9 Functional Airbnb Interior Touches That Turn Basic Apartments Into 5 Star Stays
Airbnb Interior Ideas That Are Stylish, Practical, and Under Budget.
Furnishing your first Airbnb can be super exciting, but also overwhelming. You want your space to look awesome, function smoothly, and stay within a realistic budget. The good news? You don’t have to sacrifice style or comfort to make that happen with my help!
This post is all about Airbnb interior.
This guide, based on my personal experiences breaks down how to style a two bedroom Airbnb apartment step by step, including real examples, practical recommendations, and must know tips to help you design a beautiful Airbnb interior, even on a tight budget. Whether you’re working with a city style apartment or a smaller guest space, you’ll find Airbnb ideas and layout inspiration you can actually use.
Take it from me, a seasoned Airbnb Host with over 25 properties under my belt. I'm speaking from my experience and... from personally learning the hard way.
1. Start With a Mood Board, Even If You’re Not a Designer
Before you buy a single piece of furniture, start by creating a mood board. This helps you see the full vision of your Airbnb interior in one place before spending a dime. You can use simple apps like Canva to pull together inspiration. Or follow me on Pinterest here to see some ready made ideas. You can also check out my Mood Board here for inspiration and ideas that have a track record of working.
Think of it like decorating online before doing it in real life. It gives you a chance to plan your color palette, layout, and budget more clearly. From my experience, not doing this step can easily take you from an expected, planned budget to a "wow, wait..how much did I spend?" fast.
How Much Does It Even Cost to Furnish an Airbnb?
For reference, furnishing a one bedroom Airbnb in a major city including the living room, kitchen, and bedroom can cost around $6,000 for a stylish, functional setup. A two bedroom typically falls between $8,000–$9,000 for a fully furnished, guest ready space.
If you’re on a strict budget and shopping secondhand or sticking to only essentials, you may be able to do it for closer to $3,000 before extras like smart locks, extra guest supplies, and cleaning gear.
In this post, we’re going to focus specifically on style and furnishing everything from furniture for Airbnb to practical design tips, without going overboard.
2. Living Room Airbnb Interior: Warm, Functional, and Simple
Start with your living room, it’s often the first thing guests notice, and a well designed space creates a lasting impression.
Here’s a quick breakdown of what to include:
• A comfortable couch - preferably a durable, medium-tone fabric
• Rug - preferably pet-friendly
• Coffee table or side tables
Furniture Tips:
Use a warm-toned couch with practical armrests. It adds comfort, function, and visual depth to the space. Nothing too light, as light tones stain and show imperfections easily. Pair it with neutral throw pillows in Khaki, or terracotta to keep things cozy.
Add a decorative faux plant to soften the space and bring life into the room, no need for a real plant that someone else will have to maintain between guest stays. The goal here is low maintenance, high impact.
Mirrors are another smart touch. Not only do they make small spaces feel larger, but they also serve as subtle décor. Floor length or round wall mirrors work especially well in apartments with limited natural light. I always recommend at least one full size mirror.
This is easily overlooked but it definitely adds to a space especially for those fit checks before heading out the door. Your guest will highly appreciate these and will notice if you dont have one.
Now, a standing lamp isn’t mandatory, but if your space still needs warmth or visual height, it’s a great addition. Add a rug that’s stain resistant and pet-friendly, even if you don’t allow pets. Avoid white or super light colored rugs. While they look clean in photos, they show stains fast and require extra upkeep.
This setup checks all the boxes for both style and function without being fussy, and that’s what makes it one of the best Airbnb furniture layouts for city apartments.
3. Bedroom One: Maximize Sleep Capacity
If you have a two bedroom Airbnb, use one bedroom as a sleep maximizing space. This is a huge bonus for families, friend groups, or travelers who want to split costs. Consider using two full beds in one room, or a full and a twin if space is tight.
Your bed frames should always be sturdy and durable, cheap ones break faster than you’d expect with short-term rental guests. Opt for a heavy duty metal or solid wood frame. Headboards are a must and can elevate the look but in tighter layouts, skip them and focus on wall art and deep color paint to style the space instead. Deeper colors keep the walls looking cleaner for longer.
Essentials:
• Sturdy bed frame - preferably metal or solid wood
• White bedding (optional, but preferred)
• One or two pieces of wall art
• Pull-out or wall-mounted TV (optional, but appreciated)
A wall-mounted or extendable TV setup works well for bedrooms, especially if you need to save space. Include blackout curtains for privacy, a bedside table for keys or chargers, and a centered piece like a small rug or bench if space allows.
4. Bedroom Two: Keep It Simple, Stylish, and Budget-Friendly
The second bedroom in a two bedroom Airbnb can follow a more budget conscious approach while still looking complete. Keep the style consistent with the rest of the home using simple tones, earthy accents, and light decorative touches.
Here’s what to include:
• White bedding - easy to wash, easy to bleach
• Art prints or mirrors
• Area rug
Choosing white bedding is a controversial take, but...it works! It looks crisp, clean, and professional. And unlike colored sheets, you’ll always know when it’s clean (or not). It’s also easier to sanitize between stays with a good wash and some bleach or peroxide based cleaner.
I only use whites because I can wash everything together at once and make my cleaners turn around 30% faster. I use white sheets, pillow cases, towels, etc.
This is my Holy Grail for whites:
Then, top the room off with two mirrors or matching prints above the bed to fill in wall space, compact lamps to bring warmth to the room, and earth-tone decor to give it character.
Design Rules for Airbnb Interiors, Style + Function in Harmony
Decorating your short-term rental isn’t just about copying trends, it’s about creating a space that feels clean, calm, and intentional. Here are a few basic design principles to follow for every Airbnb:
5. Stick to a cohesive color palette.
Use similar tones across rooms, like beige, gray, greens, gold, or terracotta. This helps the whole apartment feel unified, even if the furniture styles vary slightly.
6. Avoid light-colored furniture.
No matter how beautiful it looks, light-colored upholstery will betray you fast! Opt for mid-tone or darker shades that hide stains, scuffs, or wear and tear from guests.
7. Skip the fluff.
It’s tempting to fill the bed with oversized throw pillows or stack tons of blankets in the corner. But in an Airbnb, less is more. Extra fluff = more items to clean, store, and replace.
8. Use durable materials.
From pet friendly rugs to scratch resistant coffee tables, invest in materials that are designed to last; even if guests aren’t always gentle.
9. Quick Airbnb Interior Tips That Make a Big Difference
• Choose white towels and white sheets so you can wash everything together and spot stains easily
• Skip fragile décor, opt for pieces that can withstand frequent handling
• Use Amazon, IKEA, Target, or Facebook Marketplace to find affordable versions of designer style furniture
• Always read reviews on furniture to check for durability before buying
Final Thoughts - Functional Airbnb Interior
Styling an Airbnb is about creating a space that’s inviting, practical, and easy to maintain between guests. Your interior should reflect thoughtfulness and function, without the stress of constant deep cleaning or high cost replacements.
Focus on:
• Sturdy, multipurpose furniture
• Easy to clean materials
• A cohesive, neutral color palette
• Just enough décor to feel homey - without becoming high maintenance
By following these tips and keeping budget in mind from the beginning, you’ll be able to create an Airbnb interior that gets great reviews, photographs beautifully, and makes guests want to return, without going over your limits.
This post is all about Airbnb interior.
Loved these ideas? That’s just the beginning.
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Where decor meets real life, and hosting doesn't have to be hard. Here, I share home styling inspo, hosting hacks, and everything in between to help you make your space feel good and work for you.
