Choosing furniture to buy for your vacation rental is an extremely important decision as it can change a guest’s whole perception of your property.

Here are some important considerations when you’re buying furniture for your bed and breakfast.

Welcome to another edition of Hospitality Property School.

I am your instructor, Gerry MacPherson.

As an owner of a vacation rental property, bed and breakfast, guesthouse, Airbnb etc., you can not cut corners when it comes to furniture and design. You need to ensure you are buying furniture that has the perfect mixture of style and durability because guests will use almost all of the furniture in their room during their stay and if it is not suitable or in perfect working condition, they may be justifiably displeased.

That is why furniture shopping is more than just another task to complete, it has to be taken seriously.

I’m going to share some crucial factors you need to consider buying furniture for your bed and breakfast.

The four elements

When designing the rental property you want to consider the following four elements; colour, artwork, accessories, and lighting.

With artwork, always consider the scale of the pieces you add to any room and where it is placed.

The hues you choose are a perfect way to complement and accent your property.

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Think durable materials

One of the most important factors to consider is longevity. Dressers and drawers will be regularly packed and unpacked while desks and tables will experience more handling than they might in an average home.

Furniture made from fragile materials, may not withstand this amount of usage and will need to be replaced, which is inconvenient and could prove costly for owners.

Beech and tulipwood are ranked among the worst woods for furniture while Accoya, utile and oak are considered to be some of the most resilient against general wear and tear.

Prevent sunlight damage

Sunlight damage is something that can potentially ruin most types of wooden furniture. It can cause the furnishings to stain leaving unattractive, mismatched colours around the room.

It can even crack the furniture if is left in constant sunlight. Due to the fact that most guests want bright, sunlit rooms, the only way to prevent this kind of damage is to buy furniture that is not made from wood. For example, glass tables and acrylic chairs are made with a protective coating that reduces harm.

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Easy to clean furniture

While modest cosmetic damage is something we can live within our own homes, guests expect the very best when they stay at a guesthouse or B&B. Even the smallest imperfections on your chairs or tables can leave a customer displeased.

Instead of overworking yourself or your staff to keep the rooms spotless, it is better to spend on the furniture that is easy to clean. Leather is simple for seating, clean-ups are easy and there is a wide range of solutions available to remove scuffs marks and stains.

Another consideration would be vinyl doors for wardrobes as they can be cleaned with just a few sprays of water and a fresh cloth.

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Choose furniture that meets the needs of your customers

If your target clientele is older, then be sure to have accessible furniture that is easy and comfortable for everyone.

For families, be sure to include functional furniture such as sleeper sofas and portable cribs to increase sleeping space.

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If there is room add extra furniture

A soft chair located next to the fireplace or a large window allows your guests to better use the amenities that you provide.

A coffee table can add a touch of class to the room and make it more welcoming.

12 ideas to consider when buying furniture for your bed and breakfast.

A full-length mirror

Your guests will certainly appreciate having easy access to a full-length mirror, especially when living out of a suitcase. A mirror will also make a small guest bedroom feel larger. Also consider extra hooks for coats, robes, and towels.

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Hang a diving curtain

If you want to offer a sense of privacy, instead of using room dividers, hang a curtain.

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Add a minibar

Add a mini bar, especially if your guest bedroom is actually in its own private structure away from the main house. Don’t charge for the items inside, just incorporate the cost into the room rental.

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Provide extras

Make your guest’s room feel like a hotel by putting the things they’ll need throughout their stay right there in the room. Examples include slippers, a robe, towels and a carafe of water on the side table.

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Use darker tones

Keep things simplified, don’t clutter, and bring in darker colours for a sense of intimacy and tranquillity. Bedside sconces or other types of wall-mounted lighting fixtures are a way to make your room look and feel as fresh.

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Less is more

Keep it simple! All it takes to make a room feel crisp, clean, and extremely inviting are layers of fresh linens, a small side table, and a reading lamp. Before your guests arrive, make sure you fluff the pillows and straighten up the bedding.

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Use art (local or themed)

A gallery wall will give the space character and make it feel more like a home without taking up valuable surface space.

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Integrate greenery

If the room allows, it’s a good idea to bring in plenty of greenery for a balanced, lively environment.

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Don’t forget fresh flowers

Fresh flowers communicate that you’re so excited to have them there. They are small but powerful detail.

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Let the light in (but provide eye masks)

If you can, put the guest bedroom in a space where there is a lot of natural light. If you don’t have blackout shades, make sure you leave a sleep mask on the bedside table.

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Set up a workspace

If space allows, give your guests a little workspace. A side chair, desk or console, and table lamp are all it takes.

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Provide books

Have a side table with books or a fully loaded bookshelf in case your guests can’t sleep and want something to do.

Hopefully, some of these suggestions might help get your juices flowing and give you ideas to make your property so memorable that your guests will re-book over and over again. But what if you’re trying to attract them for the first time? How can you make your property POP online?

If you are a member of the Hospitality Property School Group, as a bonus, I’m going to share tips to take photographs of your property that will show your property in the best light.

In conclusion

Designing the right theme and buying furniture for your bed and breakfast, guesthouse, Airbnb etc., is an extremely important decision and one that can not be taken lightly.

Ensuring you have the perfect mixture of style and durability that is appealing to the eye, and functional and proper use of space is more than just another task to complete, it has to be taken seriously.

It can change your guest’s entire opinion of your property.

By following the factors I have discussed in this episode, you’ll be well on your way to welcoming your guests and #makingtheirexperience.

Have you ever designed or renovated a bed and breakfast?

I would like to hear your story.

We cover more on organizational structure in “The Guide to Owning & Operating a Hospitality Property – Successfully” book & course. You find more information at KeystoneHPD.com

You will have access to this episode for as long as you would like but if you would like to see all the bonuses you would have access to as a member of the Hospitality Property School Group, check out the short video in this episode post-show notes.

In our next episode, I will be talking about Breakfast for Your Bed and Breakfast.

That’s it for today’s episode,

Until next time, have a fun day.

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You can find all the links in the show notes.

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