According to the U.S. Census Bureau, roughly 35 million Americans move house every year. To some the thought of moving is filled with intimidation concerning cost, labor, and leaving family. But for many, transitioning out of an old space leaves endless possibilities for how you can create your new home. It’s easy to be overwhelmed with endless design and decor ideas on what you want your space to look like. Having a starting point is essential. We’ve curated some tips on where to begin when creating your cozy and inviting home.
Make Your Home Yours
Your living room is probably where you’re going to be spending a large chunk of time while at home, so ensuring it’s an inviting and welcoming atmosphere is important. Always create a physical space for yourself to sit and quiet your thoughts, so you can relax from the stressors of everyday life. It will also contribute to better mental health.
Find the right furniture that not only fits the room well, but is comfortable and makes you look forward to relaxing after a long day. If you have company over, you’ll want the space to accommodate them also. By requesting a custom design package, Furnishr will help you choose the best combination of furniture and accessories that fit you and your space. All the furniture and accessories will be delivered and set up altogether too!
Gallery Wall
Reminder of your best memories
Empty walls can make a room feel sparse and barren, the exact opposite of inviting. There’s no better way to gain visual appeal in a room than to create a gallery wall filled with photographs. The gallery wall is where you can exhibit your own personal style by showcasing pictures in alluring photo frames that catch the eye. A gallery wall gives the sense of a lived in, homey feel. It’s not only a great conversation starter when you have company, but you’re reminded of special moments with friends and family as you pass by. Interchanging photos every so often can give your wall a refresh as well as highlighting other pictures that don’t see as much traffic.
The perfect conversation starter
Paintings and art prints are another addition to feed your gallery wall. A study published by University College London revealed that looking at art can make you happier. Art induces feelings comparable to looking at someone you love. To find art that you enjoy and is unique and personal to you, look at online shops where you can find prints that are inexpensive, yet make a statement. Artwork can evoke dialogue, and because it’s subjective, people can have different opinions on it. You’re able to gain insight on what your guests interpret from the cool print that you’ve incorporated into the space.
Homey Aromas
Something that isn’t recognized often is the scent of a home. A fresh bouquet of flowers fill a room with natural perfume, plus they’re a subtle way to enhance a coffee table or counter area. Getting a candle of a scent you enjoy will set a mood when you light it. A study from the Smell Report showed that pleasant fragrances have been found to have positive effects on moods in all age groups. When picking a scent for a room, consider how the smell will compliment the space and help enhance it. Be careful to avoid an overbearing scent that takes away from the room, a clean fresh fragrance is ideal for an area such as a living room.
A Pop of Accents
Use colors and textures in pillows and throws
Pillows and throws are a home accent that can add character to a home instantly. Find pillows that contrast the furniture in the room. This will give form and flow to your furniture, a variety of textured pillows will highlight a solid colored couch. Throws are a great addition to enhancing a home, you can lay one (or a few-the more you have, the cozier movie nights are) on a couch to add another layered element to the room. If you have neutral furniture, a brighter colored pillow or throw can complement the overall aesthetic and tie the space together.
Layering rugs is the trend
Layering multiple rugs in a room adds dynamic visual appeal to the space. Rugs instantly add a homey feel to any area and can help fill a space without physically cluttering a room. Playing around with different textiles, colors, and placements can accentuate your personal aesthetic when you walk into the room. Positioning one rug on top of another in a diagonal formation will create the effect of a walkway, almost leading guests to whatever furniture is lined up in the path. When placing rugs, make sure to consider the features and size of the room. It can be easy to go overboard and totally overwhelm a space if your rug choices don’t fit the dimensions and color of the room accordingly.
Personal Memorabilia
Showcase only your most favourite items. Be sparing and tasteful.
Your home should reflect your personality and tell your story- design and decorate with personal items that make you happy. Making an inviting home is all about expressing your uniqueness and individuality so people can get a sense of you. Your personal style is the first priority in crafting your space, so highlight the things that cater to your taste. If you have a collection that you’re proud of, don’t be afraid to showcase it! A huge part in creating your home is to add elements that make you excited to walk back through the door, as well as inviting others into a space that you love. Your home is your own personal sanctuary. So you need to make it yours!
If you’re googling about picking any wall art for your home, then you probably fall into one of two categories. Either your walls are way too bare, or they’re covered with outdated and generic artwork that just doesn’t represent you anymore!
