SECRETS THAT WILL BOOST YOUR AIRBNB BOOKINGS

Do you know that hotel bookings are going down? Today’s travelers are getting smarter. They want a larger space, more amenities and less cash to pay for it. There is a market as well for luxury rooms. The Airbnb market is definitely growing. I won’t get into the specifics of how to get started because Airbnb certainly has that covered. A few guidelines to remember is that you need to establish your target market (don’t target everyone) so you can find out their needs and design your space accordingly.

How do your guests choose you?

Travelers base their decisions on the photos of your place, your facilities and amenities, and your reviews. Before anyone even attempts to click on your ad, the first thing they see will be the photos.

How do you start?

1.     Find out their needs.

Look back at your target market. What do they want? Check out the Airbnb site and see who has the most reviews for the target market you’re aiming for. This will tell you what they like about the place, what they don’t like about it. It gives you a good insight on what your market wants.

Are they millennials, gen Xers? Do they have children traveling with them? At what age are they? If you have space for a family of four, then you need to think of beddings for four. You can have a main bedroom that can sleep two. Perhaps a trundle sofa (this is a sofa with a pull out) will work – you get a sofa by day, and 2 beds by night. This will also dictate that you need a dining table for four. Are you targeting business travelers? Then, you will need a desk where they can work. Think of function and convenience!

2.     Find out what design style you’re aiming for.

Don’t decide based on what you want but again, look at your target market. What do they want? Are they business travelers? Do they want something modern? Or are they tourists looking for a home away from home?

3.     Decorate with your location in mind.

Think about your location. Are you in the city, by the beach, in the mountains? You can narrow down your design style too with this. Go local and check out what your town has to offer. If they are tourists, look out for souvenirs and knick-knacks they will appreciate. It might seem kitschy to you, but they may be attractive to tourists. Check out the local handicrafts and artwork. Decorate with macramé. If you have a beautiful view, take a professional photographer to get you those photos and hang it in your living room.

4.     Look for sturdy furniture.

Don’t buy cheap furniture. They may be cheap but they won’t last. Good furniture does not mean expensive. Some guidelines to remember:

a.     If you’re opting for wood furniture, use solid wood! Pls. don’t use MDF or particle board, they will break. I am all for recycling but what’s the use if this only lasts a month or two. How do you find out? Knock on the wood. Not for luck but to check the hollowness of the material. Or you can check the underside (sometimes they are left unfinished and you’ll see if they aren’t real wood). Remember not all guests are very careful with your things. That’s just the way it is.

Particle board is waste wood product pressed together with synthetic resin. Photo from Wikipedia.

Mortise & Tenon by Wikipedia

b.     When buying dining chairs, check out the construction of the chair carefully. If it’s those assemble your own chair types, do back away… far away! Those joints will give! A well constructed chair uses a mortise and tenon joint. How will you know? Look at the section where the legs and the seat meets. Same advice goes for other furniture like the dining table.

5.     Use furnishings and accessories that can be cleaned easily.

a.     Pick out fabric that will hide stains. That means go for patterns or use a good German leather (that’s leatherette or synthetic leather) to upholster your furniture.

b.     When choosing rugs, look again for patterned ones that can hide marks. Remember the purpose isn’t for your place to hide the dirt but rather to look for something that you can maintain easily.

Shayne Drop-Leaf Table from Pottery Barn

6.     Don’t have enough space? Use convertible furniture.

There are extendable dining tables, or those drop-leaf tables. They can accommodate more people. Or choose a table you can mount on the wall and pull down.

Coffee tables with a pop-up mechanism works as both storage and a table.

7.     Remember to have sufficient outlets.

One of the things we need when travelling is charging our gadgets. Make sure to have enough outlets near the bedroom and the living area.

Lighting from Brabbu

8.     Go the designer way and create lighting for moods.

Designers use lighting to create a variety of moods. Use cove lights to soften the space and not have anything glaring on your eyes. Create a cozy reading area with a floor lamp in a corner. Add a track light to accentuate your wall art.

So what are you waiting for? Start planning and make yourself some extra cash! 

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DESIGNER PAINT SECRETS GUARANTEED TO MAKE YOUR NEIGHBORS ENVIOUS

Do you know that finding out the different types of paint finishes can easily transform your home from drab to fab?! The great thing about paint is that it's one of the easiest and cheapest way to change the look of your space. 

