6 Ways to Transform Your Rental Into a Retreat

Posted: October 19, 2022

Creating an Ideal Vacation Rental Retreat

You love the idea of providing travelers with the perfect home away from home. And the fact that you can generate extra cash as a result, is the icing on the cake. But in today’s growing sea of vacation rentals, how exactly can you make yours stand out for all the right reasons?

Research shows that vacation home sales increased more than 16% in 2020 over 2019 due to increased demand. And the vacation home market was on the same trajectory in 2021. Fortunately, although you might face a lot of competition in the rental market, you can turn your rental home into a retreat that your guests will never forget—and one they’ll always prefer over the competition.

Here are a few foolproof methods on how to transform your rental house into a restful retreat that will earn you five stars every time.

1. Let There Be Light

Lighting has a major impact on a person’s well-being, from their physical health to their mood. For this reason, it’s a wise move to expose your rental guests to as much natural light as possible.

To do this, hang a light filtering curtain on each window, as these types of curtains offer the benefit of providing both natural daylight and privacy. If you don’t have much natural light available in your space, introduce layered, soft lighting. This kind of lighting can come from a light therapy lamp, lamp shades, candles, and incandescent bulbs. Avoid using fluorescent lighting in your space, as this may incite unwanted stress responses for some individuals.

2. Give Your Furniture an Upgrade

Another way to make a retreat out of your rental is to replace its existing furnishings with trendy furniture that promotes rest and relaxation.

For instance, add some recliners to the living room to make the house feel just like home. Feel free to also add an inviting patio set or hammock to the home’s backyard. This will make it easy to lounge in the yard’s grassy area or beside the home’s pool.

One of the most critical pieces of furniture to add to your rental home, though, is a comfortable mattress. At the very least, place a quality mattress topper on top of each mattress in your rental home. This will provide a plush surface for guests who prefer soft mattresses, and guests who like firm mattresses can simply remove the topper if needed.

Incorporating homely furniture into the space will make it easier than ever for your guest to unwind and relax while staying at your rental. And this will no doubt cause them to want to return to your retreat spot in the future.

3. Introduce Welcoming Scents

Yet another way to make your rental home a relaxing space is to add aromatherapy throughout. Scents are linked with people’s emotions, so they can play an essential role in promoting people’s well-being and health. Be sure to purchase aromatherapy products from a reputable company, as not all essential oils are pure; some come with chemical fillers.

In-demand essential oils that may be worth adding to your rental include peppermint, lemon, eucalyptus, tea tree, and lavender. Choose the ones that you feel positively impact your mood the most. These oils can be released into your home’s atmosphere through electronic diffusers or aroma sticks. Scent candles can also aid in creating the ideal atmosphere for relaxation.

4. Embrace Natural Textures

Transforming your rental home into a delightful retreat is also possible by incorporating natural textures into the space.

Take Advantage of Wicker

Consider adding some wicker furnishings and accessories to your rooms. Wicker furniture offers the benefit of being environmentally friendly, as it is made using natural, sustainable fibers like bamboo and willow. This type of furniture is also low maintenance—all it needs is an occasional dusting to stay looking like new.

Decorate with Jute Rugs

Don’t be afraid to decorate your office or family room floors with jute rugs. These types of rugs offer the perfect natural touch due to being fabricated from plant fibers that have been dried and hand-knotted together. Such rugs are known for being long-lasting, smooth, and soft. As a matter of fact, these rugs become even smoother and softer over time. Their shiny golden hue will also last for years, further making them an attractive rug option that will remain in style long term.

Capitalize on Additional Natural Elements

To further make your rental feel like a nature-driven getaway, you can convert tree stumps into chairs for the living room or a dining room setting. Likewise, you may add rattan trays to your living room for serving drinks or food. These trays, created from beautiful climbing palms, are simple to clean, versatile, and stylish.

Need more inspiration for creating a retreat that embraces the innate beauty of nature? Take a nice stroll through the woods near your property. You just may find a few items worth bringing home and integrating into your rental’s decor, such as the following:

Rocks
Acorns
Flowers
Tree bark
Logs and branches
Pine cones
Leaves
Moss

Even seashells and driftwood can be placed around your home to create a beach-themed retreat if your rental home is near the ocean.

5. Create a Relaxing Outdoor Space

As much as you want to make your rental home’s interior, don’t forget to give the home’s outdoor living space some attention, too. Just a few quick tricks can help you to make your home’s yard just as calming as the indoor area is.

Set Up a Fire Pit

Set up a gorgeous fire pit in the home’s backyard to provide the perfect gathering and entertaining space for your future guests. All it takes is some crushed gravel and heavy stones to create the ideal outdoor spot—one that will keep your guests feeling warm and cozy even during the cold winter months. Before you create your fire pit, be sure that the stones you choose fit together well. Note that fire tables and outdoor fireplaces can also make great additions to your yard to provide ambiance and warmth year round.

Install an Outdoor Shelter

You can also entice your guests to embrace the great outdoors simply by creating a shelter in your rental’s backyard. For example, set up a gazebo to offer your guests a peaceful spot for doing activities such as exercises, yoga, or even weight training. Gazebos can additionally come in handy for sheltering a hot tub, which will make your rental even more competitive in your local market. Alternatively, you can build a gazebo that your guests can use as an intimate spot for holding quiet conversations.

An alternative to a gazebo for your rental’s outdoor space is a pergola. Pergolas are different from gazebos in that although gazebos provide complete coverage from solar rays, pergolas feature slatted roofs that sunlight can shine through. Pergolas are especially ideal for providing shade and partial shelter over patios, pathways, and gardens.

Pavilions are another excellent option for transforming your rental yard into a refreshing retreat. The design of a pavilion is simpler than that of a gazebo. Unlike a gazebo, a pavilion has fully open sides, making it easy to add luxury features like an outdoor kitchen, lounge, and sofas to your yard. You can even combine your pavilion with a fire feature to create an outside room that is cozy while retaining a fresh-air vibe that your guests will love.

Whether you choose a pergola, gazebo, or pavilion, you can rest assured that it will become one of your guests’ favorite spots in any and every season.

6. Maximize Color

Just like scents, colors influence people’s moods. For this reason, it would behoove you to decorate your rental with colors that create a Zen feel, such as pastels.

Pastel blue is a particularly great option, as research shows that blue reduces anxiety, causes the heart rate to slow down, and decreases blood pressure. So, incorporate blue accents in your rental’s bedrooms, and consider painting the rooms’ walls blue as well.

Green is also a calming, healing color that instills a feeling of harmony due to its association with the natural environment. The fact that green is pleasing to a person’s eyes further makes it a smart choice for fostering a restful environment. Choose green for rooms like your living room or family room, where you want your rental’s guests to feel right at home and at ease.

Turn Your Rental into Your Favorite Resting Place with Confidence

When you host guests in your vacation rental, you have the chance to provide your guests with memorable and unique experiences. The good news is that adding in just a handful of special relaxing touches can drastically enhance your guests’ stays.

Follow the above-listed tips to easily transform your rental into a soothing retreat year-round. With the right approaches, you can instantly elevate your rental’s reputation and, in turn, boost your bottom line in the years ahead.

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