Beach Rental Decor with a Santa Cruz Surf Print
A good beach rental sells a feeling before it sells a bed. Guests want to step inside and feel that they have arrived somewhere, and the art on the walls does a lot of that work. If your rental is anywhere near the Northern California coast, a real surf photograph from Santa Cruz can give it a sense of place that a generic seascape never will. Here is how I would think about using The Stairwell in a short-term beach rental.
This print comes from Santa Cruz, CA during the string of summer swells in 2026. I noticed the wave aligning with the stairwell while scouting a place to surf. At the time, nobody was surfing the wave, but I decided to head back to my van for the camera.
I waited for almost an hour in the stairwell for a surfer and wave to align.
Thankfully, I stuck out the wait as I love this image.
Additional Information:
Please allow 5-10 days for printing and shipping.
I have the ability to print custom sizes and material (like wood, gatorboard, etc.). If this interests you, please reach out to dj@dalton-johnson.com for a free quote with the size and material you desire.
The photograph is a surfer riding a glassy green wave, seen through the gap of a concrete stairwell in Santa Cruz. A sunlit brick wall glows gold on the left, a shadowed wall fills the right, and a few blurred leaves sit in the top corner. I shot it in early summer 2026, from land, about 100 to 200 yards from the rider, after waiting nearly an hour for the tide to change. It looks like a doorway to the ocean, which is a lovely idea to hang in a room where guests are about to spend a weekend by the sea.
I should be honest about what I know. I do not have buyer stories for this print yet, because it is new, and I am not going to tell you how guests will react. What I can offer is practical advice based on how the image looks and how the materials behave.
Start with durability. A rental sees a lot of traffic, and things get bumped, touched, and moved. Metal is the most durable option for this print. It resists UV light well, which helps in a sunny coastal room, and it does not need glass. It is also usually the most expensive, so think about the cost against the number of years you plan to keep the property. Paper with a frame is the cheapest way to hang the print, and canvas lands in the middle, though larger canvas costs more because of construction and shipping.
Next, think about glare. Metal can reflect a lot of light, so avoid hanging it directly across from a bright window. If your beach rental is full of sun, canvas may be a calmer choice, since it has little glare, though it can fade in strong direct sun. Choose the wall with softer light, and the print will look its best all day.
Then consider placement. The print is horizontal, so it suits the wall above a couch, a dining table, a bed, or a console. A large print, such as 24x36, can anchor a living room and become the first thing guests notice. A smaller one, such as 12x18, works well in a bedroom or a hallway. The colors, deep blue, green, and gold, pair easily with natural wood, white walls, linen, and rope or woven textures, which are common in coastal rentals.
Keep the rest of the room simple. A strong photograph does not need a lot of company. Let the surf print carry the wall, and keep the surrounding decor light and relaxed.
The print comes in seven sizes, from 8x10 to 24x36, and it takes about 5 to 10 days to print and ship, so plan ahead before a busy season.
The Stairwell is an open edition, and I try to sign each one, though I cannot always guarantee it. It is a human made photograph of a real wave.
Go check out all the prints by Dalton Johnson.
About the Author
Dalton Johnson is a photographer, writer, and filmmaker who tells stories about real people pushing themselves in the outdoors, from the High Sierra to the far reaches of every continent. He has shot and written for brands, tourism boards, and editorial outlets, including Nike, Patagonia, Four Seasons, PBS, GoPro, and Ford, with more than 160 campaigns and hundreds of published articles to his name. Off assignment, he bikepacks, trail runs, swims open water, chases big waves, and rock climbs.