A simple change in the level of sheen can make a huge impact to a better space. You really won't know until you've tried it yourself. So what are the different levels of sheen?

A basic rule is the higher the traffic, the higher the sheen. From the flattest to the glossiest, the order will be: flat, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss, hi-gloss.

Remember that the glossier the surface, the easier it is to see the imperfections. That is why it is very important that you have a great painter who can make sure your surface is smooth and well-prepared.  

In my previous home, the standard paint that the contractor used for basically all the rooms was semi-gloss. Well, I didn't know better then. Transferring to our home now, most of the walls have a satin finish. You can really see the difference it makes.

As a general guideline, use flat for ceilings, eggshell or satin for walls, satin or semigloss for children's rooms, semigloss to high gloss for cabinets, doors and trim.

Sometimes, designers go high gloss for accent walls. If your painter isn't that great, this will be a disaster. I would suggest to use laminates for this one to make sure that you get the gloss with a perfectly smooth surface. 

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MAKE SPACE AND MAKE ROOM!

Struggling with so many things, but so little space? Here are some tips and tricks for organizing your closet and saving space for new items in your wardrobe!

First, you need to determine which clothes, accessories, and shoes are going and which ones are staying. You can never have all of them forever. Truth be told, you probably don't use half the items in your closet. For all the clothes you haven't even used for six months, this includes those that you secretly wish you'd fit in again but somehow don't. Yes, I admit I have a lot of those. Sort out accessories and shoes in the same manner.

Donate them to an organization or have your own garage sale. H&M accepts preloved clothes and gives you a 15% discount voucher. Or try the app Carousell.

Next, follow some DIY blogs from where you can get ideas on how to make your own drawer organizers. These are easy to make and they will sure save you a lot of space in your drawers! Or if you're lazy, there are cheap drawer organizers in the department store. Very handy and makes it easy for you to see all your things at in a glance. I tend to look at the Japan Store (locally) or Dollar Store if you live in another country. Ikea has a large section on organizers too! 

Drawer organizers from Container Store

I was looking at scented drawer liners online and for the purpose, it seems unreasonable for the price. So I had a great idea to simply use cheap wrapping paper and spray them with linen spray. Isn't that such a wonderful idea?!

Another tip is to repurpose your shower curtain rings as hooks where you can hang your scarves, ties, belts, and other clothing accessories. And speaking of hooks and rings, install hooks at the back of your closet doors for your bags as well.

Rubbermaid closet system

When it comes to your apparel, one of the best ways to organize them is according to type and color. That means putting all your pants together, all your blouses, and so on. 

In addition, allot one section of your closet for your winter wear, another for office/school wear, another for casual, and the list goes on. This will actually help you decide on what to wear in the morning.

DESIGNER TIP: Use all the same type and color of hangers. It will make your closet look cohesive. Ideally, wooden hangers look more luxurious. However, sometimes limited space dictates you use a slimmer type of hanger to make way for more clothes. This tip will make your clothes look even better!

Sweaters should never be on hangers!!! You don't want to have those hanger marks they leave. Fold sweaters in a lovely basket.

When stacking shirts, don't stack higher than the height of your hand. It will be easier to remove. Don't you hate it when they look like a mess? For your kids, use shorter stacks or if you can, just hang them all. That will definitely make you sane and not let those piles look impossible.

Clear shoe box from Container Store

Looking for fun ways to store your linen? Place them in vintage boxes (or baul in the local vernacular). Woven baskets are a good place too.

Shoes are best placed in a shoe rack where you can see all of them in a glance. For those that you don't wear as often, keep them in clear storage containers. Make sure to keep those silica gels you find in shoe boxes. Use them in your shoe area to keep them dry and not musty. In case you threw them out, you can find some at your local hardware store. Try True Value or Ace Hardware.

Install hooks at the back of your closet and/or bedroom door. You can use these for those clothes you intend to reuse or for belts.

Finally, remember that you want your clothes dry and not prone to molds. For this, I seriously recommend buying a dehumidifier. These are available as well at Japan/Daiso stores or at your local hardware. They are a lifesaver.

You don't need to keep all your things.  You would be surprised to have more room than you imagined.

More tips and tricks in my blog, so stay tuned! Also, subscribe to my mailing list for updates and promos (see link at the bottom of page).

