How to be an Airbnb host with the most

Florence Upholstered Dining Chairs and Reclaimed Wood Dining Table

Whether you are renting out a whole property or your spare room, being the host with the most ensures you not only get rave reviews but people come back time and again to your Airbnb property. But when it comes to the kitchen, what will your visitors expect?

You beautiful rustic kitchen will attract a lot of attention. The rustic dining table will be the scene of many happy meals for travellers from across the globe. But what will make you stand out above all others?

The basics offered with style and luxury

It may only be a fruit bowl full of fruit, but it’s stylish, like the pepper and salt mills, the dining table with beautifully crafted wooden dining chairs… you get the picture. Make sure you offer all the basics but do so with a little extra twist of luxury and style. A kitchen sideboard, well decorated, can provide a lovely welcoming feel.

Standford Medium Reclaimed Wood Industrial Sideboard

A superbly equipped kitchen (and property)

Many travellers book Airbnb because they get the best of all worlds. They get home from home with added luxury as well as recommendations from local people about where to eat, where to visit and so on. A superbly equipped kitchen is therefore essential so you’ll need to be at the top of your game for making sure your kitchen is Airbnb ready. Of course, it goes without saying that styling the kitchen should be top of your list too, with the same happening for all the rooms in your Airbnb rental. A great touch would be placing local items of interest in a folder on the rustic sideboard.

Be aware of who your traveller is

Leisure travellers will have different needs than the business traveller who may only require a small kitchen table etc, which is why Airbnb itself has recognised this with a ‘business traveller standard’ for people wanting to offer their properties exclusively to those travelling for business. As well as a stylish kitchen, you’ll need to make sure that there are plenty of charging points for phones and laptops, along with valuable information on the area such as maps, where to park and so on.

Make it personal

Airbnb is unique in so many ways but what sets it apart from travelling and staying in hotels, for example, is the personal touch. Travellers will expect personality (but not your stuff all over the property or room!). Welcome them with a personalised pack of what’s on, where to go and if you can, greet and bid farewell to your guests in person but consider how this affects the appeal of your rental too. For example, upholstered dining chairs, a high-quality reclaimed wood dining table.

Florence Cream Fabric Dining Chairs and Reclaimed Wood Dining Table

The little things matter

Something as pleasant as setting the table for their first breakfast in your kitchen, complete with white napkins and a beautiful linen table runner with cutlery set out ready and ingredients in the fridge will make all the difference.

Lovely Linen White Napkin

Be responsive

Another tip that other successful Airbnb give is to be responsive to guests’ needs. And that means understanding who your guests are before they arrive and what their needs may be. This forethought means a lot to your guests and so kitchen basics is just way of getting it right. But travellers and hosts agree, going beyond the basics is key to being the Airbnb host with the most!

Guest friendly round dining tables

Standford Round Reclaimed Wood Dining Table and Leather Chairs

The round dining table is a joy, is it not? From everyday family meals to more formal occasions, the round dining table is perfect every time. But why else do we really love it?

Social dining at its best

You may not have noticed but at a large rectangular table, some guests are ‘in the shadow’. The angular nature of the shape means that no one person has a true view of the table and its guests. But not with the round dining table. Even a 6-seater dining table circular in shape will see every guest is able to connect no matter where they sit.

There’s no head-of-the-table

It was – and still is in some settings – the dominant position. Whoever sat at the head of the table was in charge, whether that is the dining table or the conference table. Today, in the boardroom of forward-thinking business, there is a round conference table. If you want to emulate the same in your dining room or kitchen, then a round kitchen tableis perfect (and there’s one to fit every style too!).

Savannah Reclaimed Wood Round Dining Table and Chairs

Extendable too

Are you stuck for space but still want the versatility of a table that expands when guests arrive for lunch or dinner? Like other shapes, the circular table can extend. In fact, when it comes to versatility in the dining room or kitchen, the extendable round dining table has it all. Shrinking and growing when needed, it is perfection and ideal when space is limited.

Wycombe Extending Oak Round Dining Table and Chairs

Allows flow in a space

Whether you have plenty of space to walk around the perimeter of your dining table or not, the small round dining table is certainly better for encouraging flow in the room. It is the curves of the table that allow this to happen but if you think this means it won’t make an impact, think again. To make a statement, choose a statement dining table such as the beauty and warmth of an oak dining table.

