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How the Right Wall Art Shapes Your Airbnb’s Appeal
When guests scroll through Airbnb listings, the first thing they notice isn’t the amenities list - it’s the photos. Wall art plays a huge role in shaping the atmosphere your property projects in those crucial few seconds. The right artwork instantly communicates mood, style, and quality, helping your place stand out in a crowded market.
Hosts often struggle to balance aesthetics, durability, and broad guest appeal. Art that’s too personal, too fragile, or simply doesn’t suit the home’s design can work against you. But when you choose pieces that feel intentional and well-matched to the space, it transforms the guest experience from the moment they arrive.
In this guide, we’ll walk through practical, design-led tips to help you choose art that enhances your holiday home. From coastal palettes to modern city styles, durable framing, budget-friendly upgrades, and sizing rules - every section is crafted to help you style your Airbnb with confidence, clarity, and ease.
Why Visual Style Influences Airbnb Bookings
Strong First Impressions Matter
The look and feel of your Airbnb has a direct influence on how guests perceive your space the moment they click into your listing. Strong visual styling helps your property stand out in search results, gives guests a clear sense of atmosphere, and communicates that your home is well cared for.
Cohesion Creates a Professional, Styled Look
Thoughtfully chosen artwork adds cohesion, personality, and polish. It helps a room feel complete - the difference between a space that looks furnished versus one that feels intentionally styled. And because guests rely heavily on photos when comparing listings, well-placed art can make your property look warm, inviting, and professionally presented.
Better Styling Leads to Better Reviews
Many hosts find that enhancing their decor leads to better reviews, higher perceived value, and more repeat bookings. When guests step into a space that feels welcoming and aesthetically considered, the entire stay becomes more memorable.
If you're exploring different styles or themes, you can browse our full range of framed prints in the Wall Art Prints collection for further inspiration.
How to Choose Wall Art That Fits Your Airbnb’s Style & Location
Choosing art for a holiday rental works best when you start with the home itself - its style, its setting, and the type of experience you want guests to have. The goal is to create decor that feels intentional and welcoming without being overly themed or personal.
Align Artwork With Your Property’s Overall Theme
Whether your Airbnb is coastal, modern, rustic, or eclectic, the artwork should reinforce that atmosphere. A cohesive look helps the space feel thoughtfully designed and makes your listing photos more compelling.
Coastal Homes
Beachside rentals benefit from artwork that echoes the natural environment - oceans, dunes, sun-washed palettes, and soft neutrals. These choices create a calming, holiday-ready mood. You can explore coastal imagery in our Beach House Art Prints collection for inspiration.
Urban & Modern Homes
City apartments and contemporary homes often suit clean, modern visuals such as modern art, abstract art, monochrome photography, or geometric forms. These styles complement minimalist furniture and modern architectural elements.
Add Local Touches for Authenticity
Guests appreciate subtle nods to the area. Consider including a framed photograph of a nearby landmark, a local beach, or an iconic streetscape. These small touches help ground your property in its location and make the stay feel unique.
Best Beach House Wall Art for Holiday Rentals
Beach houses and coastal holiday homes call for artwork that feels relaxed, sunlit, and connected to the natural landscape. The right pieces create an immediate sense of calm and set the tone for a memorable stay.
Choose Colours Inspired by the Coast
Soft sandy tones, sea-spray blues, muted greens, and gentle neutrals work beautifully in coastal rentals. These colours echo the shoreline and help create that breezy, holiday-ready atmosphere guests love.
Feature Beach House Wall Art With Local Character
Art that reflects your property’s surroundings helps guests feel grounded in the destination. Think ocean horizons, cliffside views, palm-lined paths, or local beaches. You can browse our full Beach House Wall Art collection for coastal-themed prints.
Avoid Over-Themed Coastal Decor
A light touch works best. Rather than filling every wall with shells and anchors, choose a few thoughtful pieces that feel authentic and timeless. Subtle references to the ocean are far more sophisticated and ensure your decor appeals to a wide range of guests.
Modern & Urban Styling Ideas for City Airbnbs
City-based Airbnb's and modern holiday apartments benefit from artwork that feels contemporary, clean, and intentionally styled. These homes typically feature streamlined furnishings, open layouts, and architectural details that pair beautifully with modern visuals.
Choose Bold, Contemporary Imagery
Abstract art, geometric forms, and bold line work all complement modern interiors. These pieces add structure and interest without overwhelming the room. A large abstract print above a sofa or dining bench can act as a striking focal point.
