9 Ways to Add Personality to a Vacation Rental

When you think about your dream vacation home, what picture comes to mind? Probably a mansion? A bungalow on the beach? A literal Palace? Or are you picturing more of a simple structure full of like and personality?

Most of us have ideas of what our dream home looks like. However, not everyone can afford to fully achieve that ideal. A huge number start small and buy in areas where all vacation rentals look the same.

If you own or are planning to buy this kind of house, we’ve got some gorgeous ideas to share on how you can personalize and add charm to a cookie-cutter home — even your neighbors will turn their heads!

"Art is anything you can get away with.” - Marshal McLuhan

1. Add custom looking baskets

Look at local thrift stores or swap meets for fun baskets to put in each room. You can fill these with the towels, soaps, and lotions for each guest.

2. Add a map

If you really want to stand out in a sea of lookalike homes, consider adding a map of the US or the World with pins for guest to show where they are visiting from. You can also leave a book for them to write their favorite memories from the house. I got my map on Amazon, click on picture for link and created my Logo and extra picture in Canva, then printed at my local Walgreens on canvas.

3. Create unique accent walls

Your interior doesn’t have to be bland. Put your aesthetic taste on display by creating an accent wall, a.k.a. feature wall. There are tons of ways to do this, so here are some ideas:

• Add a pop of color on just one wall. It’s up to you if you want to paint it or use the inexpensive yet trusty wallpaper — just pick a design that matches your character

• Play around with your accent wall’s trims and molding

• Go for a classic look for your feature by adding a wainscot

4. Spruce up your space with lovely light fixtures

Lighting is such an important element to consider when you want to achieve that homey feel and ambiance, so don’t feel sorry when you’re removing the boob lights that came with your cookie cutter house. Instead, incorporate who you are by installing beautiful light fixtures anywhere you want – the living area, foyer, kitchen island, dining table, or even the front porch. What’s great about this is that you don’t have to restrict yourself to just one style. Give each room a distinct personality with different light fixtures that look either modern, eccentric, quirky, etc. Bedside lamps on side tables will add a lot to each guest room and adding the ones with USB ports will really help you stand out. And while you’re at it, make sure to choose the right color temperature for your home. If you want to energize everyone at home, go for a cooler color temperature. But if you want to relax and get cozy, go for a warmer color temperature.

5. Rethink your knobs and handles

When you buy a cookie cutter home, chances are your knobs and handles look the same as those of your neighbors’. Quit using these common hardware and get something that fits your style, whether it’s vintage, traditional, or contemporary.

6. Make your outdoor space inviting

The entirety of your property should be able to mirror your taste, which means that your front or backyard must have a touch of ‘you’. Apart from decking it with outdoor furniture and decoration, your yard should also be able to support your vacation home's personality. If you are in a 55+ community add an area for bocce ball and comfortable seats. In a Ski area, add some outdoor heaters for place to enjoy the crisp outdoors. In a college town, consider adding horseshoes or a volleyball net. Don’t get intimidated by the idea of redesigning your yard for your needs and wants because a quick Google search is all it takes to see multiple ways to do it on a budget. Adding a nice BBQ area and beautiful local plants will make it more inviting as well to all ages.

7. Place rugs down on hard floors

Most people think that by keeping carpet out of a VRBO they will save a lot of money. However, hard wood floors and tile are not only cold, but echo. By placing some well thought out rugs in main living areas, you will add warmth as well as color to each of those places.

8. Place stunning window curtains or drapes

When you’re done letting natural light in, ensure that your guest get the privacy they need from prying eyes through window curtains or drapes. There are a variety of textures and designs readily available in the market, so you’re sure to find one that works well with the rest of your house’s look. If you can, try to avoid plastic blinds as they tend to look characterless and cheap. Actually all blinds are a red flag in vacation homes. They are hard to keep clean and dirty blinds will take away from your home. Curtains that can be thrown in the washer once a month give it that privacy, without the dust. Make sure the curtains are well made and wash easily in your regular washer.

9. Decorate with your mementos and local artist work

Your home should be filled with things that spark happiness. It’s time to bust out those photos from the local area, frame them, and hang them on a wall to let guest know great places to visit while they are there. If you love reading, why don’t you display your favorite books on a custom shelf? Additionally, if you can find local artist's painting or works, use them as decoration. Having a game table with board games helps attract parents that are looking to reconnect with their kids while having a down day in that area.

While some of these ideas require more extensive work, most can be DIY-ed by you and your family. We hope this inspires you to spruce up your place, because with dedication and perseverance, you, too, can turn your cookie cutter home into your dream home.

My recent purchase was a VRBO in a gated golf community in Arizona. Want to check it out?