Vacation Rental Interior Design: Where to Spend and Where to Save

Good vacation rental interior design isn't about buying expensive furniture for every room. In fact, doing that can quickly destroy your budget without necessarily giving you a better property.

The better approach is knowing which purchases deserve more money and which ones can be kept affordable.

Spend more on mattresses

Sleep is a huge part of the guest experience. A beautiful bedroom doesn't matter much if the mattress is uncomfortable.

You don't necessarily need the most expensive mattress available, but this is one area where choosing solely based on the lowest price can come back to hurt you through guest reviews.

Spend on your main seating

Your primary sofa is usually one of the hardest-working pieces in the property. Guests sit on it every day, and it is often one of the first things people see in listing photographs.

We want something comfortable, appropriately sized, durable and visually strong.

Spend on lighting

Lighting is one of our favorite ways to transform a property. An interesting pendant, chandelier, sconce or lamp can completely change the feeling of a room.

Good lighting also helps the property photograph better and creates a much warmer experience at night.

Spend on a few memorable moments

Not everything needs to be a statement piece. In fact, if everything is competing for attention, nothing stands out.

Instead, pick a few moments that make the property memorable. That might be an incredible dining fixture, an oversized piece of artwork, an interesting headboard or a beautiful vintage piece.

Save on smaller supporting pieces

Side tables, some décor, secondary furniture and smaller accessories are places where affordable options can work perfectly well.

Mixing higher-impact purchases with inexpensive supporting pieces is often what makes a design budget work.

Spend based on importance

The main living room and primary bedroom probably deserve more attention than a hallway nobody photographs.

Think about where guests spend their time and what potential guests will see first when they look at your listing.

That's where the majority of the design budget should go.