Airbnb Short-Term Rental Furnishing Tips from an Interior Decorator
Hi! You must be an investor looking for help on furnishing your rental property! I’m Ellen, Designer & Owner of EP Design Studio based in California and specialize in full service furnishing projects. Let me give you a comprehensive breakdown on major tips & tricks for furnishing your Airbnb!
*Project Frontier Street in Hanford, California - Furnished & Photographed by EP Design Studio
Realistic Furniture Costs for a Short-Term Rental
In today’s market, furnishing a home - especially an entire Airbnb - can add up quickly. New 2025 tariff policies in place will be affecting imported furnishings. So those cheap furniture retailers may no longer be cheap anymore. We dive into this next, but it might be worth the consideration to invest in better quality furnishings at this point. Nonetheless, it’s important to set realistic expectations about your furniture investment from the start.
To help you plan confidently, I’ve created a FREE Furniture Budget Guide that breaks down realistic furnishing costs from a low, mid, to high-end range for common furniture items. This is the exact Furniture Budget Guide I use on all my client projects!
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FREE FURNITURE BUDGET GUIDE
Why Furniture Quality Matters in Your Vacation Rental
Furnishing an Airbnb may not be exactly the same as furnishing a client’s forever home, but that doesn’t mean you should compromise on quality. Certain pieces in a short-term rental will experience heavy daily use: sofas, chairs, and bed frames. These are the items worth investing in and will save you money in the long run by reducing replacements and repairs. You know what furniture stands the test of time? Solid wood. Think about your grandparents’ furniture. Those traditional solid-wood tables and cabinets that have lasted decades (you know I’m right!). And yes, you can still find modern designs and colors made with solid wood or with a blend of high-quality wood veneers and plywood. You just have to make sure you’re doing your research before purchasing. These pieces are sturdy, timeless, and built to handle the constant turnover that comes with an Airbnb vacation rental.
Quick story time! I once stayed in an Airbnb where the living room furniture looked stylish, but felt terrible. The “mid-century modern” style sofa squeaked the moment I sat down, and its thin tapered legs had clearly been re-glued and stapled multiple times. It was stiff, uncomfortable, and on the verge of collapsing. No guest wants to sit on that, and if it breaks? That’s an instant bad review and another piece of furniture you’ll have to replace.
Airbnb Design Tip: Choose Furnishings That Fit Your Ideal Guest
Your target audience should guide every furniture decision in your Airbnb. If your short-term rental is marketed toward large groups or families, make sure the furniture supports that many. For example, don’t limit the dining room to a small round table for four people when an extendable dining table for six to eight would better accommodate guests. Likewise, if your living room is ideal for movie nights or big family gatherings, a comfortable sectional that properly fits the space will be a smart investment.
If your property is family-friendly, think beyond just durability. For example, rugs may seem risky because of spills and stains, but performance based rugs are designed to be easy to clean. Families with young children will appreciate soft, cozy surfaces where kids can safely play. Layering rugs also adds warmth and makes the property feel more inviting. For sleeping arrangements, consider bunk beds or twin beds to maximize capacity while appealing to families traveling with children.
This is one of the first conversations I have with my clients! I learn who will be using the home and how they’ll truly live in it. Understanding the client allows me to design a space that feels beautiful, functional, and intentional. The best Airbnb interiors don’t just look good, they actually work for the people staying there.
Create a Functional Furniture Layout for Your STR
Think about how your Airbnb guests will move through the home. Can they easily go from the kitchen to the dining area and living room? From the living room to the nearest bathroom - or out to the backyard? Good space planning is about anticipating guest flow and comfort.
Main walkways should be least 36 inches wide, with 48 inches being ideal in open-concept layouts that connect the kitchen, dining, and living areas. Thoughtful layout planning also helps you choose the right furniture. For example, if guests enter through the garage, consider adding a console table, bench, and/or shoe rack near the door so they can easily store items as they arrive. These small touches make your Airbnb feel both stylish and practical.
When I meet with clients, one of the first things I do ask them about the traffic flow through the home. Understanding how people live and move through a space helps me create a furniture layout that feels natural and balanced to their lifestyle.