Alton Weathered Oak Round Extending Dining Table

Welcomes guests without awkward banging of the knees

There is nothing worse than inviting guests for dinner only to have your diners squashed around the dining table, knees banging awkwardly on the table legs. A round dining table and chairs, especially one with a pedestal leg, is versatile and means that the table is easy to sit at, no matter how many diners sit around its perimeter – but you’ll need a large round dining table if you plan on hosting a big group.

Worcester Reclaimed Wood Round Dining Table

Family-friendly

With no angles and sharp edges, there are no dangers posed to children head height with the dining table – no bumps and bruises. There is also something extraordinary appealing about the function of a round dining table in the family home. Match this is with the right style for you – how about an industrial round dining table, for example? – and you have the ideal dining table that will last for years and years.

Standford Round Reclaimed Wood Dining Table

These are just a few reasons why we love the round dining table. It can be dressed up – just look at it with upholstered dining chairs! – along with linen napkins and a tablecloth just as it can be a functional, family dining table that covers all bases.

New rustic beauties to make a house a home

Lovely Linen Tablecloth and Table Runner

Moving to a new home is a momentous occasion and it is customary to offer family and friends a small gift for their new castle.

There are so many different new home gift options, ranging from luxury candles to a more generous round wall mirror, but the giving of table linens is always a welcomed treat. Our new launch of linen tablecloths, napkins and runners make for a stylish gift for new homes, or better still, a beautiful addition to your home.

Why choose linen?

Linen is a natural fabric, made from the fibres of the flax plant. It’s quite a lengthy process to create and every linen item is essentially unique, boasting a range of other beneficial properties too. For example, the close weave of high-quality linen items makes them very strong, absorbent and naturally fast drying. Not to be confused with cotton, linen is the fabric of choice in countries with hot climates because it is a cool, fresh fabric to wear and use, not to mention timelessly stylish.

Linen tablecloths

There is nothing more luxurious than adding a fabric table cover or cloth to the dining table. It adds a protective layer, as well as acting as a delightful platform from which to showcase your table settings. The closer the weave of any fabric, the more luxurious it feels and we can’t think of a better way to style our collection of dining tables than with these high-quality linen tablecloths.

Lovely Linen Tablecloth

From rustic to farmhouse, industrial to Scandi, the tablecloth is an accessory that fits with every design style. Choose from six delicious colours – the soft neutral shade of off white, dusty pink, avocado, denim blue, light and dark grey.

Linen table runners

The table runner is perfect for adding a dash of colour and vibrancy to the dining table. And with our colour range, you can add contrasting and complementary colours. How about a dark grey linen table runner, for example, with an off white table linen cloth? Or a grey tablecloth to complement the dark, black steel legs of your industrial dining table with a dusty pink linen table runner to add an element of surprise?

Lovely Linen Table Runner

The table runner is also the ideal location for nestling Rathbornes scented large candles. Allowing their delicate scent to waft gently around the dining room…

Linen napkins

Linen napkins are a perfect choice. Opt for the same colour napkins as the white tablecloth for coordinated elegance. Or mix and match the colours to present a truly unique table setting that is also slightly quirky (but still full of style).Lovely Linen Misty White Tablecloth

Linen tablecloths, napkins and table runners are a wonderful way of adding colour and texture to your dining table. Accessorise with large candles and diffusers or keep them carefully stored in a dining room sideboard and bring out on special occasions.

Ooze rustic style with these reclaimed tables

Farringdon Reclaimed Wood Extendable Dining Table and Bench

A 6-seater dining table is one of the most versatile pieces of reclaimed wood furniture you could own. The perfect size, it is neither too big to impose on a room and yet, it is just right for when you have guests around to dine. Ideal as a family dining table too, a six-seater dining table in a rustic style is a must-have for any dining room or kitchen/diner.

The rustic style – white paint, natural materials, heavy set

The rustic style has a slightly different tone to its close cousin, the farmhouse style. There is a heft to the overall look and yet it is done so without being heavy or imposing.

