Decorating Your Airbnb For Christmas
Christmas is a few days away and our studio apartment, Canary Hill Cottage in Dubuque, Iowa, is booked for the whole week! It’s an exciting time of year for people. We found many are not only gathering on Christmas but the weeks leading up to it. Some are getting together with family early, others are having baking days or going shopping. Why not add a homey and festive touch to your short-term rental? People really appreciate this, and it makes it feel more like a home than a sterile hotel.
Keep Airbnb Christmas Decor Simple
Let’s be honest, few people really like clutter and it can feel unsanitary in a space that’s shared by others.
RULE #1
Keep the decorating simple. This makes it easier for you to manage as you get more units or have other things on your plate. It’s also be easier to keep clean and won't feel overwhelming to your guests.
RULE #2
Use timeless decorations that fit the space. For instance, if you have a bright bold color scheme for your rental space, have the Christmas decor coordinate by going bright and bold. If you have more muted colors, go for more natural elements or monochromatic ones. As far as timeless goes, choose tasteful items that won’t go out of style. This will save you money in the long run!
How To Buy Holiday Decorations
Decide on your decorating budget. Keep in mind, this is a business and as much as you might like to decorate and buy beautiful things, you want a good ROI (Return On Investment). Decorations will not necessarily bring in more money, but it goes towards customer experience.
Consider the Type of Property You Have When Creating Your Holiday Decorating Budget
Size of property–obviously you will need more if your unit is a couple of thousand square feet versus a studio apartment
Price point of a night stay–if you have a high-end place, your decorations also need to “look” the part. It doesn’t necessarily mean you have to spend a lot, but it shouldn’t look cheap.
Decide what areas you want to decorate–this will help you know what you are looking for, not over-buy or get cluttered.
Areas to Decorate for Christmas
Wreath and/or lighted garland on the front door (do you have an outdoor outlet to plug in the lights?)
Garland on a stair banister
Tree with lights and ornaments–get one that fits the space without feeling overwhelming (our studio apartment has a little mini tree on top of the refrigerator and our 3 bedroom house with 10’ ceilings has a 7’ tree). Use a timer so it goes off at night.
A little decoration or two on a table, counter, or in the bathroom.
Where to Buy Holiday Decorations for Your Airbnb
Hobby Lobby or other craft stores–ideally after Christmas to take advantage of the big sales.
Estate sales or resale shops–I’ve found beautiful Christmas trees and garland. Sometimes they have ornaments too. Just make sure they are up-to-date. Sometimes it’s better to use the tree and then buy new ornaments. Make sure the lights work. In our area, there is a company called Caring Transitions. They bring the contents of someone’s home who is going into assisted living to their warehouse and sell it. You could find multiple things you are looking for. Sometimes the price is higher than I would spend, but if catch a sale or find the right deal it’s worth it!
Sam’s Club–they have big spools of ribbon and large containers of plastic ornaments that coordinate. It’s best to go with plastic ornaments instead of glass. You have to think about safety with kids that might be staying at your Airbnb.
Dollar Store–You would be surprised to find a few cute things that can be added to your other decorations without it looking cheap and cheesy.
Storing Your Decorations
Use plastic bins–the clear ones are great because you can easily see what’s in them.
Label your bins
Keep your decorations intact–store your garland with lights and ornaments attached. Then, when you pull it out the next year, you only need to fluff up the garland to save time.
Put away some of your daily decorations when getting Christmas decorations out–again fighting the clutter. Store the decorations you keep out year-round in the bins while the Christmas decorations are out. This gives it a cleaner look and less dust.
Even though Christmas is going to be over within the week, keep these tips in mind throughout the year. Most of my shopping happens when I’m not looking for it. Again, check the after Christmas sales but make sure you look at the garage and estate sales in the summer. Whether your place is cute and quaint or large and full of character, make your Airbnb a special place for your guests to spend the holidays and build memories. Thoughtful touches and extra experiences are what they remember most! This is a simple and economical way to accomplish that.