Use Black-and-White Photography for a Timeless Look
Monochrome cityscapes, architectural angles, and street photography bring character to urban rentals. These styles are both renter-friendly and universally appealing, offering a sense of place without relying on strong colour themes.
Integrate Local City Details
Guests love small touches that remind them they’re staying somewhere unique. Consider framed photographs of local landmarks, iconic streets, or even artistic maps of your city. These pieces add personality, help guests feel connected to the area, and subtly enhance your interior styling.
Keep the Palette Clean and Cohesive
Modern homes often look best with restrained colour palettes - think charcoal, white, muted tones, or a single accent colour. Choosing artwork that reflects these tones will help maintain a cohesive, polished aesthetic.
Durable, Low-Maintenance Artwork for Holiday Homes
Holiday rentals work best with decor that looks great, holds up under frequent use, and is simple for hosts to maintain between stays. Artwork is no exception - choosing the right materials can save time, reduce damage, and keep your space looking consistently fresh in listing photos.
Choose Framed Prints With Protective Glazing
Framed prints with clear acrylic glazing are ideal for Airbnbs. Acrylic offers the clarity of glass but is lighter, safer, and far more resistant to accidental knocks. It can be wiped clean quickly, making turnover days smoother and stress-free.
Avoid Options That Are Hard to Clean or Replace
Unframed posters, open-canvas art, or delicate handmade pieces can become worn or damaged faster in high-traffic rentals. Canvases may warp in humid environments, while posters can peel or crease. Using framed artwork keeps things looking polished and professional for longer.
Keep Maintenance Simple for Faster Turnovers
Holiday homes experience more hands on walls, more suitcases brushing past, and more general wear. Low-maintenance artwork means fewer repairs, fewer replacements, and fewer surprises on check-out day. Wipeable surfaces and durable frames are your best allies.
Designed to Withstand Guest Traffic
If your rental hosts families, pets, surfboards, or skis, durability is key. Lightweight framed prints stay securely on the wall, won’t sag, and don’t risk shattering. They deliver a refined look without the fragility.
Affordable Wall Art Ideas That Still Look High-End
Creating a polished, high-end look in your Airbnb doesn’t have to stretch your budget. With the right approach, affordable artwork can look every bit as refined as premium pieces.
Pair Budget-Friendly Prints with Quality Frames
One of the simplest ways to achieve a high-end look is to frame affordable prints in premium timber poster frames. A well-crafted frame adds structure, warmth, and professionalism, making even budget prints feel intentionally styled.
Mix One Hero Piece with Smaller Accents
You don’t need every artwork to be large or statement-making. Choose one hero piece for the main living area, then support it with smaller, complementary prints in other rooms. This keeps costs manageable while maintaining visual balance.
Create a Gallery Wall for Big Impact
Gallery walls are an excellent way to fill a larger space without investing in oversized individual artworks. For an even more meaningful touch, create a personalised gallery using your own local photographs - beaches, streetscapes, landmarks, or landscapes unique to your area. Pair these with our easy and affordable gallery wall frame sets.
Use Frames to Elevate Simpler Artwork
Even minimalist or inexpensive prints can look polished when placed in a cohesive framing scheme. Repeating the same frame colour throughout the home helps unify each room and creates that sought-after boutique-hotel feel.
How to Get Artwork Size & Placement Right in an Airbnb
Getting size and placement right is one of the simplest ways to make your Airbnb look thoughtfully styled. Even the best artwork can feel underwhelming if it’s too small, too high, or floating awkwardly on the wall. These guidelines help ensure every piece feels intentional and well-proportioned.
Follow the Two-Thirds Rule
As a general guide, artwork hung above furniture - such as a sofa, bed, buffet, or dining bench - should be around two-thirds the width of the furniture below. This creates balance and makes the room feel anchored.
Don’t Be Afraid of Larger Art
In holiday homes, oversized pieces often look more luxurious than smaller prints. A large A0 sized framed print in the living room acts as a clear focal point, photographs beautifully for your listing, and gives the space a high-end feel.
Refer to our helpful - Wall Art Size Guide
Hang at Eye Level for Comfortable Viewing
The centre of your artwork should sit roughly at eye height - around 145–150 cm from the floor. This keeps pieces visually accessible and avoids the common mistake of hanging art too high.