Dorset Reclaimed Wood Dining Table and Fabric Chairs

The expanse of a 6-seater dining table with white painted legs ticks all the rustic style element boxes. With softened edges, it doesn’t overtake the room, and the white painted legs of this trestle style table prevent them being too overpowering. For everyday dining, leave the top bare, with a jug of flowers in its centre but for formal dining, dress with a plain coloured tablecloth (stick with classic white) and add the gentle flicker of candles alongside the cutlery and other accoutrements.

An extendable appeal

An extending table solves all kinds of problems. Versatile and practical, the extendable rustic dining table seats four with plenty of room but when you have guests, simply extend it for more space.

Worcester Reclaimed Wood Extendable Dining Table

Choose a rustic dining room table that has a slightly more refined and worked edge to it and you’ll have a classic, elegant finish that sits well within the rustic style. With the painted legs and bare wood tabletop, it will also transform with the addition of a few well-chosen items – the luxury of a heavy, white damask tablecloth, polished silver (or even brass) cutlery, candles in lanterns or glass storm jars… the possibilities are endless.

TOP TIP – don’t forget the backdrop of the dining room either. Neutral warm shades and dashes of a metallic finish such as the frame of a mirror all contribute to making a rustic dining room charming.

The true beauty of reclaimed wood furniture

If there is a style that truly welcomes repurposed and reclaimed wood, it is the rustic style. That doesn’t mean that nothing matches, certainly not with the modern twist on the traditional rustic style. There are refinement and elegance in the heavy-set, chunky legs and thick top of the Beam reclaimed wood dining table. In fact, it is this ‘chunkiness’ that makes it so very popular.

Beam Reclaimed Wood Dining Table and Leather Chairs

For an added touch of luxury, opt for upholstered or leather dining chairs – high-backed dining chairs are the perfect match for this table – and keep the accessories of the dressed formal dining table just as obvious and substantial. Equally at home as a kitchen table and chairs set or in the formal dining room, the rustic dining table is a beautiful centrepiece.

Same style, different shading

The rustic style embraces wood of all shades and types. A reclaimed wood dining table is a thing of beauty but it is also practical. A great place for homework to be done, family matters to be discussed and guests entertained.

Farringdon Reclaimed Wood Dining Table and Bench in Kitchen

An extendable dining table is perfect, we know, in the dining room and kitchen but if you want a ‘certain something else’ – the same chunkiness but with a lighter touch – then the Farringdon reclaimed wood dining table is the choice. As well as the classic dining bench, the upholstered dining chair would look stunning and chic along its edge. For a truly rustic appeal, stick to natural colours – dark brown or tan – or, if you want to inject a hint of the unexpected, a richly coloured velvet dining chair would do the trick!

Make your Airbnb bedroom a 5* rustic hit

Standford Reclaimed Wood Chest of Drawers

Airbnb it has transformed the way we travel. With more people opening their homes to fellow travellers, we’ve written an extensive guide on how to make your home Airbnb ready with rustic furniture, including getting your guest bedroom Airbnb ready.

Bedroom storage is a definite must-have in a guest room and so with this in mind, we take a look at some of the best bedroom storage options.

How to store clothes in a limited space?

Guests will expect the bedroom to have somewhere to unpack their clothes and belongings, but that doesn’t mean you have to have masses of storage space. As well as a wardrobe and chest of drawers, think outside the box, literally, with a stylish and versatile blanket box.

As the name suggests, these large trunks were once used to store spare towels, bed linen and throws, something they can still be used for today. But for your guests, a blanket offers a great alternative to store clothes and belongings whilst bringing certain rustic charm to the room.

Worcester Reclaimed Wood Blanket Box

There is a design of box to suit every style, be it a rustic blanket box with a smooth domed lid or a colonial style rattan blanket box with a padded top, which can also double up as a practical bedroom seat.

How do you maximise space in a small bedroom?

In a small bedroom, where floor space is at a premium, you don’t want to overload the room with furniture, but at the same time, you want your guests to have the luxury of ample storage space.

Standford Reclaimed Wood Century Chest of Drawers

The Standford chest of drawers and cupboard is a versatile piece of reclaimed wood furniture that offers drawer space and cupboard space in one. In a smaller bedroom, it can also easily function as a rustic bedside table next to a reclaimed wood bed, as can this medium chest of drawers. This time in a dark shade, it makes a very pretty bedside table. Opt for a matching pair and position either side of the bed; when space is at a premium, smaller items of furniture instead of one large chest of drawers can be the better option.

