How to decorate a tourist apartment on a budget in 5 steps

If you've traveled using Airbnb, you're sure to have come across the typical accommodation that still has photos or magnets of the host. Or even worse: their clothes are still in the closet. This post is for you if what you're looking for is to decorate your tourist apartment... without breaking the bank on paintings or furniture.

The decoration of your Airbnb or tourist accommodation is really important. Any guest likes to feel at home when they travel and have chosen your accommodation.

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Essential furniture to decorate your tourist apartment

Living room

Think of the living room as the nerve center when it comes to decorating the tourist apartment. Have at least:

• Comfortable sofa bed
• Coffee table
• Dining table
• Chairs
• Books and magazines
• Workspace
• Books for children
• Large mirror
• Pens and pencils
• Board games

Kitchen

When it comes to decorating the kitchen of your tourist accommodation, minimalism should prevail. Keep in mind that everything in this space should have a function. Don't clutter the drawers with superfluous, worn or dirty pots and pans.

• Tea and coffee
• Kettle
• Milk
• Salt and pepper
• Sugar and sweetener
• Butter
• Dishes and cutlery (a complete set for every two guests)
• Saucepan and frying pans
• Spare light bulbs (with good energy rating)
• Broom and dustpan
• Cleaning products
• Hand soap
• Hand dishwashing
• Multi-purpose cleaner
• Bleach
• Disinfectant
• Trash bags

Bedrooms

To decorate the rooms of your tourist apartment, you don't have to be creative. Blatantly copy the style of hotels: White, white, white.

• White bedding and pillows
• Extra bedding, sheets, and pillows
• Air conditioning, heating and fan
• Trash can
• Tissues
• Notebook and pen
• Nightstand (at least two)
• Table lamp
• Rug
• Alarm clock
• Dresser, wardrobe or chest of drawers
• Safe box

BBB mattresses for your vacation rental

The mattress is a critical part of the guest experience. A good mattress in your tourist accommodation goes beyond decoration.

• Mattresses for less than 100 euros
• Sapphire
• Senator
• Dormideo
• Dormio
• Orthopedic (very useful if your target audience is the elderly)
• Mattresses for less than 200 euros
• BedStory
• Bio Natur
• Lisabed

Bathroom and toilet

As with the kitchen, to decorate the bathroom of your tourist apartment, opt for minimalism. Keep in mind that this part of the apartment must be spotless before your guests check-in.

• Bath towel (two per guest)
• Beach towel (if your accommodation is in a coastal area or has a pool)
• Towel rack
• Toilet paper (1.5 rolls per week)
• Intimate hygiene products
• Hair dryer
• Mirror
• Toiletries
• Shampoo
• Gel
• Conditioner
• Hand gel
• Toothpaste
• Disposable toothbrushes
• Combs
• Disposable shaving razors

Furnishing your accommodation is a design decision

As with any design decision –and furnishing your tourist flat is one of them–, the choice must be based on two elements: function and form. These rules should also govern the decoration of your accommodation.

It doesn't make sense to have a Le Corbusier piece of furniture in a tourist apartment for 79€ per night.

You must consider what elements are most important to your guests; what need they meet; what atmosphere they create. Finally, consider your budget (there's no point in a Le Corbusier piece of furniture in a tourist apartment for 79€ per night) and time.

Function of furniture

But what are the furniture for? What advantages do they offer?

Your guests have certain needs that you must meet to create a great experience - which translates into a good Airbnb evaluation -. Think about what furniture or elements your target audience will use most often.

For example, if you have a tourist apartment in Nuevos Ministerios, the financial area of Madrid, aimed at professional travelers,focus all your efforts on furniture that the professional Airbnb traveler will value. For example, a good bed and a perfect desk. Your goal is to give the impression that this place –and not your competition– is designed for productivity.

If your accommodation doesn't have a clear profile yet, it should be your top priority before furnishing or decorating your tourist apartment.

Shape of furniture

What is that piece of furniture and how does it look in your tourist accommodation?

You must maintain a balance between the perceived value (subjective, of the guest) and cost (objective). The extra euros you can spend on furnishing a tourist accommodation or Airbnb can have a tremendously positive return on investment.

The appearance of your accommodation is key to determining the price you will ask per night. If the apartment does not look like it costs 200€/night in the photos, you will not be able to charge those 200€/night. Remember that your guests choose your accommodation mainly based on the photos.

