Making sure my rental is welcoming is a top priority for me while working on design and in my hosting practices. I want my guests to feel like they are in a more beautiful version of their own home. You can design an aesthetically pleasing home, but if the couch is like a rock your guest is not going to enjoy their stay. Here are my tips for creating a space people want to hang out in.

1. Having enough seating for the number of guests you host. My family travels with Airbnb and I can’t tell you how often we see properties that sleep 8 but only have seating for 4. How comfortable will your guest be if they have to sit on the floor to watch a movie with their group? This comes down to thinking ahead when you buy the home and the furniture you purchase. If you find a beautiful 5 bedroom home but the living room will only fit one couch then maybe this is not a good choice for a rental property. The perk of a rental over a hotel is the ability to gather, so make sure your guests can do this comfortably!

2. Comfortable sleeping arrangements. I feel like I’m making a list of pet peeves from other rentals but a room with 4 sets of bunk beds is not the way most groups want to travel. A welcoming space to me doesn’t resemble a European hostel. Utilize the largest bed you can fit in the room, make sure that the mattress is good quality, check your pillows every year to make sure they won’t go flat, and find sheets that wash well but don’t feel like sandpaper. When I travel with my family we are often out all day and come home only to sleep so I want the sleeping set-up to be good!

3. Small amenities with big impact. I like to include items like phone chargers, sound machines, and batteries at all my listings. Small items that you would have in your home but maybe forgot to pack. I think every home has a junk drawer and if you think of what’s in yours those are probably the random items you reach for all the time and would appreciate being available at your rental but of course in a more organized and intentional way.

4. A kitchen that can actually be used. I get this one from my mother-in-law who packs an entire tub of kitchen items when she stays in Airbnbs. I never want my guests to pack anything that should be found in a home. Plates and pans seem standard but cooking utensils, salt and pepper, oil and vinegar, tin foil are all things a guest would use in their own home to make a meal. I even like to provide small appliances like crock pots and blenders, nothing makes you feel at home like cooking a roast and drinking a margarita!

5. Most importantly - the host! There is nothing that makes a guest feel more comfortable than a warm and welcoming host. I use standard templates for important communication so I don’t miss any details but I also love sending personalized messages to guests and chatting about their stays. I leave hand written welcome cards and gifts for guests based on the information I’ve received about their stay. I love providing recommendations for places to eat and visit.