Winchester Reclaimed Wood Tall Chest of Drawers

Another solution is to opt for the tall chest of drawers. Tall and narrow, they take up less floor space, ideal if you have higher ceilings in your guest room. These chest of drawers are also perfect for a corner or to fill a gap next to the wardrobe.

How can I make a small bedroom look bigger?

The knack of making a room feel bigger is to maximise the amount of floor on display and that means choosing furniture that has a gap between its underside and the floor. Choosing key pieces that your guests will love is also key.

Dorset Reclaimed Wood Dressing Table with Drawers

For example, a white dressing table with drawersgives not only drawer space but tabletop space too. Similar in design, the extra storage options and details of this rustic dressing table will also complement a smaller bedroom.

Bedside tables that are not imposing in their dimensions also help to make more of the bedroom space but offer enough storage for guests staying in the short term. Useful features such as the pull out extra table on this chest of drawersis perfect for a morning cup of tea!

Dulwich Reclaimed Wood Bedside Table

With so many options, you’re sure to find the right furniture that will guarantee guests return time and time again!

How do I choose chairs for a rustic kitchen?

Farringdon Reclaimed Wood Dining Table and Chairs in Rustic Kitchen

As the heart of the home, you want to make sure you get the right look and style for your kitchen, and that key additions such as dining chairs are functional too. When it comes to the rustic style kitchen, with reclaimed wood furniture what are your options when it comes to dining chairs?

Do chairs have to match the dining table?

There is an assumption that dining chairs must match the table and match each other. Beautifully balanced, four, six or even eight wooden dining chairs that match and clearly sit well with the reclaimed wood table is ideal in the rustic kitchen. Dining table and chair sets are a worthy investment and perfection for if you want a refined edge to the rustic dining table and chairs.

Farringdon Reclaimed Wood Dining Table and Chairs in Kitchen

But there is no rule book that says you have to have matching dining chairs. And if there is one style that enjoys this switching up in temp and style, it is the rustic kitchen.

You could go for an all-out-complete-mis-match look – it works when there is a heavy hint of quirkiness in the room – or, if you want a cohesive undertone to non-matching chairs, this is how you achieve it:

  1. Mix materials – for example, opt for four wooden dining chairs, flanked by two upholstered dining chairs at either end of the reclaimed wood dining table but keep the styles the same. Opt for unfussy materials but one that has elegance, such as faux leather dining chairs, perfect for giving the rustic dining room table an uplift.

  2. Same style but with refinements – this is commonly seen with four or six wooden dining chairs without armrest but the chairs at either end of the dining table would have armrests and a taller back.

  3. Dining bench and chairs – the other option (and it’s one we love for the rustic kitchen) is a beautiful rustic dining table flanked by dining benches on each of its long sides and two beautiful upholstered dining chairs at either end.

    Chelwood Reclaimed Wood Dining Table in KitchenOn a side note on rustic dining tables and upholstered chairs, choose neutral colours and shades to stay true to the rustic style. Brown leather dining chairs or tan faux leather dining chairs are ideal partners to such a table.

    How wide should dining chairs be?

    There is nothing worse than the feeling of being ‘perched’ at a table. Dining chairs need to be functional and comfortable – and that means getting the correct sizing for the space you have available.

    Worcester Reclaimed Wood Dining Table and Chairs in Rustic Kitchen

    A wooden dining chair (or event an upholstered one) that is as wide as it is deep makes for an incredibly comfortable seat. For example, the beautifully simple Worcester wooden dining chair is 47cm in width and just over 50cm in depth. With 15 centimetres minimum between diners, you’ll have a beautifully proportioned rustic dining table in your kitchen.

    Your choice of rustic dining chair

    Essentially, what drives this important decision is your own likes and dislikes (as much as your budget!). Wooden dining chairs are a dream to take care of and perfect for a home with children and/or pets. Upholstered and leather dining chairs add a streak of elegance to your rustic dining table. So which would you choose?

    Create a hallway of fame with these reclaimed consoles

    Chelwood Reclaimed Wood Console Table with Drawers

    The console table became a must-have item of furniture in the homes of 17th century French and Italian aristocracy and since then, it has remained a useful and stylish piece for the hall or entrance way of the home. In modern homes, it slimline features make it the perfect choice for offering storage without consuming too much space.

