When it comes to your home, you want it to be comfortable, cozy, and of course stylish. Take a few notes from the design trends we’ve gathered from across the internet, local businesses, and even our own homes to spruce up your own space!

Fresh Light Fixtures

Brighten up your kitchen with fun light fixtures!

Modern light fixtures like these found on pinterest can really brighten up your space! (Pun fully intended). With rattan being so on trend this year, it perfectly matches the beachy, laid back aesthetic of the OBX. Metallic colors like silvers, bronzes, and golds are also always on trend in home decor. You have so many options to make your home super up to date!

Make Use Of Natural Elements + Colors

Modern Beach House, a local Outer Banks interior design service and store hit the nail on the head with this buffet table display. The natural, tan colors of the table and the stark, white walls and topping are beautifully offset by the green plants! This look is easily achievable and can really brighten up your home. To see more great inspo and before and afters of local Outer Banks homes, take a look at the Modern Beach House website!

Shiplap Is Back

Don’t call it a comeback; shiplap is here to stay! Image via Pinterest

If you’ve ever set foot in a classic OBX beach box home, one thing you will see is dark and dreary shiplap and wood paneling. This can make the home look dark and dingy, but fear not, shiplap is making a comeback in a major way! A fresh coat of paint and bright interior furniture or furniture covers and take a drab room and make it fab in no time.

Create An Outside Oasis

Any outdoor space on the OBX can become an oasis! Image via Pinterest

When you’re on the Outer Banks, there’s nothing better than sitting out on the porch with a tall glass of sweet tea. Make sure your porch space is inviting and comfortable. Install porch swings or update the current seating you have with outdoor durable pillows and cushions for the ultimate relaxing spot!

Make A Statement

Spice up your space with statement walls! Image via Pinterest

Tired of the same old paint? Make a statement with fun walls! You can get inexpensive wall paper and tile and create a focal point in a room to make it bright and inviting. You don’t have to stop at the walls either, a huge design trend for 2018 is statement floors and ceilings too! Think outside the box and be creative, just make sure you don’t go too overboard, pick one wall and off set the vibrancy with simple furniture and other decor!

Embrace Minimalism

Minimalism: A trend you can never go wrong with

Minimalism is a huge trend that we don’t see going anywhere anytime soon. There’s just something about clean lines, crisp colors, and the simplicity of a great room that makes it super relaxing and serene. Add pops of color to the walls and accent pillows to put a little color in the space. Fun lamps like the wave ones pictured in this bedroom from property Atlantic Breeze #5411 can really pull a minimalistic bedroom together!

This content is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

This content is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

Even though we’re well into the new year, it’s never too late to come up with a resolution! Why not change up your New Year’s resolution this year? Instead of making the usual pledge of getting a gym membership, why not make an investment resolution on the OBX? (Or, if you’re ambitious, do both!) Owning a second home on the Outer Banks could be an easy and profitable New Year’s Resolution.

Own A Piece Of Paradise

Owning an OBX vacation home is like owning your own piece of paradise! Your mornings can be spent sipping coffee and watching the sunrise over the ocean. You’ll be able to make memories with your own friends and family at your Outer Banks home. Additionally, you’ll give other families the opportunity to make memories on the Outer Banks as well!

Make a Quality Investment

Investing in a vacation home on the OBX can be a great move financially. Even more so when you list your home with Resort Realty. We have over 34 years of experience and are locally rooted. We’re are leader in the OBX vacation rental industry and we make sure you get the most out of your home. We’re always here for you and give you the best advice on making your home profitable. We ensure that your guests are happy and content during their vacation!

Our Professional Staff Has You Covered

At Resort Realty, we’re blessed with some of the best staff on the beach. We all want to make sure your home is taken care of and you get the maximum profit out of your investment. The Resort Realty family will make sure your home gets the rentals it deserves and shines in its best light!

See Why Our Homeowners Love Us

We aim to keep our homeowners as pleased as our guests! See why listing your rental home with Resort Realty is the best choice you could make.

“…I very much appreciate your high standards and the attention that you have given to our homes.  It certainly brings peace of mind.  Especially during the busy rental season, with every little thing that can go wrong, I’m confident, cleanliness isn’t going to be one of them if you are in charge.  Thank you so very much.” –  Property owner of a Duck vacation rental home

“Thank you Resort Realty for a successful season with 16 rentals! This is my first year with Resort Realty and this was the most rentals I have ever had in the 30 years that I have owned the property. I truly appreciate everything you all do and I’m looking forward to next year!” – Property Owners of a Nags Head vacation rental home

Make This New Year’s Resolution Count

Make your New Year’s Resolution of owning a vacation home on the Outer Banks come true! Take a look at all of the homes for sale on the Outer Banks. When you find the perfect vacation home and you’re ready to make profit on your investment, contact our Director of Business Development! Email debbie.harrell@resortrealty.com or calling (800) 458-3830. You can also get more information on our rental program on the Resort Realty Owner page of our website!

This content is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

The weather is turning cooler which means it’s time to prepare your home for the winter! We’ve got 10 great tips to help keep your home warm, safe, and cost efficient this winter.

1 // Turn Down Your Hot Water Heater

Most standard hot water heaters are set to 140 degrees, but most homes don’t need that much heat. You end up paying for hot water you’re not using. By lowering your heaters temperature to around 120 degrees, you can reduce your water heating bill by around 6 to 10 percent!

