8 Decorating Tips and a Case Study for your Cape Town Airbnb
- Liesa Jossel, owner: Home Stagers Cape Town
- Jul 20
- 4 min read
We turned a very ordinary, small investment townhouse into a cosy, inviting, and highly bookable Airbnb.
Our aim is always to create an inviting space, that has enough creature comforts to make it a pleasant stay and that's easy to live in. We always start with the idea that people want to holiday in spaces where they feel relaxed. Spaces should be pretty, but not precious or prissy. Definitely not stiff.
No one wants to stay in an Airbnb where everything feels breakable or gets dirty the moment you touch it.
TIP 1: Make your Airbnb irresistible online
Since you’ll be competing with many others, your Airbnb needs to look inviting in photos. It should feel personal, comfortable, relaxed—and give a sense of the lifestyle, city, or suburb it’s in.
The initial process
The owner had decided to try short-term rentals and knew she needed professional help to get the look and feel right—practical but still stylish and within budget. She reached out to us, sending photos of the empty space.
We started with a Zoom call to chat about her vision, get to know each other, go through some inspiration pics, and get a sense of the budget. She also filled out our short decorating questionnaire, which really helps get us all on the same page. We also discussed who the likely guests would be, and decided to focus on younger people, possibly with kids.
Then the owner and I met at the Cape Town townhouse, where I measured every room and really got a feel for the place. Ps If you're not in Cape Town, we visit and measure your place and report back.
BEFORE: The living area had a curtain rail, with short curtains, a cat screen and dark floors. It's not a very big area - just two metres wide - so it was important to choose the right size sofa to seat enough visitors comfortably but also not crowd out the space.
AFTER: We chose a dark blue sofa with green patterned cushions, and replaced the curtains with neat white plantation shutters. Since there is lots of sun coming in from the opposite side of the room, these shutters will usually be closed, with the louuvres open.
The owner's mom's wooden coffee table holds a decorative vase of dried flowers and a bright bowl of lemons, adding a touch of natural warmth to the modern space. The locally made beaded lampshade with a sunbird tells guests they are indeed in Cape Town, home to the world's unique fynbos and sunbirds.
TIP 2: Stay away from bland
A colour scheme can tie a space together beautifully, but the key is coherence. Choose colours that photograph well, clean easily, and feel happy. They don’t all have to match perfectly.
The design starting point
The owner loves the pale blue kitchen cupboards, and the walls are also blue-ish, so that became the starting point for the décor. The downstairs area is small, with low ceilings.
BEFORE: This space shows the space for the dining area. It's pretty small and narrow, so we had to really think hard about how to fit a six-seater table neatly. PS Notice the bare bulb hanging.
AFTER: We used a slightly narrower rectangular table which allows for 6 diners, and leaves enough space to move around the table comfortably. Notice the pretty modern lampshade!
TIP 4: It’s the little touches
Throws, cushions, board games, USB ports, magazines, decor items—they all work together to create comfort and warmth, even if your guest doesn’t consciously notice each one. Add in items that remind people of Cape Town.
TIP 5: Mix old and new
You don’t need everything to be new. Mix woods, blend vintage and modern. If your mom has a lovely piece of furniture, use it! An Airbnb should feel like a home, not like it came straight out of a showroom.
TIP 6: Avoid veneer
It’s tempting to go for cheaper veneer furniture—but it won’t last. Veneer damages easily and can’t be repaired. We used pine for the dining table and TV unit. It looks great and will wear well.
The three upstairs bedrooms are also compact. Curtains can make small spaces feel even smaller, so I suggested plantation blinds for all the bedrooms. They’re neat, space-saving, and bring a lovely sense of luxury. They ended up being the priciest purchase—but they were worth it. They really elevate the space.
For the bedrooms, we went with a green room (the owner already had the headboard), a blue room, and a yellow room. Since this townhouse is near the beach. in Cape Town, we included lots of beachy artwork: whales, sea scenes, umbrellas.
We also upgraded the lighting. Two of the bedrooms got turquoise pendant shades that echo the kitchen cupboards. We replaced the outdated ceiling lights throughout with clean, modern round ones.
TIP 7: Don’t skimp on linen
Buy good linen. A decent all-season duvet will keep guests comfortable year-round. Guests want to feel snug in winter and cool in summer. It’s part of their experience.
TIP 8: People notice ceilings too
Attractive, practical ceiling lights matter. And whatever you do—please replace that awful round bathroom ceiling light from 20 years ago!
The end result?
A charming, cosy Cape Town townhouse that feels lived in and welcoming—but also thoughtfully put together. Guests can tell when an owner has gone the extra mile. When you’re asking people to pay to stay in your space, it’s only fair that they can see the effort you’ve made to think of their needs.
