Airbnb Home Designers and Design: Ultimate Guide
The Airbnb home design concept and execution is one of the key determinants of success in the short-term rental industry. How you design and develop your property affects the types of guests that your rental will attract, the nightly prices that you can charge, the occupancy that you will be able to generate, and how much money you will make from your vacation rental business. Thus, it’s worth investing the necessary time and money and potentially working with a professional Airbnb home designer to get your property guest-ready in the most effective and attractive way, in line with local and industry trends and demands.
This guide covers everything that Airbnb hosts and investors need to know about designing their second home before listing it on Airbnb and other booking platforms, from the importance of Airbnb home design and the steps that go into the process, all the way to what an Airbnb home designer does and who the best experts are. We’ll conclude with a compilation of top Airbnb designs from our own portfolio that can serve as inspiration for you when you first start thinking about the overall concept for your own property.
Meanwhile, if you want to increase revenue by 22% and save $10,000+ off retail prices plus 75 hours of work when designing and furnishing your Airbnb rental, check out Showplace for professional STR design services. We create appealing, yet functional spaces individualized to each market and property, helping hosts get more bookings and more 5-star reviews.
Understanding Airbnb Home Design
Airbnb home design refers to the way in which the interior and exterior of a short-term rental is conceptualized, developed, and executed. For optimal results, vacation rental design should be guided by a single, comprehensive idea that ensures good flow and positive vibes across the property and prevents clashing spaces.
The design concept of an Airbnb home needs to be carefully thought through and driven by the following factors:
Market: Each location comes with its own unique atmosphere and culture which should be taken into account when designing an Airbnb space. You want your rental to be a natural extension of the surroundings rather than skirmish with them.
Target Guests: An Airbnb home design concept needs to take into consideration the specific needs and preferences of the guests that it aims to cater to. Vacationing couples have different expectations and requirements from business travelers, and so on.
Theme: It’s a must to select an overall theme for your design that is determined by the location and the target guests and carry it out throughout the property. Some popular Airbnb design themes include Bohemian, Scandinavian, Coastal, Minimalist, Midcentury Modern, and Cabin.
Property Type and Size: The Airbnb interior design should be guided by the number of rooms and the available space so that the amount of furniture and decor is neither overwhelming nor insufficient for a comfortable stay.
Competitors: You should study the competition when deciding how to design and furnish your short-term rental to know what’s demanded in the area as well as what’s missing from other listings so that you can offer something unique to your target audience.
Available Budget: The Airbnb design has to consider the investment capital that you have available and work with it. Keep in mind that the Airbnb furnishing cost can vary from $5,000 to $50,000 and even more, so it’s possible to get your property ready for guests with various budgets. Don’t let your modest budget discourage you; instead, focus on high-impact items and durable furniture to get the best value for your money.
Guest Safety: An Airbnb home design concept should only include items that are safe to use by different guests and do not impose any risks in order to avoid liability. This is particularly important for homes that cater to families with children or elderly travelers.
Easy Maintenance and Durability: Finally, you should focus on basic designs that are easy to clean, maintain, and keep in good shape for the long haul. Make sure that furniture and decor items are durable but also easy to replace when needed.
While this looks like a long list of factors to take into consideration when designing your Airbnb home, it’s important to look at all of them because how you set up your property plays a crucial role in its performance. In specific, the design of your vacation rental home is your opportunity to distinguish yourself from other hosts in the area, to create a unique experience in line with demands of local guests, and build your own brand.
A well-designed property that is both visually appealing and functionally practical looks great on photos, which leads to a better listing, a higher ranking on the Airbnb SEO algorithm, and more interest from guests. In addition, a short-term rental that has all the basics while offering a unique experience can afford to charge more than inferior comps in the local market and still generate a high occupancy rate.
And as every Airbnb host knows, the combined effect of higher daily rates and higher occupancy is more revenue. Indeed, a well-developed and implemented design can help you boost Airbnb income by as much as 20% or even more compared to comps.
One thing to keep in mind is that good Airbnb design and furnishing costs more than a mediocre concept and execution, which is the main downside of professional Airbnb home design. However, it totally pays off in the long term via higher revenue, which ultimately leads to better ROI and profit. What this means is that when you invest in a good Airbnb interior design, you need to be prepared for a short delay in your breakeven point, after which you will enjoy better returns in the long run than with a randomly furnished property.
