5-Star Airbnb Refresh by Trotter Studios

Working with a local homeowner, Trotter Studios was excited to give this long-time residence a glow-up for its 5-Star, Airbnb debut. Our budget allowed us to update most furnishings, accessories and artwork. But, there were a few original pieces that remained in the new plan. Happily, it realized almost 100% occupancy since it came to market.

Take a look at the following before and afters. And if you need help with your Airbnb or home, feel free to give us a jingle!

Foyer

The bright entry way was large and beautiful but didn’t create a welcoming first impression.

Our goal was to create a drop-zone and to modernize and brighten the foyer.

While keeping the wall paint neutral, we selected a lighter, brighter color that was introduced in the entryway and then carried throughout the home.

We added a few design elements to the foyer to create a modern, inviting reception to the home. A contemporary console is a great spot to throw keys and phone upon arrival. It also provided a spot for the homeowners to place a nice welcome sign and quick overview of property details (like the WiFi information). An area rug warms up the space. And greenery gives the space a nice homey feeling.

Main Living Area

In the main living area, the original space generally had all the right components but they weren’t cohesive. And the existing loveseat didn’t optimize the seating opportunities in the room. We also wanted to add more sleeping options by adding a sleeper sofa.

With dark blue being the primary color for the space, additional color accents were pulled from the new, original modern art piece over the sofa and reflected in the accent pillows. A gallery wall of black and white photos of local landmarks helps to introduce visitors to the city.

Dining Room

For a while, the existing dining space was used as a workspace and became a spot for random electronics to pile up. It also became a resting spot for a variety of personal collectibles that would need to be removed before it became an Airbnb.

To update the dining room, we removed the dining bench and replaced that and the other seating with new head and foot chairs and four new side chairs. This instantly elevated the space. A new dining table chandelier is a modern update to the previous fixture. Artwork, plant life and accents help to complete the look.

Primary Bedroom

The primary bedroom was dark and felt masculine with its monochromatic brown tones.

Following through with a blue color scheme, fresh modern bed linens and coordinating original artwork help to brighten the space and make it more gender-neutral. Bedside lighting provides layers of light and a cozy lounge chair is a great spot for kicking back.

Second Bedroom

The second bedroom was working hard as a home office. But, for optimal Airbnb bed-nights, the room needed to be converted back into a bedroom.

A new upholstered bed was added to the space to set a luxe tone for the space. Fresh bed linens, bedside tables and lighting give the bed a polished feel. A new dresser was added to provide more function than the previous media cabinet (which was repurposed for use in the living room by adding legs to the cabinet).

Bathroom

Albeit small and on the darker side, the bathroom just needed to be brightened to give it that fresh and clean look.

A fresh white coat of paint on the walls, a new, more storage-friendly vanity with new faucet and a coat of white epoxy on the wall tile was just the trick for brightening up this bathroom. While the stark, monochromatic-white theme in this small bathroom might seem a bit boring, it makes for easy long-term maintenance as an Airbnb owner. And, it gives that bright, clean feel that you want to see when you rent an Airbnb.

Kitchen

The kitchen was in pretty good shape and just needed some editing.

Once the homeowner removed their personal items, we were able to keep the clutter to a minimum for any visitors. A modern table and chairs help to cheer up the breakfast nook. Creating a coffee station and simplifying the items in the storage cabinet help to maintain a clean, uncluttered setting.