Secrets to Upgrading Short Term Rentals
A few simple changes for comfort and experience can transform a vacation rental from average to memorable.
Many vacation rentals deliver showroom furniture with matching pillows, seating and floors with hard surfaces, and bedrooms with spare bedding that does not convey the spa away from home. Beige is still popular, with the belief that neutral palettes elicit the least negative response from guests -- which is true, though it also stirs the least emotion.
Vacationers do not travel to have bland adventures. They travel the world to wake up something dormant within. Vacation rental hosts can make a few simple upgrades to respond to the human desire to be moved by new experiences.
Even nicely furnished rentals may suffer from comfort and experience mistakes.
Colors. Add colors that amplify your rental's theme. Colors give energy to rooms and elevate room design. Invite emotional response with bolder saturated colors on walls, floors, decor, or accent pieces, and carry themes throughout the property.
Cushions. Add easy-to-clean indoor/outdoor rugs to keep feet from cold floors; and add cushions to hard, un-upholstered chairs to keep bottoms padded on all seating.
Layers. Layer pillows on beds and sofas to make spaces more luxurious; blankets and comforters on beds to make beds the star of simple rooms; and thoughtful decor on walls, shelves, and coffee tables to bring together a story about your property.
Interests. Curate to excite the senses with textures, prints, memorabilia, artifacts, local and artisan works, reading materials, and curiosities. Create a flavor unique to your property and give guests multiple ways to explore inside and outside spaces, so your listing is more than just a place to stay while in town, but an adventure itself.
Curves. Soften hard edges by replacing some squares and rectangles with round and curved furniture, art, and accessories.
Green. Enliven spaces with live plants that require little attention, or use prints and art with plant themes, to meet the increasing global traveler desire for outdoors indoors, nature and natural elements, sustainable practices, and health-affirming interiors.
Each of the DIY upgrades above, alone or combined, can improve the feel of your rental. Hiring a professional designer helps you avoid mistakes with these choices that detract from listing photos -- the wrong colors, layers and interests that look messy, or products and placement without overall cohesion.
Guests are happy to pay more for professionally-designed rentals, and hosts can cheer the increased return on investment from being attentive to guest comfort and experience.