So, how do you go about picking art that matches you and matches your furnishings?
We’ve collected a few questions to get you started. You could start by taking Artichoke’s quick quiz, to start thinking about which styles make sense for you and your home. Just like people, no two rooms are the same. So make some notes and soon enough, you’ll discover your unique personal style emerging!
Benefits of Wall Art
Did you know that having art on your walls actually makes you smarter? A recent study by the University of Houston set out to measure the effect of art on the brain. They found that “when viewing art, there is a major increase in a brain’s delta wave connectivity, which is linked to a person’s decision making and sustained attention. There is an even higher increase in the brain’s gamma wave activity, which is linked to information processing and cognition.” So, being in the presence of original artwork you find meaningful can actually boost your brain’s activity up to 10%!
How to Choose Your Artwork
Here’s our tried-and-true method for picking the right artwork for your space. If you can, go and actually sit in each room as you work through these questions.
Mood
What mood do you want the room to evoke? What activities do you often do there? And is there some kind of view?
Use color theory to think about what makes sense for that specific room. Livings rooms are better for vibrant, slightly more risky pieces. Bedrooms are good for more abstract art. Leaving art unframed can work well in the bedroom because it keeps the focus on the art, and makes the room feel less formal. Bathrooms are generally good for simple, geometric styles. But don’t be afraid to like what you like! It’s your interior space, after all. If you do your best work in the kitchen, the art should reflect that mood.
Existing Palette
Related, what colors, textures, and eras already exist in your room?
Look around at the floor, the walls, and your furniture. Are you farmhouse chic, with lots of natural wood, greens, and yellows? Perhaps midcentury modern with gray couch and blue velvet throw pillows? Do you live in a 1930s era apartment building or a new construction condo? You want to choose art that doesn’t totally clash with the architectural features of the building or with the furniture you already have. On the other hand, don’t be narrow-minded about art that contrasts, rather than complements, your existing design scheme. Sometimes art that’s too matchy-matchy can get lost in the room.
Space Planning
What size and number of artworks do you have room for? A single large statement piece, or perhaps a triptych of three related works?
There are a lot of templates on the Internet that help you see potential arrangements of artwork for your wall. You can group several smaller paintings together, for instance, or align the top edges of a group of works for a visually interesting arrangement of slightly differently-sized art. Leave room in your plan for inspiration. Maybe you decided on a single large statement piece for your bedroom, but you stumble upon three perfect prints at the farmer’s market. Interior design is an art and a science, after all. Try using online design tools to help you, if you can’t visualize the wall art layout.
Visual Style
Generally speaking, what visual style attracts you?
Maybe you find yourself drawn to geometric, landscape, or figurative work. Go to a local art gallery or museum, and spend time walking through the exhibits. Notice what art makes you light up, or which art relaxes you. Remember that your taste is unique. Whatever works for you, works for you! And don’t be afraid to mix and match styles! Your art collection can help tell your specific story throughout your home in a really beautiful way.
Values
What values do you hold? What are you growing towards?
Art is a wonderful way to inspire yourself toward a goal or value. Maybe you dream about vacationing in Greece, or a trip to visit the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam. If you imagine a future full of trees, people, and creativity, these values can inspire the kinds of art you see. Take a moment and jot down a few ideas that resonate with you. It could be as simple as, “Fresh air makes me happy” or “Dinner is the best time of the day” or “Tangerine colors make me feel so positive and uplifted.” Use these as your inspiration to look for artwork, and sift everything through your value system. You could always try DIY-ing some artwork, like Mr. Kate and other YouTube personalities recommend. Alternately, you may wish to consider working with local artists! Because no one ever asks, Where did you get that skyline print?
Consider a Local Artist
Working with a local artist can be hugely rewarding, and surprisingly affordable. You get unique art, plus you get to know the story behind the artist and their work. You can even commission an artist to create a bespoke work. A tip, though — you may have a very particular vision in mind, but try not to ask an artist to work too far outside their regular style. This truly makes it so much more meaningful to look up and see the work on your wall. You can look on Etsy or Instagram to connect with independent artists and get a sense of their style before investing. Plus, you’re supporting a real human being.