What Is an Airbnb Home Designer
When talking about short-term rental design, an Airbnb home designer is a key figure. This is an individual or a company that professionally designs and - potentially also furnishes - vacation rentals in a way that helps grow revenue and profit for the host. An Airbnb designer is not only a professional interior designer but also someone with expert knowledge of the requirements of the short-term rental industry and intimate understanding of the trends in the local vacation rental market.
The responsibilities of an Airbnb rental home designer include:
Understanding the Preferences of the Host: First, a professional Airbnb interior designer needs to have an open conversation with the host where they understand what the host wants and discuss what is feasible and most appropriate considering the market, the property type, and the investor’s budget. The best Airbnb designers customize each design to the specific expectations of the host and needs of the home instead of offering one-size-fit-all design and furnishing solutions.
Developing a Comprehensive Design Concept with All Necessary Details: Once the designer gets a good idea of the assignment, they have to prepare an overall concept for the design of the property based on a single theme that matches the home and the surroundings as well as the target guests. This includes detailed mood boards that cover all floors and spaces in addition to lists of suggested furniture and decor items by room.
Incorporating the Local Culture and Trends in the Design Idea: The design concept proposed by a professional needs to be built in line with the specifications of the location and bring together some key elements of the local culture.
Working Hand in Hand with the Host: After the concept and mood boards are ready, the Airbnb home designer should work together with the host to finalize the design until the owner is fully satisfied with the final design. This might require a couple of rounds of adjustments and edits to the design plan.
Procuring Items, Installing, and Setting Up: The best designers provide comprehensive Airbnb furnishing services which include product lists, procurement, delivery, and installation for white-glove setup. Importantly, an Airbnb home designer usually has access to industry discounts in major furniture stores and marketplaces so that hosts can save on the total cost of furnishing their property.
Sticking to the Budget: A designer needs to stay within the limits of the budget agreed upon with the host. That’s why it’s important to have an honest conversation at the beginning of the process to learn about the host’s budget and set up realistic expectations about what is possible within this budget.
In terms of fees, some Airbnb designers charge a standard fee that depends on the size of the property, the number of rooms, and the complexity of the required design. This is usually the case with professionals who provide design services but do not go into furniture procurement and installation. Meanwhile, companies that offer comprehensive Airbnb design and furnishing services tend to include their fees within the total cost of getting a property ready for listing.
Many hosts, especially beginners with limited funds, prefer to opt in for DIY Airbnb home design in an attempt to save from the fees charged by professional designers. However, this usually leads to suboptimal design concepts that do not meet the standards of the Airbnb industry, do not align with local trends, and earn lower revenue. So, unless you have design experience, it’s usually worth it to hire a professional Airbnb home designer who can help you save time and money (through access to industry discounts) and generate more income in the long term.
How to Design Your Home as an Airbnb
Designing your own home to turn into an Airbnb rental is doable and can be profitable as long as you follow the necessary steps for an effective, well-organized process.
Here are the steps you need to go through to design a short-term rental:
Learn About Hospitality and the Local Area: Designing an Airbnb for guests is different from designing a home where you and your family will leave. You need to start off by understanding the basic requirements of the short-term rental industry, the must-have furniture items, the guiding principles, and the standards in hospitality. In addition, you have to become familiar with the specifics of your local market as some areas demand urban designs, while others are a better fit for barn- or cabin-inspired themes.
Check Out the Competition on Airbnb: The second step in the process of designing your home for Airbnb is to study other listings in your area to see what themes they have selected, what level and quality of furniture they offer, and what amenities they have. This will help you set the bare minimum for your own property as well as figure out what you can do to make your listing stand out from competitors.
Take Guest Reviews Into Account: If you are remodeling your existing vacation rental, read through guest reviews, especially negative ones, and see what complaints and suggestions guests have about the design and furnishing. If your property is not listed at the moment, check out reviews of nearby rentals. This is the most straightforward way to gather feedback and ideas directly from guests.
Figure Out Your Budget: Depending on your savings and loan options, work out how much exactly you can afford to spend on designing and furnishing your Airbnb property. If your budget is rather limited, you can get creative by shopping at wholesale stores or buying second-hand furniture while still providing a beautifully designed and functional space for your future guests.
