Airbnb is one of the latest companies to focus on sustainability and start an initiative for hosts with lower eco footprints, lower energy consumption and strategies for waste reduction. If you’re looking to join the trend and find simple green ideas to turn your Airbnb into eco-sound heaven, keep reading.
Fresh Flowers
Is there a better way to greet guests than with fresh blooms? If you’re all about sustainable practices, greenery is a must in your Airbnb. Everyone visiting will appreciate how thoughtful your flower gesture is and how welcoming your home looks with all the plants and blooms.
You can also upgrade the kitchen in the coolest way possible. Plant your favorite herbs in cute planters, and spare one corner in the room to turn into a tiny indoor herb garden. This way, your guests can cook with fresh ingredients, pick the herbs straight from the plants and prepare the best meals. This tip will score you big time on the eco-friendly scale and bring a touch of the outdoors to your guests’ experiences, even if your place doesn’t have a backyard.
Good Lighting
This one might not come up as the first eco-friendly idea, but well thought out lighting can make your Airbnb much greener. Having large, long windows is a huge plus, so it’s definitely something to think about investing in. They’ll make the room appear bigger and more luxurious, and will allow plenty of sunlight into your rooms. Also, ensure that the curtains are open during the day and when guests arrive, so that they can see your apartment in all its glory.
You can opt for eco-friendly curtains and drapes made of more sustainable fabrics such as cotton, hemp and linen. Avoid materials treated with synthetic dyes and chemicals; instead, choose plant-based dyes.
Since the beauty is in the details, roam around the nearest vintage stores to upgrade your windows with accessories like fabulous rope tiebacks, decorative finials, hooks, rings and eye-catching brass curtain rods for long windows. Finally, light up your Airbnb with LED lights when it gets dark outside. Yes, they cost more than regular lighting, but LED bulbs will help you save on the electric bill and use less energy.
Recycling And Composting
Composting and recycling are essential for eco-friendly homes. It doesn’t matter if you live in the Airbnb or rent the entire home; you should place recycling bins that are properly labeled and add a composting bin to cut food waste to a minimum.
Food takes much longer to decompose than you think, so if your community doesn’t have curbside composting, make sure you read up on how to compost properly.
Feature Reusable Items
The days of disposable items like straws, plastic plates, utensils, cups or bags are done. Instead, turn to reusable items that reduce waste and help you and your guests make the planet a better place.
Some of the best examples include silicone, bamboo or metal straws, reusable food containers and shopping bags, dryer balls, bamboo paper towels and silicone baking mats. Thankfully, there are many sustainable and biodegradable versions of everyday items, so you won’t have any trouble equipping your sustainable Airbnb with reusable alternatives.
Stand Out
If you’re ready to adopt sustainable practices and want to play up the stylishness of your home, this tip will be life-changing. Hunting for unique furniture and décor finds in thrift stores, vintage shops and online marketplaces is one of the most enjoyable green interior design practices you can tackle.
You may also buy furniture made from sustainable methods, such as Amish furniture. Amish artisans are known to respect the materials they use in furniture-making.
Aside from reducing waste and saving money, buying vintage or locally-sourced furniture will help your sustainable Airbnb stand out because no one else will have the cool furniture you do. For only a few hundred dollars, you can end up with a roomful of fantastic vintage pieces. In addition, second-hand furniture finds are often made of high-quality wood that you can reupholster and rework to your liking.
Great Photos
Now that you’ve done your best to create a unique green space, it’s time to show it to the world. Airbnb is much more than a source of income. It can be an excellent way for you to connect with people from all over the world, especially ones that have the same eco-friendly views as you. This is the part where you need to grab the camera, capture the beauty of your apartment, and share it online.
Conclusion
Trying to be sustainable and have a healthier environment to live in isn’t just a trend—it’s a way of living. Turning your Airbnb into a green heaven can also be excellent for business and can help you show that you’re a host who cares and is willing to invest in better practices.
Decorating your space with flowers and greenery is a great way to greet guests. The next thing they’ll see is a well-lit space filled with natural light during the day and cost-efficient lighting at night. Adding in recycling and composting bins and only going for reusable items takes you to the next step of sustainability while buying second-hand furniture to craft a more unique interior can really seal the deal for you when it comes to having an Airbnb that is both people friendly and ecofriendly.
Good luck creating the sustainable Airbnb of your dreams!
Feature image: Teona Swift; Image 1: Sarah Chai