Use Gallery Walls for Flexibility and Character
Gallery walls work well in hallways, stairwells, studies, or any spot where one large artwork might overwhelm the space. Keep spacing consistent and map out your arrangement on the floor before committing. For more creative options, consider incorporating your own photos of the local area.
For more tips, read our blog on How to Mix & Match Wall Art Prints for a Beautiful Gallery Wall Layout
Need Help Hanging Your Artwork?
For practical hardware tips, layout ideas, and step-by-step guidance, see our full hanging guide here: The Ultimate Guide to Picture Hanging on Your Wall.
Recommended Artwork Picks for Airbnb & Holiday Homes
Here are a few curated suggestions to help hosts choose pieces that work beautifully in different types of holiday rentals:
For Coastal Holiday Homes
- Beach Sunrise Wall Art Print - Soft, calm tones suited to light-filled coastal interiors.
- Morning Surf Wall Art Print - Ideal for relaxed beach houses with a contemporary feel.
- Ocean View Wall Art Print - Clean composition, perfect for minimalist or modern apartments.
- Wategos Beach Stairs Wall Art Print - A guest favourite for evoking coastal nostalgia.
For Modern City Airbnbs
- Protea Flowers Wall Art Print - A refined botanical option that adds warmth without clutter.
- A Silent Moment Peach Modern Wall Art Print - Soft modern tones that suit contemporary, neutral interiors.
- Love Me Modern Wall Art Print - A bold, stylish choice ideal for city apartments with an artistic edge.
- Transparent Eucalyptus Silver Dollar Leaves Wall Art Print - A light, modern botanical print that complements both minimalist and Scandinavian styling.
For Family-Friendly or Pet-Friendly Stays
- Cockatoo on Mint Wall Art Print - A cheerful, bright-toned print that suits playful, family-oriented spaces.
- Cool Koala Wall Art Print - A fun and friendly Australian theme that young guests love.
- Kangaroo Beach Wall Art Print - A playful, uniquely Australian option that appeals to families.
- Pampas Grass 1 Wall Art Print - A soft, neutral botanical option that feels welcoming and safe for all ages.
These options can help anchor your decor, create memorable moments for guests, and make your listing photos feel instantly more polished.
Key Takeaways for Styling Your Airbnb Beautifully
Art Shapes the Entire Guest Experience
The artwork you choose does more than fill empty walls - it sets the tone for your holiday home and influences how guests feel the moment they arrive. Thoughtful styling can make your space feel warm, cohesive, and memorable.
Choose Pieces That Suit Your Property’s Personality
Whether your rental is coastal, modern, rustic, or family-friendly, letting the home’s style guide your art choices ensures everything feels intentional and inviting.
Prioritise Durability and Low Maintenance
Framed prints with protective glazing offer the best balance of style and practicality. They stand up to guest turnover, stay looking fresh, and require minimal upkeep.
Affordable Can Still Look Premium
Budget-friendly prints paired with quality frames can create that boutique-hotel feel without stretching your budget. Gallery walls, personal photographs, and coordinated colour palettes all enhance your decor.
Explore More Options
If you’re ready to refine your Airbnb’s look, explore our Beach House Art Prints and Decorator Wall Art collections for inspiration tailored to every style.
Frequently Asked Questions About Decorating an Airbnb
What wall art works best for an Airbnb?
Artwork that appeals to a wide range of guests is ideal - think coastal photography, modern abstracts, soft floral botanicals, or simple geometric designs. Choose pieces that complement your home’s style and avoid anything too personal or polarising.
How does decor influence reviews and bookings?
Guests judge your listing first through photos. Well-chosen artwork makes your space feel warm, intentional, and memorable, which often leads to stronger reviews and higher booking rates. A visually appealing space also performs better in Airbnb search results.
Should I use local-themed wall art?
Yes - guests love artwork that reflects the area they’re visiting. Beach homes can showcase local shorelines, while city apartments might feature architectural details or street photography. These subtle touches create a sense of place and make your home stand out.
Framed vs unframed - which is better for rentals?
Framed artwork is usually the best choice for Airbnbs. Frames with acrylic glazing protect your prints from dust, moisture, and knocks, making them easier to maintain between stays. Unframed posters or canvases can warp, tear, or stain more easily.
How do I decorate my Airbnb on a budget?
Start with affordable prints and pair them with quality frames for a refined look. Mix one hero piece with smaller accents, use gallery walls for impact, and consider printing your own local photos. Coordinated framing and consistent colour palettes can make budget decor look high-end.
