it.

Kitchen with white cabinets, a black tile backsplash and light gray quartz countertops.

Bathroom with white vanity, gray and white quartz countertop, light gray tile floor, black faucets, and white walls. Vanity is decorated with a white vase of palm branches.

Brooke Bundy

I am an interior designer who is lucky enough to have a business with my twin sister. My favorite way to come up with a design is to use favorite places, people, and memories as the inspiration. I live in Frisco Texas with my husband and our three teenaged children, who are my most rewarding interior design clients. I love Andy’s, podcasts, reading and tv, especially while sitting in bed. My favorite room to design is the living room because it serves so many purposes. My goal is for your home to feel cozy when you are alone, spacious when you are throwing a party, and to give you a confidence boost every time you walk in the door.

contemporary Coastal Inspired Primary Bedroom

brooke bundy designs