When we go on holiday, many of us want our accommodation to feel warm and welcoming. We often use the accommodation to wind down between sightseeing and exploring. It has to be a place we can escape to. This is good to keep in mind if you are someone who is keen on renting out a holiday room or home. There are many ways to make a space feel like a sanctuary for guests who are staying with you. Below, we’ve listed five things that you can do to create a relaxing space for your guests.
Have a cohesive design
You might be tempted to throw all of your old bedding, cushions, furniture and appliances into your holiday space, but don’t. By doing this, you are not focusing on a cohesive design. Your home will end up looking a bit worn and not stylish at all.
By all means, pick a few good quality items from what you have at hand, but then use this with newer things that tie into one design theme. Having one overarching theme and a cohesive design will make the space feel welcoming and well thought out.
Keep the space clean and decluttered
Clutter can ruin the look and feel of any space. It makes an area look messy and it doesn’t feel very relaxing if you’re staring at a lot of messy cables and tons of clutter.
First, figure out the cable management of your electronic devices. Cables can be hidden in a number of ways, such as running them along the wall at floor level or through the ceiling or cupboards to keep them out of sight, but it requires expert knowledge to do so. Alen Ribic, co-founder of SweepSouth adds that cable management is best done by a professional as it can require extending cables and drilling holes.
Ribic recommends that people find a professional who does this for a living. There are many that can be found on the SweepSouth Connect app – they have lists of home professionals in your area who are rated and vetted. The app also has a useful image recognition feature that lets you take a photo of a household area or item, so that it can identify which service professional is best suited to help fix the problem. You will have a neat and tidy cable management system in no time!
Decorate with purpose and use great photography
Pietermaritzburg-based Airbnb Host, Joy Chimombe, has some advice for hosts.
“When it comes to decor, I have a colour scheme going in my place. I highly recommend that other hosts choose a theme or colour scheme, too. Not only will it set you apart from other Hosts, but it will also make decorating easier and will give your space a more cohesive look.
“Make it your style – don’t copy other people,” says Chimombe. “You can also bring the outside in by adding fresh flowers at the start of each new stay. I get flowers from my garden and it makes a big difference to the space.”
Don’t forget the bathroom
Bathrooms need to be a sanctuary, too, but often this space is forgotten about.
Make sure that bathroom is stocked with sweet-smelling soaps, shampoo and extras like cotton wool and ear buds. Scented candles will add an ooh-la la-la factor and, depending on your location, you could add in extras like mini mosquito repellents and sunscreen. It goes without saying that showers need to be spotless and mould-free.
A stack of new towels goes without saying but you might be getting those as wedding presents, so focus on other touches. Put up a Scandi-looking wooden or glass shelf – perfect to fill with scented candles. Also, ditch old toothbrush holders and get a pretty soap dispenser and toothbrush set to place next to the basin. Sweet-smelling soaps and extras like cotton wool and ear buds packed in the bathroom vanity cupboard are a nice touch.
Make your space a fun one
A great way to ensure that guests enjoy their downtime in your home or space is to provide them with things to do while they are there. Stock up on board games or books that guests can use. This will give them something to do for those times when they don’t want to head out. If you have the space for it, you could even consider creating a reading nook that guests are able to enjoy.
These are just a few tips that new or would-be holiday hosts should remember. There are the more simple and straightforward ones, such as providing good wifi, clean linen and more. Together, these tips should put you well on your way to becoming the host with the most.
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