A final tip for your artwork journey: Remember that framing and installation make a big difference in how your art looks when mounted on the wall. Go to a professional to get your pieces ready for display.
>> We hope this guide has been helpful! We’re suckers for before-and-after photos, so please tag us in your drab-to-fab photos on Instagram @furnishr. If you’re interested in hiring an interior designer, check out our article on how interior designers work and the interior decorator design process.
This is your start-to-finish guide for creating a killer Airbnb guidebook. Don’t forget to check out our printable templates.
Why are Airbnb guidebooks so important for vacation rentals?
Firstly, Airbnb guidebooks represent one of the easiest ways to impress your guests and provide them with a great experience. The reason a guest chooses an Airbnb is not only for the physical living space but rather the host’s ability to provide insider tips. Chances are many guests aren’t from your city, and almost none will be from your local neighbourhood. That means that they don’t know the local “go-to” spots that you probably know like the back of your hand! As a result, an Airbnb guidebook can offer that ‘local guide’ expertise giving yourself a competitive edge in quality service.
(Need help setting up your Airbnb vacation rental? Complete a design request and you’ll get a design proposal within a day. All setup will be done for you in a day too.)
A good Airbnb host is like the concierge at a hotel.
They assist guests by providing answers to frequently asked questions. Additionally, it’s fortunate that one guest’s questions are likely shared by others.
I’m looking for a good bite to eat. Where should I go? Any standout dishes on the menu?
This is such a big city! What sightseeing attractions should I check out?
I’m sick and need cold and flu medicine. Is there a 24-hour pharmacy?
I am craving a good cappuccino. Does that exist around here?
I need to keep the kids happy. Any ideas?
The key to a virtuous circle of bookings is positive reviews. There’s no faster shortcut to a good review than providing a stunningly useful Airbnb guidebook. After all, communication, location, and value represent half of the review criteria that a host is assessed against. Thus, a guidebook demonstrates a communicative host with a great living space, who provides valuable guest experiences.
Meanwhile, you can proactively answer guests’ questions by creating a welcome guide that showcases the best your neighborhood has to offer. This kind of guidebook helps your listing stand out from the competition, too. Not only that, but it will also be publicly displayed on your Airbnb listing page (even before guests book your place). Additionally, you can print your guide and make it available in hard-copy format, once they arrive.
An Airbnb guidebook shows off your knowledge of the local area, reinforce your credibility as a host, increase bookings and maximize your nightly rate from guests looking to stay in great spots with reliable hosts.
But the best part? The beauty of a Airbnb guidebook is the value you provide your guests from a single small investment. You can reuse the guidebook with all future guests, and it shouldn’t need updating very frequently.
Therefore, as a low-cost, time-minimal investment, building an Airbnb Guidebook truly represents the low hanging fruit of your Airbnb success. So carve out some time to sit down with this post, and you’ll soon see a big difference the attractiveness of your property.
Let’s get started! Or scroll to the bottom to download the free template.
WRITING YOUR AIRBNB GUIDEBOOK
Step 1. Identify your target guests.
For example, are they primarily elderly vacationers? Families with young children? A couple on romantic getaway? Go back through your listings if you need a memory jog. In addition, think about age, gender, number of guests, budget, and their interests.
Step 2. Brainstorm relevant activities for them.
Find activities that fit the interests and budgets of the guests you identified. For multiple segments of guests, consider making two sections within your guide! Tip: You can find comprehensive community event listings on the Internet, like a town hall website, or on local bulletin boards. Think about the questions your guests have asked you about the neighborhood.
CATEGORIES
Food Scene (fast food, your local fave restaurant, iconic restaurants, local fave coffee shop, coffee shop near transit)
Drinks & Nightlife (bar with a view of the area, the local bar, the swanky “it” bar)
Arts & Culture (art galleries and museums, famous schools and libraries (did a celebrity grow up in the area?)
Parks & Nature (parks, playgrounds, natural beauty spots like beaches, trails, or national parks)
Shopping (malls, notable stores (brands, locally made goods, or popularized spots)
Entertainment & Activities (movie theaters, comedy clubs, rainy day activities like bowling alleys)
Basic Essentials (in other words, convenience stores, grocery stores, delicatessens, pharmacies, phone and electronics repair shops)
Getting Around (nearest transit stops, best routes and running times to popular spots)
Bonus Tip: Consistently directing guests to specific restaurants or shops may also let you ask those shop owners for discounts that your guests can use! Keep in mind that not all owners will be interested, and your pitch will work best if you are bringing them significant traffic.
