How Design and Staging make your Short-Term Rentals Earn More Money
Staged Livingroom from our rental in Glendale, Arizone
When people ask how we consistently drive higher nightly rates and better guest reviews, we don’t start by talking about algorithms or channel managers.
We talk about the couch.
Because the couch sets the tone for the stay. It’s the first thing your guests see when they drop their bags and look around. It’s the image they’ll remember when they think about their stay. It’s the centerpiece of your listing photos, whether you invested in a professional shoot or snapped iPhone shots yourself. And it’s one of the first things a guest comments on if it looks (or feels) cheap.
Most property owners don’t realize how many guests jugde within (milli)seconds if a space feels warm, well thought out, and worth the price. That’s why our approach to staging and furnishing STRs is rooted in both design psychology and ROI.
We want your space to look good - and we want it to perform.
Why Design Is Your STR’s Secret Weapon
Anyone can buy furniture. Anyone can throw a rug down and call it staged.
But design that actually earns money? That’s intentional.
Image of Georgie Laying down a rug on a design & staging Project
We’ve walked into listings where every item was technically “new,” but the space still felt like a mismatched showroom. Zero personality, zero cohesion, and zero chance of being remembered. And here’s the part most people miss: that forgettable space often ends up underbooked, underpriced, or poorly reviewed - not because it was dirty or poorly managed, but because it didn’t connect with the guest.
When we design a space, we’re not just filling rooms. We’re creating experiences through Emotional anchors - the details that make someone hit “book” and feel good about spending a little more.
That could look like:
A buttery leather chair in the corner that feels like a warm hug.
A custom mural that instantly becomes a instagrammable moment.
A color palette that mirrors the landscape outside.
Unique vintage pieces that give the space soul, and separate it from the pack.
We’re not afraid to go bold where it counts and stay neutral where it matters. And because we’re also the ones managing your property, we’re thinking about durability, cleanability, and guest-proofing the entire way through.
What Guests Actually Notice in Those First Seconds your Listing is Shown to Them
The human brain processes visuals in milliseconds. So before a guest even registers what kind of coffee maker you offer or how many bedrooms your property has, they’ve already made a snap judgment.
We design with those first five seconds in mind.
That doesn’t mean everything has to be high-end. But it does mean every design choice should feel deliberate. A splash of paint on an accent wall. Textiles with depth and texture. Art that doesn’t scream “mass-produced hotel room.”
We once worked on a property where the layout was awkward and the ceilings were low. On paper it was a tough sell, but with the right lighting, a little innovative furniture placement, and a few unqiue decorative pieces that made it really stand out (like a mural Georgie hand-painted herself), it became one of our most rebooked properties.
That wasn’t an lucky accident. That was design doing its job.
Where to Invest, Where to Save
Good design in terms of ROI is about knowing where to spend—and where to be strategic.
We might spend more on the sofa, the bed, and the lighting, because those are the pieces that take the most abuse love, get the most attention in photos, and directly impact the guest experience. But we’ll happily pair them with IKEA nightstands if the scale is right and style them so no one even thinks it could have come from an ikea flatpack.
Here’s a quick cheat sheet based on what we’ve seen work time and time again:
Splurge on the pieces guests interact with most.
That primary bed needs to feel like a cloud, anything less and you’ll hear about it in reviews. Same with the sofa: it’s where guests unwind, eat takeout, or binge-watch a show. And don’t underestimate lighting, a mix of quality overhead fixtures and the option for softer in direct lighting changes the entire feel (and the photos).Save where it won’t impact comfort or first impressions.
Secondary seating like accent chairs can often be found secondhand or reupholstered for a custom look on a budget. Wall art is a great place to get creative, try DIY prints, Murals, vintage frames, or supporting a local artist. Side tables don’t need to be high-end to be functional and stylish, especially in spaces where they might get bumped or scratched.Invest in texture, linen curtains, boucle pillows, wood grain, it photographs well and feels even better.
Linen curtains soften a room instantly. Boucle or textured pillows add depth without trying too hard. Real wood grain gives even a simple IKEA setup an elevated look. These are the details guests notice without knowing why.Avoid trendy pieces that won’t age well or shoot cleanly.
We’ve replaced bold patterned headboards and ultra-modern chairs because they looked dated or flat in photos within a year. What feels “now” doesn’t always feel “warm” or “welcoming.” We design for longevity, not likes.
