Beach houses are the perfect place to spend your free time, escape reality, and relax—the fresh salt air, cool ocean breeze, sound of crashing waves, and serene views create an environment where you can recover from the stresses of everyday life.

While your beach house is likely a relaxing space, it might not be exactly what you want quite yet. If you are ready to plan a remodel of your beach house to create your dream vacation home, there are some useful and luxurious features that you should include in your project. Read below for a full list of beach house design must-haves.

Bi-Fold Door System

The most luxurious design that every beach house should have is a bi-fold door system. Large bi-fold doors are the ultimate beach house design feature because they connect your space to the outdoors and create expansive views of the ocean. When the weather is nice, your bi-folds can open up your entire home to the fresh air, cool breeze, and shining sun.

The extra amount of sunlight, fresh air, and views created by a large bi-fold system makes your space more relaxing and perfect for entertaining guests for beach barbecues and pool parties. Click here to learn more about the benefits of indoor/outdoor living.

Kitchen Passthrough Window

Another excellent design to include in your beach house remodel is a bi-fold kitchen passthrough window system. Kitchen passthrough windows, or servery windows, are a convenient and useful feature for any home design that create an opening from your kitchen to your outdoor deck.

These window systems create wide-open views of the coast from your kitchen, while also providing plenty of airflow and natural light. Passthrough windows also create additional dining space on your outdoor deck in the form of a bar counter.

Pool and Spa

Your beach house isn’t complete without a luxurious pool and spa where you can soak and enjoy a salt-free swim. It’s perfect for those sand-haters who would rather not set foot on the beach, or for relaxing in the hot tub and watching the sun go down.

Outdoor Shower

An outdoor shower is an important feature to include in your beach house remodel, especially if you have a pool. The outdoor shower will be the spot where everyone can rinse off all the salt and sand from the ocean before diving into the pool, stepping into the hot tub, or setting foot inside your home.

Though keeping all sand out of your home is nearly impossible, an outdoor shower will help to contain the sand that’s tracked inside.

Expansive Deck

An expansive outdoor deck is a must-have for beach houses everywhere—you need plenty of space to sunbathe, barbecue, and host guests. Pictured above, this luxurious beach house softens the deck space by incorporating artificial turf into the design.

Shiplap

Nothing says coastal home like bright white shiplap! Shiplapped ceilings and walls make your beach house feel cozy and cottage-like, which ultimately creates a more relaxing space. Don’t forget to incorporate bright blues, rattan and wicker elements, and natural wood touches to create sweetest coastal interior.

These are just a few of the most important beach house design upgrades. What other beach house design features are on your remodel list?