Whether you’re an interior designer or not, decorating your Airbnb is hard work. There’s an awful lot to think about, from colours, lighting, furniture, and more. Not to mention, a tight budget and guests to keep happy.
Luckily for you, I’ve decorated my fair share of Airbnbs and learned what works and what doesn’t. Instead of making an expensive mistake yourself, I’ll give you the design tips and tricks you need to make the perfect Airbnb.
Keep reading for better reviews, more bookings, and satisfied guests.
Sections:
1. Identify Your Ideal Guests
Before you decorate your Airbnb, you need to ask yourself a few questions.
Who are your guests OR who do you want your guests to be?
Consider the space and amenities your Airbnb offers and decide which type of guest suits them. For example, families need proper sleeping arrangements and room to dine and play. Whereas, business people need a dedicated workspace where they can focus.
Solo travellers can skip on the luxuries, whereas couples prefer lavish and romantic touches.
2. Choose A Theme
To set your Airbnb apart from a standard hotel room, consider choosing a theme.
If your Airbnb is in a city, use the city’s history, iconography, and atmosphere to inform your decorative choices.
For example, an Airbnb in Manchester could feature references to its industrial, musical, and football heritage - this includes worker bee symbols, football shirts, and pictures of iconic Manchester artists. Whereas, an Airbnb in Barcelona could feature pictures of Gaudi architecture and accents of yellow and red, the colours of the Catalan flag.
3. Choose Your Colours
Choosing the right colours is very important for decorating an Airbnb, but it’s also very risky. In my experience, colour is the biggest thing that makes or breaks an Airbnb.
Colours that are too vibrant or dark create a very particular mood and scare off the most amount of guests.
So, what’s the solution?
My advice: use neutral colours. Neutral colours are suitable for most guests and look great in every season. Not only are they beautiful and inoffensive, but neutral colours also make spaces look and feel larger.
That doesn't mean you can't use any bright or dark colours. You can use accent colours in cushions, rugs, throws, and pictures.
However, if your Airbnb is meant to attract a very particular type of guest, you might want to explore more vibrant or dark colour options. Ultimately, the choice is up to you.
💡 Bonus tip: a brilliant-white wall can be far too bright, instead use an off-white colour.
60/30/10 Rule
Interior designers have an unwritten rule called 60/30/10 which notes how you should divide your colour. Essentially, lighter neutral colours should make up 60%, deeper neutrals 30%, and brighter colours 10%.
If you want your colours to feel balanced, use this guideline when decorating your Airbnb.
4. Lighting
Lighting is one of my favourite tools as an interior designer. It's a great way to transform the appearance and atmosphere of your Airbnb.
I recommend giving your guests plenty of options for controlling the amount of light in a room - this includes window coverings, sunroofs, and lighting.
Table and floor-standing lamps are great to add a cosy feel in the evenings with ceiling lights offering an extra option for brightness if needed.
💡 Bonus tip: use warm light bulbs for a soft, cosy glow.
5. Plants
Bring life and colour to your Airbnb with plants.
Choose low-maintenance, evergreen plants such as Monstera deliciosa and the Snake Plant. These plants look lovely all year round and don’t need much attention to thrive.
Alternatively, purchase quality faux plants so you don’t have to worry about looking after them.
Get In Touch
There we have it, 5 tips for decorating your Airbnb. I hope I've offered some imaginative and practical insights for making the perfect space for your guests.
As always, if you'd like an at-home interior design consultation, just get in touch.