Upgrading to Airbnb Plus - how can I improve my place?

[Martin-and-Suzanne0]

We are going through the Airbnb plus programe and we have had the official photos.  Airbnb has responded for us to do some changes.  Our general design is lacking...  The message was:

Design - General

Living room

Airbnb Plus homes have a high bar for design. It looks like this room could use an update—please replace some of the furniture and/or decor, or let us know if any specific items have personal significance to you.

 

Please can I have some advice....

 

I plan to put white sliding wardrobe doors over the cupboard area.

Replace the dining room chairs and table to modern plush ones.

Possibly a matching rug in front of the bed.

 

What else shall I do?

[Alexandra316]

@Martin-and-Suzanne0A coffee table and/or side tables would be nice. I would include some decor on there. Maybe also add some mood lighting, like a table lamp. 

Slightly picker, but I don't think the chandelier suits the living room space. It's cute in the bedroom, but it might be nice to switch that up. 

Definitely agree that the dining set could use a changeup. It doesn't match the rest of the design of the space. Something white and modern would be nice. 

[Martin-and-Suzanne0]

Thank you for the tips, I shall look at those changes....

[Helen3]

I would see if you can pay a home designer for a one-off consultation or ask a friend whose taste you admire to help @Martin-and-Suzanne0 

It will also depend on who is the target market for your listing.

Have you had a look at comparable Airbnb plus properties for ideas and those of local superhosts with comparable places.

[Gordon0]

More importantly, @Martin-and-Suzanne0, have you read the reviews of Plus?

[Martin-and-Suzanne0]

I am begining to digest them.....

I hope I don't regret this move...

[Ian-And-Anne-Marie0]

Nice floor, nice table and chairs, practical clothes hanging area shelves and bag stand, some added ambient light as @Martin-and-Suzanne0 suggests. But, change the rug to something less fluffy and easier to clean, match that to a bed rug if you would like and tone down the colours of the cushions, although they're not that disasterous and might be OK if the colour of the photo was accurate.

Most of all, have a word with Airbnb about your photographer making everything look orange. The lighting is terrible, your existing lighting is burned out and your shadow areas are depressing. The photographers' flash bounced off the RHS ceiling is totally inneffective, underpowered and has caused a colour mismatch in your room. Only where it has been used is there a hint of the actual colour of your room and because of that it gives the rest a really dingy impression because it isn't lit. A photo taken with a phone would have been just as good if not better than what you are showing here.

[Ian-And-Anne-Marie0]

@Martin-and-Suzanne0 

2 minutes fixing problems which could be fixed and heading towards where it should be:

[Martin-and-Suzanne0]

Yes. you are absoultely right... the colour is too peachy!  Just looking at my mobile phone photos I took yesterday:

[Ian-And-Anne-Marie0]

@Martin-and-Suzanne0 Your mobile phone photo has made a lot better job of makiing those chandeliers look good compared to what you have been 'officially' provided.

It's very easy to get the best of both worlds and thats what should be expecting. 

Take away the darkness, 'peachyness' and burnt out chandeliers and you won't need to go buy anything. Just make your stuff look good!

[Ian-And-Anne-Marie0]

3-4 minutes tweaking...

[Martin-and-Suzanne0]

[David6]

@Martin-and-Suzanne0   Sometimes I despair with  Airbnb. You have great reviews and this is your personal style and taste. Not all guests want modern, bland boxes. All the listings in London look the same - white, minimal, modern. One of my listings does  too 🙂 

If guests  don’t like your style they won’t book? I would just switch out the rug for a more summer weight and drop it back in for the winter. Everything else is fine. Most guests prefer super clean & warm hosts than an extra lamp?

[Ian-And-Anne-Marie0]

@Martin-and-Suzanne0 I don't ever advocate "fixing things" afterwards with photos I far prefer to shoot it correctly and fix it all there and then. I do think its unfair to judge your letting based on what are supposed to be "verified photos" which are no better than a phone photo. With those venetian blinds, having sunlight streaking down the walls, (or faking it) would look fabulous. (and not blue).

[Ian-And-Anne-Marie0]

@Martin-and-Suzanne0 I've been reading through what Airbnb Plus is and how it works. Were you approached or did you request?

If you were approached they have a cheek telling you you need to change some Design Elements, but according to the photographer plus recruitment all the photos and editing is handled in San Francisco. Maybe they think houses in the UK are all orange!