Choose an Airbnb Home Design Theme: Once you know all the details listed above, it’s time to select a theme that will guide the design and furnishing of your vacation rental. Having a universal theme will help create flow from one room to the next and avoid mismatching spaces.
Start With the Essentials: In developing the design concept, get started with the must-have items such as a bedframe and a mattress, a coach or a sofa, and a dining table and chairs. Make sure that you have enough space to fit all the furniture that’s needed for a comfortable, 5-star stay before going into decorations and other extras.
Decide on Amenities: Based on your competition research, the experience that you want to provide to guests, and the features of your space, choose a few key amenities to add. Some of the most popular Airbnb amenities include a swimming pool, a hot tub, a fully furnished kitchen, a home office, and a game room. However, the selection of amenities needs to be driven by the available space and the interests of your target guests in addition to your budget.
Add Decor: After fitting in all necessary furniture and amenities, you should add a few decorative items into your Airbnb home design to highlight the local culture, build the uniqueness of your listing compared to comps, and give it a sense of completeness. Choose items that fit with the overall theme and that don’t take too much space to avoid clutter.
Prepare a List of Necessary Items: When your design concept is ready, it’s a smart move to list all required furniture and decorations including their dimensions, colors, materials, and all other details. This will make the shopping process easier while ensuring that all pieces fit where they are supposed to go and work well together.
Shop Around: Check out a number of different options, including online and physical stores as well as small local shops and large nationwide marketplaces. Unless you specialize in luxury Airbnb rentals, prioritize brands that are known for comfort and durability rather than luxuriousness. Short-term rentals are subject to increased wear and tear so you don’t want to waste your money on high-end furniture that will last just a few short years.
Set Up Your Home and Clean It Thoroughly: Once you’ve selected all items, organize their delivery, assembly, and mounting. Set up your property with all furniture and decor and make sure that they look as good together in reality as you imagined. After your property is furnished, you need to deep-clean it to get it ready for listing and welcoming your first guests.
Take Professional Photos: As soon as your Airbnb gets cleaned, you should take professional-quality photos of all rooms and amenities that highlight the most attractive areas of your property. Your listing photos are the first thing that potential guests will see, so that’s your chance to grab their attention and make them choose you over competitors in the area.
With these 12 steps, you are well-prepared to venture into designing and furnishing your home to list on Airbnb in a way that boosts rental income and profit.
Best Airbnb Home Designers
If you decide to take advantage of the benefits that come with professional design services for Airbnb, it’s crucial to choose a top provider whose design will maximize the performance of your property.
The best Airbnb design and furnishing companies available to hosts across the US market include:
Showplace Airbnb Home Design: Best Overall Airbnb Home Designer
Showplace is a top-ranked Airbnb home designer which works exclusively with short-term and mid-term rental properties in all US locations. The company was established by Justin Miller and Dan Palumbo in 2020 and has its headquarters in Denver, CO. Up until now, Showplace has designed and set up more than 1,000 vacation rentals.
As a result of the professional services and the strong experience in the hospitality space, the company helps hosts save up to 75 hours of work and over $10,000 when getting their properties ready for listing. Owing to the technology-based designs specifically tailored to the needs of each property and market, Showplace-furnished rentals earn an average of 22% more nightly revenue than competitors.
With Showplace, hosts and property managers can choose between two Airbnb home design services:
Showplace Pre-Made Designs: Showplace offers 10+ readily available design styles that have been conceived and developed for Airbnb properties in specific. Available themes include Modern Minimalist, Scandinavian, Bohemian, Cabin, and more. All Showplace pre-made Airbnb furniture packages focus on guest comfort and space functionality and are customizable to the needs of Airbnbs of different sizes and in various markets. After selecting a package that best fits the specifications of their property and their own preferences, owners can add, remove, and replace items until they are entirely satisfied with the final Airbnb home design. Once you have approved all furniture and decor items, you can easily check them out from a single place while enjoying discounted prices to save on your furnishing costs. With this service, you can have your property ready for listing in less than 4 weeks.