Step 3. Make sure your activities cover a dispersed regional area.
In other words, some of your guests will only want walking-distance attractions, whereas others want to explore the wider region. For instance, try to cover the best spots in your own neighborhood, but also include some unique places that aren’t. From art galleries to coffee shops, your knowledge can be a huge gift to your guests!
Step 4. Make sure you’ve catered for seasonal variance!
If your area is susceptible to seasonal tourism, definitely include popular seasonal points of interest like apple picking. However, look for ways to showcase the best of your location at all times of the year, whether it’s snowshoeing in the wilderness or free summer concerts at the park.
COMPLETING YOUR AIRBNB GUIDEBOOK
When you’re ready to add your complete guidebook to the online listing, here’s what you need to do.
2 In Hosting mode, select Listings from the top menu.
3. Click on your listing.
4. Click on Listing details from your listing’s menu.
5. Click the Edit button for the Guidebook section.
Now, you can add your guidebook in Airbnb.
Type the name of the particular place you wish to include within the relevant guidebook category. After that, Airbnb will automatically retrieve the official name of the place you wish to add, which you then select. Airbnb will also use Google Maps to pull the address and a map of the spot you want to list.
This is done on an itemized basis, so it can be a bit time-consuming. Subsequently, you can select a sub-category for the place. You can provide a short description up to 700 characters for each place you want to list. Use this space to let guests know why you recommend it, or an ‘insider tip’ they can use when they go. You also have the option to specify what the place is good for, for instance Families, Late Nights, Budget-Friendly, Peace & Quiet.
If you’d rather, just add a note to your listing that you provide a current, customized guidebook for your guests. Then print your guide and provide it as a hard copy. Above all, remember that if your guide doesn’t appear in the online listing, it can’t attract guests!
ADDITIONAL PRINTABLES
You can download this post in worksheet form to do offline! In fact, we recommend it — sit down with a cuppa and imagine a perfect experience for your guests.
Additionally, many hosts use blank printables to communicate essential info to their guests, like the wifi password. Some are great framed behind glass so your guest can use a whiteboard marker on it, like a checkout to do list.
Either way, congrats! By creating an Airbnb guidebook, you’ve just taken an important step towards happier guests, better reviews, and increased bookings for your vacation rental or Airbnb.
Finally, do you need help setting up the Airbnb with the right furniture?
Setting up an AirBnb is no easy task, Furnishr can design and set up the entire home for you in a day. Simply complete a design request, and you’ll receive a proposal with 2-3 designs for all the rooms in your unit.
The world has become a fast-paced environment with a clear focus on efficiency, however, for most individuals, this can feel overwhelming. In order to escape the busy city-scape, working professionals are utilizing Airbnb to find their inner peace, by carving out a weekend to go away on a personal retreat.
Recent data shows that meditation and hiking activities are among the most trending Airbnb Experiences based on bookings, this year over last. Additionally, the Airbnb’s 2019 interior design trend predictions point to a similar trend toward nature and mindfulness, like Green Is the New Black and Stay-in-imalism.
We could all use more meditation in our lives. Whether you are thinking of redesigning your home or rental property, it’s easy to create a restful space that appeals to this category of guests. Here you will find 10 effective ways to make your space a haven for retreat-seekers.
Natural Element Décor Ideas
1. Aromatics
Use aromatics like candles or essential oils to gently activate the senses. Remember that each guest will have a different sensory preference so you may wish to offer a basket of scented items rather than spritzing them yourself. Let your guests choose which scents to utilize. To set the tone, you could add a note about fragrances in your welcome letter.
2. Choose natural materials
for your furnishings, like wood and bamboo. Look for wooden tables, wooden spatulas, or small wood sculptures. Even a simple tray of pebbles can serve as an invitation for your retreating guest to breathe a bit deeper.
3. Plants
Plants around the room can make space feel fresh and calm. Any kind of greenery will clean the air and bring aesthetic interest to what could otherwise be a stuffy space. For those with a black thumb, even fake plants help give the appearance of a lively retreat haven. A small bouquet of fresh flowers can do the trick as well.
