Guests remember a holiday let for how it felt, and they say so in their reviews. Wall art is one of the cheapest ways to make a property feel considered rather than furnished. Here are Airbnb decor ideas that work for holiday lets, cottages and city apartments.
What guests photograph and review
Look at your own reviews and listing photos and you will see the same things come up: the bed, the view, the living area and any detail that felt special.
- The wall above the bed appears in most listing photos.
- The main living area sets the tone for the whole stay.
- Small touches such as a print in the hall or bathroom tell guests you cared.
Guests rarely mention art directly, but they do say a place felt "stylish", "cosy" or "thoughtfully done". Art helps you earn those words.
It is worth doing this walk-through as a guest would, starting at the front door. Stand in each room, look at where your eye lands first and ask whether it is something you would want to remember. If it is a blank wall or a mismatched frame, that is where art will make the biggest difference.
Wall art that fits the location
The best holiday let art tells guests where they are.
- Coast: beach wall art in soft blues and sandy neutrals.
- Countryside: landscape prints and nature wall art in greens and earth tones.
- Mountains and lakes: mountain wall art works well for cabins and lodges.
- City: map and city prints and travel posters suit apartments.
Bedrooms, living areas and the entrance
- Bedrooms: one large, calm print above the bed. Browse bedroom art prints. Avoid anything busy or dark.
- Living areas: one larger statement piece above the sofa, or a small gallery wall. Use our gallery wall planner to test layouts.
- Entrance: guests form their first impression here, so a single striking print is worth it.
- Kitchen and bathroom: small prints add personality without clutter.
Check the sizes against your walls with our size guide.
Choose art that guests will enjoy, not art that is too personal. A print that suits a wide range of tastes will please more people than one that suits only yours, and guests are often families, couples and groups of friends who all share the same wall.
Consistency across a portfolio of properties
If you manage several lets, a consistent look makes your properties recognisable and makes furnishing a new one much quicker.
- Choose one frame style and use it everywhere.
- Keep a small palette of colours across your listings.
- Change the subject to suit each location, but keep the same sizes.
Prints are sold unframed, so you can buy frames in bulk and know every property will match.
Match the property to the listing
Guests book from photographs, so what they see online should match what they find on arrival. Use the same prints in your listing photos and in the property, and update the photos if you change the art.
Low-cost refreshes between seasons
Holiday lets take a beating, and a fresh look between seasons keeps them feeling cared for.
- Swap the print in an existing frame rather than buying new frames.
- Use warmer colours in autumn and winter and lighter ones in spring and summer.
- Replace any print that has been marked or faded.
- Keep a spare print or two in each size for quick swaps between guests.
- Add one seasonal print near the entrance, such as a snowy scene in winter or a bright coastal one in summer.
Prints are made to order and dispatched within 1–2 business days, so a quick refresh before a busy weekend is realistic.
Trade pricing for multi-property hosts
If you manage several properties or furnish lets for other owners, our trade programme gives businesses 20–30% off every order, with tiers based on your spend over 12 months. Ordering the same prints for each property also makes reordering simple. Prints are made to order on museum-grade matte paper, in sizes from A4 to A0. There is more on our holiday lets trade page.
Airbnb decor ideas: quick answers
What wall art works best in an Airbnb? Prints that reflect the location, such as coast, countryside or city scenes, work best. Keep bedroom art calm and put one bolder piece in the living area.
How much art does a holiday let need? One large piece above the bed, one in the living area and a small print or two elsewhere is usually enough to make a property feel finished.
How can I refresh a holiday let cheaply? Change the prints and keep the frames. It costs far less than redecorating and makes a visible difference.