Showplace Custom Designs: Alternatively, with Showplace, you can access end-to-end Airbnb home design and furnishing services that are professionally built and personalized to your property, location, guests, preferences, and budget. You get to work hand in hand with an expert interior designer that will suggest the theme and items that will have the biggest impact on your bottom line and that are easy to clean and maintain. Once the final design has been approved by you, we will help you procure all necessary items at the best possible price and have them delivered to your home. Through the Showplace Preferred Contractor Network, you can get white-glove delivery, installation, and cleaning services that leave your property ready for photos and listing. The entire process takes up to 6 weeks.
Airbnb hosts can work with the Showplace Airbnb home designer to launch a brand new listing as well as to refresh an operating short-term rental and give it an update. Customers report that their Showplace-designed properties have achieved an average revenue growth of 22%. This is on top of saving $10,000 off retail furniture and decor prices via access to industry discounts.
Short-term rental owners who are interested in top-ranked professional design and furnishing can use the Showplace Free Furnishing Estimator to get an idea of the expected range of cost and learn more about the process.
Füllhaus Airbnb Home Design: Best AI-Powered Airbnb Home Designer
Fülhaus is a popular Airbnb home designer platform that leverages the power of AI to help with the design of short-term rentals. Unlike Showplace, this company does not provide procurement and delivery services, so there’s a lot of work that’s left for the host. Fülhaus was founded by Andria Santos in 2015, with headquarters in Montreal, Canada. Currently, the Airbnb designer operates across the US market as well as in Canada.
What makes Fülhaus stand out from other Airbnb design providers is Ludwig, their proprietary AI-based Airbnb designer. The tool enables STR hosts and other operators to build designs based on their vision and find the best fitting furniture items to bring the design concept to life. Nevertheless, property owners should not rely too heavily on technology when designing their Airbnb home as human touch is a crucial aspect in the hospitality industry to guarantee optimal visual and functional outcomes.
Fülhaus operates a subscription-based pricing model with monthly costs between $8 and $79 when billed annually. The exact cost depends on the number of projects and the included services. While the company offers access to industry discounts, there is no estimate of the expected cost for an individual project. Having a look at the Fülhaus portfolio reveals a range between $34,000 and $175,000 for individual properties.
Furnishr Airbnb Home Design: Best Airbnb Home Designer for Portfolios
Furnishr is an interior design company whose services can be used by the owners of short-term rental properties although the designer doesn’t specialize in Airbnbs only. The company was started by Michael Van and Karen Lau in 2018 and has its headquarters in Toronto, Canada. Furnishr helps design and furnish properties in the entire US market except Hawaii.
Similar to Showplace and unlike Fülhaus, Furnishr offers both design and furnishing services that are tailored to the individual home but do not necessarily reflect best practices in the hospitality industry as the designer works with different types of real estate properties, including both primary homes and rentals. Popular design themes offered by the company include Contemporary, Industrial, Coastal, Bohemian, and others. Owners can choose how involved to be in the design and furnishing process in line with their knowledge and preferences.
The entire process of getting a property ready for guests takes 4-6 weeks with Furnishr. The designer does not specify the typical range of cost as the price depends on the property type and size, location, rooms, and furnishing level. The company website has a free cost calculator that interested customers can use to get a potential range of expected budget.
Pros and Cons of Airbnb Home Design
A carefully and smartly designed Airbnb property comes with many benefits over a home that’s been hastily furnished and put together to get listed. However, there are also some minor drawbacks associated with a professionally designed Airbnb home. Thus, hosts need to study both the pros and cons when deciding how to go about getting their rental ready for guests.
The most important advantages of meticulous Airbnb interior design include:
Attractive Listing Photos: Thoughtfully designed properties take excellent photos which lead to better-performing Airbnb listings.
Better Ranking on Airbnb: The Airbnb algorithm takes into account the quality of photos when ranking listings, so properties with high-quality photos get in front of the eyes of more potential guests.
Higher Nightly Rates: When your property looks more attractive than comps, you can charge a higher daily rate and still get plenty of reservations.
More Occupancy: If your listing ranks well and your property looks attractive, it will get more bookings, leading to a better Airbnb occupancy rate. Occupancy is one of the main determinants of revenue and profit in the hospitality industry.
Better Income: Professionally designed Airbnbs bring more money to their owners due to strong nightly prices and above-average occupancy.
