Attract holiday rental guests with welcoming outdoor spaces

While the living room tends to be the natural hub for indoor gatherings, you can create the same relaxed atmosphere outdoors to draw guests to the patio. Figuring out what furniture pieces you need is easy — just look to your living room for inspiration. Just like indoors, outdoor seating should be comfortable. Plush sofas and chairs (or a modular sofa, if you have the space!) should be top priority. 

You’ll also need side tables and accent pedestals appropriate to the number of seating options. Invest in a large coffee table for your lounge area to complete the traditional living room set-up and provide a clean visual focal point. For lighting, let the sun do most of the work and use outdoor string lights and lanterns to give a warm glow at night.

To make sure that your outdoor area feels cosy, invest in nice cushions to cover any furniture made of hard materials like stone, concrete or wood. And always be sure to store seating pads and cover furniture during inclement weather so they stay in good condition.

While you want your patio oasis to be comfortable and inviting, you should still try to make it feel like a departure from everyday life. Add a few unique pieces for resort-level style. Here are some ideas: 

• Colourful side tables can provide a beachy vibe. Here’s an easy idea: Repaint a natural or neutral table yourself. For playful poolside seating, look for one or two hanging pod chairs to make your garden feel like a tropical island.
• Statues add style to any garden. Animal-shaped statues can look playful, while classical busts and statues feel stately and regal.
• Create an accent wall by repainting your outdoor wall or siding. A solid colour can create a certain mood, while a hand-painted mural adds a memorable touch.

Highlight what makes your neighbourhood, town or city unique by adding plants and decor specific to the region. Is your home in a rural area? Draw on those countryside vibes by decking out your garden with potted flowers and other native plants. Beach houses can use seashells or coral for decor. Not only do these local touches add character, but they also showcase the destination. 

Once you decide on the best plants for your outdoor space or patio, find planters and vases that show them off. For example, potted plants look rustic and natural in raw clay planters or boxes glazed in rust red or bright turquoise, while nautical-inspired rope and resin wicker planters feel more appropriate for waterfront destinations. 

Remember that while having lots of plants can be beautiful, they require regular caretaking.

Be ready for every season with small style changes to your patio decor. You’ll need to prepare for changes in weather to keep the space comfortable. If your home is in a milder climate that allows for outdoor gathering all year round, it’s a nice touch to change sofa and chair cushions and pillows to seasonal colours and patterns. For example, off-white sofa pads accented with vibrant pillows with floral patterns are best for spring. In the autumn, look for deeper, more full-toned pillows in rustic hues — red, orange and navy blue. 

For homes in colder or snowy climates, you can set up a covered, heated outdoor area or simply stow your outdoor furniture in a dry, covered space until spring. Or consider trading the coffee table in your sitting area for a firepit. A firepit creates a cosy area where guests can enjoy the outdoors, even when it’s cold. 

The main point is to remember that outdoor spaces can be a welcome extension of your home. Make it comfortable for your guests to give them even more ways to enjoy their destination.  

You can add photos of your outdoor space in your Property Editor under Photos.
 

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