Earn Money While You’re Away for the Holidays

If you’re traveling to visit family during the holidays, why not let your home earn money for you while you’re gone? Listing your house on Airbnb can generate significant extra income to help cover travel expenses and even turn a profit. In fact, many people are already doing this – in the US, over 60% of Airbnb hosts who rent out their primary home choose to do so when they go on vacation. During one summer alone, nearly one-in-five Airbnb hosts were also guests on the platform (meaning they rented out their own place while traveling), collectively earning over $1 billion between June and August. Over the Fourth of July holiday week, U.S. hosts made more than $410 million from guests – a huge windfall to offset the costs of their own vacations.

These numbers aren’t just statistics – they’re real hosts with real stories. For example, one California host named Janet explained that renting out her home each summer while her family visits relatives abroad now pays for their plane tickets, airport parking, pet care, and more. What used to be a financial burden is now an opportunity to earn money during trips that were once purely expenses. On average, Airbnb hosts in the U.S. make about $13,800 per year from sharing their space, which can be especially helpful around peak travel seasons. Whether you have a spare room or an entire home to list, hosting on Airbnb while you’re away is a flexible way to generate income with minimal effort on your part.

Reaching Guests: The Power of Photos and Video in Your Listing

High-quality photos have long been essential for showcasing your space. Airbnb’s own data shows that hosts with professional photography see around 20–24% more bookings and up to 40% higher earnings compared to other hosts. Photos are actually among the top factors that convince guests to book a listing. But in today’s digital landscape, video content is becoming just as important.

What does this mean for you as a host? It means that adding videos or virtual tours of your home could significantly boost interest in your listing. Marketing studies show that real estate listings with at least one video receive 4× more inquiries than those without video. Similarly, including a video on a landing page can increase conversion rates by up to 80%, and 85% of consumers report wanting to see more video from brands. People simply feel more confident booking a stay when they can see a space in action – video helps convey the layout, ambiance, and personality of your home far better than text alone. In fact, nearly half of consumers (44%) say they’re more likely to purchase or commit to something after watching a video about it. By embedding a short walkthrough video or even a simple greeting to potential guests on your listing (or a linked site), you transform your Airbnb page from a static advertisement into a dynamic preview of the experience. This can set your property apart from others that rely only on still photos.

Of course, great visuals get guests through the door, but delivering a fantastic stay is what earns you 5-star reviews and repeat bookings. That’s where the setup and design of your space come in.

Boosting Revenue with Smart Interior Design and Amenities

First impressions matter. When guests browse Airbnb, they’re essentially window-shopping for a place that looks comfortable, stylish, and welcoming. A small investment in interior design can pay for itself quickly in higher nightly rates and occupancy. For instance, one interior design service for rentals found that after a professional redesign, hosts were able to increase their nightly prices by about 24% and improve their booking occupancy by roughly 20%. With those kinds of gains, an initial redesign budget can often pay back itself within a few months of hosting. The reason is simple: a well-designed, attractive space photographs better, draws more clicks, and justifies a higher rate because guests perceive more value.

According to industry research, how a space is designed and furnished can account for around 35% of a guest’s decision-making process when choosing a rental. Guests mentally put themselves in the photos of your home. Is the decor modern and appealing? Are the rooms bright, clean, and uncluttered? Small touches can make a big difference – a bold accent wall with a tasteful color can add character, a large area rug can make a room feel bigger, and good lighting (such as tall lamps or natural light) can make your space feel inviting. The goal is to create a setting that balances homey comfort with hotel-like polish, so a wide range of travelers can imagine themselves staying there.

A stylish living area in an Airbnb home features a bold statement wall and cohesive decor. Professional interior design upgrades can make a space more inviting and help your listing stand out to guests.

This means you should ensure your Airbnb is stocked with the essentials and even a few extra niceties. Consider the following supplies and amenities for a top-notch guest experience:

• Fresh linens and towels: Always provide plenty of clean bed linens, bath towels, and even spare blankets so guests feel comfortable.
• Toiletries: Stock the bathroom with basics like soap, shampoo, and toilet paper. Travel-size extras or a hair dryer can earn you bonus points in reviews.
• Kitchen essentials: If you offer a kitchen, include cookware, utensils, and some pantry staples (oil, salt, coffee, tea) to let guests easily prepare meals.
• Thoughtful extras: Small touches like a welcome basket of snacks, bottled water, local maps, or bedside USB chargers can delight guests and make your place memorable.

