8 Furnishing Tips for Your Vacation Rental

The way you furnish your vacation rental can help the property stand out. It’s an important component of getting bookings on virtually every booking site: Airbnb, VRBO, Guesty, Booking, and more. Wondering how to furnish your vacation rental in a way that will make it stand out and encourage potential guests to appreciate everything your property has to offer? Consider these important tips. 

 1. Invest in stain-resistant furniture. 

You need furniture that will stand up over time. You may not know who is actually renting your property, whether it’s a family with young children who may accidentally spill or a group of college students on a spring break extravaganza who may not be invested in keeping everything clean and tidy. Even the most careful renters can have an unexpected spill. By investing in stain-resistant furniture, you can increase the odds that your furniture will hold up over time, preventing unsightly stains or the need to replace it. 

2. Know where to go for bargains.

Both Amazon and Ikea are a great place to find bargains on the items you need most often, from the best furniture for a vacation rental to accents like throw pillows, blankets, and rugs. You may also want to check out local home goods discount shops to find the products that will best fit your rental, going too low on your budget will result in a decrease in booking revenue. 

3. Consider a fun theme.

There are several ways you can bring a theme into your vacation rental. Some themes are based on popular franchises: Ski Huas, for example. Others are based on the local area, or offer something fun and unique for the kids. Take a look at your frequent guests, then consider what they will be most likely to appreciate from a vacation rental theme. In many cases, you’ll be able to use that theme to attract a unique target audience. 

Leveraging your location is also a great way to come up with a theme for your vacation rental property. Rentals near a popular theme park might include aspects of the popular characters from that park. Are you in the mountains? Focus on bears or decorate in plaids to bring that theme into your rental. Near the beach? You have a host of water-related options, including fish, sailing, and even mermaid-themed rooms. 

Not only does a theme make your property more attractive, it can make it more memorable–and that may increase the odds that you’ll get repeat visits from past guests. 

4. Use furniture to cover up the home’s flaws. 

Any property can, over time, develop flaws that may impact the way both guests and potential guests may see it. Do you have a stain on one wall? A flaw or rough patch in the flooring? Arrange the furniture so that it covers up those flaws. Not only will it help hide the flaws in the listing, it will make the property feel more pulled together when your guests visit.

As you’re choosing furniture, consider any potential flaws of the room before you make a purchase. For example, if you have an oddly-shaped room, you may want to set up a nook in the corner for reading or enjoying a cup of coffee. If the room is relatively small, you may want to choose furniture that fits the space, rather than opting for oversized furniture that will seem out of place in the room. With careful decorating, you can minimize the property’s flaws and make it look its best.

5. Prioritize good lighting both inside and out.

As you’re considering how to furnish a short-term rental, make sure you take lighting into account. That may mean:

• Adding lighting, including lamps and fixtures, in rooms that don’t have adequate overhead light.
• Installing clear task lighting in the kitchen.
• Using bedside lamps to help make it easier to relax in bed. 
• Adding extra lamps so that guests can choose how much lighting they want as they’re relaxing in the property’s living spaces.
• Checking the outdoor lighting to ensure that it adequately illuminates the area.

A dark property may not feel inviting to your guests. When they can light up the property, on the other hand, they may feel much more comfortable.

6. Create a workspace within the property.

Many people now have the ability to work remotely, either on a part-time or long-term basis. As a result, you may find that many of the guests visiting your property will be working throughout their visit. Create a dedicated workspace where they can get away from the bustle of the rest of the household and focus on getting work done. Depending on the size of the property, that might be a dedicated workstation in the bedroom or an office with all the connections a working guest might need. Consider including:

• An extra monitor
• An area with a power strip or plenty of outlets
• Soundproofing in that area of the house
• A comfortable office chair and ergonomic desk

While guests might have to work through part or all of their vacations, you can make the experience much more comfortable for them by taking their needs into consideration. 

7. Add accents that highlight the property’s themes.

Make your property stand out with accents that will highlight the property’s themes. You don’t want to go overboard with decor, but you do want to add those personal touches that will give the property life and personality. Consider accents like:

• Decorative throw pillows
• Unique artwork
• Interesting dishware that fits your theme

As you decorate the property, consider what little accents you can put in place that will help your property stand out and make your guests feel more at home. 

8. Create intimate spaces throughout the rental property.

Part of creating a stunning vacation rental is creating intimate spaces where your guests can go to have quieter, more intimate conversations or to get away from the crowd. Arrange furniture in intimate conversational groupings, pulled out slightly from the wall to encourage that sense of connection and communication. Design smaller areas of the property where people can go to get away from the bustle: a patio area, a hammock hanging in the backyard, or a reading nook, for example. Those intimate spaces can help renters feel cozy and comfortable–and increase the odds that they’ll have a positive experience with your rental.

Are you looking for a way to market your vacation rental more effectively or to set your property up for success? Mergo helps vacation rental owners find more business and prepare your property to better meet the needs of your target audience. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how they may benefit your vacation rental.