Decor Tips to Wow Your Short-Term Rental Guests

The rental market is booming. Here’s how to make your property stand out

Cheryl Maguire,

AARP

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En español

Published July 08, 2024

woman hanging a painting, hand panting wall green and a couple walking into a vacation rental

AARP (Source: Getty Images (3))

Whether you could use a side hustle or want to find a way to afford aging in place, taking a bite out of the booming short-term rental market is a good start. And you would not be alone: Older adults are the fastest-growing host demographic, according to Airbnb, with more than 400,000 senior hosts currently on the platform. Other house rental platforms you can use include VRBO, Booking.com or Plum Guide.

But the competition is fierce — meaning that you will want to figure out ways to make your rental property stand out from the rest and collect those coveted five-star reviews.

Here are seven expert tips on how to dazzle your renters.

left: painting over a fireplace; right: mirror over a dresser

Left: Getty Images; Right: Steege Reimann Photos

Use local art

All of the experts interviewed suggested using local artists to create artwork for your walls. Aubrey Carlson, co-owner and host of Salt and Sky Lodging, explains that anyone can purchase stock art (art purchased in chain stores), but if you hire a local artist or just buy local art, your rental will be more memorable.

“You don’t want the same art that’s going to be at the dentist office or the Airbnb down the street,” says Chelsea Loren, a San Diego branding photographer who specializes in short-term rental photography. “I think that it’s a lot more meaningful [to use local artwork], and also just cooler than something you would find in a big box retailer.”

Catherine Jacob, the head of design at Hovia, a wallpaper design firm and store, says she really enjoyed an illustrated map of the local area on the wall of a hotel she stayed in — an idea that can be used in any short-term rental. “It had all of the local landmarks and cool places to go. And the style really worked well with the space.”

Catherine Jacob Photos

Create a feature wall … and a photo opportunity

Wallpaper or a mural can be an accent feature. It’s a great way to transform the space and have a big impact, says Jacob. She suggests using the peel and stick type so that you can easily change it and keep it up to date.

Jacob says using a large-scale floral mural in warm colors or a lush tropical theme is great for a photo backdrop.

Carlson also uses wallpaper and murals. She says that they usually do a feature wall behind the bed, in the living room or outdoors on a wall or fence. “It can be really affordable,” she says.

Video: Three Ways Apps Make Decorating Easier

You can also have a hanging tapestry, which Jacob says can “soften the acoustics and make it feel really cozy and warm inside.”

Another idea: an eye-catching photograph that people could pose in front of to post on social media.

living room and bedroom with unique rugs

Steege Reimann Photos

Standout (and durable) floor decor

When people go into their rental space with cool and unique flooring, they say, “This is amazing,” says Kristopher Steege-Reimann, owner and operator of Voyageur Extended Stays in Madison, Wisconsin, a short-term rental company. “It’s a way to really set yourself apart from [other] people.”

The company uses custom-designed rugs. Besides creating a memorable look, Steege-Reimann says that the custom rugs are often higher quality than the ones you can find at a big box store and don’t necessarily cost more.

If you do purchase a rug in store, Steege-Reimann says to pay attention to the yarn materials.

“A quality wool yarn can last for decades, whereas polyester will not last very long,” he says. Also aim for a rug that has a high pile density, which means it has more yarns per square inch. “This type of rug will last longer,” he says. As for colors, Steege-Reimann gets inspired by the character of the original space and then develops a color palette.

Getty Images

Make good scents

An easy and affordable way to create a memorable stay is to add a scent like a room freshener to your space.

Loren says she walked into one short-term rental and the smell was lovely. “The minute we walked in, we’re like, ‘What is that? It smells so good.’ ” She ended up purchasing the scent after asking the owner where to buy it. “It reminds me of staying there. So that’s a next-level maneuver,” she says.

Loren also suggests having a local scent that speaks to the region, like a San Diego or Joshua Tree-inspired room fragrance.

It should be noted, says Steege-Reimann, that some people are sensitive or allergic to scents. He instead focuses on indoor air quality and good ventilation.

left: cards along with food on a table; right: a couple playing pool

Chelsea Loren Photos

Get playful with games

One way to up the fun-factor with your outdoor design is to add games like a life-size chess board or cornhole, says Carlson. You could also add indoor games like cards, board games and other fun options. If you are catering to families, you could even design a game room or a video game room.

Getty Images

Lush and hardy plants

If your rental is in a warm climate, people will want to spend time in your outdoor space, so it’s important to decorate this area with lush plants.

“The more green and plant life [that] you can bring in [to the space] makes a huge difference” in maximizing profit, says Carlson. For her rentals, she uses native species from local nurseries.

Andy Tait, a plant expert at True Green Nursery, suggests using hostas. “Hostas are an excellent choice for adding beauty and interest to your patio or deck while being easy to maintain and hardy across many regions,” he says.

Another option is faux outdoor plants, but Carlson cautions that you would need to buy high quality ones that are sun resistant. For Midwest rentals, Steege-Reimann uses sedum, hostas and lavender, which can outcompete other weeds, look nice, and are affordable.

friends and family eating dinner under lights, outside

Getty Images

Add a little twinkle to your night

Adding outdoor lighting is an interesting and functional way to design the space. “String lights are always a hit,” says Loren.

Steege-Reimann says that the 2700K color filament LED lighting, a warmer light for a softer evening vibe, looks just as good as incandescent but is much more robust than the tungsten filaments when getting bonked around in the wind. Carlson adds another option of using high-quality paper lanterns sold at Pottery Barn as durable outdoor lantern spheres.

Great photos will help get the renters in the door

Hire a professional photographer. High quality pictures of your short-term rental can make your listing stand out. “Getting a professional photographer I think increased our revenue by like 10 percent, if not more,” says Steege-Reimann, who used to take his own photos.

Create an experience. In your photos, instead of showing only the space, include people who are experiencing the rental. “When you’re renting an Airbnb or a short-term rental, you are choosing that space for the experience — for the lifestyle that you can step into,” says Loren. She suggests options like showing people sitting in a hot tub or drinking coffee on the porch.

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Cheryl Maguire is a freelance writer whose work has been published in The New York Times, National Geographic, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, Parents Magazine, Healthline and many other publications. She is a member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors.

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