The Paradise Cabin Kona- Decorating for an Airbnb

The Paradise Cabin Kona- Decorating for an Airbnb

Twice this year I have gone to visit my sister Kelly in Kona, Hawaii. On each trip, I was on a mission to help her prepare her house to rent out as a vacation rental. Home decor is one of my favorite topics to feature here on the blog and I have been so excited to share this experience decorating my first Airbnb! I had just finished watching season 1 of #StayHere on Netflix; a show dedicated to creating one-of-a-kind vacation rentals all over the country. Let’s just say I binged season 1 in a week and hope they create a season 2 because I absolutely adore this show! Genevieve Gorder is my design idol. She does an incredible job and her designs are always welcoming, practical, and unique.

Where I shopped…

Living on the big island of Hawaii, shipping times can take longer than is ideal when you are trying to decorate a home in a short amount of time. So I stuck with shopping at stores I had access to which included Target, Ross, Walmart, and Costco. I made trips to Ross every few days because their inventory is always changing.

An inviting and functional entryway with a mirror, baskets for items like keys and shoes.

The Design Inspiration…

The decor for my sister’s home is very different from my own. For the design inspiration, I followed along the lines of what my sister already had to work with and implemented pieces that are functional, durable, affordable, easy to clean, and multipurpose.

 

Twin beds in the blue room with an Ikea shelf repainted and packed with games, puzzles, books, and decor to entertain kids.

My favorite room in the house where I stay when I visit. This room has a soft, bohemian vibe with lots of neutral shades and an open-air feel. 

 

A welcoming basket lays on the bed with coasters, a book, and lavender. These baskets are also great for laying out soap, shampoos, and towels for guests so they do not have to go searching for these items when they arrive after a long flight.

A designated coffee station in the kitchen is always appreciated. I made sure her home was stocked with extra coffee and filters.

The master bedroom is a collection of black and white textured pieces.

Artwork in the home can really create a unique and welcoming space. Most of her plants in the home are faux. However, her real plants are easy to care for and require minimal watering.

Local travel guides for visiting the big island of Hawaii. Plus, a sign letting guests know the Instagram handle and hashtag to share their adventures. This is free marketing for any vacation rental.

A faux flower arrangement I created from items I found at Michael’s Craft Store and a vase from Ross. I picked tropical flowers to go along with the Hawaiian vibe.

The chairs we were lucky to find at a teak import store in Kona the day before I left to match the table her boyfriend handmade for her home. The stained glass artwork you see on the cabinets was also a handmade gift from a friend.

A gallery wall made of vintage and watercolor prints my sister ordered from Etsy hung in simple frames found at Target and Ross. Gallery walls with different sized frames can be quite tricky to create. I suggest using a company like Framebridge to create gallery walls. They send the frames with a pre-measured guide to help you evenly hang them on the walls. Check out my Framebridge wall in this post here. 

ottoman + plant from Target

A portion of the garage was converted into a gym with all the equipment one might like for a workout.

I decorated this home with the purpose of it being a successful vacation rental. Thinking about the features her guests would appreciate made me step out of my own design comfort zone. I thoroughly enjoyed this project and am already looking forward to designing more themed- vacation rentals!

As always, thank you for stopping by.

xoxo,

Laura