The Airbnb trend is certainly on the rise, and knowing how to stage an Airbnb can be a quick way to boost your, or your clients’, bookings. Many of the techniques used in traditional home staging apply directly to short-term rentals, which is why stagers who’ve completed a home staging certification often find Airbnb styling to be a natural extension of their business.
Owning an Airbnb can be a highly profitable, regular source of income. However, it’s always wise to remember that you’re in competition with all the other similar properties in the area. What makes your Airbnb stand out from the rest? What makes someone choose to book your property?
Several factors influence bookings, such as location, property size, and facilities. For anyone browsing online for accommodation, they will be quickly scrolling through property listings, so you need to make yours stand out from the crowd.
The key to capturing a potential booker’s eye lies in your photographs.
It is the photographs that sell the property. It doesn’t matter how beautiful the rooms are if the photos are bad. So let’s learn more about how to stage an Airbnb to take the very best photos to bring in those bookings…
Don’t cut costs when it comes to photography
When we’ve all got phones with high-quality cameras right there in our hands, it can be tempting to simply snap our own photos, but while the camera might be exceptional, are your photography skills really first-class?
These photos really are make-or-break. It doesn’t matter how amazing your accommodation is if no one books it because of subpar photography!
A low-quality photograph gives the impression of low-quality accommodation. If you’ve scrimped on the photographs, where else might you have cut corners? A potential guest needs to be able to see the accommodation in detail, appreciate its amazing features, and reassure themselves that it will be both comfortable and spotlessly clean.
Money spent on a professional photographer is money well spent. They’ll know all the tips and tricks to showcase every room on your property perfectly. They’ll highlight the exquisite details, and they may use special lenses or unique filters to make the images more appealing. Attention-grabbing, professional images get bookings, and that’s a fact.
Choose the right time for your photoshoot
You’re not just selling a place to stay, you’re selling a vacation. People need to be able to imagine themselves having a wonderful time in your Airbnb. If the photos are taken on a dull day, or after dark, it may look gloomy and dismal. No one wants a dull, dreary vacation, so choose a beautiful, sunny day to take your photos.
When it comes to staging an Airbnb and organizing the photographer, I’d even go so far as to suggest canceling if you’ve scheduled a photo shoot and the weather takes a turn for the worse.
You want the building to look bright and airy, fresh and inviting. Make sure the curtains and blinds are fully open to make the most of the natural light. If you have windows on either side of the property, it can be a good idea to note when each room gets the most sunlight and schedule your photos to capture the very best lighting in each area.
Carefully chosen accessories can transform your listing
When you’re setting the scene, take your time and try to view your home through the eyes of a potential guest. Of course, each room should be exceptionally clean and tidy, but you also need to ensure the property is uncluttered yet still feels comfortable.
Many of the same principles that apply to staging a home for sale work just as well here – our collection of home staging tips covers these balancing acts in detail.
Decluttering can be harder than you might think. You need to achieve the perfect balance. Too minimalist and the accommodation can look stark and unwelcoming. Too many knick-knacks, and it starts to express the owner’s personality too much.
When you’re involved in your own property, it can sometimes be hard to take a step back and view it as if for the first time. It’s a good idea to involve other people. Ask friends and family to visit and be brutally honest with you. Do they simply hate the pictures on the wall? Does a room have too much furniture and feel small and enclosed?
To iron out niggles, we always suggest you actually stay in the property yourself and invite people you know to do the same. You’ll soon discover that the second bedroom needs a blackout blind, or that there’s no corkscrew in the kitchen! You can then fix any issues before they get you a bad review.
Add a pop of color for striking photos
Neutral color schemes are popular for good reason – they feel clean, modern, and broadly appealing. But in photographs, an entirely muted palette can make rooms look flat and forgettable, especially when a guest is scrolling through dozens of similar listings.
The fix is simple: add deliberate pops of color through accessories. A few well-chosen scatter cushions in a rich tone, a vase of bright flowers on a dining table, or a bold throw draped over a sofa can transform an otherwise beige photo into something that stops the scroll. The key is restraint – pick one or two accent colors and repeat them across the space so it looks coordinated rather than chaotic. Think of these color accents as the details that make your listing memorable long after a guest has closed the tab.
Focus on the features
If you’re offering something special – a top-of-the-range coffee maker in the kitchen, a spectacular panoramic view, or a relaxing hot tub – make sure these details are featured in your photographs, not just mentioned in the text. The kitchen in particular deserves extra attention since it’s one of the spaces guests scrutinize most; our kitchen staging ideas can help you style it to photograph beautifully.
Go the extra mile with the details to set the scene
Little extra touches make an Airbnb feel luxurious. If you’re going to provide toiletries, hot beverage facilities, or fluffy robes, be sure to place them in the rooms before you take your photographs. Bathrooms especially benefit from this kind of attention – our guide to staging a bathroom walks through how to create that spa-like feel that guests remember.
Remember, you’re setting the scene for an idyllic vacation. You can even go a little further with your photos by suggesting a lifestyle, for example, by placing a wine bottle and glasses on the table, you’re putting across the idea of a relaxing, indulgent escape.
Now it’s time to deliver
There’s just one final point that does need mentioning. Once you’ve had your stunning photos taken, you’ve set the bar high, and your guests will have certain expectations.
You now need to ensure that you deliver the experience you’ve sold to them through your photos, so make sure everything offered in the photos is actually available to them. If you’ve shown luxury toiletries in the bathrooms, they need to be there, if the expensive coffee machine has broken and been removed from the property, remove the image of it.
A disappointed guest will not leave a good review, but if your guests leave happy, they will hopefully leave a positive review and recommend you to others.
