Dual occupancy homes can be a fantastic investment opportunity, giving property owners the option of dual rental income as well as the flexibility of letting both units or living in one and letting the other. As with all rental properties, however, making the unit(s) attractive to new tenants is essential.
One reason why renting out properties is not actually “passive” income – and there are many – is that there’s quite a bit of active work involved, much of which is keeping the unit occupied with happy tenants as opposed to spending time and money advertising and interviewing prospective tenants. All of that latter time and effort is done when the unit is vacant and not generating that passive income at all, so making your property attractive is important. First impressions matter!
Furniture and interior decor is essential, just as is keeping the property looking good from the outside. How can you furnish a dual occupancy home to make it comfortable, practical and functional, and aesthetically pleasing for tenants?
01. Optimise Space
Dual occupancy homes are generally much smaller than traditional homes; many of which were subdivided from existing properties where traditional postwar homes once stood. This means that space is at a premium, so optimising that space is absolutely necessary.
Depending on the space constraints of your units, you may wish to shop for multi-purpose furniture, e.g. Murphy beds, futons, and collapsable kitchen tables as opposed to old-fashioned and often spacious furniture. Also, the clever use of mirrors can make smaller spaces feel more spacious and less restrictive.
02. Choose Harmonious Styles
This is more of a general interior design consideration, but do you want all rooms to have a cohesive and similar style or do you want every room to have its own aesthetic feel? Choosing cohesive styles, either that complement, contrast, or seamlessly blend from one room to another is important in dual occupancy homes.
Given that spaces within each room may be smaller and rooms may serve multiple purposes, e.g. the kitchen and dining room may also be a living room, you may wish to opt for design styles that are more harmonious and similar rather than contrasting styles. Consider this for the colour and style of furniture to be used.
03. Prioritise Privacy
Privacy is at a premium in dual occupancy homes since the units may be directly adjacent to one another. Choose furniture and decor that makes the unit feel more cosy and comfortable, more like a real home. Also consider blinds and curtains that can provide that privacy whilst also blending into the desired aesthetic of the room.
04. Don’t Neglect Function
The smaller common rooms in a dual occupancy home such as the kitchen, dining room, and living room often blend together as essentially one room, unlike older homes where a separate room for each purpose was common. Since these rooms are now generally smaller and share multiple purposes in dual occupancy homes, consider furniture that is flexible and can be used for multiple functions.
05. Maximise Storage Space
Old-fashioned detached single dwellings often had spacious garages or dedicated rooms simply to stow away unwanted rubbish, Christmas lights from the 1970s, your nan’s old furniture now covered in an inch of dust, and so on.
That sort of storage space is simply not available in smaller dual occupancy homes and so storage has to be planned out carefully to keep the units clutter-free. Consider adding storage along corridors or even in furniture such as coffee tables, as well as providing ample wardrobe space in bedrooms.
Trevor Homes
Consult with the professionals at Trevor Homes for all things related to dual occupancy homes in Australia.