Choosing the Right Furniture Scale for Your Airbnb Rental
One of the most common design mistakes I see is furniture that’s either too large or too small for the space. A frequent culprit? Oversized sectionals. While they’re often the go-to choice, they’re not always the best fit for smaller living rooms where they crowd the space and leave no room for other furniture in the space. Instead, consider alternative layouts. Depending on your room’s size and shape, two smaller sofas or a combination of a sofa and accent chairs can create a balanced, inviting setup. If your space only allows for one sofa, look into modular, reclining or sofa bed options that can easily be multifunctional.
Another common decorating mistake is using an area rug that’s too small. As a rule of thumb, at least one-third of your furniture should sit on the rug - or ideally, all of it if the space allows. The same rule applies to dining areas - all chairs should remain on the rug, even when pulled out. And don’t forget the rug pad! It keeps the rug in place and prevents slipping.
When clients hire me, this is where my expertise truly shines. Proper furniture scale applies to everything. I only mentioned a couple of examples above, but even things from lighting fixtures, wall art, curtains, and more. Clients are always amazed when I show them 3D renderings of their new space with correctly scaled furnishings. The difference is instant - the space flows better and feels more balanced.
Managing Furniture Shipments for Your Short-Term Rental
Chances are you’re purchasing your Airbnb furniture from multiple online retailers — and not all at once. This means you can expect several deliveries arriving at different times and on different days. While some retailers may offer consolidated delivery for an additional fee, this option isn’t very common. To stay organized, keep a detailed list of your orders and track shipments closely as they arrive. Carriers like UPS and FedEx often leave packages in plain sight, which can make your deliveries vulnerable to theft. If you don’t live in the same city as our vacation rental, hiring a local assistant or property manager to receive deliveries on your behalf can help ensure your furniture is received safely.
At EP Design Studio, I streamline this process for my clients by working with my receiving warehouse partner. All furniture shipments are sent directly to the warehouse, where they carefully inspect each item. Any issues are handled before the furniture ever reaches the property. Throughout the process, I maintain constant communication with the receiver to ensure everything arrives on schedule and in perfect condition. When you hire a full-service interior designer for your vacation rental, you gain peace of mind knowing every detail, even furniture logistics, is being managed for you.
How to Furnish and Design a Luxury Airbnb STR That Stands Out
If you’re marketing your property as a luxury vacation rental, then it should feel like one. Luxury isn’t only about square footage or location; it’s about quality, comfort, and experience of the stay. From the furnishings to the finishes, guests can instantly tell when a space has been thoughtfully designed versus quickly furnished with no effort.
Luxury travelers expect the best. I mean - they’re going on vacation and chose your property! They’re looking for a space that feels elevated, comfortable, and photo-worthy. Guests will absolutely take pictures during their vacation. Whether it’s lounging in the patio by the pool or just simply capturing the beautifully designed home. When your Airbnb looks and feels luxurious, guests naturally become your best marketers through social media and word-of-mouth. To deliver that level of experience, invest in curating quality furniture and luxurious finishes to create a designer-level atmosphere. Even small upgrades, like accent lighting and beautiful artwork can transform a property from “just fine” to “wow.”
When guests walk into a luxury Airbnb vacation rental, they should feel like they’ve stepped into a professionally designed home, not a rental filled with random furniture finds. This thoughtful attention to detail is what sets your property apart, allowing you to command higher nightly rates, and leads to glowing, five-star reviews.
At EP Design Studio, real estate investors can absolutely benefit from a Full Service Furniture & Styling experience. Why? Because you’re busy. You would prefer to focus on your real estate business, not playing designer. Let’s take care of it for you and give you a turnkey property that looks luxurious, photographs beautifully, and keeps guests coming back.
Ready to elevate your Airbnb rental? Reach out today & let EP Design Studio save you time & costly design mistakes by giving you a fully move-in ready vacation rental!
*Project Frontier Street in Hanford, California - Furnished & Photographed by EP Design Studio
EP Design Studio is a full service interior design company based in Fresno, California serving throughout the Central Valley, Central Coast, and open for travel.
