Tips for Furnishing a Maui Vacation Rental Condo

Once you have purchased your Maui vacation rental condo on the island, you will want to furnish it appropriately to meet all the needs of your guests. If you are starting from scratch you will want to choose carefully which type of look you are going for while keeping in mind that the majority of your guests will be going to the beach most days they are staying there.

Living Room

When you are purchasing couches and chairs, consider whether or not you want to have a pullout couch in your unit. There is a lot to consider with this question. You will be limiting your selection of matching furniture. You also have to decide whether or not you even want additional sleeping arrangements. Another option to consider is if you want to keep an air mattress available instead of the pullout couch. However, I think for a vacation rental condo in a beach community your most important issue with this furniture, and all your furniture, towels, and linens for that matter, is the material and fabric used. You’ll want to have something that isn’t going to be ruined if someone sits on it with damp shorts. There will also be a lot of sand floating around the unit so you’ll want to choose a simple set of furniture that’s easily cleaned and won’t stain.

Dining Room

Dining furniture is pretty simple, look for something that can handle being bumped by rolling suitcases, that isn’t too bulky or has over sharp edges that protrude into walking areas. Remember that people are not eating 3 meals a day sitting at the table while they are on vacation.

Bedrooms

When it comes to the bedrooms you will want to, again, choose some simple furniture. You won’t need bedside tables with 3 drawers if you are going to have a dresser. Make sure you have luggage stands as most people never actually unpack. The bedrooms can also be a place to squeeze in some extra storage if you plan on offering amenities such as scuba gear, beach chairs, and umbrellas. Some owners will lock out half of a closet so they can keep extra supplies there and even their own clothing so they can travel light.

Lanai

Patio furniture can be tricky. Many patios and lanais in Maui condos can be very small. If this is the case then you really just want to put a small table and a couple chairs out there. If you have more space, try not to overcrowd it. You don’t need to offer a second dining area. The majority of guests will appreciate being able to move around to get a glimpse of that ocean view to see some whales. If you can add a chest of some sort to keep the cushions inside that would be a bonus. The Maui trade winds can move a lot of sand and dust around so the fewer things that need that last minute dusting, the better.

The overall concept to keep in mind when furnishing your vacation rental condo is that you are furnishing a space where people will typically only be spending 5-7 days in. You are not furnishing a space that is being lived in full time. This is where you have the most flexibility in your decision making and also where you can be the most creative. There will also be someone cleaning your unit between stays. You will want to consider that in your choices as well. Anything you can do to make their job easier will only ensure that your unit looks its best with every new guest.