Step-by-Step Guide for How to Stage a Vacation Rental

Whether you’ve had your vacation rental for years or you’re getting ready to welcome guests to your vacation home for the first time, you already know that impressing potential guests is crucial for getting more attention (and more eyes) on your property.

Now, you may ask: “What’s the key to securing bookings for my vacation rental home?” We’re here to tell you that the answer is simple: vacation rental staging. In this post, we will explain our step-by-step guide for vacation rental staging to make a positive first impression on potential guests! 

What staging techniques should I follow for vacation rental staging?

To successfully stage a vacation rental, you’ll first need to choose a cohesive theme or design, relying on your home’s location for inspiration. Next, you’ll need to remove clutter and enhance natural light for photos. Then, create a focal point in each room (including your backyard) that ties in with the home’s theme and design, and enhance the bedroom and bathrooms with a luxurious, clean, spa-like design.

Whether you need to furnish an empty vacation rental from top to bottom or invest in some soft staging to get your home in Texas or Florida ready for its listing photos, our team at The Staging Company can help. Contact us to set up your short-term rental design consultation!

But First: What Is Vacation Rental Staging?

Once you’ve found the right platforms for listing your vacation rental (Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com, your website, etc.) and written a compelling listing description, there is only one step left before you can begin renting out your short-term rental: vacation rental photography.

You may think your vacation rental looks great in person (and you’re probably right!). But the truth is, making your short-term rental look appealing in photos is a different story. Just like homeowners invest in home staging to attract potential buyers before selling their houses, vacation rental owners should invest in short-term rental staging before taking listing photos to help their property stand out on listing platforms.

The Staging Sequence That Gets Vacation Rentals Booked

Staging a vacation rental isn’t a random checklist. It’s a sequence. Each step below builds on the last, moving from big-picture decisions down to the small details guests notice in the first ten seconds of scrolling through your listing photos. Follow this order, and every room will read as one cohesive stay guests can picture themselves in, not just a set of furnished rooms.

Step #1: Decide on a Theme & Design

When choosing a theme for your vacation rental, it’s important to think through the experience you want to create for your guests, and then select your decor and furniture for each room. A cohesive design theme helps guests understand the experience offered. The location of your rental can help you decide on a theme that may appeal to guests.

For example, a home in Orlando, Florida, may want to do a Disney or Harry Potter theme due to its proximity to Walt Disney World or Universal Studios. Or, a home in Austin, Texas, may choose to decorate with subtle touches of burnt orange and white as a nod to the nearby university, UT Austin. If you have a home in Tampa, Florida, you may select a coastal beach theme with a neutral color palette to maximize light and space, and tasteful coastal motifs to tie the design together.

Step #2: Enhance Natural Light & Add Stylish Light Fixtures

If the only source of lighting in your home is your ceiling lights, investing in more lighting is an excellent way to create an inviting ambiance. Natural light makes a vacation rental feel larger and more inviting, so throw open your curtains or shades before your photographer arrives to capture photos of your property.

In rooms with less natural light, our interior decorating team recommends adding light fixtures and using multiple light sources at varying heights to create an even distribution of light. Table lamps or wall sconces in bedrooms, chandeliers or pendant lights in the dining room and kitchen, or floor lamps in the living room are all great options for adding warm light and removing the shadowy, sterile light cast by ceiling fans. Get all our ideas for home staging lighting here.

Step #3: Remove Clutter & Clean Each Room

Removing clutter is one of the best ways to make your vacation rental look great in pictures. Decluttering helps guests visualize themselves in the space. Keep it simple: use basic furniture and amenities that guests need, with a couple of statement pieces. You don’t need tons of photos and decor in each room, and clutter should be removed from all surfaces (entry tables, dressers, countertops, etc.).

If you’re converting your own home into a rental, don’t forget to remove personal items and knickknacks. Guests don’t need to see your college diploma and family photos hanging on the wall. Instead, replace these items with decor that has general appeal and matches your theme. And before the photoshoot, professional cleaning is a smart investment to make your home look spotless!

