Cottage Staging

We often get asked by our cottage owners what they can do to ensure they can generate guests and get the most of their property. Below is a compilation of suggestions which can ensure your cottage is photo ready and your guests will have a great experience. Maintaining the exterior and interior of the cottage for stating does not have to be a very expensive or time consuming process. The ideas presented in this article are intended to be practical, cost effective, and easy to ensure anyone interested in improving their cottage’s appeal can have the best advice possible.

Curb Appeal

Ensuring your cottage looks welcoming and well kept on the outside is a good way to get more people interested in your rental. Cottages which appear clean and well maintained at a first glance will look great in photos and appealing to passers by.  Mowing the grassing, weeding the gardens,  and clearing pathways is a great way to make your cottage inviting on the outside.

Mowing the grass and keeping the grass short give the impression that your cottage is well cared for and picture perfect. Weeding gardens and watering plants will ensure your plants will ensure they are bright and healthy looking. We recommend keeping the gardens as they look beautiful when they are blooming and healthy. Lastly keeping all driveways, pathways, and sidewalks clear of debris is very important. Sweeping and power washing these areas around the cottage makes the area appear neat and spacious for photographs. If you have a cottage which is great for winter we also recommend shoveling the driveway to make you cottage look inviting when guests arrive.

Make Room for the View

If you own a cottage with waterfront or you have a beautiful natural view you need to make this a selling feature. Guests typically rent cottages with the best views, so you want to make sure you can get the most of it.  Keeping the views of the surrounding areas clearly visible is a great way to get more people interested in your property. It is important to allow your guests to maintain the view from the interior and exterior of your cottage.

Cleaning the windows ensures natural light can come through and makes rooms in photographs look spacious and bright. Dirty windows make it difficult to see the landscape and allowing the view to shine in through the windows in photographs gives guests great expectations of the view before they arrive.

Items around window frames should also be removed as nick knacks, lamps, plants, and other items around windows clutters the space. Having cleared windows allows guests to feel they are in  a wider space and gives them a clear look at the view without feeling cluttered.

Interior

Keeping the interior of you home up to date and inviting is a great way to ensure you get repeat guests. Guests who have a comfortable and enjoyable stay will likely want to rent your cottage again and tell other people they know about how great their stay was. Although fixing the interior seems like a big expense, there are simple things you can do which do not cost too much and you will be sure to get the most out of it.

Cleaning, updating, and rearranging furniture is a great way to give your cottage a new look. Updating all of your furniture can be a large expense, but you give your cottage a new look by following this simple advice.  Steam cleaning and vacuuming furniture can make a cottage look inviting and brighten fabrics for a fresh look. Rearranging couches, dining room sets, and bedroom furniture can be practical and welcoming to ensure guests feel comfortable in your cottage. If you feel your furniture is tired and old regardless of how much your scrub or arrange it, you may need to replace these pieces.

Clearing away items such as nick knacks, family photographs, and other unnecessary clutter is also vital as this will depersonalize your cottage. By removing your personal interests and taste from the cottage you are allowing guests to see envision themselves in their vacation home. Some nick knacks which are clean and reflect the theme of your cottage will be inviting and interesting, however try not to overdo it as it may begin to look messy.

Consider selecting bright colours where appropriate is also important. Bright  colours are typically auspicated with spring, warm weather, and happy memories. If you are providing bedding and towels for your guests consider using bright colors as they can make any room appear cheerful and bright. However be careful when selecting colours as you do not want colours to clash or for rooms to appear overwhelming with colour. Floral patterns can also be acceptable if they do not clash with existing patterns. Floral patterns on throw pillow and cushions thorough your cottage can provide a homely atmosphere.

Fresh coats of paint can also easily give you’re a cottage a new look which can last many years if they right colours and paint brand is selected. If the paint in your cottage is faded or you still have 1990s vegetable wallpaper in your kitchen, consider a new look. When selected paint try to stick to neutral tones such as greys, whites, and light browns as they will not go out of style and they make rooms appear bigger.