6. My Favorite Interior Design Tips for a More Profitable Airbnb
Show Notes- Episode 6: My Favorite Interior Design Tips for a More Successful and Profitable Airbnb
Did you know that well-designed vacation home can lead to an increased return on investment (ROI) of 20%?
After 5 years as a designer for the largest vacation property management company in the country I have a ton of insider tips I am excited to share with you. Appealing to the most renters possible is important and the majority of vacation home renters are looking for the comfort of home balanced with the unique, clean, lux experience of a hotel.
Why hiring an interior designer for your vacation rental property is a worthy investment:
stand out in photos- professional interior design, staging, and photography will make your property stand out and be more appealing to potential guests, which can lead to higher rates and more revenue.
Some of the especially stunning vacation rentals on Airbnb and VRBO have even gone viral on social media channels and booked features with worldwide publications such as Dwell, Architectural Digest, and ApartmentTherapy.
increased nightly rates- strategic interior design planning will increase nightly rates through standout photos, positive reviews, recurrent renters and an amazing guest experience.
more consistent bookings- gorgeous photos and positive reviews are the two biggest drivers for bookings. By constantly drawing in new vacationers and bringing back repeat guests, your property will build more consistent bookings even in off seasons.
positive reviews - Positive reviews help attract more guests, which leads to higher occupancy rates and increased revenue. In addition, good reviews can also help to improve your ranking in Airbnb's search results, making it more likely for potential guests to find and book your vacation rental property.
Today I'm talking about the interior design strategies I use to design vacation rentals and airbnbs to maximize revenue through stand out photos, increased nightly rates, more consistent bookings, and positive reviews.
Make it an experience
Think less about furnishing a house and more about creating experiences.
Maybe its a hammock on the deck overlooking a view or a cozy reading nook in an egg chair.
Think about what you can offer that most folks don't have at home.
Design with guest experience in mind > positive reviews are STR gold (negative reviews can be detrimental bc they are hard to come back from)
Think about how to make the experience unique
How to elevate someone's vacation experience - EX a unique welcome gift like a bottle of wine from a local vineyard or a locally made bag of toffee. Doesn't have to be extravagant it's the thought that counts.
Invest in comfortable beds and bedding- remember renters are still looking for the luxury amenities of a hotel and a clean and comfortable bed is at the top of the list. Folks are usually on vacation to get some rest and relax- losing sleep on an uncomfortable mattress is probably going to put a damper on their vacay- and subsequently on your ratings and reviews.
People vacation to spend time together - make sure living room and dining room can comfortably fit the number of guests listed in the occupancy
EX how would you feel if 10 of your family members got together at a beautiful vacation rental but the dining table only sat 6.... No Bueno.
Imagine how it would feel to stay as a guest. Ex Can you move through the entry with a lot of luggage etc)
Include board games and things that bring people together. Pool tables hot search filter.
2. Maximize occupancy with comfort at the forefront
Occupancy plays a big role in revenue from a vacation rental property. Typically the more bedrooms/guests a property can house the higher the nightly rate.
Consider Sleeper sofas/daybeds for common areas - and trundle or bunk beds in bedrooms, especially those directed at kids.
the majority of folks renting vacay homes are there to enjoy time off with family and or friends so its important to have spaces where everyone can gather.
Consider the experience of staying in the property with said number of people.
EX if you have 2 full bathrooms and are advertising an occupancy of 20 people we can imagine that could quickly get uncomfortable. You should also make sure things like the septic system can handle that number of people
there might be local codes or restrictions so make sure to do your due diligence. (for example some markets require a door and a closet to be considered a "bedroom" which would prevent open or loft spaces from being included.
many markets restrict occupancy by 2 people per bedroom + 2 people.
3. Add a statement element to each room.
in airbnbs you can and should go with a funkier brighter design style unlike a live in residence.
Helps stand out in photos - as discussed earlier this is one of the most important parts.
Dramatic focal point such a unique hanging egg chair or an accent wall
Ex -hiring an artist to paint a mural on pool fencing or unique wallpaper.
Try to think of creating social media moments.
Social media can be a HUGE and FREE form of marketing for Beautiful airbnbs - more and more even have their own instagram accounts and have become destinations in their own right (a few examples included in show notes)
Social media exposure not only drives bookings but can lead to additional features on other travel accounts and even catch the attention of major publications/magazines including the New York Times, Dwell and Domino.
Especially if your looking to invest in multiple properties this is a great way to develop brand partnerships for furniture, materials and decor for future projects.
4. Incorporate Local
Folks who will be staying at your place are in a new destination - help emerge them in the local vibes.
