When turning your home into an Airbnb, a crucial step is designing and decorating your kitchen. It’s one of the most important rooms in your vacation rental because potential guests look for a functional and inviting space to enjoy a morning coffee and cook meals.
That’s why it’s essential to ensure that your Airbnb kitchen has all the basic tools, appliances, and other essentials that guests need for everyday cooking and looks its best. So, how do you balance functionality and personality and create a stylish kitchen that can make a lasting impression on your guests? In this article, you’ll find some interesting ideas about Airbnb kitchens that will inspire you.
You may also want to check out our blog article, in which we share some Airbnb bedroom ideas to create an inviting space and ensure a cozy stay.
Airbnb Kitchen Ideas to Keep Your Guests Happy
According to Airbnb, the kitchen is one of the top amenities that guests search for when choosing a place to stay. Still, different types of guests have different expectations, so when designing a kitchen for your Airbnb, you should consider your target audience and keep your guest’s needs in mind. Knowing which types of travelers will use your Airbnb kitchen will help you determine the best layout and features for the space and invest in the right appliances.
It’s essential to create a space that is not only well-equipped and properly organized but also inviting and appealing to the type of guests you’re targeting. This way, you’ll make your listing stand out, attract more travelers, and get more 5-star reviews and ratings that can help you win more bookings.
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Remember that a perfect Airbnb kitchen should reflect style, comfort, and practicality. Moreover, as a short-term rental host, you must learn to combine style and durability. Download our free guide on cost-saving and durability to prepare your place for short-term rentals.
Here are some basic tips and creative ideas to transform your Airbnb kitchen into a space that offers a cozy and inviting atmosphere and enhances the overall guest experience.
Use a neutral color scheme
Neutral colors are a classic option, and they are always a win in kitchens since they look elegant, create a calming feel, and never go out of style. Shades like warm taupe, creamy beige, dark brown, or warm grey offer a timeless appeal while still making a subtle statement. Combining classic white with different shades of grey allows you to create a sophisticated and clean look, and it works well in both traditional and modern designs, like in this kitchen in the idyllic cottage in Sweden.
Add a kitchen island
If the size of your kitchen permits, incorporating a kitchen island is a great way to create a decorative focal point of the room while adding more precious space and storage. A kitchen island can serve multiple purposes, providing an extra spot for meal prepping, cooking, gathering for casual meals, or socializing. Add some bar stools to allow your guests to enjoy breakfast together.
Consider adding simple décor to make this functional space more inviting. You may style your kitchen island with fruit bowls, candles, baskets, trays, baskets, seasonal decorations, or vases filled with flowers, like in this large kitchen in the lakefront Airbnb in Virginia.
Incorporate open storage
Install open shelving instead of upper cabinets to make your Airbnb kitchen feel more open, airy, and updated. You can choose open shelving in a similar material or color as countertops or add contrast with a different finish. For example, you may opt for glass instead of wooden shelves to lighten up the look of your space, like in this beautifully renovated kitchen in the cozy Airbnb cottage in Dennis, Massachusetts. The key to making your open shelves work is to keep them neatly styled and turn them into eye-catching display spaces.
Remember that open shelves require regular maintenance and are more time-consuming to clean during turnovers, so a smart solution is to hire professional vacation rental cleaners. Managing your cleaning crew won’t be a problem if you opt for Hospitable. You can automate assigning tasks to your cleaners based on your booking calendar.
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Decorate with greenery
Indoor plants are a great, inexpensive way to spruce up any space. Whether your Airbnb kitchen is vintage, industrial, or minimalist, plants go with everything and help create a cozy, natural atmosphere. Green plants can instantly elevate your kitchen’s appeal, adding aesthetics and visual interest.
They can be placed on windowsills, arranged on open shelves, or hung from kitchen cabinets. You can use plants to add a splash of color to your kitchen island or choose a spot like an empty countertop and fill it with various plants to create a green corner. An interesting idea is to use a mixture of different-sized plants with varied colors, leaf shapes, and textures, like in this well-equipped kitchen in a beautiful Airbnb cottage in Norway.
Bring in a dining table
Bringing a kitchen and a dining room together can be a winning solution if you want to make the most of your kitchen space. Depending on the available space, you can place an eat-in kitchen table in a corner or adjacent to the kitchen. Using similar colors in the kitchen and dining area, like in this light and airy eat-in kitchen in a contemporary chalet in Canada, can help make the whole space feel connected and open.
Incorporate multiple lighting fixtures
Kitchens have a lot of activity, requiring multiple light sources in varying types to ensure balanced lighting. A good idea is to incorporate multiple lighting fixtures in various spaces to make your kitchen feel warm and welcoming. For example, this chef’s kitchen in a brand new Airbnb home in Oregon is outfitted with everything from pendant lighting to can lights in the ceiling to under-cabinet lighting to provide ample illumination for cooking and dining areas.
Final Thought
Designing an Airbnb kitchen presents many creative challenges, but hopefully, our ideas and tips can help you create a welcoming space where your guests will love spending time whipping up their meals. Remember that you need to consider the needs and preferences of your potential guests and focus not only on aesthetics but also on functionality. It’s also important to keep a consistent style throughout your vacation rental property and carefully select each piece in your kitchen to create a cohesive look.
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