If you’re not sure where to start, a professional interior designer or an experienced Airbnb superhost can consult on optimizing your space for guests. The bottom line is that a well-designed, well-equipped property not only earns you higher revenue through increased bookings and rates, but also fosters positive guest experiences that lead to glowing reviews (which, in turn, attract even more bookings).

Hassle-Free Hosting: Let the Professionals Manage Your Rental

By now, you might be thinking that all of this sounds great – extra income, better design, happy guests – but also like a lot of work. This is where professional co-hosting or property management services come into play. Airbnb officially allows hosts to assign a co-host to help manage their listing, or you can hire a dedicated short-term rental management company. The benefit is that you, as the homeowner, can enjoy your trip or focus on your day-to-day life, while the co-host handles the heavy lifting of hospitality. In fact, one of the primary advantages of having an Airbnb co-host is the greatly reduced workload for you: the co-host manages daily operations like guest communication, cleaning, key exchanges and reservations, so you can focus on other priorities.

Typically, a co-host or property manager will take care of everything needed to keep your Airbnb running smoothly. Common co-host responsibilities include:

• Creating and updating your listing (writing descriptions, uploading great photos, etc.)
• Managing pricing and availability (to maximize your earnings based on demand)
• Handling all guest communication (messages, inquiries, and issues)
• Coordinating check-ins and check-outs (welcoming guests, key exchanges, etc.)
• Scheduling cleaning and maintenance between bookings
• Restocking supplies and inspecting the property after each stay

All of these time-consuming tasks are handled on your behalf, so you don’t have to worry about them while you’re away. The co-host essentially acts as your on-the-ground hospitality team, making sure every guest has a great experience and that your home is well looked after. They keep the property in good shape by addressing any maintenance issues promptly and ensuring nothing is out of place when you return home. While co-hosts do charge a fee or a percentage of your booking revenue, many owners find it well worth the cost. You’re essentially earning money hands-off, while professionals apply their expertise to maximize your rental income and maintain high standards.

Conclusion: Unlock Your Home’s Earning Potential

The takeaway is that signing up as an Airbnb host can be a rewarding strategy to earn extra income, especially when you would otherwise leave your home empty during holiday travels. By marketing your listing effectively – using eye-catching photos and videos – and by investing in your home’s appeal with thoughtful design and amenities, you can significantly boost your booking rate and nightly price. And with the help of a reliable co-host or property management service, you don’t have to worry about the day-to-day hassles of hosting. Your home can generate income for you stress-free, letting you enjoy your time away and return to a tidy, well-kept space.

In today’s world, home sharing has opened up opportunities for countless homeowners to offset mortgages, fund vacations, or add to their savings. With the right approach, your home can provide wonderful experiences for guests and profitable returns for you. So this holiday season, as you plan that trip to see loved ones, consider also opening your door to Airbnb guests – you might be pleasantly surprised at how much you can earn while you’re off enjoying yourself, all without lifting a finger.

Ready to Unlock Your Home’s Full Potential?

Choose Boise’s most trusted design and hospitality team.

Whether you want to earn more while you travel, wow guests with a beautifully curated space, or simply come home to a place that’s always clean and ready for you—Design 55 Interiors is your local expert for Airbnb Interior Design and full-service Home Care Hospitality.

• Airbnb Interior Design Services:
  From complete transformations to simple refreshes, we know what delights guests and drives 5-star reviews—and we make it happen at a reasonable price.
• Home Care Concierge:
  We keep your home guest-ready and pristine, managing all the little details while you’re away—so you can travel with true peace of mind.

Let our experienced professionals show you how easy and profitable hosting can be, with personal service, flexible packages, and honest pricing. We’re proud to be Boise’s leader in design and hospitality for homeowners just like you.

Contact Design 55 Interiors today for your free consultation or property assessment:
Just follow the link where you can find several ways ton contact Design 55.

Discover what true professional care—and a designer’s touch—can do for your property and your peace of mind!