How to style your holiday rental
Let’s face it – without stunning countryside views or an unbeatable location to offer guests – you are
going to need to rely on the interior design of your property to get new bookings. With that, comes a whole host of things to consider; from the colour scheme to the furniture. Choosing to invest time in nailing your rental’s design can make a big difference to your profitability. After all, the more energy you put into it, the more fruitful it will become.
Plus, with the holiday rental market becoming more and more competitive, it’s important to make your property stand out from the crowd. So, how can you do this? Before you go out and spend your life savings on Persian rugs and Laura Ashley sofas, here are some useful hints and tips to think about when styling your property.
Source: Ruemag
Guests
The guests you decide to target should shape the style of your holiday rental. If you are targeting business guests, for example, having a rustic, farmhouse style might not be the best fit. Likewise, if you are targeting families with young children, choosing to use black wallpaper and a minimalistic
design could put guests off.
Knowing who your target guests are can make a big difference towards your holiday rental being picked or not. This often relies on where your rental is based though, as the location plays a big role in a potential guest’s choice.
Location
The location of your holiday rental will significantly impact the type of guest that stays with you, which will consequently affect the design choice you should implement. To put this in perspective, if your holiday rental is situated next to the beach in a holiday destination, then you are going to attract a whole variety of guests who are likely to stay with you for longer periods of time.
Conversely, if it your property is located next to a motorway, you are more likely to attract guests commuting to and from somewhere, who won’t stay with you for very long. Understanding which guests are likely to stay is imperative to know before choosing your property’s design.
Source: Pfeiffer Design
Design
Once you have identified your target guests, you can now move on to the fun part: designing and stylising your property. There are many areas to consider in order to do this effectively, and looking at the case studies of leading interior designers, or websites like Pinterest, can be a great way of gathering initial ideas.
Once you’ve done that though, here are four key areas you should be thinking about:
1. Colour Scheme
Unless you have a certain audience in mind, or are particularly confident at interior design, you should keep your colour scheme fairly neutral. Guests could be put off if a room is filled with overly garish colours, so use a neutral palette and let your furniture do the talking. Also, give your walls a fresh lick of paint if they need it – no guest wants to look at a shabby looking, stained wall.
Source: Joanna Zielinska / Les Murs ont des Oreilles
2. Furniture
Your holiday rental is effectively a business, so there’s no reason to go overboard on the furniture. After all, the more you decide to spend on furniture, the longer it will take to breakeven. Look for stuff that is cost-effective and affordable, yet gives the look you’re after.
IKEA is often a great place to start, as most consumers like the non-offensive style of their goods, but second-stores can also be a great source of inspiration. From antique lamps to retro room dividers, it’s easy to find gorgeous preloved goods at a bargain price if you look hard enough for them.
3. Artwork
It is likely that any guest who stays with you won’t have much prior knowledge of the location your property is based in. Therefore, let your artwork do the talking! Whether you choose to hang the work of a local artist, or simply buy artwork related to local landmarks or attractions, having art that is relevant to your area can be a great way of allowing your guests to see where you live, and create a lasting impression.
JENNA PEFFLEY ; DESIGN: ANDREA VAN SOEST, source
4. Ease of use
You need to put yourself in your guests’ shoes – what goods or services would you like to have available if you were staying somewhere? A new place is often an alien environment to most people, so helping them feel comfortable there is important.
This level of comfort will rely on how easy your holiday rental is to use. Add in sensible storage options for your guests and avoid cluttering the room with excess stuff. Also, ensure your guests have parking access, if required, and are well-equipped with information on what to do around the area – what to see, where to eat, how to get places, etc.
Each tiny addition you can implement to make your guest’s lives easier will speak volumes to their enjoyment at your home, which will positively affect the review score they give you online.
The all important details - an alternative bedside table space saving solution via source
Add colour to an otherwise neutral scheme, source
5. Things to avoid
As a general rule, there are a few design no-noes you should avoid if you can. These include:
Having too many personal items on display (i.e. family photos, ornaments, etc.)
Showcasing a number of religious items that make guests feel uncomfortable.
Having clashing themes (i.e. the spare bedroom on offer should match the rest of your
property).
Cluttering your space.
Displaying expensive antique furniture or ornaments that could become damaged.
