5 simple interior design tips for Airbnb on a budget in Malaysia

There are more than a few reasons that travellers all over the world choose Airbnb over hotels. Low cost, convenient locations and household amenities are just to name a few. However, our experience tells us the biggest factor is the interior design of the apartment. Even if the apartment is in a poor location, beautiful interior design can help generate outstanding returns.

Here are some tips you can upgrade your house to an outstanding Airbnb listing on a tight budget in Malaysia.

A unique interior design style – to be different is good

We have tested all sorts of style and our best units that move are those which play with cool colours and have a design flair. It can be achieved with a funky yellow chair, huge carpets or a quick repaint of the walls to create a feature presence. Also, some feature lights would light up your house, and make the guest staying in feel more bright and cosy.
Decorating your place with interesting art, furniture and bedding would make the unit a memorable homey feel to the guest. Built-ins can be sourced from Recommend, while larger furniture can be found at local furniture stores, or simply IKEA. Avoid picking common furniture that is easily recognisable as IKEA though – it gives the impression that little thought has been put into the interior design.
Interior design that works in Malaysia
Panorama – the marble looking wallpaper makes the living room appear expensive.
One of the best ways to set the mood and atmosphere of your space is with ambient lighting. This light makes the space warm and welcoming even if you are not there. By ambient lighting, we mean not overhead or harsh lights that cause shadows. Lighting should be soft white, not bright blue or fluorescent.

A complete kitchen would help

Airbnb is consistently chosen over hotels because of the convenience. That includes having a kitchen and utensils. Guests staying would be grateful to have some pots, pans and cutleries to cook themselves. Therefore, make sure you prepare some of them and would be even more convenient with some oil, salt or sugar.

Being on a stricter budget than hotel travellers, the kitchen is an essential appeal which cannot be ignored.
Pots and pans in our Airbnb at The Establishment
Binjai Residency – attractive photography and beautiful interiors help to generate around RM15,000 a month

Have extra of everything – also extra 1 or 2 beds

Because sometimes, one set of towels is not enough. As some guest may have long stays, therefore, a set of towels would not be enough for them. Even though our units have housekeepers who can also deliver to guest during their stays, but in the case, you just have yourself in the business, make sure to have extra in the storage of the unit. Some extra amounts of items like light bulbs, extra bath towels, pillows, toilet paper, boxes of tissue, so they don’t run out during their stay. This would be handy for everyone.


Why extra bed? One of the top performing Airbnb in Malaysia can always “squeeze” more than it could. As said before, some guests just want to have a one-night-cooking with their friends, and no one wants to be left out, so extra beds or foldable mattresses would be handy. As in Plush, we charge RM30 extra per head per night and most of our customers happy to pay a little extra.
MBC#3 can squeeze more pax with extra beds

Little touch goes a long way

Shampoo, conditioner and shower gel
Shampoo, conditioner and shower gel are heavy to carry when you travel. And we, as a guest, all love accommodations that prepare free shampoo, conditioner and shower gel, so why not put these into your unit. Dishwasher or detergent are also appreciated, these are things that you would use little of as a short term guest. We have found that guests also ask beforehand and value having a washing machine so they can travel light carry-on.
Detergent and dishwasher for short-term stays
We have always checked if our unit has enough shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, detergent, dishwasher and handwash before any check-in, as some guest may use up after their stays. But you can also leave some in one of the drawers in the kitchen just in case you wouldn’t be free all the time to deliver to guest during their stay.
Iron, ironing board and a hairdryer
We also put an iron, iron board and a hairdryer. This may sound a bit strange, but A hair dryer & iron are inexpensive and having them in your property illustrate that you have thought of the little things, that just may save the day for a guest. Many guests are visiting the area for a wedding or other formal event and an iron will help de-wrinkle their clothes from their suitcase.
All of our Airbnb units prepared with iron and hair dryer

Some feature items may up level the unit

Who doesn’t like a coffee machine? As we love making our own coffee, we put one machine into the unit for our guests. The guest would be even more grateful if you put a little note beside the machine on how to operate it, or can also be sent in the Airbnb message like us do.
Customers will feel more homey with a coffee machine - The Mews
A coffee machine set up in The Mews
Some decorative pillows will upgrade the unit immediately. Pillows are cool and fun for both kids and adults, also great comfy and cosy feeling for everyone.
Bedroom Design - Plush Service Airbnb Management
Colourful pillows brighten the room
“Mirrors are like art in that the style should coincide with other pieces in your home” designer Amy Bubier says. Aside from being an interesting addition to a blank space in a room, mirrors also have many benefits for the room and its occupants as well. The mirror can “double the place”. This is because mirrors reflect light and once it bounces, it gives the illusion of a much bigger space, without actually moving the walls further.
Mercu Summer Suites Studio - Plush Service Airbnb Management
Decorative mirror in Mercu Summer Suites – SS#6
Mirrors can also increase the brightness of a room, because of its property to let the light bounce in all corners of the room. Use large mirrors or mirrors with decorative frames to attract the eye by placing them on the most visually prominent walls or tables, or on huge blank spaces.
Mirror in Airbnb Binjai#4 
Binjai#4 kitchen brighten up by setting up a mirror
As in Plush, these recommendations are applied to all the units we are managed. In addition, come along with many different services, such as professional photography, well-trained housekeeping service, clear communication with guests before and during guest staying in. To get to know more about Plush and our service, contact us here!

Tel: +60 16-331 9746
Email: [email protected]
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