Airbnb Decor Tips From A Seasoned Superhost

Best Airbnb Decor Tips

1. Choose an Airbnb theme

The best way to ensure you have a cohesive design is to choose a theme! Themed properties are all the rage right now and definitely feed that experiential hospitality bug that seems to be so big for travelers. I have an entire article written on the best Airbnb themes so you definitely should check that out for inspiration. Some of the best themed properties are ones that do up the character of the house or location of the property. Guests will gravitate toward your listing and book a well thought out themed property over others in the area.

For more info on picking the best Airbnb theme, check out this article!

2. Use greenery

Greenery is the best filler of any blank space but also provides a timeless look. Some of the best hacks for adding life to any space is to raid the Home Goods faux plants section and fill in all the openings with greenery. It also gives a clean and airy feeling to any space mirroring the indoors to the outdoors.

For any vacation rental you should use high quality faux plants, unless you’re cleaning teams can commit to caring for them. It will be hard to maintain between turns and just be better overall for a consistent look. I made the mistake of having real plants in Airbnb properties and they would die when I would get guests staying longer than a week.

3. Organic elements

Woods, concrete, marble and greenery are all timeless and go with any decor style. Any decor in these organic elements are easily interchangeable and durable. Guests are rough on Airbnb properties, at least I know I am (I have 3 kids!).

4. Make it cozy

Cozy is so crucial! No matter the vibe, extra throw blankets and baskets with more pillows is going to go along way with your guests. They will love being able to curl up and watch a movie or hunker down in cold weather. Even if your place is in a warmer climate, there’s nothing like an afternoon couch nap! Plus, even if guests don’t use it, there’s something about adding blankets to a space that make it feel homey.

5. Fill open shelves

If you decorate with open shelves, make sure you fill them! You want to space to feel complete. My favorite hack for filling any open shelves is the clearance end caps at Home Goods and Target then Goodwill for hardback books. Books are such an easy way to decorate any space and guests love a good coffee table book!

6. Incorporate art

You do not have to fill every wall with a piece of art, but have a focal point in each room. In this laundry/mud room, I have this hanging rack for jackets and did a fun gallery wall around it to make for a design moment.

7. Have fun with paint

In this guest room, I broke up the white walls by adding a frame around the bed and art above. Paint has to have the highest ROI of any other decor element you can add to your Airbnb. This DIY project took an afternoon and has a lasting impact in this guest bedroom of the Modern Midcentury Retreat.

8. Use functional elements

This gas fire pit was such a fun add to my San Diego Airbnb. The built in bench around the fire pit provides ample seating. It’s also super functional but looks great in photos with a few chairs and a stump side table.

9. Blank space is ok

Not every space needs to be filled up. Leave blank space open for guests to fill up. Especially walk ways and gathering places. You do not want your guests to have to move too much around to feel comfortable. Use your decor to tell the story of how guests should experience your space.

10. Mix textures for interest

This is my favorite way to decorate and a decor tip that is truly timeless. Incorporating organic textures like wood and granite will create a high end feel for not too much spend. This wood bar was a fast afternoon project for my husband and incorporates a new element bringing dimension and warmth to a modern kitchen.

11. Be practical with these Airbnb decor tips

The best thing I have learned is that I need to be practical and get durable furniture. Guests love a well designed space but having too much decor or feeling uncomfortable like the furniture can not be used, is not the way to go. You want your guests to feel super relaxed and like they can feel at home but not at their home.

Everything above is what I have used to continually achieve 5 star reviews from each guest I host. Below is the tool that helps me get an ROI on those decor elements.

12. Airbnb budget template

This budget template is what I use to plan out every short term rental I take live. It’s served me so well over the years and I would love to share it with you! If you download it and use it, let me know what you think and if there’s anything else you would add.