At Urban West, we understand the impact that luxury interior design has on a space, especially on short-term rentals in a competitive travel rental market where the line between hotel-level amenities and independent short-term rentals is increasingly blurred. A sophisticated and high-end approach to creating a curated rental interior can make all the difference in renter experience and getting consistent bookings. With an emphasis on custom pieces, high-quality materials and finishes, intuitive space planning, and careful attention to the details, any space can exude an atmosphere of peace and refinement for its tenants to enjoy. In this piece, we’ll break down how intentional design (and the guidance of a professional design team) can help you reimagine your spaces through a new lens: the lens of luxury.
By implementing the right decorating techniques and design concepts, a property can be completely transformed, effectively elevating its appeal to potential customers in the short-term rental market. To get bookings at a competitive rate, a house needs a competitive edge, and a cohesive, lux interior can be just the edge it needs.
Some design concepts and choices can be incredibly impactful in enhancing the guest experience. From an aesthetics perspective, touches like art from the local area, eye-catching accent walls, decor that doubles as entertainment (such as books and board games), using a consistent color palette throughout the house, and including ambient lighting options can all serve to create a welcoming, relaxing feel and increase the comfort guests feel when staying over.
From the perspective of function and usability, a rental owner should consider including multi-functional spaces (such as a dining area or bedroom that can double as a workspace), clearly defining separate areas for different needs such as cooking, sleeping, entertaining, etc., adding custom storage solutions to mitigate clutter, and adhering to an open floor plan with clear pathways. Whether they complete the work for you or suggest curated design tips that rival even the biggest design magazines, a professional interior designer will guide you through these thoughtful approaches to design and function to ensure that each guest has a seamless, memorable experience at your short-term rental.
Often, a guest’s first impression of a property is most influenced by the atmosphere of the space when they first enter a room. The atmosphere is created by even the smallest details, from color choices to decor and furniture selections. An Airbnb property’s appeal can only be elevated to its highest potential when each home accent is meticulously curated to produce an end result that is cohesive and sophisticated (something at which our designers excel).
Incorporating statement pieces, like unique furniture or striking artwork, can spark conversations among guests and add to the overall character of the space. Opting for the use of biophilic design, such as indoor plants and nature-inspired textures and materials in decor and fabrics, can enhance the feeling of calmness and connectedness in a room. Darker or smaller spaces might benefit from the use of mirrors to create the illusion of more light and more space. Ultimately, careful consideration must be given to each design choice, down to the smallest book on an accent table, in order to ensure that decor items are premium, cohesive, and have the maximum impact when it comes to impressing guests.
When a space properly creates a lasting impact on the people who experience it, it’s bound to stand out among other rental options and attract even more guests who are bound to enjoy their experience.
Now that you’ve developed a deeper understanding of the impact that intentional interior design has on enhancing the appeal of a rental property, it will be simple to see how partnering with professional interior designers can be a game-changer for the success of a short-term rental. By leveraging the expertise of design professionals, you gain access to their wealth of knowledge about up-to-date design trends, and their ability to balance modernity and personality with classic, timeless touches for universal appeal and longevity. As a short-term rental host, you’ll be able to effortlessly stand out in a crowded marketplace, commanding greater attention and even higher nightly rates, thanks to the guidance of an expert designer. By placing trust in Urban West, America’s best Airbnb interior designers, any hosts makes their own to-do list shorter and ensures their guests get to enjoy each stay to its fullest.
The name Airbnb stems from “air bed and breakfast,” which expertly reflects the short-term rental bookings company’s origin of creating air mattress and breakfast stays for travelers unable to book a hotel room. As the platform grew, demand skyrocketed and competitor companies emerged. Hosts began to experience higher expectations for their stays, with guests seeking aesthetic, enjoyable, elevated spaces comparable to or exceeding the experience of a hotel stay.
The need for expertly-designed interiors became increasingly apparent as time progressed, and professional design input has now emerged as a critical competitive edge for short-term rental locations. Professional designers bring an impressive array of skills and knowledge to the table, including a balanced, nuanced understanding of design that results in properties that are attractive and trendy yet timeless enough to stand the test of time. To perfectly create that “home away from home” feeling and a rental listing that shines brighter than its competitors, we highly recommend using the services and professional polish of a design team.
Airbnb alternatives, such as VRBO (which stands for Vacation Rentals By Owner), largely fulfill the same purpose as Airbnb and their other competitors: providing a comfortable, convenient, tasteful temporary accommodation for travelers of all walks of life. However, VRBO and Airbnb sometimes tend to cater to different target audiences. VRBO generally attracts larger groups of travelers, like families, who are on the hunt for spacious short-term rentals in popular travel locations.
Airbnb, however, tends to appeal to a more experience-driven, aesthetic-conscious demographic of travelers, in both popular and remote, unique locations. Regardless of target audience and hosting platform, though, all short-term rentals have a need for intentional design and use of space, from cohesive furniture and decor to thoughtful touches that make it possible to accommodate varying group sizes and traveler needs. Again, we’ll remind you that the guidance of a professional interior designer is invaluable in this pursuit: professional designers, like our team at Urban West, can expertly create spaces that are both social-media-worthy and functional for a wide variety of traveler groups, whether a large, lively family or a travel-savvy solo adventurer is the next to book a stay. Ultimately, investing in professional luxury interior design is a great way to give your listing a leg up on its competitors, no matter which platform(s) it is listed on.
The immense value that results from implementing intentional luxury design in a short-term rental interior truly can’t be overstated, especially in the ever-growing competitive nature of the vacation rental market. Curated decor, furniture, and finishes selections resonate with your ideal traveler, elevate the overall appeal of the rental, and make a lasting impact on the experience (and memory) of each guest that books. Professional guidance in the creation of such a rental location not only takes tasks and decisions off of the rental host’s plate, but also seamlessly ensures that each design choice is strategic, and that the end result is stunningly unique and guest-ready. By investing in luxury design services from a team of experts, you’re investing in more raving reviews, the potential for more premium nightly rates, and an unforgettable experience in your rental space.
Whether you’re transforming an existing space, starting from scratch, or looking for a great design refresh, the expert designers here at Urban West are here to help you unlock the most elevated, appealing version of your space. Schedule a consultation with us today to add more sophistication and personality to your short-term rental, or inquire about our modern home design and luxury home design services. By partnering with Urban West on your design efforts, you’re gaining a confident, passionate partner in turning your spaces into havens.
