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?

[Martin-and-Suzanne0]

I had applied for it when it first came out and was rejected straight away, so I left it.  Then a year, they approached me,  the photographer came around (for free) and then it has just been reviewed.  I think it would have been nicer if they had done an assessment with me rather than look at the photographers photos as the photos don't show all the lovely touches and thought process I do.  They don't see the ducks walking past the front door, hear the birds in the canopy of trees overhead, and a the little suprises and gifts that I have thoughtfully done as they open each of kitchen cupboards and the furniture drawers.  The photographer will never capture all of personal and unique touches.

They did offer some cash to help me redecorate...although it will just cover the carpenters fees..

I had already offered to put sliding doors on the alcove, and change the dining table and chairs and asked them what else would make me pass.  They came back to me with some changes.  They advised me to change the rug to something with more natural fibres, agreed that the chairs and sliding wardrobe should be changed,  they advised me to remove the **bleep** willow plant and to put a fresh plant there instead.  In the area where there is sideboard in front of the adjoining door to put up some photo frames and bowl for keys.  The said to change the cushions on the sofa, the duck egg cushions were probably too bright.  Although it matches the curtains...

I am concerned about Airbnb plus and hope my ranking doesn't fall, I am pretty much booked up for the next few months and don't want it to tail off.   I like my off white walls and my quirky soft furnishings and my guests love it too!

[David6]

@Ian-And-Anne-Marie0  I totally agree. @Martin-and-Suzanne0  have amazing reviews that actually mention the nice furnishings and interior designs. Why does every listing need to be the same? Surely the whole point is individualism and  the reason I and many guests book a homestay.  If we want minimal and modern-stark there are thousands of idetikit listings here in the uk.  I would just refuse - honestly what an insult 

[Felicity50]

I agree with the above - do you really "need" to be plus? If you look at the "plus" listings they are very "current" design - as mentioned earlier - white walls, minimalistic, mid century modern design. In which case, you'd need to really make changes - get a bed head, get rid of the "folky" heart hooks and **bleep** willow vase, swap out the dining table, get rid of the couch cushions. But if people like what you have and it looks clean and cozy, and you get good reviews - is it worth it? And maybe it is -if you find your listing way down in the search results, maybe it's worth redecorating and being part of the program that will get you a higher ranking. Look at lustliving on instagram -she's UK based and lists where her products are from. You could see if you could copy some of her style but it would be a drastic change and $$ investment. In my listing, we targetted millenials and that minimalistic style, but that was a decision from the start so guided all the investment in furniture upfront and didn't have to change direction half way through. Also, I don't think you need closet doors.