A Betalbatim villa has room to spare in its bedrooms, and the bed wall can take a headboard far wider than the bed, carrying reading lamps and charging points; mark those out with the electrician first. What it is covered in depends on the house. On a sea-facing plot, set the board slightly off the wall, seal its backing, and use a synthetic weave or leatherette that will not hold damp. Among the humid fields the same applies, more so if the house is closed for months. In a villa that is let, guests lean on headboards with wet hair and sun lotion, so a wipeable cover in a simple shape is the sensible choice.
- Master bedrooms in independent villas: a wall-to-wall headboard in upholstered panels, with lamps wired in before it goes up.
- Guest rooms in holiday homes: leatherette or performance weave in a plain shape, easy to wipe and to re-cover.
- Sea-facing bedrooms: a board hung a little clear of the wall, backing sealed on both faces against salt damp.
Betalbatim is a quiet coastal village north of Colva, reached through coconut groves and fields. Its beach is uncrowded, backed by casuarina trees, and the village has a few well-known restaurants, some resorts, and a growing number of villas and holiday homes.
New building in Betalbatim is mostly independent villas and small gated clusters, many of them second homes. They have large glazed openings to gardens and pools, which call for wide curtains, outdoor blinds and outdoor cushions.
The village runs from the beach inland, so exposure varies: sea-facing plots get salt and wind, while homes among the fields are sheltered but humid and close to standing water in the monsoon.