When buying furniture for your tourist accommodation, remember that you may have to choose some more solid than the ones you have at home. With constant traffic, things wear out faster than at home. On some occasions, opting for cheap furniture for your tourist apartment - and replacing it when it breaks - can be more expensive than investing in good furniture once.

When you're in the store or on some website looking at furniture, ask yourself: In what ways can I break it? If they are unlikely, buy it. For example, it's a good idea not to buy furniture with glass… Not having them is the best way to avoid cuts in your guests.

Remember to clean every time the guests leave. Time is money, so the longer it takes to clean the accommodation, the more expensive it will be. Some things are tedious to clean –but necessary (for example, the oven). The chandelier with 1,500 pieces of crystal… maybe it's not that necessary.

If you want to delve into the topic of cleaning –fundamental when buying furniture for Airbnb–, take a look at our post on Airbnb cleaning.

7 tips to decorate a low-cost Airbnb

Furniture is the biggest part of the decoration budget for a tourist apartment. You can opt to buy second-hand furniture. To do this, use portals like Segundamano, Milanuncios, visit the outlet section of furniture stores or reuse old furniture that is in good condition. However, keep in mind that there will be certain decorative elements of the tourist accommodation that you will have to buy new. Especially mattresses, bedding or bath linens.

Start with what you already have

Decide which current elements of your accommodation are useful. From there, look for other elements that fit with what you already have to decorate a low-cost tourist apartment.

Get rid of what takes up space (and you can't monetize)

For example, if you have a traditional sofa that takes up a lot of space in the living room, sell it and buy a sofa bed. This way, you will optimize the space of your accommodation: more places to accommodate guests!

Choose a sofa bed

Are you talking about the sofa bed again? Yes. The truth is that choosing a sofa bed is really important to decorate a low-cost Airbnb. Most likely, it will be the largest piece of furniture in the living room. Choose a neutral color that is easily combinable with the rest of the decoration.

Scour second-hand portals

Use second-hand portals like SegundaMano or Milanuncios to find elements that allow you to decorate your tourist apartment for little money. You can take advantage of people's moves in your area to buy real bargains.

However, inspect them thoroughly! And if it's about upholstered chairs, sofas, or armchairs, disinfect them before including them in your accommodation.

Visit second-hand stores and pawn shops

These stores are perfect for finding cheap Airbnb decoration. In addition, you can find small appliances at a very good price.

Frame decorative photographs and laminates that you already have

How many photographs or prints do you have at home gathering dust in a drawer? You can buy some frames - there are very affordable ones at IKEA! - and reuse those photos. In addition to decorating the accommodation for a few euros, you will give your Airbnb a personal touch that delights guests.

Use Pinterest for inspiration

If you don't know Pinterest, you should take a look before decorating a low-cost Airbnb! Pinterest has millions of inspiring ideas that you can use. Imagine you've bought a pink sofa-bed ;-). How can I decorate the rest of the house? Pinterest can help you find inspiration... Yes, even with a pink sofa.

Finance your purchases

If you can, try to get financing for 12-18 months at 0% interest. This will prevent you from having to shell out the money all at once.

Describe the atmosphere

Imagine the decoration of your tourist apartment in action. If your accommodation were a person who walks into a crowded room, what four words would they use to describe it? Charming? Clean? Cluttered?

Art and decoration in your tourist apartment

Each accommodation has to be unique for your guests. In fact, guests who choose Airbnb instead of a hotel are looking to better connect with the local vibe. Hotels are usually well-decorated but terribly impersonal.

When you're at someone's home, your hosts are looking for a personal touch. Integrating art into the decoration of your Airbnb is key to giving that touch.

One way to decorate your tourist accommodation with art is through works by local artists. In this way, you give a local and personal touch at the same time. It's a good way to present the city or area of your accommodation to someone who doesn't know it.

What type of art fits with your Airbnb?

You don't have to be an expert to include art in the decoration of your Airbnb. The main idea is that the artistic decoration you buy should convey your personality. Ask the local artist about their story and the one of the work that interests you. Get to know it well and think about how it fits with your accommodation. Let yourself be guided by the artist and know the reasons why they created that work.

How to find affordable works of art to decorate your tourist accommodation

To decorate your tourist accommodation with art, you have to be more original than going to IKEA or Amazon and buying the typical photo of your city in 70x90cm.

Connect with local artists – you can visit galleries or street markets! If you're worried about the budget, don't worry. In these places you can find authentic gems for 10 or 20€.

Another good way is to put local artists' artwork up for sale in your accommodation. In addition to giving a personal touch to the decoration of the tourist accommodation, you are boosting the local economy and promoting the artistic scene.