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

Transform your Airbnb or tourist apartment on a budget! Discover 5 essential steps to stylish decor, from cozy living rooms to minimalist kitchens. Get tips now!

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

If you have travelled using Airbnb, you have surely come across the typical accommodation where there are still photos or magnets of the host. Or even worse: their clothes are still in the wardrobe. This post is for you if what you are looking for is to decorate your tourist apartment... without breaking the bank on paintings or furniture.

The decor of your Airbnb or tourist accommodation is really important. Any guest likes to feel at home when traveling and has chosen your accommodation.

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Decorar apartamento turistico

Essential furniture to decorate your tourist apartment

Living Room

Think of the living room as the nerve center when decorating your tourist apartment. Include at least:

  • Comfortable sofa bed
  • Coffee table
  • Dining table
  • Chairs
  • Books and magazines
  • Workspace
  • Children's books
  • Large mirror
  • Pens and pencils
  • Board games

Kitchen

When decorating the kitchen of your tourist accommodation, minimalism should prevail. Keep in mind that everything in this space must have a function. Do not cram drawers with superfluous, worn, or dirty gadgets.

  • Tea and coffee
  • Kettle
  • Milk
  • Salt and pepper
  • Sugar and sweetener
  • Butter
  • Tableware and cutlery (a complete set for every two guests)
  • Pots and pans
  • Spare light bulbs (with good energy rating)
  • Broom and dustpan
  • Cleaning products
  • Hand soap
  • Dishwashing liquid
  • All-purpose cleaner
  • Bleach
  • Disinfectant
  • Rubbish bags

Bedrooms

To decorate the bedrooms of your tourist apartment, there's no need to be creative. Blatantly copy the style of hotel rooms: White, white, white.

Decorar apartamento turistico

Good quality, good price mattresses for your holiday rental

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

Bathroom and Toilet

As with the kitchen, for decorating 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.

Furnishing your accommodation is a design decision

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

A Le Corbusier piece of furniture makes no sense in a tourist apartment costing €79 per night.

You must consider which elements are most important to your guests; what need they fulfil; what atmosphere they create. Finally, consider your budget (a Le Corbusier piece of furniture makes no sense in a tourist apartment costing €79 per night) and the time.

Function of the furniture

But what are a furniture items 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 review. Think about which furniture or elements your target audience will use most often.

For example, if you have a tourist apartment in Nuevos Ministerios, Madrid's financial district, aimed at business travellers, concentrate all your efforts on furniture that the professional Airbnb traveller 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 does not yet have a clear profile, this should be your first priority task before furnishing or decorating your tourist apartment.

Form of the furniture

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

You must maintain a balance between perceived value (subjective, by the guest) and cost (objective). The extra euros you might 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 doesn't look like it's worth €200/night in the photos, you won't be able to charge €200/night. Remember that your guests primarily choose your accommodation based on the photos.

When buying furniture for your tourist accommodation, remember that you may have to choose some pieces that are more solid than those you have at home. With constant traffic, things wear out faster than at home. In some cases, opting for cheap furniture for your tourist apartment – and replacing it when it breaks – can be more expensive than investing in good furniture just once.

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

Remember to clean every time 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 crystal pieces... maybe it's not so necessary.

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

How to decorate a tourist apartment on a budget

7 tips for decorating a low-cost Airbnb

Furniture is the largest part of the decoration budget for a tourist apartment. You can opt to buy second-hand furniture. To do this, use platforms 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 for the tourist accommodation that you will have to buy new. Especially mattresses, bed linen, or bathroom linen.

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

Talking about the sofa bed again? Yes. The truth is that choosing a sofa bed is really important for decorating a low-cost Airbnb. Most likely, it will be the largest piece of furniture in the living room. Choose a neutral color that can be easily combined with the rest of the decor.

Scrutinize second-hand portals

Use second-hand portals like SegundaMano or Milanuncios to find items that allow you to decorate your tourist apartment on a budget. You can take advantage of people moving in your area to buy real bargains.

Of course, inspect them thoroughly! And if they are upholstered chairs, sofas, or armchairs, disinfect them before including them in your accommodation.

Visit second-hand shops and pawn shops

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

Frame photographs and decorative prints you already own

How many photographs or prints do you have at home gathering dust in a drawer? You can buy some frames – there are very inexpensive 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 guests love.

Use Pinterest for inspiration

If you don't know Pinterest, you should check it out before decorating a low-cost Airbnb! Pinterest has millions of inspiring ideas you can use. Imagine you 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 obtain 0% interest financing for 12-18 months. This will save you from having to pay out the money all at once.

Describe the atmosphere

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

Decorar apartamento turistico

Art and decoration in your tourist apartment

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

When you are in someone's home, your hosts are looking for a personal touch. Integrating art into your Airbnb's decor is key to providing that touch.

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

What kind of art fits your Airbnb?

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

How to find affordable artwork to decorate your tourist accommodation

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

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 real gems for €10 or €20.

Another good way is to sell artworks by local artists in your accommodation. In addition to adding a personal touch to the decoration of the tourist dwelling, you revitalize the local economy and promote the art scene.