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The Dream Spaces

Guides & Insights

Downloadable guides and articles for foreign buyers and expats navigating property, design and life on the Costa del Sol.

Guides

Enjoy our free resources, always written from experience.

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Costa del Sol Holiday Rental Design Guide cover
PDF · 12 pages
Investment Holiday Rental Design

The Costa del Sol Holiday Rental Design Guide

What separates the properties that book out from the ones that sit empty?

Read about lessons learned designing a villa at 95% occupancy and a Superhost status in six months. The 8-second rule, the spaces that move bookings, the design mistakes that quietly kill them, plus a case study and ten questions to answer before you brief any designer.

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Articles

Practical articles, written for foreign buyers and expats.

The questions we are asked most often, answered in full. Renovation, design, planning permission, the trades, the costs and the things nobody warns you about.

Spanish renovation traps expats
Renovation Expat Guide
June 2026

Spanish Renovation Traps Expats Don't See Coming

Five Things Worth Knowing Before You Start

The five most common renovation traps foreign buyers fall into on the Costa del Sol - licences, communities, contractor culture, the network you can't find online and the final bill.

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Furniture stores Costa del Sol
Sourcing Furnishing
June 2026

Where to Buy Furniture on the Costa del Sol

A Designer's Shortlist From Budget to High-End

From IKEA and Kave Home to BoConcept and Roche Bobois - a vetted guide to the furniture stores worth knowing on the coast, with honest assessments and no affiliate links.

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Building permits renovation Spain Costa del Sol
Planning Renovation
May 2026

Do I Need Planning Permission to Renovate My Spanish Property?

Obra Menor, Obra Mayor, declaración responsable - a practical guide to building permits in Andalucía for foreign buyers renovating on the Costa del Sol.

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Renovation cost Costa del Sol
Renovation Budget
May 2026

How Much Does It Cost to Renovate a Property on the Costa del Sol? An Honest Breakdown

Real numbers, broken down by room. Two example projects, the licencia de obras explained, designer fees compared, and the costs most people forget to budget for.

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Holiday rental property entrance, Costa del Sol
Rental Rules Investment
May 2026

Costa del Sol Holiday Rental Rules 2026: What Every Foreign Buyer Needs to Know

The Málaga tourist licence moratorium, the 60% community rule, mid-term rentals as an alternative, and how the right interior design changes what your property earns.

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Microcement bathroom Costa del Sol
Materials Renovation
May 2026

Is Microcement Worth It? A Designer's View

Where it works, where it fails, what it actually costs, and which brands to know on the Costa del Sol.

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