    But its unassuming features doesn’t mean your reclaimed wood console table can’t be styled to give your hallway an extra pap of zing…In fact, in terms of hallway storage ideas, it could be the best decision you make.

    Rustic beauty

    The rustic style of reclaimed wood furniture may have a slightly less refined finish but that doesn’t mean it is any less elegant. Bring out the freshness of the white console table in the hallway with a vase of tall, striking white flowers. Add a basket for easy storage of small items (drop your car keys in and know you’ll find them again) and for when the daylight starts to fade, a beautiful lamp to cast a soft glow.

    Luxury Raindrop Table Lamp

    To balance any console table, don’t forget the expanse of wall behind it. A framed mirror does just the job, as will a large piece of artwork.

    Lily Wall Mirror

    More storage (without adding bulk)

    Hallway storage is essential for a busy household and so a console table with drawers and a shelf is ideal for increasing options but without adding extra bulk. On the lower level shelf, adding baskets is an ideal way of keeping hats and scarves in check or use it as the base for storing school and work bags.

    Candlelight adds a gentle, romantic light to the hallway and this console table is ideal for pairing with lanterns. Balance the table with a lantern at either end or, if you prefer, opt for the two sizes and cluster together in the corner. Add height with fresh, scented flowers nestling in a brown vase to add a colour element that draws everything together.

    Classic Anthracite Lanterns

    Again, don’t forget the wall behind the hallway table. Beautifully stylish, the Pebble hallway mirror allows for light to be reflected around, a feature that completes the scene.

    Golden Pebbles Large Wall Mirror

    A modern twist

    The beauty of reclaimed wood furniture is just how beautifully it fits with any home and any style. The Worcester reclaimed wood console table with drawers is a common feature in the rustic style and no wonder: it brings an added depth of refinement without compromising on the components that make the style.

    On the surface, it looks like effortless styling but how do you stop a collection of items from looking jumbled? Think in layers of height and you have the solution. In this case, choose two pieces of black and white prints, both in black frames but one taller than the other. The next layer is the glass jar or lantern (or another object) that is no taller than your tallest print. A tall, white vase at the other end of the table adds clarification as too do the smaller accessories in front of the items. When arranging your items, have everything ‘within touching distance’ of the other. In other words, no blank spaces.

    Above the collection of well-chosen and placed items make a bold, bold statement. A mirror that has a vast expanse of glass is ideal but don’t hold back on its shape or frame.

    Lana Wall Mirror

    Three ways to style a hallway console table. Which is your preferred option?

    Rustic styling tips for small bedrooms

    Worcester Reclaimed Wood Bed and Blanket Box in Room

    Styling a small bedroom means solving many problems but it is possible to create a relaxing space. The rustic style lends itself perfectly – streamlined, yet warm and comfortable, it brings many options to the smaller bedroom.

    Limit the colour palette

    Reducing the number of colours you use on walls and soft furnishings will bring a sense of symmetry and cohesion. The rustic interior design style effectively uses a neutral but warm colour palette which means that cool light blue walls or warm pastel yellow will work perfectly with reclaimed wood furniture.

    Maximise floor space

    A clever trick and one that you can use in any small space is to maximise the amount of floor on show. The more floor you can see, the bigger the small bedroom will feel.

    And that means choosing a reclaimed wood bed that not only fit with the rustic style but is also non-bulky and overly oppressive.

    With space between the underside of the bed and the floor, the headboard and footboard of the Standford reclaimed wood bed won’t look or feel too much in the smaller bedroom.

    Worcester Reclaimed Wood Bed and Blanket Box in Rustic Bedroom

    Consider painted bedroom furniture too, such as in the Worcester Collection, a range recently added to the Modish stable of beautiful rustic reclaimed wood furniture.

    Maximise light

    Light is important in any space but in a smaller bedroom, if it is at a premium, you need to take steps to make more of every inch of daylight and ambient light too. Mirrors and shiny surfaces clearly make a marked difference in a small space. A floor mirror will work wonders, especially in a shaded corner.

