5 Tips for Decorating an Airbnb that is Instagram Worthy
What to include and what to avoid when decorating for short term renters
Our cabin in the North Georgia Mountains has been an Airbnb rental for a little over two years now. Luckily we bought it furnished so it was a turnkey rental. It already had some great features and good furniture. Over time we have been working to update the look and make it more of our own decorating style while maintaining its cozy cabin vibe that is popular with our renter demographic. I’ll share more about the updates in a future post but today I want to cover some basics we have learned about what works and what we are learning to avoid when it comes to furnishing a short term rental.
Airbnb Decorating Tip #1: Incorporate accent items that will stand out in photos
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Just like with real estate photos, your photos will make Airbnb browsers save your place and come back to it and book. You will want to incorporate a few Wow Factor Items that fit your decor style that will make people want to choose your place. A huge bison head hangs over our fireplace. This initially drew us to look at the listing before we bought the cabin. A large antler chandelier lights the main dining table. I always get lots of comments about it whenever I post it on our Instagram page. On other Airbnb listings I have seen a large American flag attached to the wall as art for a lake Airbnb. A fun swing chair provides additional seating and is definitely stands out.
This wall mural is the perfect backdrop for this Airbnb in Nashville, TN.
Tip #2: Use practical fabrics that will hold up
I love seeing the white sofas and white outdoor cushions in Airbnb listings. They look so chic and dreamy. For us it’s just not practical for short term renters. Our place sleeps 8 and allows pets and kids. There’s wine and hiking boots involved so we have found that durable dark leather sofas, sectionals, and oversized chairs work best. Although we provide dog blankets and sheets and ask that guests keep their pets off the furniture we can’t really control that can we? Our sofas and chairs have done well with an occasional vacuuming and we swap out throw pillows seasonally and as needed. We also use patterned rugs that will hold up to constant use, are easy to clean, and won’t be ruined by stains.
Airbnb Decorating Tip #3: Give guests storage
Guests staying several days to a week need a place to unpack their clothes, store suitcases, put away groceries etc. Make sure there are ample empty chest of drawers in bedrooms, empty hangers in closets, closet space for suitcases, and plenty of places to hide away the groceries if there is not a pantry, which many Airbnbs do not have. Open storage in kitchens is great for often used items such as dishes and glasses but have some closed storage either under the counters or a few above to store away those cereal boxes and chip bags.
Also know that kitchen items might constantly be rearranged as guests who use a kitchen often during their stay may put them away differently than you might. That’s why its important to just provide the basics in terms of kitchen items with a few extra plates, glasses and silverware than they might need. In the kitchen of The Hillside House, an Airbnb in the mountains of North Carolina, it is easy to locate dishes and kitchen necessities while also enjoying closed storage for groceries around the stove and refrigerator. Their modern cabin vibe is definitely Instagram worthy!
Tip #4: Limit the number of decor items out on surfaces
Things are going to get moved around and life is going to happen in your Airbnb. People need a place for all their things and so keep picture frames and decor items to a minimum. The more things you have out, the more they will get moved around and possibly broken. We stick to a variety of wall art from canvas prints, to framed Audubon prints of bison, bears, and birds, to maps of the area or the Appalachian trail.
On surfaces we have only a few lanterns, vases, candle holders, and decorative bowls and baskets around that also serve as blanket storage or a place where guests can store their things. We keep a variety of hardcover and paperback books for guests to read and enjoy, including books about the area, things to do, and coffee table books about cabins. This colorful arrangement of books in this home would provide guests with endless reading material and an awesome focal point!
Airbnb Decorating Tip #5: Don’t use anything precious that can’t be replaced
Finally, avoid using anything in your short term rental that you would be heartbroken if something happened to it. The purpose of your rental is for people to enjoy your place. You want it to be cozy, fun, and to meet their needs. Occasionally things might happen though and furniture might get scratched, lamps knocked over, and dishes and glasses broken.
We like to use high quality nice items in our Airbnb but nothing that is irreplaceable if something happens to it. Ideally you will have a way in your rental agreement to recoup the cost of replacement if something happens. Make your place beautiful, fun, functional, low maintenance, and cozy! Also, make sure to book the place for yourself every once in a while too!
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Do you have any Airbnb Decorating tips that you want to share? What do you like to see when you stay at an Airbnb?
