If you’ve ever taken a peek at Airbnb reviews, you know that people have high expectations when it comes to rental homes. Whether it’s the amenities, space or decor, renters want the home to be in tiptop shape. To help you with your rental home design, we put together a few handy tips on decorating your space to ensure that your rental property is a crowd pleaser.
Think Durability
Perhaps the most important tip is making sure you choose furniture that is durable and easy to clean. When it comes to a couch, we suggest microfiber, wool or leather. Microfiber is stain-resistant and comes in many different textures. Wool and wool blends are also great because of their durability. Lastly, leather is a great option because of its sleek look and easy cleanup. However, it does scuff easily, so beware if you plan on renting out to families with pets.
You may also want to consider adding slipcovers to the sofa and chairs for extra protection. As a rule of thumb for decorating, choose furnishings that look nice and are durable, but aren’t too expensive as you’ll probably be replacing them more than you would in your home.
Maximize Sleeping Space
Space is key in a rental home. Whether you’re renting to a big family or a group of friends, the more space you have, the better. This is where maximizing your sleeping space can really make or break your rental. Adding queen-over-queen bunk beds or loft beds is an easy solution to having a comfortable, practical and safe sleeping environment. Our Francis Lofts & Bunks are designed with adults in mind. They feature unparalleled strength and rigidity, so you won’t have to worry about them holding up over time. Whether you’re considering a bunk bed to sleep more, a loft bed to maximize space in the room or a combination of both, our bunk beds will help to elevate any rental home and keep your guests coming back.
Don’t Make It Too Personal
One of the most important decorating tips is to keep the decor fairly neutral and simple. Renters don’t want to feel like they are intruding on someone else’s space. While it may feel natural to put family photos up, it’s better to keep photos in your own home and stick to neutral paintings and fun décor pieces in their place. A good rule of thumb is sticking to a neutral color palette and choosing pieces that aren’t too out there. Just like in a hotel, the best décor is kept simple and reflects the area in which it is located. For example, a hotel tucked into the mountains of Colorado will no doubt have a rustic feel to it, just as a Hamptons rental will be decorated in popular ocean colors like blues, greens, yellows and tans.
Pay Attention to the Details
As any interior designer would tell you, attention to detail is key. While you don’t want to make your rental home overly personal, you also don’t want it to be too sparse. Adding wall sconces or lamps to the bedside and storing books or reading materials in the nightstand are great ways to make your renters feel more at home. If you’re short on closet space in the bedrooms, you’ll want to add bureaus and armoires so your guests can have a few different options on where to store their clothing. Another great tip is to offer travel guides and a list of local recommendations. While you may know the town in and out, your guests only have Google as their guide. Adding a book of suggestions like cute coffee shops or the best burger places in town are a nice touch your guests will surely appreciate.
Provide Modern Amenities
In 2017, this one should be a no-brainer. We guarantee that one of the first things guests will ask is what the Wifi password is or how to navigate your remote. Design with these things in mind. Make the living room the center of the home and design it so that it’s a place your guests will want to kick back, relax and watch TV in. This also applies to the kitchen as well. Appliances like a dishwasher, coffee maker and a microwave oven are important to keep handy and visible. No matter how long your guests are staying, they will appreciate having these amenities.
Check Out the Competition
When designing your rental home, you may want to check out what other owners in the area are offering in their vacation homes. This will not only help to see the price range you’ll want to stay in, but it will also help to make your design decisions a little easier.