Melbourne guests are a discerning bunch. Whether they are in town for a concert, a long weekend of laneway cafés or a work trip, they are scrolling past a lot of apartments and townhouses that look much the same. Good styling is how yours gets the tap. We are Sharon and Dee, and we own and host holiday homes ourselves, so we style for how a property performs as well as how it looks. Here is how we approach styling a Melbourne short stay.
Know who is booking
A city stay works hard for lots of different guests: couples on a weekend away, friends in town for the footy or a show, and business travellers who need a good desk and an easy check-in. Before you buy anything, decide who your property suits best. A one-bedroom apartment near the CBD might lean towards couples and work trips, while a townhouse with a courtyard might suit families or small groups. Every styling decision follows from that.
Make small spaces feel generous
Many Melbourne short stays are apartments, so every square metre counts. Choose furniture with legs so you can see the floor, which makes a room feel bigger. A round dining table seats more people in less space and is easier to walk around. Hang a large mirror where it can bounce the light around, and keep the benches clear so guests have somewhere to put down their shopping and a bottle of wine.
If you sleep four, make sure four people can sit together comfortably to eat and relax. Guests notice when they can't.
Layer for Melbourne weather
Four seasons in one day is part of the city's charm, and your styling can show guests you have thought about it. Layer throws and cushions in natural textures, add a quality doona plus a lighter option for warmer nights, and give guests good lamps for those grey winter afternoons. Warm globes and lamps at different heights make an apartment feel like a home rather than a hotel room, and they photograph beautifully.
The master bedroom with new furniture including: bedhead, bedside tables, lamps, feature cushions, artwork and a practical bench seat.
Give it a sense of place
The best city stays feel like they belong where they are. A framed print of a local scene, a few books about the neighbourhood, or a short list of your favourite nearby cafés in the house manual all help. You do not need a theme, but you do need a thread: pick a simple colour palette and repeat it from room to room so the whole place feels considered. Our guide on how to style an Airbnb guests will love goes into more detail on colour and comfort.
A beautiful 2 bedroom apartment we styled for mid term rentals.
Plan for storage and practicality
City guests often arrive with suitcases and leave with shopping. Give them somewhere to put it all: a luggage rack, empty hanging space with good hangers, and hooks by the door for coats and umbrellas. A clear spot to work, with a power point within reach, makes a big difference for business travellers. These are not glamorous details, but they are the ones guests mention in reviews.
Style for the photos
Your listing photos are where most of the booking decision happens. Your lead image should show the best thing about your apartment, whether that is the view, the living area or the balcony, in good natural light and without clutter. Make the beds properly, turn the lamps on and pack away anything personal. If your property is set up but the photos are not doing it justice, our Styling for Photography service is made for exactly that: we style every room on shoot day so your listing stands out.
The little things that say welcome
A coffee setup, a welcome sign and a house manual full of your best local tips. Small touches like these show up in photos and are the details guests remember. If you would like a head start, our editable house manual and welcome sign templates are on our homepage.
Where to start with Airbnb styling in Melbourne
Dee & Sharon, The Holiday Home Girls
You do not have to do it all at once, and you do not have to do it alone. We style holiday homes, Airbnbs and short-stay rentals across Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula and Daylesford, and in September 2026 we were guest judges in a challenge on The Block on Channel 9. Take a look at our holiday home styling services, or book a free 30-minute consult and we will tell you honestly where your property stands and what to change first.
Want a few quick wins first? Grab our free 5 tips for your holiday home.
