Fire pit, deck, and outdoor spaces: furnishing for max bookings

Category: Design & Furnishing

By: Nolan Peters

Posted: 2025-12-06T07:32:17.241Z

I have a great backyard/deck space at my cabin property that I'm underutilizing. Just two plastic Adirondack chairs right now. I see competitors with fire pits, string lights, outdoor dining sets, and hammocks. What outdoor furnishings and features have the biggest impact on bookings? And what are the liability/insurance considerations for fire pits specifically?

Reply by David Okafor:

Outdoor spaces are the #2 booking driver in cabin/vacation markets after hot tubs. Here's what actually moves the needle. Fire pit is the big one. Gas or wood-burning, doesn't matter. I see it mentioned in 40%+ of reviews on properties that have them. You can get a decent one for $200-500. Throw in some marshmallow roasting sticks and a bundle of firewood and guests go nuts. String lights are probably the single best dollar-for-dollar outdoor upgrade — $30-50 for warm white LEDs draped over the deck, and suddenly your outdoor photos look like a Pinterest board. The engagement on listing photos with string lights is noticeably higher. For seating, ditch the plastic chairs. You don't need to spend a fortune but some cushioned outdoor seating or POLYWOOD Adirondack chairs ($150-250 each) make a huge difference in both photos and guest experience. An outdoor dining table that seats 6-8 is important if you host families or groups — $200-400 from Wayfair for a weatherproof set. A hammock between two trees or on a stand ($50-100) photographs incredibly well and gets mentioned in reviews all the time. Nice extras: cornhole or yard games ($40-60), weatherproof Bluetooth speaker ($50), propane grill ($150-300 — propane is way better than charcoal for STR because less cleanup and mess), and a porch swing ($150-250) if you want that Instagrammable shot. About fire pit liability: TELL YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY. An undisclosed fire pit can void your coverage entirely. Proper Insurance (https://properinsurance.com) covers fire pit liability if you disclose it. Gas fire pits have less risk than wood-burning — easier to control, no embers flying around. If you go wood-burning, use a proper fire ring, keep it 10+ feet from structures, and put clear rules in your house manual about no unattended fires and having water or an extinguisher nearby. Also check local fire codes — some areas ban open fires during dry season. For a total outdoor transformation on about $1,000: string lights ($40) + fire pit ($300) + hammock ($75) + dining set ($300) + yard games ($60) + marshmallow sticks and firewood ($25). Photograph it well and you'll see the booking uptick within a month. You can build the fire pit safety rules into your house manual at https://strspecialist.com/tools/house-manual-generator.

Reply by Anika Sharma:

Two things to add: **Outdoor lighting matters A LOT.** Beyond string lights: - Solar path lights along walkways ($20 for a 10-pack) - LED step lights on deck stairs (safety + aesthetics) - Uplighting on trees or interesting features ($15 per solar spotlight) Good outdoor lighting = incredible dusk/evening photos for your listing AND prevents guest falls (liability reduction). **Weatherproofing your outdoor investment:** - Buy outdoor furniture covers ($30-50) and use them October-April - Choose materials rated for outdoor use: aluminum, POLYWOOD, Sunbrella fabric - Avoid: raw wood (rots without yearly sealing), standard cushions (mold in humidity) - Bring cushions inside during off-season - Apply Thompson's Water Seal to any wood decking annually The outdoor space is often what differentiates a $150/night listing from a $250/night listing in vacation markets. Invest here.