Airbnb & Holiday Apartment Renovation

Renovating Airbnb & Holiday Apartments -

Create Experiences and Earn Reviews with the Power of Color

How even a small makeover can take your accommodation's photos, atmosphere, and booking rate to the next level.

Colors sell - in accommodation, too

In the accommodation business, first impressions are everything. When a guest opens the door (or clicks to view the photos on Airbnb), that moment is crucial. Colors play a major role - they set the mood, tell a story, and make a lasting impression.

According to studies, travelers are increasingly booking "Instagrammable" apartments - places where colors, style, and lighting inspire guests to take photos and share them on social media. On vacation, people want something unique and personal, and are willing to try new things. Distinctive accommodations are appealing, too. Every photo a guest posts is free marketing for you and adds credibility to your reviews.

Stand out from the crowd with color

The good news: an impressive renovation doesn't have to be expensive.
A simple painting project can give an Airbnb apartment a completely new feel.

• In a city apartment, you can use color to create a sweet pastel dream, a modern and trendy look, or traditional Art Nouveau style. 
• At a lakeside cabin, you can create a distinctly Finnish color palette with muted blues and whites, both indoors and in the garden.
• Bring a seaside feel to your coastal home with a fresh red-and-white combination
• At Lapland wilderness cabins, you can paint ceilings, furnishings, or log walls with opaque or diluted paint, leaving the wood grain visible - and you can use shades other than white. Matte black gives furnishings a modern frame, even in log cabins. Be bold and add accent colors to natural surfaces, such as an electric blue firewood basket or a terracotta-colored kitchen island/countertop. 
• Add a touch of luxury with metallic shades across a whole wall or in small details like frames and coat racks

Try these, for example:

• Greenish gray or olive in the bedroom creates a peaceful, hotel-like feel.

• Soft pink or muted terracotta in the living room makes the space warm and inviting.

• A dramatic dark-colored door or accent wall (e.g., Frenchic Blackjack or Hornblower) adds a luxurious feel without a big budget. The door can be colorful on just one side. If there are several bedroom doors, a fun idea is to paint them different colors and name the rooms after the colors.

• A neutral mix of beige and gray, such as Frenchic’s linen-toned “Stone in Love,” creates a harmonious base for your interior and photographs well in all lighting conditions.

The psychology of color in the accommodation experience

Colors affect mood and relaxation – including your guests’ overnight stay.

• Blue is calming and helps you fall asleep. Pair blue with metallic shades for a luxurious feel.

• Green brings a natural, relaxed feel. Bring the landscape and nature indoors with the color of your walls.

• Yellow boosts energy and makes mornings feel brighter, even in November. A yellow hallway and door will put guests in a good mood as soon as they arrive. 

• Dark shades create a sense of security and coziness that many travelers long for. Add drama with a dark bedroom ceiling or create a stunning feature wall in the living room with a bold color. 

An interior that stands out on social media = more bookings

Airbnb reviews often say more about the feeling than the square footage.
If guests write “such a lovely, bright atmosphere, every detail thoughtfully considered” or “perfect social media photos in the kitchen!”, you’ve already won.

Painted details – such as doors, walls, trim and furniture – add personality and a distinctive color identity that your competitors don’t have.
It stands out immediately in photos and boosts your apartment’s click-through rate in search results.

Three ideas for a quick and impressive paint makeover

1. Turn one wall into a “photo wall” – a spot where guests will want to take selfies.
   → Use the ultra-matte wall paint colors in the Frenchic range, such as Honeycombe or Calming Carol.

2. Paint the bedside tables, mirror frame, and headboard in a matching color in the bedroom - it creates a boutique hotel look. 

3. Frame color in an unexpected way: door frames, arches, window frames, or even the ceiling can be boldly colored. Surprise your guests - the color will be memorable. 

An affordable renovation that pays for itself

One painting project can increase the nightly rate by several euros and improve ratings, since a neat, harmonious space feels well cared for and safe.
When you use high-quality, long-lasting paints, you also save on maintenance costs.

The result: customers who come back (and post)

When colors support the guest experience, guests don't just sleep - they feel.
And that feeling carries over into the reviews:

“I didn't want to leave. All the colors were so harmonious and beautiful!”
“This place was like something out of Pinterest.”

✅ Checklist: How to Refresh Your Airbnb Apartment with Color

• Choose 2–3 main colors that tell a story (e.g., coastal, forest-inspired, urban, Finnish).

• The Frenchic range offers colors reminiscent of Finnish heritage shades as well as bold trend colors for city apartments, seaside villas, and northern log cabins. 
• Highlight one area of the room with a bold color.
• Keep the lighting warm so colors appear accurate in photos.
• Create an “Instagram wall” - a spot where guests will want to pose.
  
• Update photos and headlines after the painting project - new color, new customer base.
• Choose the best colors and order convenient, self-adhesive Peel & Stick color samples for planning. 
• Save this list before you get started, and refer to it before every new painting project!
• If you have several rental apartments to renovate, ask us about the possibility of a wholesale account: moi@frenchicpaint.fi

For Bold Home Dreams - A Passion for Interior Design, Colors, and Atmosphere