Picture this: You’re on vacation, and you’ve just arrived at your rental property. You open the door, and…yikes. The living room is dim, the walls are an unappealing shade of brown, and everything feels dreary. Unfortunately, this hypothetical scenario happens more often than you might think.
Fortunately, there are a few simple ways to brighten up rooms in your vacation rental that won’t take much effort —and can make a world of difference.
Today, I’m sharing a few interior design tips for making your vacation rental more inviting and cheerful.
Note: All content is our own (that is, not sponsored), but if you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission at no added cost to you.
Table of Contents
8 Tips for Creating Bright Rooms in Your Short-Term Rental
1. Maximize the amount of natural light available
Make the most of what you’ve got
Not every room gets a lot of natural light – let’s face it, that’s probably why you’re reading this post. Even in north-facing rooms, you can maximize the light by keeping windows clear of obstructions like plants of heavy window coverings. And keep those windows sparkly clean!
I’ve met with many hosts who are reluctant to part with custom shutters or blinds, but unfortunately, they block a lot of light even when the louvers are open. Curtains or shades in sheer, light-colored, light-filtering fabrics are a better choice. In bedrooms, use a light-blocking roller shade underneath the transparent layers to facilitate sleeping in.
Bring in light from the ceiling, but do it the right way
Skylights and solar tubes are top-of-mind solutions for bringing in more light when it’s time to remodel your vacation rental, but there are some things you should consider before adding them to your shopping cart. Here are a few:
- Skylights may let in too much glare in some rooms. Consult an architect, designer, or knowledgeable contractor for the best way to bring in light without heat or glare.
- Solar tubes look like recessed lights during the day – guests may be scrambling to find the “off” switch!
- Guests will want the option to sleep in while they’re on vacation. Choose a skylight with a shade, and skip solar tubes in bedrooms.
Want to see this in action? Here’s how I transformed a dark and dreary condo into a bright and beautiful vacation home!
A solar tube in the shower illuminates the entire bathroom.
2. Use artificial light strategically
Use lighting in layers
Every room should have layers of artificial light. That is, don’t rely on a single overhead light to illuminate a room. This is especially important in rooms without a lot of natural light.
Ambient light is what lights the whole room. These are usually ceiling lights, but they could also be table or floor lamps. If there’s no switch to turn on the lights when a guest enters a room, add one with a plug-in adapter or smart bulb.
Task lights add light for specific activities, like reading, applying makeup, or cooking.
Decorative lights are exactly what they sound like. They’re the “jewelry” of a room. Think creatively about how to add decorative lights in a dark room. Picture lights, wall sconces, and even cordless mini lamps are clever ways to turn a dark room cheerful, especially if they’re set on a timer or part of a smart lighting scheme that guests don’t have to think too hard about.
LEDs are great – if you choose the right ones.
Energy-efficient LEDs are a natural choice for short-term rentals, considering how often guests leave the lights on! But they’re not all the same, and picking the wrong ones can make a room seem “not quite right” or just plain unappealing.
LEDs come in different color temperatures, measured in Kelvins or K. The most common are 2700K, warm lighting; 3000 K, which is neutral; and 4000K, which is cool, or “daylight.”In other words, lower numbers are warmer, and higher numbers are cooler.
In a dark room, “daylight” color lights might seem like a good choice – not so fast.
Many dark rooms are also north-facing, meaning that the daylight coming in is already more cool-toned or blue than in other rooms. So, adding cool lighting may make the room seem particularly cold or grim.
If that’s not the case, and you prefer 4000k light, that’s fine – but be consistent! Always use fixtures and bulbs that are all the same color in a room. That means if you buy fixtures with integrated LEDs, that is, no bulbs, start with that color and match everything else in the room to it.
If you’re mixing LEDs with incandescent bulbs, choose 2700K. That’s the closest, but it won’t be an exact match because incandescent light is golden-orange, and warm LEDs are yellow.
Mis-matched light colors make rooms seem “not quite right,” even if people can’t quite put their finger on what’s wrong.
One last thing about LED color temperature: It does NOT determine how bright lights are. That’s a different measure called lumens.
Looking for lighting inspiration? Check out our favorite cheap and chic table and floor lamps, ceiling lights, and wall sconces.
PHOTO: HARIS KENJAR PHOTOGRAPHY | INTERIOR DESIGNER: KATIE HODGES | VIA: HOUSE BEAUTIFUL
This beautiful bedroom maximizes light with bright walls, light furnishings and minimal decor. Note the picture lights above the bookshelf and the floor lamp in the corner.
