Expert Vacation Rental Tips for Designing a Picture-Perfect Space

Know Your Guests 

One of my favorite vacation rental tips is also one of the most important – know your guests! Before designing your space, think about who will be staying in it. Are they young professionals who need a designated workspace for remote work? Families with kids who’ll appreciate a big enough dining room? Couples who are seeking a romantic ambiance? Or perhaps you want to create a perfect pet-friendly rental getaway for pups and their owners? Knowing these details will help you choose design elements that best suit their needs.

Gather Inspiration 

Now, you wouldn’t just start designing your own home without a clear vision, would you? The same goes for a vacation rental! To get started, take some time to look at what other successful vacation rentals are doing. This will give you insight into what works (and what doesn’t) and can also help spark inspiration and creativity for your own space. 

Don’t forget good old interior design magazines, too. These days, you can cut right to the chase and look for magazines like House Beautiful, Domino, and Elle Decor on Pinterest. Check out their saved pins. Not only will you find tons of inspirational photos, but they’ll also have boards organized by room, style, color, trends, and many other categories. You’ll get loads of inspiration, and no subscriptions are required.

While you’re perusing inspo photos, think about colors, textures, and furniture that speak to the style you’re considering, and make a list of ideas so you can refer back to them when shopping for items. Put together some boards of your own to stay focused. A mood board, whether digital or physical, is one of the best ways to clarify the design style you’re trying to achieve.

If you’re unsure where to start, check out this post about some of the most popular and attractive design styles.

Once you’re ready to start shopping, check out some of our favorite beds, dining room furniture, ceiling, wall and portable lighting, art, and entryway furniture.)

Furniture Placement Matters 

When it comes to furniture placement for your vacation rental, remember the adage: Less is more. After all, stuff seems to be a problem at many vacation rentals. Choose pieces that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing – after all, you don’t want your space to be too spartan, but at the same time, no one wants their stay to feel like they’re sleeping in a storage unit. This comes into importance if you’re designing a small vacation rental.

So move around furniture until it feels comfortable – you know it’s just right when every piece serves an intentional purpose without feeling cramped or cluttered. 

Let your ideal guests be your guide on what furniture you need. For example, do you anticipate kids lying on the floor watching TV? Then, a soft rug is a must. Know that your guests will be enjoying plenty of adult beverages? Then, make sure that you have side tables conveniently near seating. The more you think about how your guests are likely to behave and anticipate their needs, the less likely they’ll be to rearrange your furniture, spill drinks, and complain.

Need a few tips about furnishing your vacation rental? Find them here.

Let There Be Light!

Lighting can have a huge impact on interior design. It can change the vibe of a room and set the mood you’re after —all while highlighting your best features. Natural light is always the best choice, so let those sun rays in if possible! If that’s not an option, you can install lamps or overhead lighting to create a cozy atmosphere that will draw guests in. Put lamps and wall lights in strategic spots around the house so that soft light illuminates every corner of the property. Read more about creating bright rooms in your vacation rental in this article.

Accent Colors Do the Trick

No matter what color palette you choose for your vacation rental, you’ll want to include accent colors that draw the eye and make your spaces more striking. Even something as simple as an accent wall or throw pillows in a bright color can make a huge difference in giving your rental a high-end designer look. Accent colors can also create a sense of coherence between distinct spaces within your rental – think warm sunset tones in the kitchen and deep emerald hues in the living room.

Don’t be Afraid to Mix and Match

You can create a unique yet timeless space with the right balance between modern and vintage pieces. To achieve this effect, be intentional with color palettes, patterns, textures, and shapes to ensure a cohesive overall look. 

For tips about where to look for vintage furniture and furnishing your vacation rental on a deadline, check this out.

Consider upgrading your decor with a statement art piece or two if your budget allows it. No money for statement art? Worry not; there are plenty of ways to make your vacation rental look stylish on a budget!

Add Instagram-Worthy Elements

Rocking it on social media can work miracles for your vacation rental branding, but there’s another benefit of having an Instagram-worthy place – more bookings! Insta lovers come across your listing and can immediately visualize that perfect photo they will take while staying at your place.

So, if you strive for your rental to become an Instagram sensation, add a few elements to make your space look polished. These could be statement furniture pieces like a velvet bench, a hanging chair, décor accents like vintage rugs, modern art prints, or even plants to create visual interest. All these things can add to a vacation rental with great photo potential!

Don’t Hide the Amenities

The amenities in a vacation rental are often the deciding factor when potential guests choose where to stay. So don’t let them go unnoticed! Place the board games and books on an open shelf, create a stylish Airbnb coffee station, or put together an aesthetic display of kitchen essentials – this will add character to the interior and wow your guests at the same time.

Give it Some Personality 

By now, you’ve probably already read that you should remove all family photos from your Airbnb. That’s true, but it doesn’t mean your rental should be devoid of personality. People like staying in vacation rentals because they’re not soulless corporate spaces, so make sure your place looks like a person (with great taste) designed it rather than an algorithm.

You can add a sense of place by using art and accessories that reflect local culture or landmarks near your place. Think about vintage signs, stylized maps, and art made by local artists. If you’re unsure where to start, check out Etsy and search by the name of your city. You might be surprised at what’s out there!

You can infuse some of your own personality into your vacation rental if your ideal guest demographic is similar to yours. If you love dogs and your place is pet friendly, don’t be afraid to throw in art featuring man’s best friend. If you’re a world traveler, display some of the (non-valuable) things you’ve collected. Clutter is bad, but adding warmth by displaying things you love isn’t.

Furniture with a story, like antique furniture passed down through generations (that you aren’t too attached to), handmade furniture, or a great Ikea hack, is another good opportunity to add charm and personality to the mix. 

My Final Vacation Rental Tip for You

Designing your vacation rental can be overwhelming, but it’s also incredibly rewarding when you see the result. Above all else, remember to have fun with it – after all, it’s so much easier to let the creativity flow if you’re enjoying what you do! And if you need to brainstorm ideas or help with an interior design plan, book a complimentary chat with me, and we can create some interior design magic together!