Virtual Interior Design Service Considerations
In today's highly competitive short-term rental (STR) market, exceptional design is no longer a luxury—it’s a required business asset. As we discussed previously, the days of simply listing "anything" and expecting huge returns are over. The strategic investors who are winning now are the ones elevating their properties to outperform the competition.
The good news? You don't need to hire a local, expensive firm to achieve this. Virtual Interior Design (VID) services offer a fast, cost-effective, and scalable solution, ensuring your property looks incredible, photographs beautifully, and meets the 5-star expectations of modern travelers.
Why Virtual Design is Critical for Today's Strategic Host
The shift to a more professional STR landscape rewards efficiency and scalability. Virtual design services fit this model perfectly:
Maximum ROI Focus: Unlike traditional residential designers, the best VID services for STRs focus on durability, guest appeal, and your bottom line, not just aesthetics.
Remote Scalability: If you invest out-of-state or manage a portfolio, you can design and furnish properties entirely remotely, streamlining your entire setup process.
Click-Through Rate (CTR) Mastery: Remember, guests often only look at the first 5 photos. VID ensures every single image is professionally curated and styled to maximize your click-through and conversion rates.
Top 4 Virtual Interior Design Services To Consider
Here are four leading services, ranging from STR specialists to general e-design powerhouses:
#1: Showplace
The STR Specialist. Showplace stands out because it's built specifically for real estate investors and short-term rental hosts. Their entire process is geared toward optimizing investment properties for maximum revenue.
STR Focus: Designs prioritize guest appeal, minimizing maintenance, and maximizing photogenic "wow" factors to earn premium rates. They understand the need for durable materials and functional layouts (like designated workspaces).
The Full Package: Showplace often handles everything from concept to completion, including design, furniture sourcing, procurement, and even logistics, making it an ideal partner for remote investors who need a turn-key solution.
The Design-to-Funding Connection: Their deep understanding of investment means their designs are often tied to realistic budgets and timelines required for quick cash flow.
#2: Havenly
Best for Budget-Friendly, Quick Turnarounds. Havenly is a popular e-design platform known for its accessible pricing and simple process. It's a great option if you need general style guidance and help pulling together a cohesive look.
Process: You submit your room details, budget, and style preferences. You're then matched with a designer who creates concept boards and a final design plan.
Style Focus: Excellent for residential-style design. You'll need to clearly brief your designer on the durability and maintenance requirements specific to short-term rentals.
Pricing: Known for flat-fee pricing tiers, making it predictable for budgeting.
#3: Decorilla
Best for High-Quality 3D Renderings. Decorilla offers a unique service by providing photo-realistic 3D renderings of the proposed design. This is invaluable for STR hosts because the rendering becomes your staging guide and, sometimes, even a placeholder image for your listing before the furniture arrives!
Visual Confidence: The 3D renderings give you absolute certainty about the final look, which is crucial for maximizing the visual appeal of your listing.
Multiple Designers: They offer a design contest format where multiple designers submit ideas, allowing you to choose the best fit for your property's vision.
Focus: They cater to a wide range of budgets and styles, often connecting you with high-end designers virtually.
#4: Spacejoy
Best for Room Layout and Furniture Visualization. Spacejoy emphasizes visualizing your new layout and furniture options using virtual technology. This is especially helpful for hosts dealing with challenging or oddly shaped spaces.
Visualizer Tool: Their proprietary tools let you see how different pieces of furniture fit into your exact room dimensions, preventing costly mistakes in scale and placement.
Focus: Excellent for optimizing space utilization, a key factor in STRs where every square foot must be functional and aesthetically pleasing.
How to Choose the Right Virtual Design Service for Your Property
Before you sign on the dotted line, approach this decision with the strategic mindset of an investor:
Prioritize the STR Focus: Ask potential designers:
“Do you have experience designing properties for rental income and high occupancy?”
“Are you familiar with sourcing commercial-grade or highly durable furniture?”
Hint: Services built around the investor (like Showplace) will natively answer these questions better than general residential services.
Evaluate Procurement Services: Design is only half the battle. Procurement (purchasing, tracking, and coordinating delivery) is the most time-consuming part of setting up an STR. Ensure the service offers this, or be prepared to handle it yourself.
Review the Portfolio for "Photogenics": Look closely at their past work. Does the furniture look cozy and inviting? Is the lighting optimized? Does the room translate well into a stunning, high-converting cover photo? If their portfolio photos look dull, your listing photos will, too.
Know Your Budget and Timeline: Be transparent about your all-in budget (including furniture, shipping, and design fees) and your timeline for launching the listing. The service must be able to deliver within your financial and time constraints to get your investment generating income quickly.
In a market where every 5-star review and every booking matters, an investment in strategic design is the single best way to ensure your property achieves its full earning potential.