More 5-Star Reviews: Well-designed properties lead to superior guest experiences and increased guest satisfaction, which translates into a higher number of positive reviews. This, in turn, helps listings rank even higher in guest searches in the future.
Appreciation: Designing and furnishing your Airbnb is an easy way to add instant value to your property and appreciate its value in case you plan to sell it in the near future.
Some disadvantages of specialized Airbnb home design to keep in mind and how to mitigate their impact include:
Elevated Initial Cost: Working with a professional Airbnb home designer costs more than designing your property yourself, in most cases. However, in many cases, the designer fees are offset by access to industry discounts that designers have and hosts don’t. Moreover, a professionally designed rental can help bring more revenue in the long run, more than compensating the initial investment cost.
Longer Launch Timeline: While you can probably put together an Airbnb property in a couple of weeks, comprehensive design and furnishing services take 4-6 weeks, on average. This leads to a delay in your business launch date. Nevertheless, if listing your property a bit later means earning more income afterwards, it’s likely to be worth it.
Overly Specialized Design: Some interior designers might deliver designs that overemphasize the needs of specific guest personas and current trends in the market. It’s important to agree with your designer that you want a timeless design that will not go out of fashion in a few short months. The best Airbnb home designers specialize in eternal themes and designs.
Difficult Cleaning and Maintenance: Complicated Airbnb design concepts and implementations might be hard and expensive to clean and maintain. Make sure that the designer understands the need to focus on designs and furniture that come along with easy and cheap maintenance.
Lower Return: Due to the higher initial cost and the delayed launch, professionally designed Airbnbs require a bit more time to start delivering profit. But once the investment cost has been covered, they have the potential to generate significantly more revenue and ROI than counterparts that have been quickly prepared for listing.
As you can see, the pros of designing a home for Airbnb outweigh the cons, especially in the mid to long term. To further maximize the advantages while eliminating any disadvantages, check out how Showplace can help you streamline the entire process and boost results.
Airbnb Home Design Tips
You can easily improve the process and outcomes of designing your home for listing on Airbnb by following some proven tips and tricks.
Here are the best tips that experienced hosts swear by when it comes to the design of short-term rentals:
Treat Your Airbnb as a Business: First and foremost, remember that your short-term rental property is a business endeavor and treat it as such. Let all your design and furniture decisions be driven by cost-benefit analysis rather than your personal preferences as you’re not furnishing your own home.
Do Your Research: Due diligence is key. Study the competition, learn about the market, and figure out what guests expect. That’s the only way to be relevant in the market and outperform the competition.
Work Within Your Budget: Draw a budget based on your financial situation and stick to it no matter what. It’s better to get started with a simply furnished property that provides all the basics and build on it over time than to create a lavish space that you cannot afford to pay for and maintain.
Opt for Timeless Designs: Choose a theme that will persist over time and will not look ridiculous in a couple of years. While trendy designs can help you bring in more guests in the next few months or years, they will quickly become obsolete, driving the need for an expensive remodel.
Choose Comfort and Longevity Over Luxury: Shop from brands that are famous for the high-quality furniture that they offer as this will help you boost ROI. Once again, you are furnishing a rental property that is subject to excessive wear and tear, not your own home.
Go for High-Quality Bedding: Don’t try to save on a comfortable and high-quality bed frame, mattress, and bedding linen. Comfortable and adaptive sleeping options are one of the most important aspects of a well-prepared Airbnb space that can make it or break it for guests. Make sure to accommodate for the needs of both hot and cold sleepers.
Ensure Plenty of Light: If your property provides a lot of natural lighting, take advantage of it. If not, make sure to create ample lighting in your property. Well-lit spaces look better on photos and feel more welcoming than dimmed areas unless that’s part of your design theme.
Add Some Uniqueness: Use amenities and decorations to provide your property with a unique character and make it stand out from the crowd. While aligning with the local surroundings is a major aspect of a carefully designed Airbnb, your property should not entirely blend in and get lost.
Incorporate Local Culture and Art: Add a few decor items that represent local culture and connect your property with its surroundings. That’s also a good opportunity to collaborate with local artists and display their work in your property, potentially with the name and the contact info of the artist in case guests want to explore and purchase their work.
