How to Set The Table for Your Str

How many times have you searched for an Airbnb and have seen those lovely photos of the inviting dining room table? Looks fabulous, right? You can almost imagine yourself walking in, and you may even find a chef waiting for you in the kitchen ready to serve you a gourmet meal upon arrival. Imagery is magical and it works! Let me tell you a secret beyond the photos.

A mistake that many Vacation Rental Hosts make is that they leave that beautifully set table for their guests upon arrival in hopes of gifting their guests with that imagery. I’m here to tell you that it only works in the photos. Picture this!

Reality - After (insert number of hours) in the car, you finally arrive at your amazing Airbnb. Kids are wired. Husband is grumpy because his knee hurts from driving for so long. Mom pulls out her precooked frozen casserole from the cooler and begins to make the salad while dad is unloading the car. Finally, everyone is inside, and dinner is ready to be served. But that table…. What to do?

Option 1 – Avoid the beautiful preset table altogether and eat on the kitchen island

Option 2 – Remove every single dish from the table and load it in the dishwasher because mom doesn’t know how long the dishes have sat there and when the last time they were washed and get new dishes from the cabinets (oh but wait – there aren’t enough new dishes because they’re ALL on the table).

Now, mom is the one that’s grumpy because she either doesn’t use the main table at all or it requires extra work for her. This was the absolute opposite of the feeling that the host was trying to convey from the photo imagery to experience.

Bottom line? Some things are better imagined in pictures and don’t translate as practical when it comes time to experience them in the vacation rental world. Think carefully in the shoes of your guest when deciding how you stage your home. It can make a small or large difference, but you don’t know which one will be small or large to whom. Make things easy for your guests and don’t overcomplicate their experience in your home. Often, a clear table and clean dishes stored in your kitchen are just what your guests need to settle in and feel right at home.

Happy Hosting Everyone! I would love to hear your comments on the subject.