Grants Pass, Oregon is a small town filled with countless surprises. Northeast of Medford, this slower-paced town in southern Oregon woos residents and visitors with its pleasant climate, proximity to vineyards, walkable downtown district and did I mention the Rogue River runs right through the town? I mean, how charming can you get?

The historic downtown is a sojourner’s dreamscape. Lots of window shopping at antique stores and speciality boutiques can keep one busy for sure, but the downtown also offers art galleries, sidewalk bistro options, wine and cheese shops, herbal remedies, music stores, wellness studios and classic car shows throughout the year. Large murals provide colorful eye candy on the sides of brick-and-mortar mom-and-pop shops around town. And, of course, there’s a slew of bars and restaurants to choose from.

With all of this in mind, the main attraction for many is still the Rogue River. All the river activities are offered here and locals flock to the water as soon as the weather dictates. Staying on or near the Rogue is prime and Airbnb vacation stays here are no joke.

With an overall average guest rating of 4.84 out of 5 (AIRDNA), Airbnb hosts here are offering exceptional vacation home options. A competitive market demands that hosts up their game, which is why one of our recent clients contacted us. Her Airbnb is located across from Riverside Park and the river itself, making it desirable real estate for the upcoming vacationing season in the Rogue valley.

This project had a couple of twists. Not only were we working within a budget and with the owner’s furnishing, but we also had a strict timeframe in which to stage and get pictures in order to get the listing up and running. We’re talking, like, a few hours to get it staged and picture ready.

So, the challenge became how to transform a sparsely decorated month-to-month rental into an I-want-to-instant-book-you Airbnb listing quickly and on budget.

How We Did It

1) Integrate the owner’s bigger furniture and decor pieces

This Airbnb stage was a bit different as we had a super tight time frame in which to load in, stage, clean up and load out before the end of the day.

To save time and money, we used some of the owner’s items like the living room rug, couch and chair. Luckily, the sofa and rug were neutral so that we could mix and match color palettes as we pleased.

With its exposed metal legs and modern design, the couch had a bit of an industrial feel which is not what we were going for. To soften the look, we added vibrant pillows with extra texture and surrounded the sofa with wood tables. We kept mixing materials with the metal lamp and accessories as well as the wood/fabric stool, staying with the eclectic yet thoughtful feel of the space.

The couch had a bit of an industrial feel which is not what we were going for. To soften the look, we added vibrant pillows with extra texture and surrounded the sofa with wood tables.

2) Artwork - Use focal Pieces

Since we were designing on a budget, we stuck with one focal art piece for each room. For this stage, the long living room wall that’s most visible as you enter was bare and needed some pop. Since the furnishings and accessories were already bringing lots of color, we decided to not compete and stuck with a classic black and white for wall art.

You don’t need a lot of art to make a statement. One dynamic piece like this wood chevron design and a couple of hanging planters were enough to warm up this blank bedroom.

The Complete Project

The project turned out great! With a few simple shelf additions to the kitchen and bathroom, we were able to upgrade the spaces with extra storage which doubled as a place to display decorative and functional pieces. The outside patio got a mini-renovation as well with bamboo, a bistro set and a bottle of local wine to seal the deal.

Redecorating for an Airbnb doesn’t have to break the bank. Using more expensive pieces that you already have - like couches or beds - and integrating them in with trendier, smaller pieces and accessories can help achieve the look you want. Choosing one focal art piece helps cut costs as well while keeping your listing looking clean and thought out.

We wish you luck on your own room designs and hope we could help to inspire some creative rehabs in your own space! Happy decorating!