Seasonal Hospitality

In this article, you’ll find easy fall decorating tips for Airbnbs and vacation rentals.  Seasonal decorating creates an ambiance of hospitality in your home that your guests will appreciate.

Seasonal decorating doesn’t necessarily mean you’re decorating for a holiday.  There are plenty of things you can do to avoid holiday specific decor, yet still add some seasonal flare to your rental.

Just a few ideas for seasonal decor:

Spring – spring flowers, bunnies, pastel colors
Summer – bright colors, butterflies, bicycles, flip flops
Fall – browns/yellows/oranges/greens/dark reds, leaves, scarecrows, pumpkins, sunflowers
Winter – blues/whites/grays/gold/silver, snowflakes, snowmen, skis, ice skates

Inexpensive Updates

Seasonal decor shows your guests that you’re making an effort to keep your rental updated.  These easy fall decorating tips will fill your home with hospitality and get your guests in the mindset for enjoying all the season has to offer in your destination.

Fresh decor is like a new coat of paint – it gives your guests a sense of newness.

Select colors and items that compliment the overall theme of your everyday decor.  Otherwise, the seasonal decorations will look out of place and distract from the atmosphere you are trying to create for your guests.

For example, if you have a luxury vacation rental in downtown Los Angeles, you probably will not be comfortable with adding country-charm decorations.  However, you could add some complimentary seasonal colors into the mix, such as placemats, napkins, or your dining room table centerpiece.

Keeping it Simple – the Cleaners will Thank You

Cutting down on decorating clutter is super important, especially now that COVID-19 has emerged.  Trying to keep decorating clutter clean and germ free can be a real chore.  Keep this in mind when choosing your seasonal decorations.

Clutter distracts from the guest experience and it is not what the guests are expecting to find in your vacation home.

Guests should not have to move decorations and seasonal knick-knacks in order to set down a cup of coffee.

Keep your decorating easy and simple by adding subtle seasonal touches.

One easy decorating tip to avoid over cluttering is to switch out existing/everyday items with your seasonal items.  For example, swap out an existing hanging wall art/photo and replace it with a seasonal picture (like this one).   Or cover your everyday couch pillows with seasonal pillow covers (like these).

Keep seasonal knick-knacks to a minimum.  If you do decide to use them, place the items on a shelf or mantle.  In other words, put them in a space that is not in the way of everyday use where they could get broken or be in the way.

I guarantee your cleaners will not appreciate having to clean the additional seasonal items.  And many times, those seasonal items will go overlooked by your cleaners.  That’s why it is important to keep the decorating simple (minimal items) and use items that can be easily wiped down/cleaned.

You’ll also want to keep it simple for YOURSELF.  Switching out seasonal decor shouldn’t take more than a couple of hours.  You’ll want to be able to do the switch in between guests so you won’t have to block the calendar and lose income.  Keep the decorating to a minimum in order to easily remove and replace those items.

Easy and Simple Fall Decorating Tips

Kitchen & Hand Towels

Dish and hand towels are inexpensive and work well for adding a seasonal touch.  These items are something you’re already providing in your rental, so you can easily switch out the everyday items for seasonal items, avoiding extra clutter.

• Fall dish towels – pumpkins, fall colors
• Fall dish towels/tea towels – fall colors
• Unique gray dish/tea towels with fall design
• Dish towels – sunflowers
• Bathroom hand towel – sunflowers

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Throw Pillows

Perfect for adding some seasonal touches to your vacation rental.  The zippered covers are easy to remove and washable.  Add pillows to shelves, on top of dressers, chairs, beds or couches.

Shop for more pillows similar to these:

• Pillows – pumpkins, pumpkin spice, pickup truck, pumpkin patch
• Pillows – buffalo plaid, harvest, pumpkin patch, hello fall
• Pillows – happy fall, autumn leaves, blessed, fall breeze

Garland

Wrap around porch posts or stair railing, or add the garland to mantles, a Mason jar, or shelves.  After season, rinse and air dry to remove dust.

• Fall colors – maple leaves
• Fall leaves with LED lighting
• Fall garland  – white pumpkins, pinecones
• Burlap banner garland – pumpkins

Wreaths

Make a great first impression with your guests by adding a wreath to your front door.

• Hydrangea wreath with “hello” and over door hanger
• Fall wreath with maple leaves, berries and foliage
• Burlap pumpkin wreath
• Silk fall foliage, pinecones, wheat, mini-pumpkins

String Lights

String lights can serve as nightlights and also add a sense of romance to the room.  Recently, string lights have become very popular and the seasonal styles are becoming more plentiful.  They are inexpensive and easy to use with battery and plug-in options available.

• String lights – pumpkins
• String lights – 3D pumpkins
• String lights – 20 ft copper wire
• String lights – acorns
• String lights – maple leaves

Welcome Mats

You only get one chance to make a good first impression.  Adding a seasonal welcome mat to your entrance is like extending your handshake when you can’t be there to greet your guests personally.

• Welcome mat – welcome to our home, pumpkin, sunflowers
• Welcome mat – with pumpkin
• Welcome Fall – pumpkins, sunflowers
• Pumpkin shaped, welcome

Other Inexpensive, Easy, & Simple Seasonal Decor Items

• • Placemats
  • Cloth Napkins
  • Paper Napkins
  • Soaps
  • Scented wax and seasonal wax warmers
  • Garden flags
  • Mailbox covers

A Few More Seasonal Tips

• Make it fun.  Don’t overwhelm yourself with getting everything perfect.  Keep your fall decorating easy and simple.
• Consider using indoor and outdoor decorations.  Welcome guests with items on the patios and decks.
• Store seasonal items in clear plastic totes (like these).  You’ll be able to see what is inside without much effort.
• Check items for damage and cleanliness prior to storage.
• If you have more than one rental, consider swapping items between properties each season.  This will give you the opportunity to decorate differently and it gives repeat guests a sense of newness if they rent the same time each year.

What are your ideas for seasonal decorating?  I’d love to see photos from your vacation rental.  Share your own easy fall decorating tips and photos and in the comments section below!