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How to Decorate a Bedroom for an Airbnb In 5 Steps

Create a relaxed, inviting atmosphere.
How to Decorate a Bedroom for an Airbnb In 5 Steps
Tom Greenspan
Updated 
December 21, 2022

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Decorating a bedroom for Airbnb renting is not the same as a hotel room or a private residence.

So how do you decorate a bedroom for an Airbnb? 

To make it successful, desirable, and profitable, you need to make it more of an experience. You can do this by choosing a personalized theme that appeals to your target audience, buying durable furniture that can be easily replaced, furnishing and segmenting each room, and finishing it off with lighting and artwork.

Follow these steps and you’ll achieve super host status in no time!

1. Pick a theme

When decorating bedrooms for vacation rental, pick a theme that fits the overall style of the property. For example, a farmhouse-style rental should have bedrooms with decor such as shiplap, galvanized pots, and tea towel pillows. 

Pro tip: Each bedroom should have its own unique touch that ties into the larger theme to make them look different in listing photos. 

Popular themes to choose from include farmhouse, modern, rustic, industrial, traditional, and boho.

Each of these themes have their own unique characteristics and can appeal to different types of guests. When selecting a theme, it's important to consider the location of your rental, and the type of guests you expect to attract. 

This way you can choose a theme that will make your rental stand out and appeal to your target audience.

2. Make sure you have the basics

When setting up your Airbnb, it's important to make sure that you have all the basics covered. This includes providing comfortable bedding, clean linens and towels, and basic toiletries such as soap and shampoo.

One important item is a full-length mirror, which guests can use to get ready for their day or check their appearance before heading out. 

In addition, hooks for towels and bags are a great addition, as they provide a convenient place for guests to hang wet towels and keep their bags off the floor. Clothes hangers are also essential, as they provide a convenient place for guests to hang their clothes and keep them wrinkle-free.

Blackout curtains are also an important addition, as they help to keep the bedroom dark and quiet, which can be especially important for guests who are sensitive to light or noise. 

This includes providing a well-stocked kitchen with essentials such as coffee, tea, and basic cooking supplies. 

These items will help make your guests feel more at home and ensure their stay is as comfortable as possible. It’s important to think about the little extras that can make a big difference.

3. Style the bed

When styling a bedroom for Airbnb, the bed should be the starting point. The bed is often the focal point of the room, and it's important to make sure that it looks as inviting and comfortable as possible. 

This means a comfortable mattress to ensure that guests have a good night's sleep. To create a clean and inviting look, use high-quality white hotel sheets and a sufficient number of pillows for comfort.

  • Use or mattress comparison tool to find a mattress.
  • Best mattresses for an Airbnb.
  • Best pillows for side sleepers. 

To add personality and tie the room back to the overall theme, use accent pillows and throw blankets in colors or patterns that align with the theme. Remember, the bed is the focal point of the room, so making it look polished and inviting is vital.

4. Provide Nightstands

When setting up a bedroom for Airbnb, it is important to provide guests with a place to keep their personal items, such as their phone and other electronic devices. One way to do this is to include nightstands on both sides of the bed, with lamps for lighting. This gives guests a convenient place to put their items and keep them close at hand.

While traditional nightstands can be expensive, there are several alternatives that can be used in order to provide this functionality. One option is to use repurposed items such as small tables or dressers. These can often be found at thrift stores or garage sales at a fraction of the cost of new nightstands. Additionally, providing charging ports or outlets near the nightstands is also important, so guests can charge their electronic devices during their stay.

5. Add Artwork

Using artwork in a bedroom is an effective way to tie together the overall theme of the space. I like to incorporate artwork that reflects the local area, it’s a great way to create a sense of place and give guests a taste of what the area has to offer. This might include paintings or prints of local landmarks, landscapes, or other iconic images associated with the area.

Or you can include small, unique items such as paintings or prints that align with the theme, such as arrow paintings or beach scenes. These pieces can be found on online marketplaces like Etsy or purchased during travels.

