To stage an Airbnb for photos, remove everything personal and everyday (cables, bins, toiletries, cleaning products), make every bed crisp, open every curtain, switch on every light and add a few warm touches like fresh flowers, a throw and a set table. For a new or unfurnished rental, you can furnish empty rooms virtually so guests see the finished space.
Why does staging matter so much?
Guests are buying a feeling: calm, clean, a bit special. Clutter makes a room look small and used. A few styled details make it look cared for. Staging takes an hour and changes every photo.
Room-by-room checklist
Living room
- Clear the coffee table except one book and a plant or candle
- Plump and line up cushions, fold one throw over the sofa arm
- Hide remotes, chargers, cables and magazines
- Open curtains evenly and turn on every lamp
- Straighten rugs
Kitchen
- Clear counters except a kettle, coffee machine and one styled item (fruit bowl, chopping board, herbs)
- Remove fridge magnets, dish racks, sponges and bins
- Close cupboard doors and dishwasher
- Set a few plates or glasses if there is a breakfast bar
Bedrooms
- Iron sheets and duvet covers, use white or neutral bedding
- Add a throw across the foot of the bed
- Two pillows per person plus decorative cushions
- Empty bedside tables except a lamp and one book
- Hide suitcases and clothes
Bathrooms
- Close the toilet lid
- Fold fresh towels on rails, all the same colour
- Remove toiletries except a nice soap and a plant
- Wipe mirrors and glass, no water spots
Outdoor space
- Clean and arrange furniture, add cushions
- Sweep paths, remove bins and hoses
- Uncover the hot tub, light the fire pit, switch on garden lights for dusk shots
What should you never stage?
Do not add amenities you do not have, like a fireplace, a hot tub or a sea view. Do not cover damage you have not fixed. Guests compare photos to the real place, and reviews follow.
How do you stage an empty Airbnb?
If you are launching a new rental before the furniture arrives, or refurbishing a room, you can stage it virtually. Upload a photo of the empty room, pick a style and see it furnished in seconds. Walls, windows and floors stay the same.
Scandinavian
Coastal
Japandi
Luxury
Mid-century
Farmhouse
Use this for pre-launch marketing, social posts and planning your interior. Once the real furniture is in, reshoot so your listing shows what guests will get.
What small touches photograph best?
- Fresh flowers or a green plant in the living room
- A bowl of lemons or green apples in the kitchen
- Two coffee cups on a tray on the bed or balcony
- A board game or book on the coffee table
- A bottle of wine and two glasses on the terrace at dusk
One or two per room is enough. More looks staged.
What next?
Once the rooms are ready, follow our iPhone photo guide, then edit the photos and turn them into a video tour.
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