3. Use light paint colors or wall coverings
Use light colors to make a room brighter
It’s a pretty obvious one, right? Light colors on walls will bounce more light and make a room appear brighter. What you might not know is that paint manufacturers know exactly how much light is reflected by different colors. It’s called Light Reflectance Value, or LRV, and it’s a scale from 0-100, with 0 being black and 100 being the brightest. (Note that the “whitest” white widely available has an LRV of 94.)
Sometimes, the LRV is printed on swatches; if not, you can find it on the manufacturer’s website. Anything over 50 will reflect light.
The paint’s sheen also plays a part in bouncing light. Shinier finishes reflect light, but they also show imperfections. A finish with a small amount of sheen, like eggshell, is a good compromise.
Always test paint colors, especially those with a high LRV. The types and amounts of natural and artificial light will greatly affect these.
Some wallcoverings are reflective, too.
That’s not to say you can’t use wallpaper in a dark room. Some materials, like grasscloth, have a beautiful natural sheen that can help bounce light around in a subtle, pretty way. Others use metallic inks in both subtle and not-so-subtle ways.
Don’t forget the ceiling
You don’t have to use “ceiling paint” for ceilings. It’s white, which is good, but flat finish, which may not be the best choice for brightening a room.
Apply the same LRV and sheen criteria as wall paint when selecting ceiling paint, or better yet, use the same paint on walls and ceilings.
4. Use mirrors to bounce light around the room
Mirrors are a tried and true way to reflect light around a room (literally), but you’ve got to use them strategically. Avoid 70s-era mirrored walls and instead use decorative mirrors placed with intent. Think over a dresser, fireplace mantle, or dining room buffet. You can artfully lean floor mirrors against walls (secure them so they can’t tip over) or mix smaller mirrors into gallery walls. Whatever you do, just make sure it looks purposeful.
Grasscloth wallcovering and a big mirror keeps a blue bedroom bright and cheery.
5. Choose furniture that will help brighten up rooms in your vacation rental
Of course, rooms have more than just walls in them. The furniture you choose can also help brighten a room. Avoid heavy-looking, dark furniture and opt for pieces with a lighter presence. That means choosing an armless accent chair with legs rather than a bulky recliner, for example.
In general, light colors will create a brighter effect, but you should choose colors that work for your design plan first and foremost. Contrast is an important design element, so you may want a few pieces with dark or bright colors to serve as accents, especially if you’ve painted the walls white.
For horizontal surfaces, like coffee or accent tables, keep light bouncing around by choosing materials like glass or polished marble, or add glass tops to wood furniture. It will have the added benefit of protecting your table tops.
Do you have a tiny rental property? Here are a few more tips on how to make your vacation rental look and feel bigger!
PHOTO: NATHAN SCHRODER | INTERIOR DESIGN: MAESTRI STUDIO | VIA: REAL HOMES
Furniture doesn’t have to be beige to keep a room light. Notice the open table base and chair legs. Glossy paint on the ceiling is a clever way to bounce more light in.
6. Declutter
It goes without saying that your vacation rental should not be cluttered. This is especially important when you want rooms to appear brighter. Clutter blocks all of that beautiful light that you’ve got bouncing around and creates visual roadblocks.
Decor and accessories that might look great in a brighter room can start to look like clutter in a darker room. Avoid a lot of small accessories and choose one or two statement pieces in light-colored materials and/or reflective materials like marble or glazed pottery.
7. Choose light-colored textiles
Crisp white linens and spotless white towels will brighten up a room and give your guests instant proof that your short-term rental is squeaky clean.
Keep window coverings, throw pillows, and blankets in the same “light and bright” vein. They don’t have to be white, but they shouldn’t be a dark, light-absorbing color.
Light-colored rugs aren’t the most practical choice for a short-term rental, so stick to medium tones. Consider a natural material like seagrass. It’s a durable choice that has a natural, subtle reflectance. On the other hand, if you find a soft rug with a silk-like sheen, check the fiber it’s made from. Avoid anything with viscose- it has a nice sheen but is not at all durable.
8. Hang artwork to brighten up the walls
Artwork is a great way to add a little color and personality to your rental, but it can also help make a room appear brighter. After all, a lot of art is framed with glass, which is, wait for it, reflective! Keep artwork bright, and consider using big (white) mats to make framed art bigger. Avoid heavy, dark-colored frames, and consider adding picture lights to sneak in a little more illumination.
PHOTO AND ART SOURCE: DESENIO | VIA: HELLO MAGAZINE
There you have it — eight quick tips on how to brighten up rooms in your vacation rental and make it shine. After all, a bright, cheerful atmosphere is essential for bright and cheerful guests – that is, the ones who write the best reviews. 😊
