When you make the decision to rent out your mountain property, there are many things you’ll need to consider. From determining where you want to list your property to fetch top dollar to decorating in a way that will appeal to visitors, there are plenty of decisions that will need to be made. At Spark Interiors, we’ve designed countless spaces that are serving all types of purposes – from cozy residences tucked away in the mountains to posh commercial offices in the heart of downtown. Over the years, we’ve learned a thing or two about designing and styling a space for someone else. We want to share our expertise with you so we can help craft the perfect home away from home for your guests.

Who Do You Want To Rent Your Home To?

Before you do anything, you want to nail down your ideal tenant. Having a clear idea of who your rental property should appeal to is going to be paramount to crafting a space that they’ll vye for when vacationing. You want to know what kinds of things they love in their own homes, how they like to spend their time on vacation, who they’ll be bringing with them on vacation and more so that your designs accommodate their needs.

If your rental property is the perfect pad for family vacations, you’re going to plan, furnish, and style it very differently than if you’re renting out a romantic loft that makes the perfect destination for an anniversary trip. Let’s get down to the nitty gritty.

Space Planning

Form and functionality of a space is integral to the overall look and feel that will have your guests wanting to come back on their next trip. If the furniture in your rental home does not comfortably accommodate all the activities your guests want to enjoy – whether that’s lounging in the family room or gathering around a dining table – they’re not likely to enjoy the experience. Space planning is the first step to ensuring a positive vacation that warrants the five-star reviews that will appeal to your ideal guest.

Colors and Textures

Whether you’re crafting a space for yourself or your future renters, less is often more. When you’re making decisions about flooring and walls, neutral colors are often the safest choice. This gives you the flexibility to be more creative with your decorations and furnishings without overwhelming potential renters with overly bold choices in paint or wallpaper.

Flooring

When it comes to flooring in a rental property, you want to consider how it will be used by your tenants. Sleeping and other quiet quarters should generally feature carpet, while higher traffic areas may lend themselves more aptly to a high-quality hardwood flooring or an LVT that is rated for light commercial use. Regardless of what materials you chose to employ for flooring, you want to invest in quality. One element that rental properties require (that our primary homes do not) is more frequent, industrial cleaning. Cheap flooring will not withstand the traffic or the cleaning brought on by a rental for long, especially in ski country. It’s best to work with an expert who can make recommendations based on experience with the materials so you don’t end up making an expensive mistake.

Furniture

This is hands down the most fun part of putting together a vacation rental. The first thing you want to do is define a style – even if that style is entirely different from your own home! For many property owners, a rental home gives you the chance to experiment with styles that you didn’t explore in your own home. In the Rocky Mountains, rental homes run the gamut as far as style is concerned, but one thing remains the same: the style is consistent throughout the home.

Guests that are willing to pay top-dollar for a vacation property are expecting their home away from home to be well put together and furnished with high-quality pieces. If they have high-quality, luxury furnishings at home, you really need to step up to their level. Would you want to vacation on “ready-to-assemble” furniture? Neither do your guests. Here are a few things you want to keep in mind when furnishing a rental property:

• The Size Of Your PartiesAs access to large rental properties becomes easier and easier, many of your guests are expecting single properties that can accommodate guests up into the double digits. You’ll want to consider the size of the average party that will rent your property and furnish accordingly. If your rental accommodates 14 guests, a four-top dining table isn’t going to make much sense and will diminish the guest experience at your property.
• The Necessary AccessoriesStorage is the not-so-sexy, but still essential part of decorating a rental property. Consider how your guests will be using your space and provide them the storage and accessories they might need for a convenient stay. Things like suitcase racks or additional hanging space are elements you wouldn’t necessarily consider in your primary home, but can really add to the experience of a guest visiting your rental property. You also want to consider incorporating the maximum number of comfortable beds in your space as possible. More, comfortable people means more revenue for your and your property.
• The Importance Of LightingOften, vacation means multiple people sharing a space and adjusting to various different schedules. Having multiple layers of lighting, such as an overhead light, multiple-setting lamps, and even nightlights, can enhance the guest experience at your property. Soft lighting in common areas like the kitchen or bathroom can be highly beneficial, especially in the middle of the night, because your guests are unfamiliar with the property and may need assistance getting around in the dark without waking other guests.
• The Finishing TouchesLast, but certainly not least, are the details that bring your rental home together. Well-chosen and artfully placed photos or artwork can take your rental home to the next level, bathing your property in the luxurious feel your renters are expecting.

Interior Designers Can Transform Your Rental Home

The expectations from guests are high in today’s vacation rental market. Designing a functional and beautiful space should be the first priority of property owners who are going to be renting out their space. Often, though, owning multiple properties means you don’t have the time to handle these details yourself. Hiring an interior designer can save you time and boost the prestige of your rental home, helping you fetch top dollar and five-star reviews on the market.

If you have a rental home in Summit or Eagle County, Spark Interiors can offer the design expertise that can make your rental properties the most popular listings on Airbnb or VRBO. Contact us today to learn more about how having an interior designer select furniture, fixtures, and finishes can take your rental home to the next level.