The truth about furnishing a coastal home
Furnishing your beach house should be fun, right? A little Serena & Lily here, a cozy sofa there, and boom - instant retreat. But the truth is, creating a home that’s beautiful and practical for coastal living takes more than a few quick online orders.
After helping dozens of families design and furnish their homes on Long Beach Island, I’ve seen firsthand what works and what tends to trip people up. If your home still doesn’t feel quite “done,” or if you’re just getting started, here are a few things I want you to know upfront so you can skip the stress and enjoy your summer already.
1. Not all furniture is made for the beach
Salt air, sun exposure, sandy feet, wet towels. Coastal homes need materials that can hold up. That doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style, but it does mean you want to be thoughtful about what you bring in.
I always recommend performance fabrics, moisture-resistant finishes, and materials that wear beautifully over time. Especially when you’re not living there full time, durability matters just as much as design.
2. Layout matters more than you think
Beach homes are about gathering. Hosting family dinners, movie nights, spontaneous drop-ins from neighbors. The layout of your furniture can make those moments feel easy and inviting or a little cramped and awkward.
Before purchasing anything major, it’s worth reviewing how your rooms function and what furniture sizes and placements will actually work best. One well-placed sectional can make a bigger impact than five pieces that feel disconnected.
3. Logistics on the island are a real thing
I love LBI, but coordinating deliveries here during the busy season isn’t always simple. From ferrying items across the Causeway to managing narrow stairwells and quick-change weather, it helps to have someone local keeping tabs on it all.
When I furnish a home, I manage the receiving, inspections, deliveries, and installs so everything arrives smoothly and on your schedule. You can enjoy your summer while I handle the behind-the-scenes details.
4. Piecemeal shopping rarely leads to a pulled together space
It’s easy to grab a few things here and there when you're walking through town or browsing late night online sales, but often that leads to a mix of pieces that don’t quite work together. Having a cohesive design plan makes furnishing faster, easier, and so much more satisfying.
I help clients create a vision for their space before anything is ordered so it feels intentional from the start and evolves in a way that makes sense for how you use your home.
How does your beach house feel to you?
If you’re looking around your beach house and thinking, “This still doesn’t feel quite right,” you're not alone and you're not behind. Whether you're settling in for your first summer or simply ready to make the space feel more finished, I'd love to help bring your vision to life.