Designing a Vacation Home

04 out 2018

If you are fortunate enough to own a vacation home, you may find it difficult and sometimes overwhelming to figure out how to decorate it accordingly, especially if you plan on renting it throughout the year. You need to find a way to balance your p ersonal style and comfort so guests will enjoy being there with durable and beautiful furnishings that can withstand the wear and tear of your bookings.
With the sharing economy in full swing, putting your property on the rental market is easier than ever. Furnishing that rental, however, isn’t always quite as easy. Interior decor makes a big impact—not only on first impressions, but also in attracting return guests and great reviews. The best advice I can give you, right from the start is to hire a professional, with experience in the area that can guide you through this new experience, to turn your house into a great investment, because location and the decor of the house is what makes it appealing to the eyes of the guests.

Decide on a Design Theme
To make informed home decor decisions, begin by figuring out the overarching design vision most appropriate for your target audience. When talking about vacation homes located in the greater Orlando, your target guest is the one enjoying the parks, usually traveling with the family, looking for a magical experience in the rental property as well.
Deciding on a theme ahead of time can help streamline furniture decisionsso that by the time you start shopping, you’re less likely to fall down the rabbit hole of picking up everything that catches your eye—including items that might not work well together! If you are working with a Professional Designer, you will most definitely be guided through the whole experience with easy and stress free.
Stick to Neutrals For the Main Pieces Unless you’re targeting a niche audience, a neutral palette will have the greatest mass appeal. Subdued tones also makes it easier to layer over with pops of color or statement pieces that can be easily swapped out to keep your rental looking new.
Show Personality Through Small Touches Home rentals are often preferred over hotels because they tend to show more personality. To create a memorable space, use select statement pieces and textures to add warmth and interest to a room. Low maintenance plants and carefully placed mirrors can instantly brighten up a space. Be careful not to over-decorate, and always remember to never leave your personal items out of sight.

Living Area
First impressions are often made in the living room. Since it’s the first space most guests will see, the living room should encapsulate your design vision and personality more than any other room.

Bedroom
The bedroom is the most important part of any rental. Comfortable beds with quality linens are crucial as well as the bedside table and lamps. Minimizing clutter is an important rule to follow in every room, but it especially holds true in the bedrooms. Make sure there’s enough breathing room for guests to move around, unpack, and store their luggage without feeling cramped. And if a Magical Experience is what you are looking to provide, don’t forget about the Themed Bedrooms, a unique experience provided outside the themed parks where kids and adults can enjoy their favorite character every day, during their stay.

Kitchen
Many people prefer short-term housing rentals to hotels because of the access to a kitchen. Keep it stocked with appliances and tableware—and don’t forget the coffee maker.
If hiring a professional interior designer or do it on your own, always keep in my mind that it should be a design aimed to please the guests, the more guests you please, the better it is for you!

Milena Castilhos