Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share E214 - Andrea Moxham on the DIY Design Mistakes Hosts Keep Making
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
E214 - Andrea Moxham on the DIY Design Mistakes Hosts Keep Making
🎙️ Peak Season Podcast Show NotesDIY Design Mistakes Short-Term Rental Hosts Are Making (with Andrea Moxham)
Guest: Andrea Moxham, Founder of Moxie & Co. | Hosts: Luke Miller & Tyler K.
Interior designer Andrea Moxham joins Luke and Tyler to break down the most common design mistakes STR hosts make when DIYing their properties — with actionable tips you can implement right away, no renovation required. Whether you're just getting started or you've got a full portfolio, this one's a must-listen! 🏡
About Andrea: Marketing background turned full-time STR interior designer. She designs 3–5 properties per month virtually, with install teams across the US handling on-site setup in 5–6 days.
🚫 6 Common DIY Design Mistakes1. Designing for Yourself (00:07:56) Hosts default to the safe neutrals they'd use at home. Instead, design for your guest avatar — think about who's actually booking and what experience they're seeking.
2. No Cohesive Theme Room-to-Room (00:13:08) Painting every room the same color blurs together in listing photos; clashing styles feel disjointed. Make each bedroom and bathroom look distinctly different so guests can grasp the full size of the property while scrolling.
3. Generic, Overused Art (00:16:16) Skip the mass-produced Highland Cow 🐄. Think beyond frames — hang maps, blankets, or locally inspired items. Ask: would a guest stop to photograph this or study it over morning coffee? Great sources: Etsy, eBay, and Fine Art America (fineartamerica.com) for location-specific prints.
4. Shallow Guest Avatar Research (00:24:34) "Families" isn't specific enough. Pull competitor reviews into ChatGPT, search Instagram for the location to see what visitors photograph, study tagged photos at competitor properties, and use Google Trends to understand where travelers are coming from.
5. Rug Mistakes (00:31:24) No rug — or a wrong-sized one — is Andrea's biggest pet peeve 😤. Rules of thumb: bedrooms need a minimum 8x10 with feet hitting the rug on any side; living rooms need front legs of all furniture on the rug; dining rooms benefit from an indoor/outdoor rug for easy cleanup. Budget: a couple hundred dollars max.
6. Missing Window Treatments (00:36:28) Curtains are the most affordable room upgrade you're probably skipping. Replace metal cellular blinds immediately — they date a space instantly. Hang rods at least 6 inches above the frame with curtains reaching the floor. Use fabric Roman shades where curtains won't fit.
💰 Budget Rules of Thumb- Furniture: ~$10,000 × number of bedrooms (e.g., 5BR = ~$50K)
- Designer fees: Typically $3–$20/sq ft depending on scope and market
- Instagram: @andreamoxham
- Website: moxieandco.ca
- Free Resources: moxieandco.ca/freebies
Disclaimer: The content shared in this episode is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice. Peak Season Podcast and its hosts are not liable for any decisions made based on information presented here. Always consult qualified professionals before making real estate or investment decisions.
View all episodes
By Lucas Miller & Tyler Kostich🎙️ Peak Season Podcast Show NotesDIY Design Mistakes Short-Term Rental Hosts Are Making (with Andrea Moxham)
Guest: Andrea Moxham, Founder of Moxie & Co. | Hosts: Luke Miller & Tyler K.
Interior designer Andrea Moxham joins Luke and Tyler to break down the most common design mistakes STR hosts make when DIYing their properties — with actionable tips you can implement right away, no renovation required. Whether you're just getting started or you've got a full portfolio, this one's a must-listen! 🏡
About Andrea: Marketing background turned full-time STR interior designer. She designs 3–5 properties per month virtually, with install teams across the US handling on-site setup in 5–6 days.
🚫 6 Common DIY Design Mistakes1. Designing for Yourself (00:07:56) Hosts default to the safe neutrals they'd use at home. Instead, design for your guest avatar — think about who's actually booking and what experience they're seeking.
2. No Cohesive Theme Room-to-Room (00:13:08) Painting every room the same color blurs together in listing photos; clashing styles feel disjointed. Make each bedroom and bathroom look distinctly different so guests can grasp the full size of the property while scrolling.
3. Generic, Overused Art (00:16:16) Skip the mass-produced Highland Cow 🐄. Think beyond frames — hang maps, blankets, or locally inspired items. Ask: would a guest stop to photograph this or study it over morning coffee? Great sources: Etsy, eBay, and Fine Art America (fineartamerica.com) for location-specific prints.
4. Shallow Guest Avatar Research (00:24:34) "Families" isn't specific enough. Pull competitor reviews into ChatGPT, search Instagram for the location to see what visitors photograph, study tagged photos at competitor properties, and use Google Trends to understand where travelers are coming from.
5. Rug Mistakes (00:31:24) No rug — or a wrong-sized one — is Andrea's biggest pet peeve 😤. Rules of thumb: bedrooms need a minimum 8x10 with feet hitting the rug on any side; living rooms need front legs of all furniture on the rug; dining rooms benefit from an indoor/outdoor rug for easy cleanup. Budget: a couple hundred dollars max.
6. Missing Window Treatments (00:36:28) Curtains are the most affordable room upgrade you're probably skipping. Replace metal cellular blinds immediately — they date a space instantly. Hang rods at least 6 inches above the frame with curtains reaching the floor. Use fabric Roman shades where curtains won't fit.
💰 Budget Rules of Thumb- Furniture: ~$10,000 × number of bedrooms (e.g., 5BR = ~$50K)
- Designer fees: Typically $3–$20/sq ft depending on scope and market
- Instagram: @andreamoxham
- Website: moxieandco.ca
- Free Resources: moxieandco.ca/freebies
Disclaimer: The content shared in this episode is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice. Peak Season Podcast and its hosts are not liable for any decisions made based on information presented here. Always consult qualified professionals before making real estate or investment decisions.