How to Stage Your Airbnb for Photos

The biggest staging mistake hosts make is doing too much, not too little. They add elaborate flower arrangements, multiple decorative pillows, themed accents — and the photos end up feeling cluttered and try-hard. Magazine-quality interior photos almost always have fewer things in frame than the average host puts in. Empty space is part of the composition.

The second biggest mistake is staging only the spots guests look at in person, while ignoring how the camera sees the room. Cameras flatten depth, exaggerate clutter, and reveal everything in their field of view — including things you stopped noticing months ago.

Universal staging rules

Clear surfaces by 80%

Any surface visible in a photo (countertops, coffee tables, nightstands, dressers, dining tables) should be cleared to about 20% of what's normally there. The remaining 20% should be 1-3 deliberate items — not 8.

• Coffee table: a stack of 2-3 books, one decorative object
• Kitchen counter: coffee station OR fruit bowl OR cutting board with utensils — pick one, clear the rest
• Nightstand: small lamp, one book, alarm clock or carafe — that's it
• Dining table: set for two with simple plates and a small centerpiece, OR completely empty

Hide cords and electronics

TV cables snaking down a wall, charger bricks plugged into outlets, a router on a shelf, the back of a soundbar — cameras pick all of this up. Use cable management clips, tuck cords behind furniture, and unplug anything that doesn't need to be visible during the shoot.

If your TV has a black screen in photos, turn it on to a static beach or art image (Apple TV's screensavers work, or play any HD nature video paused on a frame). Off-state TVs photograph as a black hole that pulls the eye.

Soft, warm light beats overhead light

Turn off ceiling lights and turn on every floor lamp, table lamp, and accent light in the room. Even during the day. The mix of natural daylight from windows and warm artificial light from lamps is what creates the "cozy and lived-in" feeling that photographs well.

Specifically: warm bulbs (2700-3000K) read as inviting in photos. Cool bulbs (4000K+) read as office-like or sterile.

Leave evidence of life — but curated

An immaculate, completely empty room photographs as cold. A few signs of intentional life make it warm:

• One throw blanket draped (not folded) over the arm of a sofa
• Two books open or stacked at an angle on a coffee table
• A pair of slippers near the bed
• Fresh flowers or a plant in the kitchen
• Coffee mugs and a French press at a kitchen counter

The goal: a guest looking at the photo can imagine themselves in the scene, not just observe it from outside.

Room-by-room checklist

Living room

• Vacuum the rug — visible dirt or pet hair photographs badly
• Plump and re-arrange sofa cushions, but don't over-fluff (looks staged)
• Add 2-3 decorative pillows max — more than that looks like a furniture showroom
• Drape one throw blanket over an armrest or back of the sofa
• Coffee table: stack of books + 1 small object (vase, candle, art piece)
• Wipe down all glass surfaces — fingerprints show up
• Open all curtains and blinds fully
• Hide remote controls, cable boxes, and gaming controllers

Kitchen

• Clear all counter clutter — small appliances (toaster, blender, etc.) into cabinets unless intentional
• Hide dish soap, sponges, paper towels, and trash cans
• Remove fridge magnets, family photos, and notes from the fridge door
• Fresh fruit in a wooden bowl is a classic kitchen counter prop
• Coffee station: grinder + coffee maker + 2 mugs reads better than 6 mugs
• Wipe down the stovetop and oven door — fingerprints and grease are obvious
• Open the blinds, even if you don't normally during cooking

Master bedroom

• Make the bed properly: tight fitted sheet, smooth flat sheet, duvet pulled to within 6 inches of the headboard
• Iron the pillowcases and the top of the duvet if visible — wrinkles photograph as messiness
• Three pillows max behind the headboard (more looks try-hard for a non-luxury listing)
• One throw or blanket folded at the foot of the bed
• Nightstand: lamp + carafe of water + small stack of books
• Hide phone chargers, glasses cases, prescription bottles
• Closet doors closed
• Open the curtains for natural light

Bathrooms

• Roll up clean white towels and stack 2-3 on a shelf or hook (not full-sized — bath towels rolled in thirds)
• Remove personal toiletries: toothbrushes, shampoo bottles, deodorant. Hide them in a drawer for the shoot.
• One bar of decorative soap or one matte amenity bottle on the counter — that's it
• Wipe down all chrome and glass — water spots show on camera
• Lid down on the toilet
• If natural light is poor, turn on the vanity lights but turn off any harsh ceiling lights

Outdoor spaces (patio, balcony, yard)

• Sweep — leaves, debris, pet hair
• Wipe down outdoor furniture cushions and tables
• Stage with intent: one bottle of wine and two glasses on a small table, or a book and coffee mug on a chair
• Turn on string lights or lanterns if you have them, even during day shoots — they add warmth
• Move trash bins, hose reels, and BBQ covers out of frame
• If you have plants, water them so they look fresh (not wilted)

The 90-minute pre-shoot timeline

If you're shooting in one day, here's how to phase the work:

• 0:00-0:30 — Deep clean. Vacuum, dust, wipe surfaces. This is the biggest time sink, do it first.
• 0:30-0:45 — Declutter. Remove personal items, hide toiletries, clear counters.
• 0:45-1:00 — Make beds, fluff cushions, set the table.
• 1:00-1:15 — Add staging props. Books, fresh flowers, coffee station, throw blankets.
• 1:15-1:30 — Final walkthrough. Open all curtains, turn on all lamps, check for visible cords/clutter you missed.

Props worth keeping on hand

If you're going to be re-staging your property repeatedly (between renovations or for re-shoots), keeping a small "staging kit" saves time:

• 2-3 hardcover books (look for visually appealing covers — Phaidon and Taschen art books work well)
• A wooden or ceramic fruit bowl (stays empty in the cabinet, fill with fruit only for shoots)
• A clean, neutral-colored throw blanket (cream, gray, or sage — avoid bold patterns)
• A small bouquet vase (the flowers themselves can be from a grocery store the morning of)
• A French press or pour-over kit (props for the kitchen)
• 2-3 sets of fresh white towels reserved for shoots only

Total cost: under $80. These props will be in dozens of your photos over the years.

Common staging mistakes to avoid

• Over-staging. Three accent pillows looks intentional. Eight looks like a showroom that nobody lives in.
• Theme overload. A coastal property doesn't need anchors, ropes, and seashells in every photo. One subtle nautical touch per room is plenty.
• Personal items left visible. Family photos, kids' artwork, prescription bottles, religious iconography — all signal "lived-in by someone else" rather than "ready for you."
• Plastic anything. Plastic flowers, plastic fruit, plastic decor. Use real or use nothing.
• Mismatched throws and cushions. If they're going to be in frame together, they should be in the same color family.
• Outdated styling. Burlap, mason jars, "Live Laugh Love" signs — these date a listing immediately. Stick with timeless materials: wood, ceramic, linen, leather.

One last principle: photograph the room, not the stuff in it

The point of staging isn't to draw attention to your styling skills. It's to direct the camera's eye toward the architecture, the light, and the space itself. The best-staged rooms feel almost effortless — like the photographer just walked in and captured a beautiful moment, not like a producer art-directed every inch.

If your staging starts feeling busy or precious, simplify. Remove the third candle. Take out the second throw. Close the cabinet door. The room is the hero — staging exists only to flatter it.