Decorating a Holiday Rental on the Surf Coast or Bellarine? Here's Where to Start
I get messages fairly regularly from people fitting out a holiday rental and trying to figure out what to put on the walls. And I get it, it's genuinely tricky. You want the place to feel warm and welcoming, you want guests to connect with where they are, and you don't want to spend a fortune doing it. That's exactly what led Terry to buy his first print from me for his Point Lonsdale rental. He Googled "Point Lonsdale art", found my site, and said the price was in the sweet spot compared to what galleries were charging for framed work.
That's the thing about holiday rental wall art. It doesn't have to be expensive to be good. It just has to be right for the place. If your property is on the Bellarine or Surf Coast, here's a room-by-room guide to getting it right.
The Living Room: Make It the First Thing Guests Notice
The living room is where guests drop their bags, breathe out and look around. This is the room that sets the tone for the whole stay. I'd go with one strong hero piece here, something large enough to hold its own on the main wall.
For Surf Coast properties, my Bells Beach Art Print I is a consistently strong choice. It's one of the most recognised breaks in the world and guests from interstate and overseas genuinely love seeing it. For Bellarine properties, the Barwon Heads Art Print I is a top seller for a reason. It has that wide coastal feel that works really well as a living room centrepiece.
For size, I'd go L (59.4x84.1cm) as a minimum in a living area. If the wall can take it, XL or even EPIC (100x150cm, which is 1.5 metres wide) makes a serious statement. Check out my wall art size guide if you're not sure what fits where.
The Main Bedroom: Something Personal and Calm
Guests want the main bedroom to feel like a retreat. You don't need to go as large here. A well-chosen M or L print above the bed does the job beautifully.
For Surf Coast rentals, the Point Roadknight Art Print II is one of my second best-sellers and works really well in a bedroom setting. Point Roadknight is just south of Anglesea and it's got that quiet, unhurried feel that suits a sleeping space perfectly. For something a little more striking, the Point Addis Art Print I is my top-selling print full stop. Shot from above with my drone, the aerial perspective gives it an almost painterly quality that guests genuinely comment on.
For Bellarine bedrooms, the Point Lonsdale Art Print IV is a great option. It's well-loved and feels connected to the place without being too busy.
Hallways and Smaller Rooms: Go Smaller, Go Local
Hallways are often overlooked in holiday rental fitouts. A well-placed S or M print in a hallway gives guests something to enjoy as they move through the house, and it reinforces that sense of place.
I'd pick a local spot that guests might actually visit during their stay. If the rental is near Torquay, the Torquay Art Print I is a natural fit. For properties near Lorne or Wye River, the Wye River Art Print I is a solid choice and a consistent seller.
Keep hallway prints to S (29.7x42cm) or M (42x59.4cm) so they don't feel crowded in a narrow space.
Framing: What Actually Works in a Rental
For holiday rental wall art, I'd recommend going framed rather than unframed. Guests aren't going to re-frame anything, and a ready-to-hang print looks more polished and professional. My classic framed prints use solid FSC certified plantation timber frames and come with a metal hanger and steel wire, so they're genuinely easy to hang and stay put.
If the property gets a lot of natural light, the floating frame canvas is worth considering. It uses a 400gsm Hahnemuhle Daguerre museum quality canvas with no glass, so there's zero reflection regardless of where the light's coming from. Guests notice that kind of thing even if they can't explain why.
For a full breakdown of framing options, I'd recommend reading my post on how to choose wall art for an Airbnb or holiday rental.
Take the Coast Home With You (Or Leave It There for Guests)
The best holiday rental wall art does something simple. It reminds guests where they are and why they came. A print of Bells Beach, Point Addis or Barwon Heads on the wall does more for the atmosphere of a rental than almost anything else you can put up. And when guests feel connected to the place, they remember the stay.
All my prints are printed to order right here in Victoria, shipped free anywhere in Australia, and come ready to hang. Prices start from $89. If you're fitting out a property and want a few pieces to work together, I'm also happy to answer questions directly. Just get in touch.
Frequently Asked Questions
What wall art works best for a holiday rental on the Surf Coast or Bellarine Peninsula?
Location-specific art works best for holiday rentals in coastal areas. Guests respond well to prints that show a beach or landmark they recognise from the area, which reinforces their connection to the place. Framed prints or floating frame canvases are the most practical choice because they arrive ready to hang and require no extra work from you or your guests.
What size wall art should I get for a holiday rental living room?
For a living room in a holiday rental, I'd go with at least an L size print (59.4x84.1cm) as your main piece. If the wall is large, an XL (84.1x118.9cm) or EPIC (100x150cm) will make a much stronger impression and become a genuine talking point for guests. A print that feels slightly too large is always better than one that feels lost on the wall.
Is framed or unframed wall art better for a holiday rental?
Framed is almost always the better choice for a rental property. Unframed prints are great if you already have a frame you love, but in a rental context you want everything ready to go and looking polished from day one. A classic frame or floating frame canvas arrives ready to hang, looks professional and holds up well over time.
Do you offer free shipping for holiday rental fitouts across Australia?
Yes, all orders ship free anywhere in Australia, regardless of how many prints you order or how large they are. Everything is printed and shipped from Victoria, and there's no pickup option, so free shipping applies to every order. If you're fitting out a whole property and ordering multiple pieces, there are no hidden delivery costs to factor in.