A QUICK GUIDE TO CARING FOR YOUR KITCHEN COUNTERTOPS

For some, cleaning may or may not be a dreadful activity, especially in the kitchen. If there’s a part of the house that is really hard to clean and take good care of, it is the area where all the midnight cravings, exciting experimentations, and all other gastronomic adventures happen – at the kitchen countertop.

Cleaning counters is a no-brainer, maintaining them is. Although it doesn't involve hard work, there are a few things to remember:

DO use a mild solution of soap and water when cleaning your countertops.

DO use a soft cloth to wipe off and dry your beloved countertops.

DO use coasters for all types of drinks, especially for alcoholic ones.

DO use hot pads or trivets when placing hot pots on them.

DO polish your countertops, especially when they’re granite, once in a while.

DO ask your countertop supplier to reseal them at least every three to five years for granite (as a general rule), more often for marble. Visit this link for a guide on resealing countertops.

Also, a few things you must NOT do:

DON’T stand on your kitchen countertops! If you need to reach for something from the cabinet above your counter, use a stool instead. Countertops are mounted on frames which was not designed to take your weight.

DON’T put your curling and/or straightening irons on them, the heat might damage your shiny granite/marble countertops, hence, the need for hot pads.

DON’T chop your fruits, vegetables, meats, etc. directly on your counters! Please use a chopping board. 

DON’T let spills sit on your countertops for too long. It will leave unpleasant marks and rings, hence, the use of coasters.

There you go, an easy-to-remember guide for your kitchen countertops! All these and more when you subscribe to our mailing list now (link at the bottom of the page)!!

EASY WAYS TO ADD CHARM TO YOUR CHILD'S ROOM

As responsible and loving parents, we only want what’s best for our kids. This includes giving them a safe space that is both comfortable and appealing.

The good news is you don’t have to spend that much. There are lots of ways to enhance your children’s rooms, such as following DIY ideas, cheap but stylish wall decals, fun storage, and even colorful paint.

To start with, you could always count on the internet for do-it-yourself decorations. For example, you could have their names hung on their wall with Lego or paint!

Etsy

Use wall decals as a tool for decor or to educate your kids with the alphabet. These wall stickers/decals are commercially available in-store, as well as online. There are different designs to choose from that your children will definitely enjoy!

Charlotte's room

Storage need not be plain and boring. Teach your kids to fix their toys and place them back in colorful baskets. Who said that chores and cleaning up after themselves cannot be as fun and as colorful? You can color code them as well for easier storage. Remember to teach them the code!

Apartment Therapy

And lastly, play with different colors of paint. You can cover the walls with a striped pattern or with bright colors. Another fun idea is to leave a part of the wall plain white, and let your kids paint it themselves! Just make sure you use non-toxic paint. It will certainly be a perfect bonding moment between you and your kids!

House & Home

See, as long as your kids have fun, you really don’t have to shed too much cash on their bedroom decorations!

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ADDING PERSONALITY TO YOUR COFFEE TABLE

Upon entering your new home through its tall sturdy doors, I notice the striking wood furniture, the brand new flatscreen TV, and that lovely vintage piano you have by the stairs. Sitting down comfortably on your couch, I place my things on the coffee table.  The décor reveals something not only about your home, but also about your personality. With that in mind, what do you put on your coffee table?

Books for the Intellectual

1. The Intellectual

Show off your love for reading and knowledge by placing a few of your favorite books for the guests to check out and read. Stack them on top of each other. It’s one of the classic things to put on your coffee table. 

Chess game for the Geek

2. The Nerd 

Got love for brain games? Showcase your favorite board games and toys! Think chess, Rubik’s cube, checkers, among others. Not only will it remind you of your favorite activity, but also engages your guests to play with you.

Collection for the Hobbyist

 

3. The Hobbyist

Make your home a little bit more personal by sharing what your interests are. Your collection will always make a good conversation starter, that’s for sure. 

Cactus for the Green Thumb

 

 

 

4. The Green Thumb or The Flower Child!

There is a wide range of flower and plant choices for you perfect for indoors. Bringing nature indoors is a classic way of adding interest to your home.

These are just a few things to keep in mind that will surely make your coffee table both stylish and functional. Which suits your personality best? You can even combine these to make for that unique charm! Now start arranging your coffee table!

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