Provide Amenities: Don’t forget to offer all must-have amenities such as free wifi, kitchen with basic cooking supplies, linen, towels, and toiletries. In addition, consider popular extras like a pool or a hot tub if you have the space and the budget for this.
Avoid Clutter: At all costs, avoid overstuffing your Airbnb with unnecessary items that will create a sense of clutter and discomfort. Simplicity, flow, and cleanliness are things that guests will appreciate and reward with positive reviews.
Keep the Space Person-Less: Clear away personal belongings such as family pictures, engraved gifts, and personal decors that will constantly remind guests that they are in someone else’s home. Keep the space as neutral as possible so that everyone can easily fit in and feel at home.
Consider Hiring a Professional Designer: Finally, if you feel that you don’t have what it takes to design your Airbnb on your own, think about working with a professional Airbnb home designer. The higher cost and potentially delayed launch date will be more than made up for by the better daily rates and higher occupancy.
These top tips will help you opt in for the best design option for your Airbnb home to boost performance from the get go.
Top Airbnb Home Designs
Now that you understand the importance of good Airbnb design and the steps it takes to create one, we’ve selected a few top-performing STR designs from our portfolio to help you get inspired about your own property. Meanwhile, remember that each home has its own specifications that need to be taken into account to unveil its full potential.
Following are 5 top Airbnb home designs from Showplace to turn on your imagination:
1. Tropical Paradise
What makes this resort-based Airbnb one of the best looking designs in our portfolio is the mix of contrasting colors and patterns that create a cozy, welcoming feeling throughout the property. The accents and small touches, such as tropical floral wallpaper and live plants, help guests submerge into a stylish tropical oasis that warmly embraces them. The wooden floors, ceilings, and furniture items add to the sense of natural snugness and comfort.
2. Bohemian Dream
Bohemian style is one of the most demanded design concepts among Airbnb hosts, and this property in Coachella Valley reveals the full potential of this eclectic style. The design led by burnt orange colors, checkered patterns, natural materials, and live plants creates an unmatched relaxed, inviting comfort. This Boho style that combines global influences and artisan accents is more universal than many think, making it a good fit for both desert rentals and urban getaways.
3. Scandinavian Luxe
This Airbnb home design focuses on Scandinavian simplicity while incorporating tropical elements and Bohemian features for a unique, luxurious experience that will satisfy even the most demanding guests. The neutral colors and simple furniture items contrast with a range of bold accent pieces, such as patterned walls, floral wallpapers, and straw light fixtures, to give this space a unique character that guests are guaranteed to notice and comment on in their reviews.
4. Eclectic Maximalism
This eclectically maximalist property proves that sometimes more is better in the Airbnb home design space. The brightly colored, patterned walls, rugs, and throw pillows come together in an eclectic mix to create an atmosphere of a luxury vacation filled with positive vibes as soon as you enter the property. This happy design has the potential to light up your Airbnb home, but is generally recommended for larger properties with ample spaces.
5. Industrial Cabin
Contrary to the design above, this Airbnb concept relies on minimalism created via an industrial-chic design augmented by Southwestern elements. The dominating monochrome colors of the walls and the furniture combine perfectly well with the bold cast iron and rope elements to highlight the functionality and coziness of this cabin. This Airbnb home design could be a great choice for cabins and other simple properties in rural and semi-rural areas.
You can explore more popular Airbnb design concepts here to find inspiration for your own space. Meanwhile, if any of these ideas sparks your interest, don’t hesitate to get in touch to discuss how we can create a similar design for your own property.
Key Takeaways
The Airbnb home design is one of the main factors determining your nightly prices, occupancy, revenue, and profit, so you should consider carefully whether to opt in for a DIY design or hire a professional interior designer. In case you decide to design and furnish your short-term rental on your own, take into account the location and the property type, the target guests, and your budget. Focus on concepts that are timeless and items that are durable and easy to maintain. If you decide to work with an expert Airbnb home designer, look for someone who specializes in short-term rentals and who has a proven track record of successful design projects for Airbnbs.
For professional, customized Airbnb design and furnishing services that require less than 6 weeks to launch a property and that help you increase revenue by an average of 22%, check out Showplace. Our designs optimize the space, match the needs of your guest persona, and exceed your expectations. High-quality design is one click away for maximizing the performance of your vacation rental.