The Most Design-Forward Private Rooms on Airbnb — And How to Get the Look
With summer officially underway, maybe you’re thinking about travel plans. Taking any kind of trip — short or long, whether close to home or in a far-flung corner of the world — can be one of the best sources of design inspiration. So many people successfully distill ideas from their favorite hotels, restaurants, and destinations into their decor. The only issue? Vacationing is expensive.
Well, Airbnb has a solution for rising travel costs. The home hosting and renting platform got its start in 2007 as a way to stay in a room in someone else’s home, and now, the company’s getting back to its roots with the launch of Airbnb Rooms, a new, souped-up private room rental category with over a million listings globally. This release hinges on the idea that people want to experience places like locals, and the best way to do that is with insight from a knowledgeable, trusted host who actually lives there. Utilizing a new feature called a “Host Passport,” users can get to know a host better digitally before booking a stay and save on travel costs, as more than 80 percent of the platform’s private rooms are under $100 per night (the average cost is actually $67 per night).
Airbnb Rooms’ hosts go through the same rigorous vetting process as all hosts, and filtering for certain privacy features can help to ensure your comfort level with host interactions. Plus, you’ll find these rentals in tons of cities known for their distinct decor influences, from London and Los Angeles to Bangkok and Mexico City.
Whether you’re ready to book now or just want to check out some interior design eye candy, you’ve come to the right place. I’ve rounded up the most stylish private rooms on Airbnb (and sprinkled in some decorating tips) to give you a taste of the design inspo that’s out there just waiting for discovery.
Interest Overhead
This neutral Bangkok bedroom nails that dreamy, ethereal aesthetic with its gauzy overhead canopy. Typically, you need a fairly imposing, large four-poster bed to pull off this look, but that isn’t the case here. Instead, an airy, pipe-like structure affixed to the ceiling of the space provides the framework for the fabric here, and that installation’s even sturdy enough to accommodate a few hanging plants. You’ll feel like you’re sleeping in your own peaceful little jungle with this kind of feature.
Pattern Play
Mix prints and patterns like a pro by following the lead of this Mexico City bedroom, which sticks to a tight color palette of white, blue, and red. When it comes to the bed, you can create a natural focal point by going bold with your bedding, but balance is all about varying scale. You’ll notice the damask quilt at the foot of the bed has an oversized repeat, while the striped pillows and sheets have smaller patterns.
Raise the Roof
Dealing with a room that’s on the smaller side, but has a high ceiling? Learn from this London bedroom, which features a lofted design that packs plenty of storage space in the form of under-bed cabinetry. The room also features a built-in staircase for easy access to the sleeping area.
Patio Paradise
Fake the look of a living garland out of greenery outdoors by mounting trailing plants across an overhang, trellis, or covered patio at equally spaced intervals, as in this Sydney outdoor space. Finish off the look with larger potted plants below.