It can be a fun and rewarding experience to search for these pieces and finding them at an affordable price is an added bonus. These small details can add a personal touch and make the room feel more unique and inviting.

Good places to shop for art include:

  • Amazon
  • Etsy
  • Make it - DIY
  • Facebook Marketplace 
  • Thrift Stores
  • Discount Stores
  • Caritiy Shops
  • Yardsales

When styling your bedroom, avoid these mistakes

With the best intentions, it's easy to make mistakes that can detract from the overall look and feel of the room. Below are the most common mistakes made when styling a bedroom, and how to avoid them.

Live Plants

Incorporating plants into a bedroom can be a great way to add a natural touch and create a sense of life in the space. However, it's important to keep in mind that live plants require care and maintenance, which can be an added task for the homeowner. 

Neglecting plants can result in a less appealing space for guests. An alternative solution is using artificial plants, which are readily available and have improved in appearance, especially succulents. They are low maintenance and easy to incorporate into the decor. If the use of live plants is preferred, it is important to have someone reliable to take care of them.

No Candles

Candles can create a warm and inviting atmosphere in a bedroom, however, they can also be messy and pose a fire hazard, particularly in a short-term rental where guests are not familiar with the space or have children. To avoid these issues, it's best to use flameless candles that are powered by batteries. 

These candles come in a variety of styles and designs and provide the same ambiance as traditional candles without the risk of fire. If you want to incorporate candles into your Airbnb decor, it is best to avoid real candles and opt for flameless candles instead.

No Clutter

Less is more. A cluttered space can make the room feel cramped and overwhelming, and can also make it appear tacky.

A simple and clean aesthetic is the way to go. This means choosing a minimal number of decor elements that are functional and aesthetically pleasing.  Additionally, having too many items in the room can make cleaning and maintenance more difficult for you as the host.

How should I decorate my Airbnb bedroom?

You may be missing out on some crucial steps in your Airbnb business strategy if you are not constantly booked, so keep reading and make the adjustments to your Airbnb offering.

Here are just a few pointers to whet your appetite:

  • Check your competition's photos and remember that these are the best listing photos. Instead of using color carefully, go bold, be different, if your competitor uses white, you use black, if your competitor uses black, you use neon.
  • Make your bedding more interesting by adding textures.
  • Keep your budget in mind; if you spend $1000 as your bedroom budget, how long will it take for your investment to pay off?

If you want to furnish your Airbnb bedroom, you should focus on the following:

  • Price. Atay within your budget.
  • Aesthetics. Make sure it works well with the other furniture.
  • Durability. If the furniture is consistently being used, it may need replacing sooner is its not built to last.
  • Cleanable. Consider ditching the idea if it looks great but is hard to clean. For example, a fabric bedroom sofa will stain whereas a leather sofa will not.
  • Replaceability. Can you get a new version if the old one breaks.
  • Functionality. Does it serve a purpose for the guest.

Having Airbnb listings is a business, not a hobby, and you should be making money and getting positive feedback. A venture into Airbnb could be a folly if you stray from the principles above!

Let's dive into some inspirational images.

1. Go Black

It's a bold move to use black in a bedroom, but guests love the aesthetic that a black bedroom with a minimalist style represents. There is no clutter, the dark walls work well with wood floors or cream carpets.

Since most people have white walls in their homes, black walls and wood tones subtly to create a bedroom that is a visual spectacle. You only need gray and white bed linens and a stainless bedside lamp to keep guests recommending your listings.

Ideally, this works in a bedroom with plenty of natural light, but artificial lighting does not detract from its splendor.

How to create this look?

White ceilings and back walls, contemporary lighting, and a clutter-free bedroom are essential. A bedroom of this quality is minimalist, fresh, clean, and delightful to sleep in.

How easy is this look to achieve? Working on a simple scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the most complex level to accomplish, these bedroom shelves is a 4.

