After designing eye-catching interiors for vacation homes, the members of our 10 stars interior design team sure have secrets to tell. They know which materials are the most durable. What surfaces housekeepers have the hardest time cleaning. Where to splurge and how to save.
But first, the obvious: design makes a difference. A massive difference. Design is the first thing that will catch a guest’s eye and what will keep them raving long after they check out. But design is so much more than pretty colors and patterns.
Resist the urge to jump right in and start picking colors and themes.We begin by first identifying youe goals. Is this an investment property or your family’s vacation destination? How do you want the house to feel? Bright and energizing? Exclusive and edgy? Starting first with how you want the experience to feel informs the rest of your design.
When designing a 10 stars vacation rental, we put together a guest persona based on the vacation home’s location. Who is the guest that wants to stay in downtiwn versus the guest who travels to beach? Then, think about how your guests are going to use the space, rather than simply throwing things together. For instance, living rooms need tables, not just places to sit. Plus, make sure you’re offering guests enough open outlets, or else they may start unplugging items to recharge their devices.
Think materials first, then find something that fits your budget. Solid wood is the Interior Design team’s go-to material for high-touch items, like dining room tables, coffee tables, and chairs. Metal pieces work as well. Even after finding a solid wood piece, it comes down to reading the details.
For pieces like sofas and armchairs, we recommend high-performance fabric that’s easy to clean. Because vacation rental furniture can go through plenty of wear, they advise to look at fabrics that have passed the Martindale Test, which tests a fabric’s durability. Another tip: Look for the commercial logo on items when shopping on Wayfair, which designates furniture that was crafted with heavy use in mind.
Steer away from items that are hard (or impossible) to clean after each guest stay. This includes high-pile or shag rugs that are difficult to run vacuums through, or throw pillows and comforters that can’t be thrown in the washing machine. Floors are what’s most important to housekeeping. Eliminate as many soft surfaces as you can (replace that wall-to-wall carpeting with a non-porous flat surface, if possible), as guests often won’t take off their shoes in the house, she says. Afterward, you can strategically place an area rug to bring warmth.
Outdoor spaces are hugely important to attract guests and to elevate their experience,. Skip the inexpensive, plastic Adirondack chairs you see at local stores. Most often, those are made with a thin plastic that can easily fall apart. Instead, we advise to look for outdoor furniture made with solid lumber, which is weather resistant and ultra-durable, and has long-lasting color.
Also, consider how guests will use your outdoor space. Guests will want to sunbathe by the pool, so purchase all-weather chaise lounges instead of stackable chairs. Also, don’t forget to add lighting and purchase storage for your seat cushions.
It could take 3–4 hours just to assemble one piece. Plus, you’ll end up with much more packaging material and trash than you’ll know what to do with. It’s not uncommon to make several trips to the dump just to throw packaging away. Even with a desire to DIY, think about what your time is worth. If you want to put your design together quicker and more efficiently, hire professionals.
Be patient with the process. Decorating a vacation home on your own can be both fulfilling and frustrating. Hiring an interior designer can drastically reduce your design time and inefficiencies. They’ll obsess over the details for you, know which vendors have the best quality items, and know how to optimize your design budget.
From bedroom mirrors to coffee tables, cooking utensils to fluffy towels, stocking a vacation rental can be a tedious (and seemingly endless) task. Make the process easier by using our room-by-room checklists for your bedrooms, kitchen, bathroom, and living room. Or, download our ultimate vacation home inventory checklist so you’ll know exactly what to stock throughout your entire home.