When managing your short-term rental, it’s easy to get caught up in the basics—pricing, location, and amenities. But there’s one crucial element you may be overlooking: your property’s design. The design choices you make can deeply influence the type of guests you attract and, just as importantly, the ones you might unintentionally exclude. In this email, we’ll dive into how your design choices can either broaden or narrow your audience and impact your bookings.
Did Your Design Choices Limit Your Audience?
Your property’s design plays a big role in how welcoming it is to potential guests. While it’s important to create an aesthetic that feels cohesive and inviting, your design can also inadvertently limit the type of guests who feel comfortable booking your property. Let’s explore how gender and age assignment can shape your guest pool, as well as how less can often be more when it comes to design.
Gender Assignment: Are You Excluding Half of Your Audience?
Your design choices can inadvertently signal that your property is better suited to one gender over another, impacting your ability to attract a diverse range of guests.
Does Your Property Feel “Too Feminine”?
If your design features colours and patterns traditionally associated with femininity—such as pink bedspreads, floral wallpaper, or pastel furniture—it might appeal to some guests but could alienate others. While it might attract women travelling solo or in groups, it can make male travellers or mixed-gender groups feel uncomfortable or unwelcome.
Example: A bachelorette party may find a pink-themed property ideal, but a family or couple may pass it over, perceiving it as overly gendered.
Does It Feel “Too Masculine”?
On the flip side, a design that leans heavily into darker tones, minimalist furniture, or industrial accents might be appealing to male travellers but could feel cold, sterile, or even intimidating to women or families. For many guests, comfort and warmth are key to feeling at home.
Example: A solo female traveller might hesitate to book a property that has a “man cave” vibe, thinking it might not be safe or welcoming.
How to Balance Gender Appeal
To ensure your property appeals to everyone, aim for a design that is neutral yet inviting. Here are a few tips:
- Choose Neutral Colors: Whites, greys, and earthy tones offer a timeless, universally appealing foundation.
- Mix Textures: Soft throws, cozy rugs, and versatile accents add warmth and comfort without leaning too far into either a masculine or feminine aesthetic.
- Add Functional Décor: Focus on multipurpose, comfortable furniture and modern design pieces that prioritize usability and comfort.
By keeping your design gender-neutral, you’ll ensure that both men and women feel equally welcome, maximizing your booking potential.
Age Assignment: Is Your Property Appealing to Only One Generation?
The design of your property can either draw in or repel guests from different age groups. Younger guests often look for trendy, Instagram-worthy spaces, while older generations may seek out familiar, comfortable environments that evoke a sense of nostalgia. But if your design speaks too loudly to one age group, you risk alienating the others.
Appealing to Younger Guests
Millennials and Gen Z guests are likely to be attracted to a more modern, fresh, and eye-catching aesthetic. These travellers tend to favour:
- Trendy, Instagrammable Spaces: Bold colours, modern furniture, and distinctive design elements that create a memorable experience.
- Tech-Savvy Amenities: Features like fast Wi-Fi, keyless entry, and smart appliances to meet the needs of tech-forward travellers.
- Functional and Bold Design: Sleek, minimalist furniture and spaces with a youthful, vibrant vibe.
But if your design focuses solely on a trendy, youthful style, you risk turning away older guests who might prefer something less edgy.
Appealing to Older Guests
Older guests, particularly Baby Boomers and Gen X, tend to prioritize comfort, familiarity, and warmth. They’re drawn to:
- Timeless Furniture: Functional, comfortable furniture that doesn’t scream “modern” or “minimalist.”
- Subtle, Warm Colors: Soft, neutral tones that create a calm and inviting atmosphere.
- Cozy, Homely Ambiance: Soft bedding, comfortable seating, and a more lived-in, welcoming feel.
But if your property looks too much like your grandma’s house—with floral patterns or old-fashioned wooden furniture—it could easily turn off younger guests who are looking for something fresh and contemporary.
The “Rustic Grandma” Problem
Even if you slap a “rustic” label on it, outdated or old-fashioned furniture can still feel like it belongs in another era. For example, if your property features vintage furniture like ornate wooden chairs or outdated quilts that your grandmother might have, it may not seem “charming” to everyone. To younger guests, it could come across as stale, and older guests might feel the space lacks the comfort and style they’re used to.
Solution: Instead of leaning into overly dated or “rustic” decor, aim for a balanced mix that combines timeless comfort with modern touches. Think about:
- Balancing Classic with Modern: A blend of traditional comfort and contemporary design.
- Prioritizing Comfort: Invest in high-quality bedding and furniture that feels inviting to all guests, regardless of age.
- Neutral, Relaxing Palettes: Soft, inviting colours that appeal to all generations.
Why Guests Might Not Book Your Property
Your property’s design can significantly influence whether guests choose to book, especially in the competitive short-term rental market. Design elements that you may consider minor could be the very reason a potential guest scrolls past your listing. Here’s why certain design choices might lead to missed bookings:
- The More Guests, the More Opinions: When it comes to family or group bookings, design choices can have a broader impact. The more people involved in the decision-making process, the more varied the opinions. A space that feels too feminine for one guest might not appeal to another, or vice versa. With more eyes on the design, you risk alienating certain individuals, especially if the aesthetic feels too niche.
- The Opinion Between Husband and Wife: In couples’ bookings, design can be a deal-breaker if one person doesn’t feel comfortable with the style. For example, a property with a feminine, delicate design—think pastel tones, floral accents, or soft furnishings—might appeal to one partner, but the other may find it uninviting or overly “girly.” When one person’s opinion is strongly swayed by the design, it can lead to hesitation or a complete rejection of the property.
- The Difference Between Adults and Kids: Families travelling with children often have different design priorities. While adults may appreciate a more modern or minimalistic design, children might gravitate toward a space that feels cozier and more playful. If your design focuses too heavily on one or the other, it might not cater to both. A space that’s too sterile or overly refined may not offer the warmth or fun a family with kids is looking for, leading them to look elsewhere.
- Over-The-Top Design or Themed Spaces: While a themed space can attract some guests, it can easily turn off others. An overly themed property, such as one with a specific colour palette or design style, might not align with everyone’s tastes. For example, a property designed around a vintage or rustic aesthetic may appeal to some, but others might find it outdated or not their style, leading them to search for something more neutral or versatile.
Ultimately, guest opinions matter more than ever. In today’s market, where reviews and guest feedback play a crucial role, your design choices can have a direct impact on whether guests choose your property or not. By ensuring your design is universally appealing, functional, and welcoming, you increase your chances of standing out in a crowded market and securing more bookings.
Less Can Be More
In some cases, simplicity is key. Over-decorating or cluttering the space with too many items can overwhelm potential guests and reduce the overall appeal. By embracing a minimalist approach, you can create a calming, functional space that’s both inviting and practical.
- Open, Clean Spaces: Avoid over-crowding the room with unnecessary decor or excessive furniture.
- Sleek, Simple Design: Use a limited colour palette with a few carefully chosen accent pieces that add warmth and interest.
- Functional, Comfortable Furnishings: Prioritize items that are both useful and aesthetically pleasing.
A streamlined, simple design can help your property feel more spacious, inviting, and comfortable, ultimately leading to higher guest satisfaction and more bookings.