4. Books
Try to incorporate books on mindfulness along with the coffee table or bookshelves. When a guest spots that meditation book or collection of Buddhist poetry on the shelf, they might feel extra inspired to relax.
5. Avoid appropriative decor.
As you look for items to create a more peaceful environment, it may seem counterintuitive to avoid deity statues or calligraphic illustrations. However, if you choose cultural items that are not from your culture, you run the risk of offending guests who are from that cultural background. It’s not a hard and fast rule. We live in a multicultural world, after all, and we can all appreciate items of beauty. Just remember that objects you find inspiring may have a completely different meaning for someone else.
6. Natural Lighting
Incorporate natural lighting around t
he household wherever possible. This can be done by adding sheer curtains behind heavy curtains. Thi
s also gives your guests the option to enjoy natural light in priva
cy. Additionally, consider moving a chair or couch so it’s oriented towards the window. This way your guests will be drawn to sit under the natural light.
7. Soft furnishings
Soft furnishings provide serious comfort to retreat-goers. High-pile rugs, throw blankets, and soft robes give that extra dose of physical luxury. By providing items that help your guest’s body and mind to relax.
8. Minimize Electronics
Minimize overbearing electronics and tuck away cords. If you have a big TV, buy a simple cabinet to hide the flat screen. Not only that, tuck less-used kitchen appliances into the cupboards and leave a note about how to find them. By keeping electronics and cords out of sight as much as possible, you make it easy for someone on a retreat to focus on their inner state.
9. Negative space
The trend towards minimalism is here to stay! Rather than arranging knick-knacks together on a shelf, you might try displaying just one or two items, leaving lots of space in between. Look over your space with an eye towards clutter. What do you have more than five of? Can you reduce it to three and still serve your guest?
10. Reduce visual stimulation.
Loud colors have an energizing effect – that’s why fast food restaurants tend to use bright primary colors in their decor. Be mindful where you place mirrors — too many mirrors can create visual noise for your guest. Please don’t force your guests to look at themselves in the mirror before they’ve had their morning matcha!
Zen Trend
You can trust that mindfulness is a growing trend among many demographics, no matter your location. Cities are still a major destination for Airbnb guests, with the most popular North American cities in 2018 being New York City, Orlando, and Miami. Airbnb also announced a growing trend towards “more rustic and non-traditional digs” like nature lodges and yurts. So, even if your space is not typically ‘zen’, it could still benefit your business to Incorporate zen principles.
After all, relaxation and well-being will never go out of style!
Download this checklist here, and zen your Airbnb today.
Cleaning may not be your favorite thing to do, especially if you’re a person that is always busy or with a tight schedule. But, as you grow up, you realize that duties do come in life, whether you like that or not, and a grumpy face and some Mr. Bean-styled murmuring won’t shoo them away.
Instead of postponing the home chore you hate the most, it’s better to eat the frog and do that in the morning. You probably will croak during the process of cleaning, but once it’s done, you’ll be proud of yourself and you will finally breathe in some fresh air, both metaphorically and literally.
A tidy home does not just give you the feeling of coziness and relaxation, but also creates a healthier and safer place to live in. Getting rid of all the unnecessary stuff and cleaning every surface in your apartment or room means getting rid of any bacteria that could possibly affect your health in a bad way.
A clean home is also a wealthy home, especially when you’re renting your place. The trend of hosting strangers and travellers is still rolling high, and if you’ve been both the guest and the host, you’re probably aware of the importance of a clean home. No one wants to sleep in a mess, or to step on a floor covered in crumbs. If you’ve already hosted guests from around the world, you’ve probably cleaned your home many times. Now, did you get a new message from someone who’s interested in staying over at your place? Did that person catch you off guard?
If the person you’re hosting is about to arrive at any moment and you couldn’t find time to clean your home until now, here are few tips and tricks that you can use even in a last minute situation.
OH, WAIT! HOW TO HANDLE THE PANIC?!
Before I start with the 30 minutes cleaning challenge details, let me say a word or two about the panic that seizes you the moment you realize that you don’t have a lot of time to make your home look decent. It’s just like with any other type of deadline: all of a sudden, you realize that you’ve waited too long and now you’re in panic thinking you won’t make it. Before you drown in worry, block your negative thoughts and stop thinning your nerves because the only thing you’ll “get” is lost time. Stop panicking and start organizing yourself for the cleaning process.
