Vacation rental bedrooms have a lot of influence on how guests experience – and review- their stay. After all, nothing is more relaxing than a good night’s sleep. But often, Airbnb bedrooms get the least attention when it comes to decor. If you’ve never had a guest comment that they had the best sleep of their lives at your place, return to celebrate their anniversary year after year, or ask where to buy the mattresses or bedding you use, it might be time for an upgrade.
Ready to uplevel your vacation bedroom style? Excellent. Read on to discover how to turn your basic bedrooms into Instagram-worthy spaces that look inviting in listing photos, get those priceless positive reviews, and turn first-time guests into regulars.
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Here are My Top Tips for Improving Your Vacation Rental Bedroom Decor:
1. Start with a plan
White linens are a good idea for vacation rental beds since immaculate white bedding instantly communicates how spotless your place is. Even so, your Airbnb bedroom should have a color palette. Whether you go subtle and restful or bold and exciting, just make sure that your color scheme is intentional.
Before you start shopping, put together a mood board for the bedroom to look at how paint colors, wallpaper, rugs, accent pillows, and accessories will look together. Making a plan before you begin is one of the best ways to end up with a bedroom that looks like a professional put it together.
2. Have the “Right Amount of Stuff”
The most common mistake new hosts make is too much or too little stuff. Whether it’s by cluttering the space with everything you’ve found in your house (and want to get rid of it) or lacking the basic amenities, you’re telling your guests that you don’t care about them.
In Airbnb bedrooms, the problem is usually a case of not enough. I’ve stayed in many vacation rentals that lack good reading lights, adequate window coverings, a place to plug in a phone charger, or even a bedside table for a glass of water. Just providing a place to sleep isn’t enough for great reviews and return guests.
Put yourself in the guests’ shoes or invite friends to stay for the price of an honest (and private) review. Ask them to identify irritants, like not having a place to plug in a phone, what would have made them more comfortable, and what would have made their stay seem truly luxurious.
If you’ve converted a family home into a short-term rental and are unsure if it’s too cluttered or homey, get an objective opinion. You can also schedule a complimentary discovery call with me – strategy sessions are just one of the interior design services I offer!
3. Right-Size the Bedroom Furniture
The right-sized beds for your vacation rental depend on who your guests are, but if you’re hosting adults, usually the bigger the beds, the better. If you’re not sure what size will fit, we wrote all about it here, and there’s even a free download with done-for-you bedroom space planning options.
The key to a bedroom that feels professionally decorated is scale and balance. The nightstands should be proportional to the bed size and height, window treatments shouldn’t look skimpy, and storage furniture should feel neither massive nor flimsy.
For example, In a room with a king or California king-sized bed, the nightstands should be at least 30” wide, preferably 36”, and bedside lamps should be 24”-30” tall, not mini lamps. There should be four king-sized pillows on the bed, and if you have a foot-of-the-bed bench, make it three-quarters of the width of the bed.
The right-sized furniture makes your vacation rental bedrooms feel more comfortable and luxurious, even if they’re not very big.
Need a little help getting it all figured out? Contact me to learn when the next course goes live – write “course info” in the comment field.
4. Soften things up with textiles
Bedrooms should look inviting, comfortable, and even decadent. It starts with fluffy comforters and pillows, but it takes more than that for a luxe look. Add more softness, texture, and color with an area rug, blankets, decorative pillows, and drapes to take a bedroom from basic to beautiful.
An area rug is a welcome addition to hard (and cold) floors. Just make sure it’s big enough to extend a few feet on either side of the bed. It doesn’t have to go under the nightstands, but it should get close. Make sure to use a grippy rug pad under it to keep your guests from tripping over the edges.
Bedroom windows should have some sort of light-blocking window coverings. Roller shades or blinds are okay for this, but soften the look with another layer of drapery or Roman shades. Sheer fabrics will give your guests the option of privacy without blocking all daylight, and fabrics will help control drafts and glare. Visually, fabric window coverings go a long way to make rooms look more inviting, help disguise less-than-impressive windows, and add visual drama.