2. Gray And Wood Panels

Despite its similarity to black, charcoal gray gives a different vibe to a bedroom, not softer, not warmer, just different. The aesthetic changes completely when combined with a wood shiplap ceiling, as the wood expanse exhibits the blues and other tones present in charcoal.

Keeping your bedroom clutter-free and simple is a good idea. If you can find a wood bed frame with a light tone, it will look great with the walls and ceiling. 

How to create this look?

To keep the ceiling timbers level and geometric, you will likely need to build a frame for them to be fixed to. Adding some accessories, such as Ostrich feathers, is optional. Also, ditching the duvet in this bedroom makes the bedroom look crisp and smart.

How easy is this look to achieve? Working on a simple scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the most complex level to accomplish, these bedroom shelves is a 7.

Adding wooden panels is unique but might need a contactor. It is easy to paint charcoal walls, but if they are not properly prepared they will show anomalies.

3. Navy And Gold

Too contrasting colours are blue and yellow. So, a bedroom in navy and gold gives a unique luxury appearance. The navy blue accent wall looks stunning and has a calming serenity to it. This built-in shelving is made of medium-density fiberboard (MDF) and adds depth and clarity to the wall.

How to create this look?

Painting a navy blue as an accent wall, and adding in custom built-in shelving in the same colour adds depth and clarity. Combine this will gold fittings and you’re set.

How easy is this look to achieve? Working on a simple scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the most complex level to accomplish these bedroom shelves is a 6.

In this bedroom, the woodwork is simple, but should be done by a carpenter to achieve a seamless look. The navy blue paint is divine and easy to cover with well-prepared walls.

4. Boho Chic

The bohemian chic style bedroom is a great way to attract clients who are looking for new experiences in decor, its fabulous look, and it helps you stay ahead of the competition.

A BOHO listing uses terracotta, textures, and mixes up the decor, which looks awesome. This era was characterized by plants and rattan furnishings, mainly due to their low cost.

How to create this look?

Most BOHO items can be purchased online at pocket-friendly prices, making it easy to recreate. Break away from the dark brown accent wall of other listings by using terracotta tones.

How easy is this look to achieve? Working on a simple scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the most complex level to accomplish these bedroom shelves is a 5.

Finding the correct accessories may be a labor of love, hence the complexity level 5.

5. Stencils

Did you know hex is Greek for 6?

Staying with the stencil theme, you can achieve some awesome looks that are unique to your Airbnb listing, resulting in more bookings. Featuring some geometry, a trendy bed, a headboard made from pallets, a memory foam mattress, and simple bed linens, this bedroom epitomizes simplicity.

It's free and easy to use and should give you the correct color scheme for the hexagons, if you choose a color scheme.

How to create this look?

Buy a stencil set, and paint them in a colour that does with your theme. 

How easy is this look to achieve? Working on a simple scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the most complex level to accomplish these bedroom shelves is a 7.

You will need to measure a lot and make sure your levels are correct if you want perfect symmetry as in the image.

6. Know your target audience

Identifying your target audience and creating designs that appeal to them is one of the most important steps to growing your Airbnb business. A listing near an airport hub, for instance, may attract pilots and cabin crew.

The best way to make them feel at home is to hang some aviation-related images on the walls, such as the old Rolls Royce jet engine.

How to create this look?

Aviation is not a requirement. Are there any prominent sports teams in your local area that you could attract? Display sports memorabilia related to the team. Knowing your potential clientele is important, whether it's Nascar or football.

How easy is this look to achieve? Working on a simple scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the most complex level to accomplish these bedroom shelves is a 6.

The end

We have listed 5 steps to make your bedroom standout and be more comfortable for your potential guests. 

We have also touched on what to avoid like; live plants, candles, and clutter. 

Make sure you identifying your customer, and try some of our 6 ideas to help stand out from the crowd and decorate you’re short term rental bedroom so guest rave about it!

That’s it, happy designing.