 

2 // Turn Down The Heat

When you leave your house, remember to turn the heat down! For every degree you turn the heat down, you can save around 1% to 3% on your heating bill!

 

3 // Caulk + Seal

Air leaks in your home can severely decrease energy efficiency and make it hard to heat up the house in the winter. Take a good look corners where different materials meet like around chimney, around windows, and along the foundation. You can have someone stand outside with a blow dryer and blow air around suspected leaks to confirm where you need to caulk or weather strip.

 

4 // Stop Drafts

Drafty doors can waste anywhere from 5% to 30% of energy. Draft snakes are super inexpensive (you can even DIY your own) and effective!

 

5 // Reverse Fans

Fans sure do keep you cool in the summer, but did you know they can keep you warm in the winter too? There’s a little switch at the top of the fan that changes the blade direction to clockwise. Clockwise rotation pulls warm air from the ceiling and brings it back down to keep you warm and toasty. This can cut as much as 10% off of your heating bill!

 

6 // Winterize you A/C + Hoses

Keep your air con pipes and hoses from freezing this winter. Make sure any excess water has been drained from piping and equipment. If you have any window A/C units, make sure to remove them and put the window down to avoid drafts. For water hoses, make sure they’ve been drained and put away and make sure to turn off any water spigots on the outside of your home.

 

7 // Tune Up Your Heating System

Make sure your heating system is clean and in tip top shape to avoid any chilly outages and to save on your heating costs. Call and make an appointment with an HVAC technician to have them take a good look at your furnace.

 

8 // Insulate Piping

Keep your pipes from freezing and bursting by insulating your piping. Insulating your piping can also decrease your hot water bill. Pipes that are warm are the ones you want to insulate. Most hardware stores sell foam that will wrap around the pipes. Then just cut it to the right size and duct tape it.

 

9 // Take Care of Outside

Even though we don’t get a ton of snow here on the Outer Banks, it’s still a good idea to clean out gutters and take care out your outside areas. Clean out gutters of all debris so that rain and snow can drain efficiently. Cut down any tree branches that hang over your house and cars. Snow and ice build up can cause branches to get heavy and fall.

 

10 // Bring Plants Inside

Tropical and annuals that don’t do well in the cold need to come inside before the first frost hits. Spray plants that look like that might have pests like spiders, then make room in your house or garage for them. Cut back on watering and don’t apply any more fertilizer until the weather warms back up.

Beachy decor is a no brainer when you live this close to the beach. When you buy an Outer Banks home, you’ll feel like every day is a beach day with shore decor! Check out some houses that Resort Realty Real Estate has for sale and get some beachy chic inspiration to bring the beach to your home!

To make the images larger, just click them!

Beachy Bedroom

Make your bedroom a seaside heaven with colors as warm as a sunny day in June! Add touches of beach treasures like starfish, shells, and driftwood to have a never ending beach day. 

Cozy Coastal Kitchen

Give your kitchen that vacation beach home feel with tan and blue details! Natural colors like the bar stools like the one pictured from Pottery Barn and the wall hanging bottle opener warm up your space while blue accents like rugs and storage give you the feel of cool ocean water!

Dining Room Decor

Pineapples are a symbol of good friendship and hospitality, so why not decorate your dining room with them! Pineapple accents on the walls and wine glasses are fun and the blue china will make you feel like you’re right at the beach.

Bathroom

Greys, whites, and blues make for a perfect coastal bathroom! Driftwood-esque mirrors and octopus bath mat details are essential for a fresh and clean beachy bathroom!

This content is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

This content is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

This content is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

It may not feel like it now, but spring is right around the corner! Next Monday the 20th, to be exact! A little can go a long way with updating your home for spring. It’s easy, inexpensive, and always fun to have something fresh and new. Bust those winter blues with a few spring updates around your home.

Add Curb Appeal

curb appeal

via Pinterest

Planting a fun flowerbed or a window box can add instant spring flair to your home. Pick colorful flowers like azaleas or zinnias to make your home bloom!

 

Primp Your Porch

primp your porch

via Pinterest

Everyone needs a little porch time. That’s where friendships grow and memories are made! Surround yourself with green plants, hydrangeas, and wicker furniture to put yourself in the spring mode.

 

Lighten Up Your Room

lighten up

via Anthropologie & Pinterest

Rise and shine to a spring inspired bedroom every morning. Fresh flowers and soft colors in a comforter, rugs, or pillows will make you feel right at home and ready to take on the day.

 

Accessorize Your Living Area

ANTSPRINGHOME17_LA1_011_142_post_KP-768x511

via Anthropologie

Little additions like textured pillows and rugs and bright curtains are sure to beat the winter blues. Little changes can make a big difference when the weather warms up!

Print It

Vintage Botanical Prints are beautiful. Who doesn't love free printable wall art too? These vintage inspired Spring prints would make a great addition to your spring decor by placing them on a table or hanging them on your wall. livealughrowe.com

via Pinterest

The internet is full of different free, downloadable prints that are sure to brighten any room. Our favorites? Floral prints that are the epitome of spring. You can frame pictures you download and print on your own or, websites like Society 6 feature a bunch of framed prints you can choose from that’ll ship right to your door.

 

Set It Up

set it up

via Magnolia Market Blog & Pinterest

Your kitchen table deserves a spring update too! Making centerpieces with succulents adds an easy, fresh touch to your dining table, especially since succulents are inexpensive and aren’t hard to take care of!

 

 

 

 

 

This content is password protected. To view it please enter your password below: