Lets get started! Here is an interview which was conducted with Amanda Stein, who works on designing and staging homes, apartments, and restaurants for MANY clients on a regular basis! This is staging information AT ITS FINEST!
If you are interested in contacting Amanda for a personal or commercial inquiry of her services, her contact information can be found at the bottom of this post!
ENJOY!
WHO IS AMANDA STEIN & WHAT DOES SHE DO?
Hello! My name is Amanda Stein and I am an Interior Designer based out of Fairfield, Connecticut.
I have had the opportunity to work on restaurant, retail, hotel and residential design projects across the nation which has exposed me to staging in a variety of outlets!
Typically, I am involved with a project from start to finish, mapping out where rooms go and their size, coordinating electric and mechanics, and selecting the finishes.
The icing on the cake is the last element of staging, bringing in the right furniture and décor to transform a stark space into something impactful and welcoming!
WHY IS STAGING FOR A RENTAL PROPERTY SO IMPORTANT?
Many travelers are increasingly booking with short term rentals, such as AirBNB, VRBO, Flipkey, Vacasa, and Homeaway, in lieu of a standard hotel.
This experience of staying in someone’s home is proven successful because it does just that, MAKE YOU FEEL AT HOME!
As a host the ultimate goal is to provide your guests a comfortable & memorable adventure, have them write an excellent review & hopefully return for another stay!
Staging a rental property is key in providing this experience for your guests. Adding the right furniture and décor to a space can help make your space feel larger, unique, and luxurious in turn benefiting your average nightly rate.
WHAT ARE THE MOST CRUCIAL DETAILS WHEN STAGING A RENTAL PROPERTY?
When staging a rental property, it is important to keep in mind your guests and that they come from many different places and have different style preferences or may need certain amenities when traveling for a variety of reasons.
GENEROUS SPACES
Painting the walls and ceiling white helps make small spaces feel larger and low ceiling feel taller. Dark wall colors although sometimes can be a fun feature and set a mood, painting an entire space dark visually shrinks your space.
Bulky furniture can make a spacious room feel half the size. Your short-term rental guests are not going to be visiting with their entire wardrobe. On average the guest stays a few days, so a small dresser and closet will be sufficient. Too many pieces of furniture or décor can over fill your space making it feel smaller than it is.
Placing large mirrors in a small space can help give the illusion of a larger space by reflecting light. This can be very beneficial when placed strategically in deep spaces with few windows to help carry light into the rooms.
RELATABILITY
Avoid using personal items such as décor that has your names displayed or photos of yourself and family. Although many travelers love meeting their hosts and getting to know them, these items around the space could make them feel slightly uncomfortable and not at home but in someone else’s.
Selecting an overall neutral palette (tones of white, black, and brown) with pop of one or two colors will not overwhelm your guest and make your listing photos more sophisticated.
If the space is family friendly, include activities such as coloring books or toys to keep the little ones entertained. There are many cool toys on the market with a vintage appeal which can be stacked on shelves as décor as well. If you have more colorful, traditional looking toys on hand to share with your guests, consider placing these in a large basket.
DECORATIVE AMENITIES
A kitchenette is a common ‘renters necessity’ when staying a few days. This area is a great opportunity to add in some décor with kitchen accessories. A coffee station with a pour over coffee vase, filters, grinds, maybe a little bowl of sugar is both functional and stylish. Having a few open shelves with dishes and glasses on display provides your guests ease of access and not having to rifle through cabinets.
(Click here if you want to learn more about what affordable kitchen appliances Abbey and I use and recommend.)
Fresh white towels, soft white bedding, or hanging bathrobes for your guests will help add a luxurious aesthetic and experience. Using these items as fillers helps soften the space from all the furniture.
Think design with a purpose! Rather than adding a corner table with a plant or décor, provide your guest with a luggage rack or built-in open hanging rod for their clothes or jackets and store extra pillows and blankets. These items will help soften the space and add visual interest with functional items.
WHAT RESOURCES DO YOU USE FOR INSPIRATION OR CREATIVE STAGING IDEAS?
PINTREST! It is my go-to for design inspiration. This platform brings so many different ideas to one place. Don’t get in the habit of just pinning images. Open the links, read the articles and you can gain so much more insight reading about what others have tried, their attempted fails and their success stories in staging rental properties.
Also, there is no shame in browsing what some of your competition on AirBNB or other sites are providing their guests. Not necessarily other properties in your area but browse worldwide.
WHAT ARE SOME COST SAVING TECHNIQUES FOR STAGING A RENTAL PROPERTY ON A BUDGET?
If you are working with a small budget and have some time to put into refurbishing, shop your local Goodwill, Salvation Army or tag sales! There is an abundance of furnishings at used low prices although you may need to put in a little more elbow grease to get these items looking fresh. Dishes are a cheap find at these stores and can be mixed and matched for an eclectic look and bring in a pop of color.
If you want to skip refinishing cheap used furniture, slipcovers are your friend! Not only do slip covers offer the ability to hide unsightly furniture, they also bring in a softer element and you can clean them! I would only recommend doing this with a set of dining chairs or a sofa, don’t go draping all the furniture in slip covers.
To bring in some art relative to the experience of traveling through your town or surrounding area, talk to local artists. Some artists will lend you their work to display with their name and contact information in your rental property. They may just lend their work to you at no charge to get their name out or even have a purchase option, almost like a consignment gallery.
Staging any property can easily become quite costly but taking some of these creative approaches may help keep the budget manageable!
WHERE DO YOU SUGGEST BUYING DÉCOR & FURNISHING FOR A RENTAL PROPERTY?
If you are on a budget, as I mentioned, thrift shops and tag sales are a great starting point for those on a tight budget. Goodwill, Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, Junk Lugger Restore, etc. are all great places where people donate their used, unwanted furniture which you can turn into something unique and special for your rental property.
Aren’t that crafty or handy enough to buy used furniture that needs to be refurbished?
There are many affordable options for furniture and décor. Sites like Wayfair, Overstock, and Amazon or in-stores such as Homegoods, Ikea, and Target can offer many cost-effective staging solutions!