Updated October 2024
By its very definition, “vacation” means a time for rest, relaxation, and recreation. But it’s hard to rest and relax on an uncomfortable bed. “Attractive, soft, and comfortable” should be how your guests describe the beds in your home. With little effort, you can create a restful, relaxing, peaceful, and beautiful place for your guests to slumber.
With a few simple steps and you can create a restful, relaxing, peaceful, and beautiful place for your guests to slumber.
Mattresses
Although pillow top mattresses are extremely comfortable, they tend to wear out faster than non-pillow tops. And they cannot be flipped to extend the life of the mattress. Go for a non-pillow top, and if it seems too firm, then add a memory foam topper. These are a great investment and can be bought for under $100.
Box Springs
Let’s face it — box springs are not attractive, so be sure to cover your box springs with a bed skirt or even with a simple box spring cover. This small investment will help to give your beds a finished look.
Sheets
There is nothing nice about getting into a bed that has sheets that are scratchy, pilling, ripping, or thin. Purchase sheets that have a minimum of a 300-thread count and are 100% cotton. Egyptian cotton and Pima or Supima cotton are good choices. (Supima is 100% American grown Pima cotton.) Percale is also an acceptable choice. They are a cotton/polyester blend and thus are resistant to wrinkling, but they tend to be thinner than the 100% cotton sheets. The cotton/polyester sheets will dry quickly, which may be important to you when you have guests arriving and departing on the same day. The downside is they wear out more quickly than cotton and will have to be replaced more frequently.
Be sure to check the condition of your sheets at the beginning and end of each rental season and replace them if necessary.
Pillows
Where your guests rest their heads is very important. A pillow that resembles a pancake and is stained is probably the last place guests want to place their head. To provide them with a choice of firmness, some owners follow the ‘two pillows per person” theory, providing each “sleeper” with two pillows on the bed, one more firm than the other.
Don't forget to cover your pillows with pillow protectors. This will keep them from staining and extend their life. It’s always a good idea to put one or two extra pillows (with pillowcases) of varying firmness in each bedroom closet.
With the sheets and pillows in place, it is time to “dress the bed.”
Blankets, Quilts, Coverlets, Bedspreads
Layer each bed with a blanket, quilt, coverlet, or bedspread. They should be made of a comfortable material that feels good on the skin. A scratchy wool or pilling synthetic blanket is not comfortable. Choose a cotton or cotton/polyester blend. Think hot summer nights.
Comforters
Finally, since nights can get chilly on the Cape and Islands, make sure to layer each bed with a comforter. The comforter can be down or a down alternative. Comforters come in a variety of colors and patterns. Or you can go with a simple white one and dress it up with a duvet cover. Duvet covers are great because they can be easily removed and washed after your guests’ departure.
The comforter can be folded at the end of the bed and can be used as needed by your guests. If you prefer, you can swap the placement of the comforter and blanket/quilt. Have the comforter cover the entire bed, and fold the blanket/quilt/bedspread or coverlet at the foot of the bed.
Bed sizes
Also consider the bed sizes. A king or queen bed is far more appealing to vacationing couples than a double. If none of your bedrooms is large enough to accommodate a queen or king, consider converting two twin beds to a king size by purchasing a king converter kit. See our blog post “Vacation Rental ‘Silent Killer’: Small Beds.”
Finally, make sure your bedrooms not only are comfortable, but also look comfortable and attractive. Pictures of well-made, luxurious beds can make all the difference! And remember that prospective guests want to see a picture of every bedroom. Your guests will most certainly notice and appreciate the extra touches in the bedrooms, and, in turn, they will likely book with you again.
Undecided about whether to supply linens or not? We provide some things to consider in this post.
If you ultimately decide not to provide linens and towels, another option is to hire a linen service to deliver linens to your vacation home and pick them up after your guests leave. Some services will even make the beds. See our Home Services Directory for linen services near you.