Step #4: Make Outdoor Spaces Clean & Inviting

Your indoor spaces aren’t the only ones that need attention when staging a vacation rental. You cannot neglect your home’s exterior! We recommend hiring a landscaper to trim trees and bushes and mow the lawn before snapping photos of your rental. You might also want to wash your siding or touch it up with a fresh coat of paint for added curb appeal.

You should also think of ways to make your outdoor spaces (like the backyard or front porch) more inviting. Perhaps you could set up some lounge chairs by the pool, install a fire pit, or put out some lawn games, like cornhole or horseshoes. You know what will appeal to your visitors, so add the Airbnb amenities to your yard that make the most sense for your target audience.

Step #5: Spotlight a Focal Point in Each Room

Creating a focal point in every significant room in your vacation home is essential. This helps your photographer capture the important features of your home and also makes it easier for guests to know what to expect when they arrive at your property.

At The Staging Company, we’ve found that these focal points perform really well in vacation rentals:

• In the living room, create a board game or coffee setup around the couch on the coffee table to create a warm, inviting feel that attracts families.
• In the kitchen, focus on showcasing the room’s functionality and spaciousness, as well as highlighting standout features and amenities, such as an espresso machine.
• In the backyard, you can showcase the swimming pool and hot tub. If your home doesn’t have a pool, consider highlighting an outdoor dining space or a fire pit.
• In the master bedroom, a king bed with two matching side tables makes a fantastic focal point.
• In the dining room, the dining table is an easy focal point. Get our ideas for staging a dining table here. (Your table should have enough chairs to seat every guest your vacation rental can sleep).

Step #6: Create a Luxurious Bedroom & Bathroom Experience

Many vacation rental owners focus most on furnishing the kitchen and living spaces (and there is nothing wrong with that!). However, it’s important not to overlook the bedrooms and bathrooms. Guests care about having a clean and comfortable space to shower, sleep, and get ready for the day, so it’s important to spend extra time furnishing these spaces and making them as cozy as possible.

Before your photographer arrives, ensure the beds are made, the pillows are fluffed, clutter is removed, and trash cans are hidden. Toilets, showers, and sinks should be sparkling clean. Towels should be replaced with fresh linens to contribute to a spa-like bathroom experience. Luxury features, like heated towel racks or waterfall showerheads, should be showcased in listing photos.

Ask Yourself These Questions Before Your Professional Photographer Arrives at Your Vacation Rental

• Are the theme and color palette consistent from room to room?
• Is there plenty of extra lighting, and are the curtains open wide in rooms with less lighting?
• Have you removed clutter from countertops, nightstands, and entryway tables?
• Is the exterior tidy, with a focal point or seating area staged outside?
• Are the beds neatly made and the pillows fluffed in each bedroom?
• Are towels styled in each bathroom, and are personal items removed from the countertops?
• Is there at least one clear focal point staged in each main room in the house (i.e., the dining table in the dining room or the swimming pool in the backyard)?

Pro Staging Tip: Schedule photo shoots during early morning or late afternoon for soft light. Include 20 to 30 clear, well-composed, high-quality photos in your listing description, including wide-angle and close-up shots. Shoot horizontally for better platform compatibility, and avoid over-editing to maintain guest trust.

Trust the Experts at The Staging Company for Airbnb Staging in Florida and Texas

We understand that even with these helpful tips, staging your short-term rental properties can still be a time-consuming hassle. Fortunately, you don’t have to do it alone. Instead, hire our vacation rental staging experts at The Staging Company, who are trained to pay attention to detail to deliver a spectacular staging experience that leads to stellar photos, consistent bookings, and five-star reviews!

Learn more about our professional staging services for vacation rentals, homes, apartment complexes, and other properties in East Texas and Central Florida to get started.

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