12 Living Room Design Ideas to Make Your Airbnb Irresistible

Creating an inviting and well-designed living room is one of the most important elements in making your Airbnb a success. As the main common area that guests will spend time relaxing and socializing in, the living room sets the tone for the entire rental. By implementing strategic design choices, you can style your Airbnb living room to maximize comfort, convenience, and visual appeal for guests. From lighting to color schemes, furniture to wall decor, small touches go a long way.

Follow these 12 living room design ideas to craft an Airbnb space that wows your guests and keeps them coming back time and again.

Optimize Lighting

Proper lighting is essential for setting the right mood and ambiance in your Airbnb living room. Strategic lighting makes the space feel warm, welcoming and functional for guests. Carefully consider lighting needs for different purposes like illuminating tasks, accentuating architectural details, or simply making the room glow.

Types of Lights

Layering different lighting sources creates depth and dimension in the living room:

• Pendant lights over seating areas add both beauty and illumination.
• Floor and table lamps are key for task lighting and style.
• Wall sconces and picture lights shine a spotlight on decor or artwork.
• Natural light streaming through windows brightens up the entire space.

Lighting Tips

A few tips to keep in mind when designing living room lighting:

• Layer ambient, task, and accent lighting for visual interest.
• Use dimmers, smart bulbs, and multiple switching zones to control brightness.
• Add accent lighting behind furniture to create a glow.

Incorporate Pops of Color

Strategically using bold and vibrant color is an easy way to create an exciting, cheerful mood in your Airbnb living room. Color instantly catches the eye and brings life to the space. Add pops of color through accent decor pieces, artwork, painted walls, or even just a fresh coat of colorful paint on drab furniture.

Ways to Add Color

Some easy ways to gracefully incorporate color include:

• Throw pillows and blankets in contrasting or complementary hues.
• Framed artwork, prints, or photography featuring rich colors.
• Area rugs with vibrant patterns and designs.
• Painting accent furniture like chairs, ottomans or coffee tables in a bold shade.

Best Color Choices

Some of the best shades to liven up an Airbnb living room include:

• Navy blue - classic and versatile.
• Forest green - earthy and soothing.
• Burnt orange - warm and welcoming.
• Yellow - cheerful and uplifting.

Curate Interesting Wall Decor

The wall decor you choose makes one of the biggest impressions on guests as they first enter your Airbnb. Carefully curated wall accents like art, photos, mirrors, shelves and tapestries lend visual interest and personality to the living room.

Wall Decor Ideas

Some eye-catching wall decor options include:

• Framed prints, photos, or local artwork.
• Macrame wall hangings or woven tapestries.
• Floating shelves to display books, plants, and objects.
• Gallery walls with eclectic arrangements of frames.

Tips for Arrangement

A few tips for styling wall decor:

• Group items asymmetrically for visual balance and flow.
• Vary sizes, shapes, colors, and frames for interest.
• Draw the eye around the room from one focal point to another.

Incorporate Greenery

Incorporating live or faux plants into your Airbnb living room brings numerous benefits. Greenery purifies the air, adds a natural element, and has a calming effect. Opt for hard-to-kill varieties that can withstand occasional neglect by guests.

Best Plants for Airbnb

Some of the best low maintenance greenery includes:

• Succulents - easy to care for and drought tolerant.
• Snake plant - cleans air and thrives on neglect.
• Pothos - trailing vines with heart-shaped leaves.
• Philodendron - tropical-looking, pet-friendly.

Display Tips

Maximize your living room greenery with these display ideas:

• Fill wood or ceramic planters in natural hues.
• Hang pothos or philodendron stems from the ceiling.
• Place potted plants atop bookshelves or sideboards.

Choose Multifunctional Furniture

Make the most of your living room square footage by choosing space-saving, multifunctional furniture. Look for pieces that serve more than one purpose. This optimizes the room's usable space for you and your guests.

Examples

Some flexible, functional furniture options include:

• Storage ottomans act as both seating and hidden storage.
• Lift-top coffee tables double as a surface and stash spot.
• Nesting side tables slide together when not in use.
• Sleeper sofas convert from couches to beds as needed.

Benefits

The perks of selecting multifunctional living room furniture:

• Saves space in studio or 1-bedroom rentals.
• Adds flexibility for guests' changing needs.
• Increased convenience and functionality.

Incorporate Local Artwork

Displaying art, photography, or decor from local artists is a great way to bring unique character and a sense of place into your Airbnb living room. Local pieces showcase the culture and creativity of your region for guests to experience.

Where to Find Local Art

Check out these sources for special local treasures:

• Art fairs, craft fairs, and local markets.
• Galleries or co-ops featuring regional artists.
• Directly from emerging artists through social media.
• Vintage and thrift shops for one-of-a-kind retro finds.