5. Styling is Important in Bedrooms, too.
Yes, you have to style vacation rental beds
Styling a bed does NOT mean adding a million decorative pillows. At most, you should have three and at least one. My favorite way of styling a vacation rental bed is to use two pillows per sleeper (that’s four total for full to king-size beds and two for twins) plus a decorative xl-lumbar pillow. One of the two-per-sleeper pillows can be Euro-sized, but they should have washable covers. The size of the lumbar pillow depends on the size of the bed.
Bedrooms need art, too!
Bedrooms often have plenty of wall space for art, but vacation rental hosts typically hang art that’s too small or skip it altogether. For large spaces, such as over a low dresser, use large art pieces or groupings of smaller art. These can be informal gallery walls or more structured groupings. Play with ideas on your mood boards to see what will work best.
The space above the bed can be tricky to style, but you should hang something there unless you have a high headboard, a dramatic wall treatment, or a window behind the bed. We here at Wildheart Design have styled many bedrooms, and we feel your pain. That’s why we shared 45 Ideas for The Space Above the Bed here. You’re welcome!
Just remember that anything hung above the bed should be very securely mounted and not be framed with glass, especially if you live in an area that experiences earthquakes.
Mirrors don’t have to be tacky
Every bedroom should have a full-length mirror somewhere, even if it’s just hanging on the back of a closet door. Decorative mirrors are a great way to add style to a bedroom, whether you hang them above a dresser or on the wall.
One trick designers use is to hang matching mirrors above nightstands and behind reading lamps. These can balance out a tall headboard, reflect light, and add that extra layer that makes a room look polished.
And as far as mirrored walls or ceilings? If they’re part of your guest bedroom esthetic, you might have a specialty rental that’s not covered in this post 😉. Otherwise, it’s a no.
A few accessories go a long way
Indeed, you don’t want clutter in vacation rental bedrooms, but some thoughtful accessories are necessary to add the finishing touches.
Style dresser tops with accessories that help keep things organized, like decorative trays and bowls perfectly sized to hold the things guests take out of their pockets. Inexpensive vases add color and height and can be filled with some persuasive faux flowers out there now.
I love framing quirky prints in easel-back frames to add charm to vacation rentals. Tabletop frames are also a great place to share practical information like Wi-Fi or streaming service passwords.
6. Inexpensive amenities make a big difference
You know that “no place to plug in your phone” problem I keep complaining about? Easily solved with a charging cube. 30 bucks later, you are the most thoughtful hosts ever.
We also love motion-sensor nightlights for en-suite baths – no more fumbling for switches or waking up a partner in the middle of the night.
If your vacation rental bedroom has a desk, stock it with a notebook, pens, and post-it notes. Fill a basket with magazines, up the romance factor with faux candles, or set a small spray bottle of sleep-enhancing linen spray on the bedside tables. You don’t have to provide everything for your guests, but a few thoughtful touches will go a long way.
7. You can get there on a budget
You don’t have to spend much to improve your vacation rental bedroom decor. A few thoughtful styling choices, some choice amenities, and, most importantly, a well-thought-out design plan will take you far.
If you’re handy or crafty, you can DIY things like headboards, pillows, and wall art to help you achieve luxury on a budget. Here are a few to get you started if you’re looking for ideas. It’s the thoughtful details that will small details will take your rental bedroom from “meh” to magazine-worthy and give it that special allure that your guests are looking for.
Notched Border Headboard in Fawn Gray
Tufted Fabric and Wood Headboard
Seagrass Headboard
Rattan Headboard
Upholstered Headboard with Nailheads
Metal Headboard
Scallop Headboard
Carved Teak Headboard
Upholstered Velvet Headboard in Royal Blue
Acacia Wood Headboard
Oak and Linen Headboard
Woven Leather Headboard
