“A place for everything, everything in its place.”
This famous quote from Founding Father Benjamin Franklin is very apropos for running a B&B, especially when it comes to furnishing it.
This can be a really fun part of the job, but you also need to remember that the furnishings you choose determine your guests’ comfort, your inn’s image, and even the price you can charge for accommodations.
So as you take on this task, here are a few critical things to keep top of mind:
- Find decor that’s creative but controlled, making sure it’s practical, comfortable, sensible, and durable.
- Explore the process of furnishing guest rooms, bathrooms, and common areas.Be safety-conscious.
- Know where to shop for furnishings.
Furnishing your property
Offering the most requested amenities is a key element in the furnishing process, and they must be based on your guests’ needs and the experience you want to create for them.
For example, today many guests depend on their personal devices when they travel so having sufficient outlets has become just as important (if not more) than having enough hangers.
Drivers are also becoming more eco-friendly, so many inns are adding electric car chargers.
Remember: The more popular the amenity, the more guests expect it.
Setting the mood
Four major elements to decor include use of color, artwork, accessories, and lighting. The hues you choose are an ideal way to accent your inn and complement its personality.
With artwork, always consider the scale of the pieces you add to any room and where it is placed.
Try to make sure you have a few well-chosen accessories to enhance the space, without going overboard. Too many accessories appear cluttered, and too much of a theme can look kitschy, and remember your guests need space for their things.
Adequate lighting and darkness set the ambience for accommodations during daytime activities and ensure a restful sleep overnight. Proper lighting is also paramount when it comes to being safety-conscious, as are practical considerations such as tucked-away cords, nailed-down floorboards, sturdy railings, and other things mandated by law.
Knowing where to shop
When it comes time to make purchases for all you planned for, keep a budget in mind, consult with other innkeepers (so you can learn from their successes – and mistakes), and find suppliers who understand a B&B’s needs.
Be sure to ask local and state bed and breakfast associations for a list of inn-friendly vendors and look on innkeeper and industry search forums for first-hand recommendations.
Making the selection
When it comes to decorating your inn, choosing functional yet tasteful decor will ensure a sensational guest experience. First and foremost, because they are looking for unique settings as opposed to sterile, cookie-cutter environments, so it’s ok to ask for help if you’re not sure what to purchase.
Consider talking to a design consultant or seeking advice from other innkeepers whose styles you admire because it’s important to make sure what you select fits the look and feel of your B&B and its surroundings. You never get a second chance to make a first impression, so initial perception and presentation will always prevail in the minds (and eyes) of your guests.
Author Bio
Mary White, Founder & CEO
Mary White is the CEO & Founder of BnBFinder.com and the author of Running a Bed & Breakfast for Dummies. A former securities broker, she decided to embark on a new venture – internet marketing – nearly 20 years ago and developed a user-friendly website that places B&Bs and inns on a competitive level with larger hotels and resorts. Today, BnBFinder.com earns the industry’s highest rankings and provides compelling content for guests. Mary has been named a bed and breakfast industry leader by Innkeeping Quarterly magazine and is the recipient of the Professional Association of Innkeepers International’s Award of Merit.
By Dean Elphick
Dean is the Senior Content Marketing Specialist of Little Hotelier, the all-in-one software solution purpose-built to make the lives of small accommodation providers easier. Dean has made writing and creating content his passion for the entirety of his professional life, which includes more than six years at Little Hotelier. Through content, Dean aims to provide education, inspiration, assistance, and, ultimately, value for small accommodation businesses looking to improve the way they run their operations (and live their life).
FAQs
Home Décor – short for home decoration, interior décor encompasses items and you guessed it, decorations, that make your home look nice. This can include a range of items such as furniture, art, plants, and accessories.
What is the rule of 3 5 7 decorating? ›
It's pretty simple: The rule guideline of threes say that things arranged in odd numbers are more appealing, memorable, and effective than even-numbered groupings. Three seems to be *the* magic number, but 5, 7, or 9 work nicely as well.