Tips for Displaying

Accentuate these unique finds with strategic display:

• Use track lighting to spotlight statement pieces.
• Place artwork above mantels, furniture, or eye level.
• Style collections in grouped gallery arrangements.

Use Modern Finishes

Incorporating modern finishes like metallic accents, rich wood tones, and matte hues lends a polished, sophisticated look. The contrast of new and old finishes also adds stylish depth. Touches of contemporary materials give your space a luxe feel that appeals to guests.

Material Ideas

Try adding these modem finishes:

• Brass light fixtures, table lamps, or accent tables.
• Concrete coffee tables, side tables, or decor items.
• Wood plank accent walls or ceramic tile backsplashes.
• Leather dining chairs or leather-topped ottomans.

Why Modern?

The benefits of modern finishes include:

• Timeless, versatile, and unlikely to feel dated.
• Luxe look achievable on a rental budget.
• Complements both traditional and contemporary spaces.

Incorporate Unexpected Textures

Incorporating an interplay of textures adds tactile and visual diversity in your Airbnb living room. Contrasting textures create depth and make for interesting vignettes. Unexpected textures delight the senses and make your rental stay memorable.

Textures to Use

Inject contrasting textures with accents like:

• Natural fiber area rugs like jute, sisal, or bamboo.
• Plush pillows in velvet, faux fur, corduroy, or linen.
• Rough-hewn wood plank coffee tables.
• Woven macrame wall hangings.

Tips for Layering

Thoughtfully juxtapose textures by:

• Pairing sleek metals with soft textiles.
• Combining natural and synthetic materials.
• Letting textural artwork make a statement.

Choose an Inviting Color Scheme

A deliberately chosen, cohesive color scheme helps cultivate the vibe you want guests to experience in your Airbnb living room. Light, neutral hues tend to make spaces feel more open and airy. Aim for colors that soothe and relax so guests feel at home.

Soothing Color Combos

Some fail-safe soothing color schemes include:

• Light blue accent walls with tan leather furniture.
• Sage green and cream with dark wood accents.
• Crisp white with tones of gray in pillows and rugs.
• Neutrals as a base with pops of orange or yellow.

Tips

Some best practices when selecting a color palette:

• Limit your color selection to 3-4 hues for cohesion.
• Use color to define and designate separate spaces.
• Add pops of bolder colors through changeable pillows and throws.

Incorporate Statement Lighting

Make a dramatic design impact in your Airbnb living room with unique statement lighting. One-of-a-kind light fixtures or lamps immediately grab attention and convey personality. Seek vintage finds, modern designs, or custom pieces that wow.

Statement Lighting Options

Make a bold statement with lighting like:

• An intricately detailed vintage chandelier as a focal point.
• Crystal, orb-shaped, or gilded wall sconces.
• Sculptural twisted floor lamps or table lamps with mbulbes.arble bases.
• Macrame, rattan, or paper pendant lights.

Placement Tips

Place statement lighting:

• Over dining tables, kitchen islands, or seating areas.
• Flanking or above beds, artwork, mantels, or shelves.
• Atop side tables or consoles for drama.

Choose Timeless Over Trendy

When selecting your Airbnb living room furniture and decor, aim for flexible, enduring staples rather than fleeting trends or styles. Classic, timeless living room basics offer longevity and have wider guest appeal.

Timeless Pieces

Some examples of flexible, long-lasting living room fundamentals:

• Solid wood end tables, consoles, or dining sets.
• A primarily white color scheme with wood accents.
• A collection of ceramic vases in natural hues.
• Leather armchairs or leather-topped ottomans.
• Neutral-toned sisal, wool, or jute area rugs.

Benefits

The advantages of choosing timeless over temporary styles:

• Withstands the test of changing design trends.
• Easily refreshed with throw pillows, blankets, or new coats of paint.
• Appeals to a wide variety of guest aesthetics.

Curate a Book Nook

Carving out a small, defined space for reading and relaxing makes your Airbnb feel like a home away from home. Stacked books add warmth and transport guests to new worlds through the pages.

Components

Design a cozy book nook with these elements:

• A cushy armchair or loveseat beckoning readers.
• An angled reading lamp or wall sconce lighting.
• A bookcase, or even just a few floating shelves.

Book Display Tips

Showcase books by:

• Organizing by color for a gallery effect.
• Stacking horizontally and vertically.
• Propping open books face out.
• Layering in objects like planters or decor.

With strategic living room design choices like optimized lighting, artful decor, multifunctional furniture, and cohesive color schemes, you can make your Airbnb space both beautifully designed and supremely comfortable for guests. By keeping their wants and needs top-of-mind, your thoughtfully styled living room will delight Airbnb visitors and have them booking return stays.

Implementing even a few of these living room ideas shows guests you are a dedicated, detail-oriented host willing to go the extra mile. An inviting, well-appointed living space at the center of your rental creates stellar first impressions and long-lasting positive memories. Follow these tips and transform your Airbnb living room from nondescript to irresistible.