10 Tips to Furnish and Decorate Your Vacation Rental Home

10 Tips to Furnish and Decorate Your Vacation Rental Home

Investing in a second home in a popular holiday location is a viable option that many Americans are looking into. You can use the place as a getaway when taking a break from work. Leasing the property to tourists and business travelers for the rest of the year can earn you a steady income. But, before you do that, you may want to decorate the place to attract renters while turning it into a cozy spot to spend time with loved ones. Once the house is ready, you can post pictures on vacation rental software and advertise its plus points. Check out these pointers for transforming the property into one of the most coveted rentals in the area.

1. Furnish the House with Cozy Pieces

When picking out the best furniture for your rental, focus on comfort. Whether a loveseat, couch, sofa, recliner, rocker, or deep armchair, choose pieces that you can sink into with a book. Or even a child or furbaby in your lap. If the piece looks like you could nap in it, that’s the one to get. Also, look for side and coffee tables for placing books and a glass of wine. At the same time, make sure not the clutter the living area. Leave lots of room for walking around or getting down on hands and knees to play with the pets and kids on hand knotted Oriental rugs. You’ll also eliminate the risk of trips and falls. Hardwood floors add a lovely, warm ambiance to the interiors. But, if you’re not ready to invest in expensive flooring, get smaller area rugs for your guests to walk around bare feet for a real vacation feeling.

2. Plan for Cleaning and Maintenance

Each time you pick out a furnishing piece, check for ease of maintenance. Although you’ll schedule regular maintenance and cleaning after every guest checkout, it helps to have upholstery that is easy to clean with a quick wipe down. Look for materials like polyester, acrylic, olefin, or nylon that resist water well and can be cleaned using a water-based detergent. Leather and faux leather are great options that are durable and stain-repellent. You could also get slipcovers for the sofas and cushions that you can remove and wash by tossing in the washer. Throw rugs also work well since they liven up the place and make the room look cozy.

3. Set Up a Well-Equipped Kitchen

Like the folks at Bookonboard advise renters, one of the top items on their list of priorities should be a well-equipped kitchen. Guests renting a home intend to cook, and having the necessary equipment is a huge positive. Aside from the standard amenities like a fridge, dishwasher, cooktop, microwave oven, and toaster, you could have some nice appliances. Think of getting a hotpot, waffle iron, and sandwich maker along with utensils, knives and a chopping board, silverware, and flatware. Glasses, cups, and pots and pans are other things your guests will surely appreciate.

4. Always Have a Well-Maintained Bathroom

A clean, well-maintained bathroom is next on the list of must-haves for any renter. Schedule regular deep cleaning to ensure there’s no mold, damp spots, grime, and dirt, making the bathroom look yucky and unusable. Invest in a generous supply of fluffy, quick-drying towels in different sizes, so you don’t have to do laundry too often if you don’t feel like it. Also, have a supply of toiletries like soap bars,  shampoo, conditioner, body wash, handwash, and moisturizer. Make sure your rental hasn’t been hit hard by the Great American toilet paper shortage by having a good stock in the cupboard.

5. Decorate the Rooms

Even as you’re ticking the essentials off your list, keep looking for decorative pieces to enhance the interiors. A basic rule about adorning rentals is to avoid personalized things like family pix, framed images, personalized mugs, and any other object that indicates a private home. You don’t want your guests to feel like they are invading someone’s personal space. Choose impersonal items like, say, a custom house painting, posters of the city's key attractions, and landscapes. Relegate decorative things to the walls where they are not likely to get knocked down. Avoid placing fragile items like glass vases or expensive porcelain figurines on tables. Accidents can and will happen.

6. Develop a Pet-Friendly Rental

Most American pet parents prefer to bring their fur babies on vacation. And, they’ll want to rent a place that welcomes their family members. If you intend to accept pets, mention it clearly in your rental listing. You’ll also make provisions to ensure that the four-legged members of the group are comfortable and entertained. In addition to getting child-proof gates for the top and bottom of the stairway, you should also section off one area of the house exclusively for pets. Set it up with a doggie bed, blanket, and water and feeding bowls. Decorate the room with pet portraits, paw prints, and a washable rug on the floor.

7. Get a Top-Quality Sleep Rating

Your rental guests certainly want to get a place with good sleep quality. Don’t compromise on plush mattresses and high thread count sheets. You could also have a collection of pillows, so your guests can choose the ones they like best. Get comfortable duvets and have extra blankets on hand. Place nightstands on both sides and have lamps for some late-night reading. If the bedroom is not carpeted but tiled, place rugs on the floor. You’ll also want to have nightlights to prevent your guests from tripping around in the dark in an unfamiliar room. Since people like to sleep late on vacations, cover the windows with blackout curtains aside from the lightweight lace.

8. Make Arrangements for Spending Time Outdoors

A well-developed patio is a welcome amenity that adds to the ROI for any property. You could set up a lovely seating arrangement with a swing on the deck. Depending on your available space, you could add a barbecue grill for cookouts in summer. More lavish decks now have a shaded section with a pergola for dappled sunshine and kitchenettes with a cooking and prepping counter along with a sink for washing up. Couples would enjoy having an alfresco Jacuzzi and a bar with a wine cooler.

9. Lock Up One Room in the House

Most second homeowners intend to spend a few weeks of the year on vacation on their property. While you can rent out the entire house, it’s perfectly reasonable to segregate a room or closet for your personal things. Any valuables, ornaments, objects you can’t risk breaking, or items you would like to keep aside for private use can be placed in the room. Having a bedroom for exclusive use is also a great idea, so you can store some clothing to avoid packing a large bag when you travel.

10. Cleaning and Maintenance Supplies

Like any other home, you should have a separate section where cleaning supplies can be stored. Set aside the mudroom or laundry room for supplies, such as vacuums, bleach, mops, brooms, and other essential items that should be kept out of sight. Your guests are sure to appreciate having them for quick accident cleanups, while it helps your cleaning crew to keep the place looking neat and well turned-out.

Use these tips to furnish and decorate your rental, and expect to see back-to-back bookings year round.