When guests browse Airbnb, your property’s photos will most likely shape their first impression. A clear design style helps your home stand out, appeal to the right guests and feel worth booking.
At Air Design, we consider the property’s character, location and target guests before developing a styling direction. Here are six practical ways to make your holiday home look its best.
1. Choose a Cohesive Interior Design Style
Start with a clear theme rather than buying furniture and accessories individually. For a coastal home, consider warm white walls (never cool white), pale timber, sandy tones and muted blue accents.
For an inner-city property, you could go with walnut timber, funky coloured upholstery and darker details to create a more refined look.
Choose timeless materials where possible. Solid timber, natural stone, linen and wool can age well, while poorly made furniture may need replacing sooner.
For more affordable ways to refresh a property, explore our guide to rental styling updates recommended by interior stylists.
2. Living Room Styling That Feels Considered
Choose a sofa in a versatile colour such as oatmeal, taupe or charcoal, ideally with durable upholstery and removable covers for easy cleaning. Add two larger cushions in complementary colours, then introduce one or two smaller cushions in a subtle pattern or textured fabric.
A single large artwork on the wall often creates a stronger focal point than several small pieces. Repeat a colour from the artwork in your cushions or rug to tie the room together.
For lighting, combine ceiling lights with floor or table lamps. Warm-white bulbs around 2700K create a softer evening atmosphere than cool-white lighting.
3. How to Style an Airbnb Bedroom
White cotton or cotton-percale linen creates a crisp, hotel-style finish and is practical for regular laundering. Use a supportive, medium-firm mattress as a starting point, alongside quality pillows and a mattress protector.
Give your cleaning team a consistent bed-making standard: smooth the sheets, pull the duvet evenly across the bed, fold the top edge neatly and arrange pillows symmetrically. A simple throw at the foot of the bed can complete the look.
Use heavier bedding in winter and lighter options in summer where appropriate. Blackout curtains or blinds are also worth considering in bedrooms exposed to streetlights or early morning sun.
In larger properties, maintain the same standard across every bedroom so each guest feels equally considered.
Air Design stay bedrooms in Bowral and Balmain East
4. Choose Lighting That Works for Every Room
Use warm-white bulbs around 2700K in living rooms and bedrooms, with around 3000K often suitable for kitchens and bathrooms. Keep the colour temperature consistent within each room.
Place bedside lamps within easy reach of the bed, a floor lamp beside a reading chair and a pendant over the dining table where appropriate. In kitchens, ensure task lighting adequately illuminates work surfaces.
Avoid relying on one harsh ceiling light to illuminate an entire room. A considered combination of ambient and task lighting makes spaces more comfortable and photographs more inviting.
For more advice on presenting your property online, read our guide to taking better Airbnb photos and attracting more guests.
5. Kitchen and Dining Styling for Holiday Rentals
For kitchens, prioritise durable benchtops, well-maintained cabinetry and quality hardware. Timber finishes, simple splashbacks and brushed metal handles can create a timeless look without requiring a full renovation.
A dining table should comfortably accommodate your property’s advertised guest capacity, with enough space to move chairs in and out. Solid timber suits many relaxed holiday homes, while upholstered chairs can add comfort to a more refined setting.
For the photoshoot, add decorative touches such as fresh flowers, a styled cheese board and drinks or a bowl of seasonal fruit to make the kitchen feel inviting. Once guests arrive, keep benchtops mostly clear to give them plenty of practical workspace. Most importantly, provide enough quality cookware, tableware and serving dishes for the maximum number of guests.
Our guide to the amenities guests look for in short-term rentals covers other practical features worth prioritising.
Air Design stay in Drummoyne, Sydney
6. Style Your Airbnb for Professional Photography
Styling for a photo shoot requires a little more attention to detail than everyday use. Adding extra touches such as fresh flowers, books, folded throws, styled table settings or a breakfast tray can help guests picture themselves enjoying the space and make your photos more inviting and memorable.
Before the photographer arrives, straighten curtains, smooth bedding, arrange cushions and remove distracting items such as cables, cleaning products and everyday clutter. The aim is to make each room feel welcoming without overcrowding it.
Professional photography helps communicate the property’s character and gives potential guests a clear understanding of what they’re booking. Our guide to Airbnb photography and listing presentation offers more practical advice.
Make More of Your Property with Air Design
Effective property styling combines a clear design direction with practical choices that suit the property and its intended guests. The result should look distinctive, feel comfortable and be practical for regular use.
Air Design helps property owners across NSW and VIC prepare and present homes for short-term rental, including interior styling, photography, listing creation to ongoing, full-service property management.
Considering short-term rental for your property? Get in touch with our experienced team for a free property assessment to discuss its potential.