What does decor do for a room? ›
The point of decorating, as far as I can tell, is to create the background for the best life you can have. Decoration can be life-enhancing. It can make dinner parties more fun, kids happier, relaxing easier, talks more intimate, guests at ease. And to think, decorating is often considered frivolous.
Why is decorating your home important? ›
Boosting Mood and Well-Being: A well-decorated home can have a positive impact on your mood and well-being. Colors, lighting, and decor choices can influence your emotional state and create a more pleasant atmosphere. Creating a Sense of Belonging: Decor can help create a sense of belonging and attachment to your home.
What is an example of a furnishing? ›
The furnishings of a room or house are the furniture, curtains, carpets, and decorations such as pictures.
What is the best description of home decor? ›
Home decor is clearing and creating living spaces that are visually appealing and more attractive to the human eye. Designing and decorating our homes is something we can easily envision.
What is the 80 20 rule in decorating? ›
The 80-20 rule in interior design is a simple guideline that helps you create a balanced and harmonious space. It suggests that you should choose one dominant style or color scheme for 80% of your room, and a contrasting or complementary style or color scheme for the remaining 20%.
What is the 70 20 10 rule in decorating? ›
It states that you should use three different types of materials in your space in the following proportions: 70% for the main material, 20% for the secondary material and 10% for the accent material. The main material is the dominant material that defines the style and character of your space.
What is the 60 30 10 rule in interior decorating? ›
What is the 60-30-10 Rule? It's a classic decor rule that helps create a color palette for a space. It states that 60% of the room should be a dominant color, 30% should be the secondary color or texture and the last 10% should be an accent.
How to simplify your home decor? ›
10 Minimalist Tips To Simplify Your Home
- Make decluttering part of your daily or weekly routine. I go through my belongings regularly. ...
- Try the “one in, one out” rule. ...
- Simplify your furniture. ...
- Keep surfaces clutter-free. ...
- Simplify your wardrobe. ...
- Opt for simple decor. ...
- Choose fun colors. ...
- Digitize media.
Decor comes from the French décor, from décorer, "to decorate." Decor was originally a theater term.
When decorating a room where do you start? ›
Start with the ceiling
We recommend you start your decorating project at the top and work your way down. Taking this approach will allow you to avoid dripping any paint onto freshly painted areas. Before you start painting, clean your ceiling, fill any holes or cracks and sand it.
How often should you change home décor? ›
Households Redecorate Every 3-5 Years on Average
While the average top-to-bottom redecorating session happens every three to five years on average, those in the 18-24 age bracket can open a tin of paint and roll out the wallpaper every few months.
Should you have décor on every wall? ›
Designers are in agreement that not every wall in the home needs to be decorated. With each individual interior design, the aim is to always ensure that there is a feeling of harmonious visual balance; for some spaces this may mean adorning every wall with beautiful decor, whereas for others, empty wall space triumphs.
What is the main principle of home décor? ›
The elements of design are line, shape, form, color, texture, and space. These are the tools used to design a room or space. The principles of design are balance, emphasis, unity, rhythm, and proportion.
What is considered home furnishings? ›
Household furnishings are personal property and include such items as furniture, appliances, rugs, cooking utensils, and art objects.
What is meant by furnishing your home? ›
Definitions of furnishing. noun. (usually plural) the instrumentalities (furniture and appliances and other movable accessories including curtains and rugs) that make a home (or other area) livable.
What is the difference between interior design and furnishing? ›
Interior design is the art and science of understanding people's behavior to create functional spaces within a building, while interior decorating is the furnishing or adorning of a space with decorative elements to achieve a certain aesthetic. In short, interior designers may decorate, but decorators do not design.
What does it mean to decorate or furnish? ›
to furnish or adorn with something ornamental or becoming; embellish. to decorate walls with murals.