    Floor Mirror in Bedroom with Bed and Open Wardrobe

    Consider storage options carefully

    Storage options in the smaller bedroom need to be carefully thought through. Not having enough makes it a less-than-practical space but you don’t want to crowd the room either. Consider which bedroom storage options will offer the best solutions. For example, a tall chest of drawers in a small room that has high ceilings won’t look out of place – the Winchester tall chest of drawers is a stunning example as are the tall drawers from the white painted version from the Dorset Collection.

    Thornton Reclaimed Wood Large Chest of Drawers in Bedroom

    Other chests of drawer options include the ample storage offered by a 6-drawer chest. With less height but broader width, the six-drawer option would be ideal along one wall. Accessorise with a pretty lamp and key pieces to add harmony and symmetry to the bedroom.

    Frame the room

    Like all rooms, a small bedroom needs points of reference that make sense to the eye. And that means getting to grips with framing the space. The easiest means of achieving this is with bedroom rugs. As well as adding colour, they bring texture too but choose size wisely – always leave a gap around the edge of the rug and the wall – and consider how much colour you want or need the rug to add. The rustic bedroom style relies heavily on neutral and light shades of colour but a darker shade of a highlight colour wouldn’t go amiss. A green abstract pattern rug wouldn’t look out of place.

    Louis de Poortere Mad Men Central Park Green Rug

    Don’t squeeze everything in!

    Choose pieces carefully starting with the bedframe, followed by storage options but think outside the norm too – there is nothing to say that a blanket box won’t work in a small bedroom as storage.

    How to measure for a TV stand

    Kingsbridge Reclaimed Wood TV Stand in Room

    Whether we intend it to be or not, the TV in any room becomes the point around which we gather. Since the advent of the digital age, programme choice has burgeoned, with our viewing no longer restricted by time either. With hundreds of channels to choose from, it’s no wonder that the ‘box in the corner’ is a staple in the home.

    None of this means that we can’t or shouldn’t make the TV unit of which is stands elegant and stylish. We conducted a poll recently on Houzz asking about people’s preferred option when it comes to the TV unit – do you think the TV unit needs to be bigger than the TV itself or ‘just right’.

    We Asked, You Answered

    The favourite was clear – a TV unit that was larger than the television was the preferred option and we can see why. Like everything else in the room, the TV needs to be ‘framed’ so that the room is balanced and symmetrical. But how do you ensure the TV unit is not overly large and domineering?

    Kingsbridge Reclaimed Oak Wood TV Unit

    Time to measure

    To get the right unit, whether that is a small TV stand or a large, rustic TV stand that complements your living room, you need to measure. Here’s how:

    Step 1 – the space you have

    Essentially, unless your chosen reclaimed wood TV stand fits into the space you have available, its addition will make the rest of the room and reclaimed wood furniture look disjointed.

    Dorset Reclaimed Wood TV Cabinet

    If space is at a premium, there are solutions from wall-mounting the TV to a corner TV storage unit.

    Step 2 – TV unit dimensions

    You’ll need to double-check the dimensions of the TV unit but it is also worth paying extra attention to its styling, as well as what storage solutions it offers. A TV storage unit with shelving and drawers is ideal for hiding away cables and remotes, perfect for sitting alongside your reclaimed wood coffee table from the same collection.

    Beam Reclaimed Wood TV Cabinet

    Step 3 – The TV itself

    They come in a range of sizes, from the smallest at 32” (measured from corner to corner of the screen) to the ginormous 85”. Bear in mind that the bigger the TV, the more space you need between you and it to optimise picture quality.

    If you want a TV unit to be longer than your TV, you’ll need to measure your flat screen TV. Measure in depth (how thick it is), as well as its height and width. Essentially, when matching the TV to the unit, you’ll need to decide how much bigger it needs to be whilst also fitting the space you have available.

    The finished product

    Styling the TV unit so that it complements the rest of the room is essential and that means it must be balanced.

    Make sure the TV unit is not the biggest item in the room if you don’t want it to be the point to which the eye is automatically drawn. Disguise it by ensuring that the 3-seater sofa remains the largest item, framed by a reclaimed wood coffee table and side tables, with the reclaimed wood TV stand being the perfect proportions.

    As a minimum allow a few extra inches either side of the TV so that it is framed in its position and people notice the beauty of the TV unit and not the television itself.

    And finally, opt for a TV storage unit that has cut out sections to its backing so all those annoying cables and wires are hidden from few, maintaining the sleek appearance of the rustic styling living room.