How to turn your house into a hotel

The expert’s guide to Airbnb-ing

THE RISE OF HOMESTAY websites such as Airbnb over the past decade has revolutionised the way we travel. Terrifying stories about bookings for baby showers that have morphed into raves aside, it has also offered a handy means of making an income for anyone with a second home, or even just a room to rent. But in a crowded marketplace, how do you make your rooms stand out from the rest?

It’s a question that London-based entrepreneur Nakul Sharma aimed to answer in 2014 when he launched Hostmaker, a property-management company that helps people to increase the profile of their home online (and, Sharma claims, its returns – by up to 39 per cent). The company’s in-house design team, At Home, is key to this, offering anything from advice on furnishing a space to full-scale revamps. It has developed into an interior-decorating service in its own right, with a team

of 16. Often working to short lead times of two to four weeks, they make visually striking but not necessarily expensive changes to decorating schemes, to create an inviting interior that will catch the eye. It’s an approach that works for those with a homestay property, but also one that can be applied to creating a welcoming mood in any space, whether or not you are planning to rent it out.

‘Interior design has been a central element of the Hostmaker offering from day one,’ says Sharma. ‘The modern traveller is seeking two things: the joy of discovering a new place, but also the comfort of a home.’ As with home-staging experts, who style properties to make them more attractive to buyers, first impressions are key. ‘We design with the photo in mind,’ says Laura Ward, At Home with Hostmaker’s design director. ‘We use bold colour schemes – sometimes it’s very dark, sometimes it’s very bright, but it’s got to stand out. Paler, lighter schemes tend to get a little lost.’

Ward points out that the homestay market has changed in the decade since Airbnb launched: whereas initially people used it to rent out their own homes,

‘The modern traveller is seeking two things: the joy of discovering a new place, but also the comfort of a home’

it’s now increasingly used by those with multiple properties to rent. When it comes to a flat or house that is purely a holiday let, she advises going all out with decoration – most people on websites such as Airbnb are looking for somewhere fun and interesting to stay, rather than something more understated that they would want to live in full-time.

But even if it is your own home, and you’re not one for statement colour schemes, you can make significant changes by adding a few interesting artworks or accessories, or simply rearranging what you already own. ‘You want to make sure your guests feel the place has been thoughtfully designed,’ says Ward. ‘It’s about decluttering and curating the things you have; the small touches. Fifty per cent of selling your home is how you style it.’

‘It’s about decluttering and curating the things you have; the small touches’

Add colour and contrast to pale walls with paintings in dark frames Make sure there are no bare shelves; the space should look lived-in Vintage record players are a great styling tool, and will give the room a curated look Plants make a room look more cheerful; fake ones are a low-maintenance option

Display books that have a connection to the local area Vintage and charity shops are a great source of characterful and inexpensive furniture Large, leafy plants have snap appeal Bring the outside in: this house’s garden-square setting is referenced in the wallpaper Layer up fabrics to create a cosier, more inviting look

Small accessories don’t have to cost much, but in pictures they make a big difference Style up a dining table with plates and candles, so guests can visualise being there A dark colour palette will always make a room stand out in photographs A throw and cushions make a minimalist space more welcoming