And most importantly, design with the photos in mind, because the booking happens before the guest ever steps inside
Our Framework for Staging
Georgie painting a mural at our Scottsdale, Arizone Property
Let’s be clear: we’re not in the business of tricking anyone into thinking your property is something it’s not.
Our staging isn’t meant to mask your property into something that it’s not. Our approach to staging isn’t about covering flaws or chasing trends, it’s about elevating what’s already there. We focus on bringing out the property’s strongest features so it stands out to the kind of guests who’ll love it most.
We don’t use virtual furniture or wide-angle lenses that warp reality. We use honest design that amplifies what’s already great about the property, and solves for what’s not.
Maybe that means we build out a cozy reading nook under a slanted ceiling that used to feel like dead space. Maybe it means we design a mini mudroom moment at the entrance to give the space a sense of arrival. Or maybe it’s just curating shelf decor so that every surface feels intentional.
Every design move we make is about telling the right story, one that resonates with your ideal guest and makes your listing stand out in a crowded market.
How Design Impacts Your ROI in Real Numbers, Real Results
Here’s what most people forget when they DIY their furnishing: you’re not saving money if you’re losing bookings.
Design isn’t just aesthetic. It’s a revenue lever.
We’ve taken properties that were underperforming and turned them around simply by reworking the layout, improving the furnishings, and investing in better photos. In one case, we increased the average nightly rate by 25%, without adding any new amenities, just by redesigning the space to feel more valuable.
Another property saw a 40% increase in bookings in the first two months after we re-staged and re-shot the listing. Same square footage. Same neighborhood. Entirely different visual impact.
Your guests are making decisions based on feelings, and justify with logic. Design is how you control that feeling, and turn it into more clicks, more bookings, and more revenue.
A Design-First Approach That Pays Off
We don’t just tell you what looks good. We design spaces that work, for your guests, for your cleaning team, for your bottom line.
Our team brings a unique mix of on-the-ground experience (managing STRs ourselves), creative intuition (we’re constantly experimenting with new staging techniques), and financial insight (we know what it costs, and what it returns).
You won’t find cookie-cutter design boards here. You’ll find thoughtful, layered design that mirrors your goals, aligns with your budget, and elevates your space into something memorable
Frequently Asked questions
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Start with the space’s strongest features and build around them. A well-placed overhead light, layered textiles, and intentional furniture placement go a long way.
Guests scroll fast, your photos need to stop them in their tracks without feeling overproduced. We design every space with the listing photos in mind, so your first five seconds get a double-take, not a scroll-past.
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Make the space feel worth the price before anyone ever steps inside. That starts with design.
A guest decides in seconds if a place feels warm, clean, stylish, and worth booking. We’ve helped properties increase bookings by 40% just by restaging, relisting, and making design-led changes that made the place feel more valuable. -
Absolutely, if it’s done right.
Staging isn’t about hiding flaws or faking a vibe. It’s about making your space feel finished, thoughtful, and aligned with the kind of guest you want to attract.
We’ve seen higher nightly rates and more consistent bookings from listings that were staged with real design intention.
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Design like a guest will feel it, not just see it.
Use textures (linen, boucle, wood grain), go for soft lighting, and make sure there’s cohesion in every corner.
Don’t try to copy a Pinterest board. Do market reaserch on the area and create a space that feels intentional, guest-ready, and easy to remember. That’s what earns you five-star reviews and return bookings.
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The sofa, the bed, and the overhead lighting. Every time.
These are the pieces guests interact with most, and they have the biggest impact on how your space feels, and how it performs. If it’s not comfortable, beautiful, and durable, it doesn’t belong in your property.We don’t guess here, we’ve seen the reviews (and rebookings) to prove it.
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Be strategic. Invest where it counts, and make the rest work hard visually.
Wallpaper looks great, but Paint goes further than people think. Vintage pieces or Facebook Marketplace finds can shine when styled right. We’ve made budget-friendly spaces feel high-end by leading with texture, balance, and smart, unique focal points.
We’re Pete & Georgie - The Founders of Block & Barker
With 8+ years of experience and a portfolio of 20+ properties, we’ve learned what works (and what doesn’t) in Short-Term Rental Management. On this blog, we share our tried and tested insider strategies, and real lessons from running successful rentals—so whether you're just starting out or looking to optimize, you’ll find plenty of value here. Our goal is to help you maximize your earnings, streamline your operations, and build a standout short-term rental business.