THE GUEST CHECK-IN GENERAL PLAN
Finally, let’s begin with ideas on the cleaning schedule. This is how you can clean your home thoroughly in half an hour without making a bigger mess during the cleaning process.
First things first, take all the cleaning supplies, detergents and towels to one place, so you can have them near you and avoid losing time on picking through them until you find the supply you need.
Don’t focus on the unimportant – have your goal on your mind all the time, so you don’t get distracted. Make a priority list of the rooms that you will clean. Once you have your general plan ready and set, you can start cleaning.
Dust where you must!
A clean surface on your rooms’ drawers and shelves will increase the effect of a neat space, so make sure you free these surfaces of all particles that burden its cleanness. Before dusting, remove all papers, garbage and unnecessary things that would steal your time. This will enable you to clean the dust faster. Don’t lose time on cleaning each figurine or souvenir on the shelves. Instead, dust only the wide surface and use the vacuum cleaner for the crowded parts.Make sure you don’t vacuum any of the little decorations!
Dust from the top towards the bottom, so you don’t bring any dust back.
It’s time to multi-task
Cleaning is probably one of the few situations in which multi-tasking is welcomed with pleasure. This way, you’ll save on time and you’ll organize the whole process with more focus. The multi-tasking cleaning chore should include the kitchen and the bathroom. First, apply a stove cleaning detergent on the whole surface and coat the burners. Let sit for a few minutes and in the meantime, start cleaning the bathroom. Spray the cleaning detergent on the toilet seat, the shower cabin or bathtub, the sink and the rest of the surfaces that should be cleaned.
Use a sponge to remove any stains from the different surfaces and wash off the detergent with a gush of warm water. Leave the door of the bathroom opened to avoid mould creation and bad smell.
Go back to the kitchen and start with the stove. Use the coarse side of the sponge or a scrub brush and remove food residue and stains from the burners and the whole surface. Wash off with warm water and then dry it with a clean towel. If there are any dirty dishes, put them in the dishwasher before starting with the stove. If you are looking for a good sponge, check Kitchenistic for their guide for best sponges for dishes.
It’s very important to have clean and stain-free drinking glasses, plates and cutlery. That, and a clean eating table should be your priority in the kitchen.
It’s time to break free!
Remember the scene where Freddy Mercury is vacuuming the house with ease? If a King can do it, you can do it too! Vacuuming can be tiring, but when there’s music that alleviates the feeling of boredom, this home chore transforms into a liberating fitness activity. Turn up the volume, play your favorite songs and motivate yourself, because this is the last large cleaning chore from the 30-minute cleaning challenge. Start from the corridor of your home and vacuum clean the whole place, focusing on the dormitory and the rooms where your guests will spend most of their time.
When you finish with the bedroom, change bed sheets, pillowcases, and blankets or duvet covers.
The beauty of the details
In order to complete the challenge successfully, pay attention to the details that make the home feel cozy, neat and welcoming. Open the windows and let some fresh air come in. You can use an air freshener with a pleasant aroma (nothing strong-smelling). Lavender, lime or some herb-based aroma would do just fine.
You can place a vase with flowers from the local flower market or shop to create a welcoming atmosphere.
How to split the 30 minutes for each cleaning chore?
Time is precious, I know! Believe it or not, half an hour is enough to do all these activities and I’ll prove that with the following time management plan.It’s all about focusing on priorities and being practical.
As you can see in the previous paragraphs, the challenge counts three large tasks. Don’t split the time into equal segments, because some of the tasks are more complex. You’ll surely need more time to clean the bathroom and the kitchen than you’ll need for dusting or setting the bed.
So, here’s how to split your precious thirty minutes:
7 minutes for dusting
12 minutes for the multi-task part – bathroom and kitchen cleaning
8 minutes for vacuuming the home and changing bed sheets
3 minutes for the details
Looking at these numbers, you probably think that I’ve gone cuckoo, but believe me, it’s possible. It’s like a good and well-planned workout in the gym: you have a goal, you know how to focus and you know that time is precious.
Let me remind you that most important of all is to forget about panicking. There won’t be any kind of inspection; you just want to be a nice and polite host who cares about the guests and you want to leave a good impression.