Style should lean into location type
EX a cabin should lean more rustic modern
Incorporate local materials
Ex project in Redwoods - we had live edge coffee and dining table made from wood from the local trees
Incorporate local references in the decor
EX For an airbnb project in Nashville we used black and white photos of historic Broadway
but DON'T BE TOO LITERAL- Interior Design should be subtle and clever not cliche and obvious
EX A beach condo- lets not cover it in pictures and prints of lobsters and whales.
Instead maybe we take colors from the sunsets for our accent colors in decor and coastal texture into our decor like rope lamps and rattan chairs.
You could also explore partnerships with local artisans or retailers where they would give you product for your renters to then purchase. (You'll need to be on top of replacing things as they sell but if your a hands on renter looking to save on upfront design costs this could be a good option.) This also creates a unique and memorable experience for the guest.
EX a local artist might loan you a piece or two to hang in the property with a small price displayed.
5. Plants
The psychological benefits of plants in a space are huge
(Check out Episode 2 of the Nomadic Spaces Podcast about design psychology for more on this.)
Additionally plants really pop in photos and help a space feel fresh and intentional.
Remember photos are SUPER important for vacation rentals. I like to think of them as the headshots of property.
(use faux plants if you can’t maintain real ones)
6. Attention to outdoor spaces
Add Decks, gazebos, outdoor spaces with comfortable furniture and lighting to enjoy day and night.
Definitely include a BBQ grill and if you can think about a firepit area , horseshoe or bocci court, a or another unique outdoor feature
HOT TUB if possible
According to a study by Airbnb, Airbnb listings with a hot tub can charge an average of $46 more per night than those without. That means a hot tub can increase revenue by almost 40%.
7. Include a workspace
while it may seem counterintuitive to provide someone a place to work while they are on vacation it has become an increasingly popular amenity in vacation rentals.
Consider a desk in a small quiet nook or a multi-use room with a desk and a sleeper sofa so it can be converted to a bedroom or office depending on the guests needs.
8. Invest in Quality and Durability
Too often I see folks going as cheap as possible for their vacation rental property under the assumption it's going to get f'ed up anyways.
This is just NOT a good strategy for ROI.
There are TONS of budget friendly ways to furnish and decorate a property but durability and longevity have to be a top consideration. Here's why:
If things break or are uncomfortable you open the gate for negative reviews which you want to avoid.
Not cost effective to fill the place with stuff that will break and need to be replaced.
It will affect revenue if you have to block rentals for replacements to arrive.
EX The cheap Amazon bed frame you ordered breaks during a guest stay - maybe your thought process is 2 cheaper Amazon bed frames are still less than a quality piece from Pottery Barn or West Elm but you have to factor in the cost of the replacement not just just the product - you will likely be losing earnings blocking the unit from rentals until the bed is replaced (that's assuming you don't have renters already booked in which case you are in a time crunch).
If you are working through a property management company you'll probably have to pay for the staff to accept the delivery and assemble the item.
The guest staying when the bed broke will likely leave a negative review.
In Short, Cheaping out on quality is ultimately setting yourself for more work, potentially negative ratings, replacement costs, not to mention unnecessary waste.
Things WILL happen but it’s best to set yourself up for success by spending money on quality in the right places.
Design professionals like myself can help you invest and save in the right places.
This is a good place to shout out the Design Project Jumpstart - my signature service where we will set up a game plan for your project complete with professional recommendations based on your unique goals, property, budget and timeline. This is a perfect "jumpstart" for those who can implement on their own and a perfect springboard for folks looking to work together on larger projects.
I worked as a designer for the largest vacation rental management company in the country so I am well versed in designing for airbnbs and vacation rental properties that drive bookings and ROI.
You can learn more or book now through the link in the show notes.
If you aren't ready to pull the trigger for whatever reason- I'd love to know what your goals are and what's holding you back. You can schedule a complimentary connection call using the link also included in the show notes.
CLOSING
Hopefully this episodes helps give you inspiration and direction for your rental property! Thanks so much for listening and I look forward to chatting next week!
https://aqualivingstores.com/blog/how-hot-tubs-make-more-money-for-your-airbnb/
https://shorttermrentalmanager.com/vacation-rental-checklist/
The Design Project Jumpstart takes you through the first step of the design process together which will set you up for success whether we work together in a larger project capacity or you take on the implementation yourself or with a local builder.
If you are ready to invest in your space you can book a design project jumpstart using the link in the shows notes.
Not ready to pull the trigger? use the Complimentary connection call button - I'd love to chat!
Hope you found this interesting and helpful!
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