Top 10 Design Mistakes To Avoid

Are you a local Super Host or Guest Favorite? No? Why not!? Don’t you want to be? There are so many questions and concerns we have as hosts, but what if I told you that the struggle with mediocre bookings or slow seasons—much like 2023—is about to be over? This is the year to take your Airbnb listing to the next level! You just have to get out of your own way first and stop making simple mistakes that scare potential guests away.

Hello fellow hosts, I'm Margaux—your expert interior designer. With over 15 years of design experience and a passion for short-term rental style, I've witnessed the good, the bad, and the refund worthy (I’m looking at you, Bangkok *eek!). From Balinese jungles to French chateaus, the one reoccurring theme I have learned on my travels is that generic and basic will no longer cut it. Ordinary, my friends, is not profitable!

In today’s saturated market, creating an unforgettable guest experience depends almost entirely on the host’s commitment to intentional interiors. It's a mistake to let unintentional design choices be the reason guests shy away from your listing, leaving low bookings or even negative reviews. To prevent this from happening to you, read on to identify the Top Ten Design Mistakes To Avoid that can turn guests away. Correcting these mistakes will empower you to start designing like a pro and ensure that your guests feel comfortable, relaxed, and eager to leave a five-star rating.

Your Listing Lacks Personality
Weak Visuals
Ignoring Guest’s Comfort
Overcrowding Spaces
Undersized Area Rugs
Imbalanced Energy
TV is WAAAY Too High
Hard-To-See Art
Dark Possibly Dirty Bedding
You Have *Gasp Furniture Sets

01. Your Listing Lacks Personality

Your space should reflect the surrounding community and neighborhood vibe, and celebrate local art, decor, and attractions unique to your space + location. Don't be afraid to promote the best of the best, and offer guests a custom-designed experience that they will remember for years to come. Reflect the culture of the surrounding community in your decor to stay authentically relevant. Play a tour guide through your decor and let the guest experience and your space speak for itself.

PROTIP: Show them the best places to eat, shop and what local attractions are a must-visit. This can be highlighted on map art or as a chalkboard wall in the kitchen (smaller design elements can be inside your Welcome Guest Book). No matter where you choose to do it, you just need to do it.

Photo courtesy @ethericlivingco | Gallery wall featuring photos of local areas of attraction for guests to visit during their stay

02. Weak Visuals

A strong sight line pulls you into the space and creates visual curiosity. All rooms need at least one strong design feature, if not two (one to bring you into the room, and one to guide you out as you exit).

PROTIP: Stand just outside the entrance and look in to identify where your eye lands, then design a big moment there. Repeat for all rooms.

Photo courtesy @ethericlivingco | This custom canopy draws guests into the space, while the wall tapestry enhances the exit experience.

03. Ignoring Guest’s Comfort

If your listing advertises sleeping for 10, every common space should provide for and accommodate the same number of people in seating or place settings. Ten people means at least ten wine glasses, 10 pool lounges, or 10 seats at the same dining table.

PROTIP: Layer flexible seating options like ottomans or bench seats to provide additional seating when required, but can also be tucked away when not in use—or used in other ways. For example, two wooden bench seats brought together can be a great coffee table. Separately, it seats six.

Photo courtesy @ethericlivingco | A small but mighty eat-in kitchen features seating for seven guests on the Jersey Shore

04. Overcrowded Spaces

When arranging furniture and decor in a room, it's important to leave enough space between pieces to create a comfortable and functional layout. While it can be tempting to fill the rental with lots of decor and furniture, too much can make the space feel cluttered and overwhelming. Keep it simple and focus on a few key pieces that make a big impact.

PROTIP: Allow 30” MINIMUM walkway between large primary furniture pieces, and 18-24” between secondary pieces. If you need help, take a dining armchair and push it through all the main walkways of the space, clearing the path as you go.

