Five Tips for Designing a Vacation Rental

Everyone dreams of having a vacation property, whether it’s a tropical paradise or a cabin up north. One of the ways to make it more affordable is by renting it out when you’re not using it yourself. Get five tips for designing a vacation rental in this House & Home video:

By keeping the following five tips in mind, you will maximize not only your own enjoyment but your rental income when you’re away.

1. Heads in beds needs to equal bums in seats: The more people you are able to accommodate in your space, the more you’ll be able to earn on rental fees. For example, a three-bedroom home with two queen beds and twin bunk beds and a living room with a sleeper sofa can sleep ten people, but you also need to ensure there is sufficient seating in both the living and dining areas.

2. Minimize clutter: You don’t want to be spending time putting everything back into the perfect condition before the next round of guests arrive. Similarly, people don’t want to feel like they need to maintain the space perfectly. Keep kitchen cabinetry to a minimum.

3. Add little luxuries: People are renting a home because they don’t want to stay in a hotel; they want something that feels personalized, warm and cozy. Give each bedroom a unique palette, art and throw pillows and soft decorative touches.

4. Function first: As much as you might want to create a beautiful space, you are looking to maximize your bottom line, which means that spaces that are used less frequently, like bathrooms, can be smaller. Stick to a bright and cheerful palette when designing a smaller space.

5. Make the most of your environment: You can make your rental property as beautiful as possible, but your guests are there for the location. Make sure you give them opportunities to enjoy the outside as well as the inside with a great back deck and covered dining area. Layer in lots of lighting and a fan so that the outdoor spaces can be enjoyed all hours of the day.