How to Decorate an Airbnb Bedroom — Alisha Arnold (2024)

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I know not everyone finds decorating their space as fun as I do, and for some folks, it can be downright intimidating. For me, one of the easiest places to start are the bedrooms. This is where your guests will spend a good portion of their time, and you want to make sure it’s a really inviting and comfortable space. I like to pick a theme for each home to tie everything together, with a central color to add bright and exciting touches. This is really easy to do with my 6 big tips for styling your short term rental bedroom.

The theme of your bedrooms should tie into a larger theme of your vacation rental. For instance, if you have a farmhouse, then the bedrooms should have farmhouse decor, you know, shiplap, galvanized pots, tea towel pillows (think Johanna Gains.) But each room should have a touch of their own style that ties into the larger theme. It is important to make each bedroom look different so people don't think they are all the same room in your listing photos.

Here are some popular themes to pick from:

• Farmhouse

• Modern

• Rustic

• Industrial

• Traditional

• Boho

In this article, I feature photos from Lodi Landing. This is our short term rental in Lodi, CA. The theme for this house is Modern Boho. This bedroom is coined The Coral & Arrow room. The color scheme is navy, coral, beige and silver. And you guessed it there are arrows throughout the decor.

If the room doesn’t have the basics then it doesn’t matter what your decorating looks like. Are you missing any of the basics from this list? If so, this is a good place to start.

• Full-length Mirror

• Hooks for towels and bags

• Clothes hangers

• Luggage rack

• Blackout curtains

• Trash can

Start your styling with the bed. A comfortable mattress is a must. Use white hotel quality sheets and nice full pillows - don’t skimp here. You need more than two pillows on each bed for comfort. Add a white comforter. Using all white linens keeps the space feeling clean and fresh and you can bleach those items if they get stained or dingy.
Top off the white bedspread with on theme accent pillows and throw blankets to add some personality and connect back to your overall concept. The bed is the focal point of the room, so making it look clean and inviting is crucial.

1 Pillow // 2 Pillow // 3 Pillow // 4 Throw Blanket

If at all possible, have a nightstand on each side of the bed with a lamp so guests have a place to put their personal items (water, phone, watch, etc). Nightstands can be expensive, so feel free to buy used or get inventive. I used two garden tables in my coral and arrow room and they were only $30 each. Make sure you have a charging station or accessible plugs near each nightstand for your guests to charge their phones.

After the bed is done focus on other furniture in the room (dressers, desks, etc.) Add a few items to help pull the theme together but keep it simple. You could use a fake plant (or a real plant if someone will take good care of it), a lamp, a few books, a basket, or a tray for belongings.

Using fun art in your bedroom is a great way to pull your theme together. These little touches could be something like the arrow paintings I snagged off of Etsy, or the beach painting I got in Mexico. These little details add a unique flair and are really fun to hunt for. I enjoy looking for these items wherever I can, the cheaper the better.

Some good places to shop for art:

• Make it! - If you’re the crafty type, what better way to get unique design elements than making them yourself. Pinterest is loaded with great DIY decorating ideas

• Thrift Stores - Hunting through Thriftshops never fails to turn up great decorating finds

• Discount stores (Marshalls, T.J. Max, Homegoods, etc.)

• Yardsales

• Facebook Marketplace

Live Plants

Plants seem like a nice, easy, way to add a little “life” to your decorating. The problem is, every living thing, even a cactus, needs care. Adding watering and general plant maintenance to your “to-do” list might not be something you want to do. And, if your plant gets neglected, nothing is more unappealing to guests than a dead or dying plant. Luckily if you still want to add a little plant life to your decor, fake plants have come a really long way in the past few years, especially succulents. Just be sure to use them sparingly. And if you have your heart set on live plants make sure you have someone with a green thumb to take care of them.

No Candles

Candles set a nice mood, especially in the bedroom. Candles are also messy, and a serious fire hazard, especially if your short term rental is kid-friendly. If you would like candles to be a part of your aesthetic, battery powered flameless candles are a great way to go, with a lot of varieties to choose from. Do not put real candles in your short term rental.

No Clutter

The last thing your bedroom space needs is a lot of clutter. Too many elements make things seem crowded and busy, and you run the risk of the decor looking tacky. Too much “stuff” also creates more work for clean up - dusting, putting things back after guests leave, etc. A clean and simple aesthetic means less work for you in the long-run.

Want more help decorating your short term rental? Download my free Interior Design Style Template. You can read more about that here.

Download the template