How to furnish your vacation rental

Yuval Yossefy

September 18, 2015

Furnishing your vacation rental can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be! Here are some suggestions to make it a little easier:

Set a Budget

Most importantly, set a budget and work within it. When designing a space, it can be very easy to get carried away and suddenly spend much more than you had hoped. Plan your process thoroughly, and keep watch over your spending throughout it.

Research Existing Rentals

Some hosts have an innate sense of design, but for those of us who don’t, a good place to start is to do some research. Check what other hosts are doing with their apartments by looking at pictures on accommodations websites (like Airbnb) and by looking through social media sites like Pinterest, Facebook, and YouTube. Keep a list of which styles you like and which you don’t, and maybe even reach out to some of your favorite hosts with questions.

Find a Target Audience

Spend some time deciding which types of customers would ideally book your listing. If you want to court businessmen, include a workstation or desk with a printer. If families fit better, then maybe buy some board games and picture books, include a crib, and keep safety in mind. If you don’t have any specific type of guest in mind, then make sure your space is adaptable to many different kinds of people, that way you can feel comfortable casting a wide net.

Stay Neutral

When designing your space, choose styles and items that will be pleasing to as many people as possible. This doesn’t mean that you should be bland, but stay away from very eccentric designs. Along the same lines, do not include anything that could make any guests uncomfortable or offended (think about when you go on vacation, what would you not want to see?). Definitely stay away from personal, political, or religious items as they will definitely alienate many guests.

Maximize Beds

Fit as many beds as you can (comfortably) in your property; the more people you can accommodate, the higher the price you can charge. Also, by being able to accommodate more people, you open yourself up to greater portions of the market: larger groups travelling together. Definitely include a pull-out couch in the living room, and consider placing some pull-out mattresses underneath some of the beds.

Finally, have fun with it! Remember to give you space some personality, and try to design a space that you would want to stay in! Once you’re finished, make sure to photograph your space, highlighting the essential areas your favorite pieces in your property. Better designs and photos mean more attractive online listings, more guests, and higher reviews!

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