How to Furnish Your Vacation Rental

Whether you own a small cottage by the beach or a large summer lake house, you will be expected to furnish your vacation rental property. Having an attractive and well-put-together setup for your space is great for online listing photos and will attract many potential renters. While getting a chance to design a rental property is the dream for some homeowners, it fills others with dread to even think about the task of searching for suitable vacation home furniture.

Here are a few tips to help you furnish your vacation rental with ease!

Remove Your Personal Items

Vacation rentals aren’t meant to look like impersonalized hotel rooms, but you don’t want your guests to feel like they are invading anyone’s space either. If you and your family also use your vacation rental from time to time, it’s recommended to remove any family photos, clothing, jewelry, personal bedroom possessions, computers, important files, and any other items you rather not have the public see. You can either remove them entirely or place them in a locked space that guests cannot access. Many vacation homeowners set aside a locked closet or an entire room dedicated for their personal use, freeing them from remembering to bring all their items to their vacation home every time. This allows you to leave a guest-friendly space for any renters who book between your visits.

Purchase Durable Furniture

When you have a lot of people living and using your space, you need high-quality furnishings that are built to last. This is not the time to cheap out on poorly built furniture that can’t handle a lot of wear and tear. Take a walkthrough of your rental and note if you have any creaking bedframes, hard to maneuver reclining chairs, dresser drawers that stick, cabinets that won’t properly shut or any other issues you might find. Make sure you replace or fix these furnishings because if your rental does well, it will be used as frequently as someone living there full-time. Keep in mind that while renters will generally be respectful of your home, accidents do happen. Be sure you’re comfortable with the fact that your vacation home furniture may pick up a few dings and scratches here and there.

Choose Aesthetically Pleasing Décor

Consider the overall theme or feel of your rental property. If you have a beachfront cottage, coastal style might be the way to go for décor. If you have a small cabin in the woods, a rustic aesthetic would be ideal. Once you’ve decided the style you plan to design your rental, pick the best décor and accent items that match this theme. Avoid unusual art choices, bright paint colours, or quirky textiles. It’s generally better to go a little more conservative. Travellers prefer a home that puts them at ease, which means décor that seems pleasant but not invasive.

Furnish Entire Property

It is common to see vacation rentals that don’t seem to be quite complete. Fully furnishing the entire property is worth the investment. A completely furnished and well-put-together rental encourages guests to feel comfortable and stay longer.  

Make sure your rental has:

• Curtains or window treatments on all windows
• Rugs in rooms with hardwood floors
• Space to hang up coats near the entranceway
• Books on bookshelves or items of interests
• Art on the walls of every room
• Seating for outside patios or firepits

These small touches can help transform your property into a home away from home and encourage people to rent again in the future.

If you need assistance picking the perfect furnishings for your vacation rental, Conway Furniture can help! We carry a wide range of high-quality, durable furniture that will last you many years to come and various home accents and décor pieces to put the finishing touches on your rental space. From pillows and mattresses to custom flooring, we can assist you with all aspects of your rental design.

Call us at (519)291-3820 or stop by in-store for more information on our products and services!