Airbnb Furnishing Essentials: What to Buy & Where to Shop
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When setting up a short-term rental, one of the most important factors for attracting guests and ensuring positive reviews is making your place stand out with beautiful design and furnishings and providing everything guests need for a comfortable stay.
The right pieces not only enhance comfort but also create an inviting, stylish atmosphere that makes your property stand out.
We have set up multiple vacation rentals across the country and have a clear idea of where to find high-quality furnishings and supplies that will not break your budget.
We are here to guide you through the essential items you need to furnish your Airbnb, from the basics to the stand-out pieces, and share where you can find them to fit your budget and style.
In this blog post, we will cover where we shop when furnishing our short-term rentals, as well as what we typically buy at each store.
Statement Pieces
This blog post will not cover big furniture and decor pieces (your statement pieces) in detail, as those items vary greatly based on your property’s style and theme.
These are the pieces you want to spend more money on, as they will be used most frequently and will stand out in your listing photos. Think couches, accent chairs, dining tables/chairs, outdoor furniture, bar stools, large decor, bedframes, buffets/sideboards, etc.
See our Minoan page for our STR statement favorites which are separated into design style categories.
Our favorite places to shop for statement furniture:
- Article
- Wayfair
- West Elm
- CB2
- Pottery Barn
- Thrift shops/secondhand (for high-quality unique or antique pieces)
- Etsy – for artwork
The Nitty-Gritty
These items may be a bit more “boring” to shop for. They won’t necessarily stand out in your listing photos or entice people to book, but they will be essential for keeping your guests comfortable and satisfied when they stay at your property.
This post will cover most of the basics, but check out our free furnishing checklist to ensure you have everything you need to host your first stay and totrack what you are buying.
Our favorite places to shop for “the nitty-gritty” items:
- Amazon
- Target
- Costco
- Thrift Stores
- Off-price department stores (Home Goods, TJ Maxx, Ross, etc.)
- Ikea
- Walmart
Let’s Go Into Detail…
Amazon
- Basic Dinnerware Set – big plates, small plates, bowls
- “Fun” Dinnerware Set
- Kitchen Utensils Set
- Silverware Drawer Organizer
- Silverware
- Mugs – stoneware or vintage glass – I also like to get mugs from Target or buy local touristy ones
- Spice rack w/ spices
- Coffee table books – for cabins, for national parks (humor), for national parks (pretty), for ocean, multi-purpose
- Coasters
- Accent rugs
- Throw pillow inserts and covers – make sure the covers can be washed
- Zinus Mattresses – king, queen, full, twin
- Mattress protectors
- Bed sheets
- Quilts/Comforter sets
- Towels
- Shower curtains
- S’mores Sticks
- Label maker
Consumables – I have these on subscribe & save schedules at many of our properties
- Trash Bags
- Small trash bags
- Dish soap
- Dishwasher pods
- Hand soap refill
- Body soap refill
- Shampoo refill
- Conditioner refill
- Toilet paper
- Paper towels
- Laundry detergent
- Dryer sheets
- Lightbulbs
- Batteries
Target
- Stoneware mugs
- Mirrors
- Vases
- Throw pillows
- Decor – we try to make our main decor pieces unique, but Target has so many beautiful decor options
- Throw blankets
- Quilts/comforter sets
Costco
- Towels
- Consumables – toilet paper, paper towels, etc.
- Batteries
- Throw blankets
Thrift Stores/Facebook Marketplace
There are a few select things I prefer to purchase secondhand because it can save you a lot of money and you can sometimes find unique pieces. It can also save you a lot of time on furniture assembly!
- Board games
- Books/Coffee Table Books
- Unique decor – vases, artwork, etc.
- Keurigs – you can often find people selling these who only used them a handful of times
- Outdoor furniture – if you can find it in good condition
- Yard games
- Arcade games
- Select furniture – desks, end tables, bar stools, TV stands, consoles, etc.
- Wood or metal bedframes
Marshall’s/Home Goods/TJ Maxx/Ross
Off-price department stores often have good deals on kitchen and bathroom basics.
- Kitchen towels
- Kitchen utensils
- Glassware sets
- Wine glasses
- Corkscrew/beverage tools
- Frames & Mirrors
- Nightstands
- Throw blankets
- Coffee syrups
Walmart
- Roku Smart TVs
- Bed pillows
- Broom/dustpan
- Flyswatter
- Cleaning supplies for guests to use
- Compact ironing board/iron
- Frames (we like to take photos of local attractions or find unique artwork to frame)
- Shower curtain rods
- Pens/pencils, notepads, tape, scissors, etc.
Ikea
We do not have an Ikea close to us, so we don’t purchase from here, but many people love to buy the basics from here so I thought it was worth mentioning.
The process of furnishing and setting up your vacation rental can be overwhelming, so I hope this blog post helps!
We offer set-up and design services and are here to help you should you need assistance – feel free to reach out if interested – email me at regan@shorttermrentaledge.com.
Happy Hosting!
-Regan
