So many vacation rentals suffer from the blahs. The basics are there, but they lack the final layer of polish and style to take them to the next level.
The problem is, by the time they get to styling most vacation rental owners are feeling pretty tapped out, having just bought a household’s worth of furniture in one fell swoop. Fear not, adding style to your vacation rental doesn’t have to cost a lot.
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Here are twelve ways to add style to your vacation rental on the cheap.
Start your vacation rental styling search outside.
One of the goals of designing vacation rentals is to impart a sense of place. How better to do that than to literally add bits of the surrounding landscape to your decor?
Fallen branches or driftwood can make a beautiful sculptural accent when added to your decor strategically. Pampas grass adds a glorious fluffy texture to vases, and rocks can be mixed in with other decor for an organic modern vibe.
design by Wildheart Design | via The Biskra House
photo and styling: Justine Celina Maguire
Remember that art is in the eye of the beholder.
It doesn’t have to be in a frame to be art. Group collections of objects with interesting shapes to create an installation, or combine them into something new. Shop flea markets for low-cost objects with some history and patina, like plates, silverware, wooden spoons, rolling pins, you name it. Consider tapping into popular activities near your vacation rental by hanging bicycle wheels, wooden paddles, surfboards, or antique skis.
photo: Kim Jeffery | designers: Kai Ethier & Jennifer Koper | from: House & Home
design: Beverly McCullough | from: Flamingo Toes
Buy some great cheap prints for your vacation rental.
One of my favorite ways to add interesting, unique art to projects is to purchase inexpensive prints and frame them myself. Websites like Minted, Etsy, Studio 6, and 20×200 offer prints by countless talented artists, putting unique art within everyone’s reach.
Several of these websites offer framing, but I usually skip it. Shipping logistics necessitate framing with acrylic rather than glass, which I don’t like for a couple of reasons. Acrylic (or plexiglass) has a lot more glare than acrylic and can scratch when cleaned too vigorously.
Or print them yourself.
If you have a large-format color printer (we like and use this one), some good quality photo paper, and the internet you have loads of unusual art at your fingertips. No printer? No problem. Do a search for fine art printing and you’ll find local print and frame shops with excellent printers and good-quality paper.
You can either create your own artwork or signage with an app like Canva or find pre-designed downloads for sale on a site like Etsy. Groupings of maps of your local area are a great way to fill large walls, or you can even use stock photos if they suit your design plan. Just be sure that you have the right to use whatever image you’re printing.
The cheap way to frame art for your vacation rental
I recommend buying cheap, simple frames with glass (not acrylic) at big box stores, preferably when they’re on sale. Then take them home, open them up and throw out the mats that came with them.
The reason the mats that come with the frames are garbage is that they are not acid-free, unlike the ones you buy from a frame shop. That means they’ll turn yellow at the bevel where they’re cut, and they’ll also ruin your artwork. The same goes for the cardboard backing.
Instead, take your cheap frame and art to a frame store and have them cut the mats for you (you can usually just go with white for the mats) and a piece of acid-free foam core board for the back. You can then put everything together yourself, or have them do it. That step is called fitting, and it will have its own charge, so just ask what that is before you commit.
That extra step at the frame store will ensure that your cheap framed art will look good for a very long time.
These are Ikea frames with custom-cut mats. Photos: Shutterstock | design: Wildheart Design
Mix high and low in your Airbnb design.
Certain things, like throw pillows and blankets, will need to be replaced frequently, so there’s no need to spend a lot of money on them. That’s great news, they offer a great way to play with trends and color without committing.
Spend money on the things that get a lot of use, like sofas, and go cheap and cheerful for the accents. I personally love my annual Target throw pillow run, and I bet you will, too.
Add character to your vacation rental with vintage decor.
Flea markets, resale shops, and reseller apps aren’t for everyone, but if you’ve got the patience for it, you can find some great items at decent prices. Vintage items have their place even in modern designs when they’re used right.
If you’re not sure where to get started. look for pottery in interesting shapes and colors, accessories with sculptural lines, and textiles that would make great wall hangings. And if you just can’t handle the chaos of a flea market, look instead for vintage stores with curated selections. The little bit more you’ll pay may be worth it if it saves you time and frustration.
Use paint to enhance your vacation rental decor.
Did you find a cheap candle holder, vase, or decorative box that’s not the right color? Spray paint is the answer.
If you’re crafty, you can use paint to liven up furniture in unexpected ways. Look for furniture with interesting lines and details at flea markets and breathe new life into it with a couple of coats of paint. Just remember to keep it to accent pieces rather than those that will be touched all the time.
photo: Kim Jeffery | designer: Cameron MacNeil | from: House & Home
photo: Kim Jeffery | designers: Kai Ethier & Jennifer Koper | from: House & Home
This is graduate-level furniture painting. Luckily, you can purchase it (or something like it) from LlivingDesigns on Etsy.
Use paint to add interest to your vacation rental walls, too.
Got boring walls? No problem. Control the focal points of a room with the strategic application of paint. Simulate the effect of crown molding by ending a color several inches from the ceiling, or adding a shape behind a headboard. Create a wainscot effect by painting the lower third of the room a different color, or get creative with the ceiling.
Just remember that these techniques work best as part of the big picture, meaning that they should support the overall design plan, not distract from it.
photo: Lauren Kolyn | designer: Alexandra Gater | from: House & Home
photo: Rhiannon Taylor | designer: Chelsea Hing | from: The Design Files
Go to the source for your Airbnb decor and furniture.
There are lots of skilled people out there who can sew, make signs, or refinish furniture, and it usually costs less than buying things retail. Look for them in real life at flea markets and craft fairs, and by asking around in local Next Door or Facebook groups.
If you can’t find anyone local, check Etsy or Custom Marketplace. I’ve commissioned custom chalkboards, Acapulco chairs, daybed covers, and faux succulent arrangements from people all over the country, with much success.
Repurpose good stuff for unique vacation rental decor.
I once found some napkins with a great print, and better yet, they were on sale. So I took them home, stitched them up, and made pillows out of them. Easy peasy.
When you’re decorating your vacation rental, keep your eyes peeled for perfect things in unexpected places. I’m a big fan of using outdoor rugs and pillows indoors (if they’re soft enough), since they hold up well to both traffic and the sun.
Outdoor rug used indoors | Photo: Girl By Bay | from: domino
Go DIY to decorate your vacation rental.
If you’re a little bit crafty you can go far with your vacation rental. Things like upholstered headboards are actually quite simple to make, and you can implement the paint techniques mentioned above if you’ve got a steady hand.
A simple way to add interest to a boring room is to add flat wood trim in a pattern and paint it the same color as the wall. For some rooms, it’s just the accent that’s needed to add that little something and it’s a straightforward DIY project.
If you can dream it, you can find a tutorial on YouTube, and the end result will be something both stylish and unique.
photo: Alex Lukey | designer: Sam Sacks | from: House & Home
photo: Angus Fergusson | designer: Joel Bray | from: House & Home
But don’t forget, you’ve got to have a plan for your vacation rental interior design.
Cheap or not, the best way to add style to your vacation rental is to decorate with intention. That means that you shop with the big picture in mind instead of randomly selecting items that you hope will work together. A design plan is the best way to clarify your design intent, and you can either hire me to put one together for you or learn to do it yourself when my course launches in a few months.
With a plan comes a budget, which will tell you exactly how much you have to spend to decorate your vacation rental. Much like a grocery list, this will save you from impulse buys while you’re trying to figure out what you need to make your design successful. You can put a budget together with our free Vacation Rental Budget Workbook.
