There are over 660,000 Airbnb listings in the United States—the most from any country in the world. What began as a way for homeowners to earn a few bucks and families to travel for less has spiraled into a multi-billion dollar industry. Investors are actively buying homes, apartments, and villas for the sole purpose of renting them through the Airbnb platform—and they’re making a killing!
When you turn your house into an Airbnb, the outdoor space is pivotal. After all, when you’re on vacation, you don’t want to spend your time trapped inside the house while the sun beats down outside. You want to enjoy the weather with your family or friends, and patios/gardens are the best way to do that.
If you nail this aspect of your Airbnb listing, you can increase your bookings and provide a much more enjoyable experience for your guests.
It all starts with good patio furniture, and when you’re buying patio furniture for an Airbnb, the following needs to be considered:
Buy Durable, Low-Maintenance Furniture
Most Airbnb guests are perfectly respectable. The same is true for many vacationers in general. However, the hard truth is that people tend to get a little lazier, mischievous, and more apathetic when they’re on vacation. They litter more, clean less, and aren’t as considerate as they are at home.
In simple terms, your furniture will take a beating and no one will be there to clean it. If you don’t want to keep replacing it and you don’t have the patience, time, or desire to clean it between visits, it’s best to stick with long-lasting and low-maintenance furniture.
The furniture that we see at Sevens Summers is a great example. It’s made from a type of material known as poly lumber, which is manufactured from discarded milk cartons and detergent bottles. The manufacturers prevent these items from going to landfills and use them to make furniture that is comfortable, durable, and capable of surviving the harshest winters and most unforgiving summers.
If you opt for wood or wicker furniture instead, you’ll need to treat it every couple of years and should also provide protection against rain, frost, and sun.
Rain promotes bacteria growth, frost will freeze and expand the moisture, and the sun harms the lignin inside the wood. The wood will fade, darken, crack, and split—it won’t last if it’s not cared for.
If you’re using iron or steel, there’s a chance it will rust. If your furniture is plastic, it may not be strong enough to withstand whatever your guests throw at it.
Buy high-quality furniture now and you won’t need to buy a replacement next year or a couple of years from now.
Don’t Hide Damage
If your furniture hides stains and dirt, great. But if it hides damage, you’re asking for trouble.
You’re not the one sitting on the furniture night after night. You don’t know if there was a cracking noise when someone sat down, nor do you know where it came from.
You weren’t there when that young child jumped against the back or their drunken parent toppled over sideways. As a result, you don’t know where the issues might be and so the damage needs to be clear and obvious with a single glance.
Use washable cushions and covers that are easy to remove. After your guests have left, you can simply remove the covers, scrutinize the furniture, and repair or replace as needed.
Pay special attention to the legs and arms of chairs, as well as table legs. Not only is this where most of the damage accumulates, but it’s also the area that will cause the most problems following a break.
Create Different Zones
Separate your yard into different zones, all serving a different purpose. You have the seating area, dining area, play area, and then areas for flowers and other decorative items. They don’t need to be clearly defined with borders, but it should be obvious which area is which.
Just because you have 6 chairs and a table, doesn’t mean you need to plonk the table in the middle of the lawn and then scatter the chairs around. Just find the area that gets a decent amount of shade and sunlight, as well as some great views, and place them there.
Centerpieces can help you to structure these zones. They include large trees, flowerbeds, swimming pools, and ponds. Outdoor furniture should also be placed on the patio/decking and not on the lawn. Otherwise, you’ll be encouraging your guests to traipse over wet grass and then drag their muddy feet through your clean home.
By the same token, if there are several areas separated by grass, lay down some paths so your guests don’t need to get their feet wet.
Use Lights Smartly
Lights help to set the mood. They’re also practical, keeping the area well-lit when the sun goes down and making sure your guests can see their drinks, food, and friends. You don’t need to go big—a few leftover Christmas lights and a standing light will suffice.
Fire pits make for great lighting, as well. However, you have to be careful when using fire pits and patio heaters in an Airbnb. What should be a practical way to stay warm and well-lit can turn into a liability when everyone has too much to drink.
What happens if they don’t know how to light the firepit and use too much fuel? What if they leave the fire burning all night? Worst of all, what happens if it’s cold, they move it too close, and all of your expensive patio furniture goes up in flames?
As for patio heaters, they are very expensive to run. As noted previously, vacationers aren’t always considerate. They won’t go around turning off lights and electronics to save a few bucks on the electric bill, and they probably won’t turn off the patio heater when it’s not in use. Unless you want a disaster or a massive utility bill on your hands, look for alternatives to heaters and fire pits.
Speaking of which…
Stock Up On Storage Boxes
Storage boxes and ottomans are cheap and incredibly useful. You can store blankets, throws, cushions, and other handy accessories, making it easy to switch the décor according to the season. It means that you can keep everything on-site and don’t need to keep transporting blankets back and forth. And when it’s a little chilly, your guests can reach inside, grab a blanket, and stay warm.
It’s a lot cheaper than patio heaters and fire pits and it’s not a fire risk.
Storage boxes also double as side tables and chairs. You can skimp on additional chairs and tables by buying a couple of extra storage boxes instead.
Look for Cheap Accessories and Décor
Anytime you have a chance to add to your patio without spending a fortune, take it! Look around scrapyards and garage sales; spend some time on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist. What’s the point of spending several hundred bucks on a new dining set if someone is giving one away for free?
Sure, you won’t have the perfect table or chairs and it might not last as long as something purchased brand new, but it didn’t cost you anything, so who cares?
If you have any DIY skills, you can even create your own décor.
Wooden pallets can be turned into plant hangers, fences, and other decorative items. They are widely available and most companies are happy to give them away for free. The same is true for kegs and barrels. They make great centerpieces and can even be turned into side tables.
It’s authentic, rustic, and stylish, but more importantly, it’s free!
After all, you’re designing an Airbnb with a view to making money. You’re not getting the best of the best for your home. It’s all about margins, and so free is always the best price.
Brush Up On Your Photography
Once the furniture has been purchased or salvaged, the decorations have been hung, and everything has been arranged, it’s time to wait for the early evening, turn on the lights, and get out your camera.
Walk around the garden and find the best view. Set up your camera and take a few pictures. If your photography skills are terrible and your pictures always seem to be out of focus or covered with errant thumbs, ask a friend to take them for you. Alternatively, invest in a professional photographer. It’s an additional expense, but it’s a worthwhile one, as good photographs will show the house and yard in the best possible light and should increase bookings.
Whatever you do, don’t be tempted to turn to Photoshop. Many guests know how to spot fake photos and will be instantly turned away when they see them. The ones that don’t will feel pretty annoyed when they arrive and discover that your furniture isn’t as pristine as they thought, the lights aren’t as cozy as claimed, and everything looks a little drab and disappointing.
Operating a successful Airbnb business is not just about attracting visitors, getting bookings, and keeping the maintenance costs low. You also need good reviews, and if guests think that you’re trying to trick them, they’ll destroy your business.