Top 5 Hacks from AirBnBs to Use at Home

After traveling across the country and staying at so many AirBnBs, here are my “Top 5 Hacks” that I stole and have implemented at home

Why is it when you are staying in someone else’s house or hotel it seems so much better than your own house? I thought about this as we stayed in some of the cutest AirBnBs across the country. Then, it hit me! There were certain similarities between the homes, all which make them a five star experience for their guests. Here are the top 5 hacks I noticed and have implemented in our own home to make it feel more luxurious and five star!!

Number 5- Labels: Have you ever noticed at AirBnBs everything is so easy to find, organized, and has a label on it? Why had I never thought of this before?! The first thing I want to do is purchase a label maker and start labeling basic things, such as: bins for cleaning products; laundry products; linen closet; kids toys, etc. I think this will make everything so much more efficient with less time wasted rummaging and searching for what I need. It also makes things easier for the hubby, nanny, family or any one else who might be in your home.

Number 4- Comfy Towels: This may seem obvious, but after no longer having registries for wedding or baby you forget about buying yourself some new towels. We realized we had not bought new towels in over two years. Ew. The towels at this AirBnB we recently stayed in were so plush, so soft, and felt like a warm blanket getting out of the shower. I took a picture of the tag so I would not forget. The brand is called Charisma and I would highly recommend getting yourself some new towels to make your shower more like a spa experience. It is kind of a splurge, but totally worth it because you will use them every day (or every other or third day in quarantine life).

Number 3- Board Games: I completely forgot how fun board games are! I noticed each AirBnB had a little collection. Whether it is Scrabble, Candy Land, or Jenga, we definitely need to have some in the house. Board games are such a fun way to spend time with the kids or your significant other. It is also so much better to play a game once in a while than to binge on a new show.

Number 2- Cute Coffee Station: Our kitchen is so organized, but the coffee area has always been a mess. Sometimes the filters are out, other times in the cabinet. The bag of coffee is always in a random place. I noticed every.single.place we stayed had a cute coffee set up with some coffee cups hanging up on hooks. We totally stole this idea and got a tray and made this our coffee station. Our tray now has: coffee; tea; filters; BrainON; collagen peptides; MCT oil; and sugar substitutes all in one cute zen little place. This was a small change that has made our morning routine cuter and more efficient.

Number 1- Luxury Bedding: Now, you may not be showering every day in quarantine, but you are definitely sleeping. Splurge on the expensive, soft, cool sheets and pillows. Sleep is one of the most important daily things we do. A good nights sleep helps you stay healthy, look younger, reduces stress…the list goes on and on. Why not make the place we spend 6-9 hours the absolute most comfortable place you can! The best part about staying at a fancy hotel is the bedding. Make your own bed even better than the fancy hotel! It may be an investment, but put in the category of self-care. There is nothing better to invest in than a good nights sleep!

I won’t make any specific recommendations on bedding because it is so personal, but I would recommend a Sleep Number bed for couples- especially if one likes a more firm mattress and the other more soft. Then, for sheets you want at least a 200 thread count, but try to get as close to 800 as you can. Egyptian cotton is the softest and bonus for organic Egyptian cotton. On top of your sheets, layer with a light knit blanket like this. Then, you want either a light or heavy (depending on season) down comforter with a duvet cover. Lastly, throw a heavy weighted blanket or micro-fleece blanket on the bottom. I also recommend three different pillows on the bed for each person if it fits: soft, medium, and firm just so you have options.

Honorable Mentions:

I also noticed most of the AirBnBs had limited clutter and simple minimalist designs. A great way to reduce clutter is to schedule a clean out twice a year.

One other consistent theme across the AirBnBs was a relaxing outdoor space. After you get your towels and bedding done the next thing on the list should be zhushing up your outdoor area. Even if it is just a small balcony or concrete pad, add some potted and hanging plants, a cute seating area, and some market lights and all the sudden you have a five star outdoor seating area to relax. This is especially important during this quarantine life!

I hope this helps and you will be rating yourself five stars!

Photo is from “Montara Beach House” located in Montara, CA