BONUS PROTIP: Space plan like a pro by downloading your free DIY Room Planner

Photo courtesy @ethericlivingco | Easily test hundreds of furniture arrangements for your space in a matter of minutes with our free DIY Room Planner

05. Undersized Area Rugs

A rug that is too small can make your space feel smaller than it is and serve zero purpose. Ensure that the front legs of both your sofa and chairs rest on top of the rug, and that it goes under each piece about 1/3 of its width. This will make your room feel spacious and promote conversation by grounding the space and encouraging engagement.

PROTIP: Use painter's tape to measure out your desired rug size before purchasing, making sure that all your furniture will fit on top. Doesn’t fit? You need to size up.

Photo courtesy @ethericlivingco | Large wool area rug grounds this beachside bungalow in Gulfport, FL

06. Imbalanced Energy

If you have a room that doesn't feel quite right, try balancing the elements to make it more energetically comfortable. Decorate your space by infusing it with the five elements of Feng Shui; wood, fire, earth, metal and water. Spaces that feature all elements feel more high-end, calm and generally more interesting to be in.

Photo courtesy @ethericlivingco | A mix of elements helps this space feel energetically aligned in Seaside Park, NJ

**07. TV is WAAAY Too High**

Hanging your TV too high can cause neck and eye strain, and looks extremely amateur and unprofessional. Do yourself and guests a favor and keep the middle of your TV at eye-level while seated—about 42 inches from the floor to the center of your TV.

PROTIP: Hang the TV slightly higher in bedrooms where watching will be done laying down with an angled viewing distance. An easy solution is to sit up in bed with your back against the headboard and look straight ahead: Make a mark on the wall where your eyes land and then go up 6-12” for the perfect mounting height.

08. Hard-To-See Art

When hung too high, guests cannot see to appreciate your decor, so always hang art by its center. Placing the center of the artwork at eye level ensures that it can be admired comfortably. Art also does not have to be everywhere! Leaving blank wall space between elements will allow the pieces you select to be showcased. Less is more, it just has to be positioned properly.

PROTIP: When in doubt, display the artwork’s center 57 inches from the floor.

**09. Dark (Possibly Dirty) Bedding**

All bedding—sheets, pillowcases, bedspreads NEED to be white. This is non-negotiable! From the Four Seasons to your local Motel 6, white linens are the golden rule of hospitality and industry standard. The color of your sheets directly impacts guest psychology. White equals clean, and guests should not subconsciously worry about dirt hiding in dark linens. White sheets are easy to maintain and replace, and buying in bulk saves time and money.

PROTIP: Consider using duvet covers or the triple sheet method to cover existing colored linens. Fold existing colored bedding into an accent throw at the end of the bed to add a pop of color (while using what you have on hand).

Photo courtesy @ethericlivingco | All white bedding featuring leather storage bolsters for backup bedding options

**1o. You Have *Gasp Furniture Sets**

This trend has long gone in the interior design world. If you want to take your interior design to the next level and create a listing that arouses interest, opt for furniture items from different brands and sources. They shouldn’t look identical, but it would be better if they had something in common.

PROTIP: A good rule of thumb is one new, one vintage and one unexpected piece per room.

Photo courtesy @ethericlivingco | New white bedding, vintage wall tapestry and designer canopy complete this room

Are you guilty of any of these mistakes? I hope not, but if so, don’t worry; it’s like someone telling you that you have food in your teeth. Yeah, it's a little shocking to hear at first, but once you know, you fix it and move on. Issue solved.

Guilty or not guilty but still need Airbnb interior design help? That’s ok, too! Getting an Airbnb design right can be tricky, especially in areas where plenty of vacation rentals compete for bookings. Fortunately, I can take your average rental and turn it into something extraordinary. So in the meantime, your DIY checklist is linked below to get started today—and you are always invited to visit me at Etheric Living + Co. to find out more on custom interior design for your rental. Happy hosting!

—Margaux

PS. The #11 common design mistakes are ignoring the outdoors! Your outdoor living area is almost as important as the interior, so create “rooms” and zones of experiences outside to be enjoyed. Design the outdoor seating areas with chandeliers, rugs, lounges, blankets; spruce up the exterior to create a dedicated space for your guests to enjoy their literal surroundings.

Top 10 Design Mistakes To Avoid