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You’ve done your fair share of travelling and you understand what makes a quirky space a legible destination stay, so why not channel some of that experience into a new project that could help fund your next adventure in the process?
In this article we’ll take a look at how you could turn your spare bedroom, guest annex or even your garden shed into a fun and profitable overnight stay.
From storage to storytelling
Step one is reframing that spare room to turn it from storage space into a picture. Travellers don’t want generic – they want stories. Could that old trunk become both a bedside table and a centrepiece? Could you frame a map from your last trip and call it décor? Even small touches like a stack of vintage books, a quirky lamp or travel souvenirs can make the room feel less like a spare space and more like a destination in its own right.
A canopy of fairy lights, a hammock chair or a mini indoor jungle with a few bold plants can turn a one-night stay into an unforgettable experience. Think ‘secret garden in suburbia’ or ‘writer’s retreat above a high street.’ If you’re lacking a muse, try IKEA.com for inspiration for small spaces.
Don’t overthink it
One of the most exciting ways to experience travel is to stay spontaneous and act quickly to embrace a new opportunity when it comes your way. Decorating your space should have this same fun, free vibe, so don’t overthink it and get bogged down in details that only you will notice. The faster you can turn the space around and get visitors in situ, the sooner you can start making money and saving for your next project or holiday.
Furthermore, if you’re smart with the renovations you make, you can either increase the overall value of the property or at the very least allow certain installations to be taken down easily in the event that you eventually wanted to sell. That said, you don’t need to let a house sale limit your design aspirations, as modern cash buying services like Sold.co.uk can offer you near-instant offers regardless of the state your property is in, completing on a date of your choosing.
So never hesitate to dream big when designing your room! But if there’s one thing better than dreaming big, it’s dreaming big and cleverly.
Market it like a memory
Once the space is ready, the trick is to frame it like an adventure. Don’t just list ‘double bed with Wi-Fi’, you’ve got to sell the story. Let your visitors know what they’re going to experience by staying with you. Prioritise how they are going to feel over how exactly many plug sockets they’ll get.
From there, browse listings of quirky destinations on Airbnb.co.uk to see how they market themselves and which bits catch your eye. A fast turnaround, a quirky angle and a no-nonsense pitch can get your spare room on everyone’s bucket list.
Sometimes, people need reminding that adventure isn’t always thousands of miles away: it’s the spare room in the next county that can help you see the world in a whole new way.