When already talking about the importance of using time wisely, here are some extra tips on how to spare yourself the trouble next time an unexpected guest makes a last minute reservation.
Try to keep your home as neat as possible. Build a daily routine of washing the dishes and throwing out the garbage regularly. Don’t leave your clothes on the sofa or the chair. Dust once a week. It’s much easier to clean one layer of dust than something that has already begun to make history on the shelves!
Using the vacuum cleaner once a week will also make your home look well ordered.
You know that the guest bedroom should always be a priority, so always have clean and ironed bedding. Never use this room as a place where you store unnecessary things! Once a day, open the windows to let some fresh air come in.
Take this challenge as an opportunity to prove yourself that you can do things the good way even when you’re short on time.
I hope that these tips will be of help and that you will enjoy the process. In the end, the satisfied look and the positive feedback from your guests is what will make this sacrifice worth your time and efforts.
If you’re thinking of renting out a home or property you own as a short-term vacation rental on Airbnb or other home-sharing platforms, you’re probably wondering how you can set up the space in the best possible way to attract airbnb guests and impress them when they arrive. But furnishing a home for short-term rentals isn’t always simple. There are more factors to consider than just style. That’s because the needs of a weekend visitor might be different than someone living at a property full-time. You also need to account for a wide range of tastes. You might love creative touches like hot-pink wallpaper, but you’re less likely to attract a large number of guests with unique choices like that.
The most vital are of all when furnishing your Airbnb is the living room. This is where your guests will spend much of their time during the day, and its crucial that you nail the décor and functionality of the space. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the most important elements of an effective Airbnb living area.
What’s the easiest way to get an Airbnb unit ready?
Hire help! Most Airbnb hosts are part-time hosts. If you’re to do everything yourself, your time spent on finding everything and coordinating the logistics may end up costing you more. Check out our guide for the cost of furnishing an apartment to see whether your time is worth the work.
Or you can let us furnish the whole unit for you in a single day. No need to take days off to wait for deliveries. Just submit a design request, and our designer will send you a proposal with a few designs for all the rooms in your unit.
Don’t forget to ask about the move-in kit! It will include all the kitchen essentials (pots and pans, utensils, cookware, flatware, etc.), beddings and towels for your guests. It will get your guest move-in ready!
Airbnb Furnishing Checklist
Assuming you’re managing the furnishing yourself, here are the key tips to be keep in mind.
Avoiding Clutter
One of the challenges of furnishing an Airbnb is that you have to balance two distinct needs—providing enough furniture and seating to serve your guests, while also avoiding a cluttered and overly compressed vibe in your living area.
That’s why it’s key to choose furniture that’s efficient in its use of space and also provides a clean, somewhat minimalist appeal. That’s especially important when you consider that short-term travelers are often laden with luggage and other items that will be spread throughout the house during their stay. If the home is cluttered before they even arrive, then it’s only going to be downhill from there.
Choosing the Right Furniture
Choosing the right furniture goes a long way in determining how successful and appealing your living space will be. Not only should it be stylish and visually appealing, but it needs to also provide everything your guests will need for a comfortable space during their stay.
Keep in mind that while choosing unique and character-rich furniture can give your Airbnb a unique, quirky vibe, that direction can sometimes backfire. The more distinctive your style, the greater the likelihood that certain guests who don’t share your sensibility will be turned off by your choices. Your safest bet is to choose restrained but still stylish and contemporary pieces for the living space. That way you have the best chance of appealing to a wider range of guests.
Seating
When it comes to living room seating, remember that providing ample seating space while leaving enough space in the room is vital. It’s a careful balance that will require you to get a little creative with your sofa and chair selection. We recommend going for a two-piece set as opposed to a sectional, as this is more flexible and allows for pieces to be moved to adjust the space.
If you do want to go for a sectional sofa, ensure that you choose one with the right arrangement for your unique space. For example, your living area might be suited for a sectional where the point of the L-shape is on the right, as opposed to on the left. Ideally, you can choose a sectional that can be adapted and rearranged if you find that a certain arrangement isn’t working for your Airbnb.
We definitely recommend considering a pull-out sofa bed. Adding another sleeping option allows you to list additional sleep allocations on your Airbnb listing and bump up your price.
Tables & Surfaces
Providing enough areas for dining, playing games and other activities is absolutely crucial. When choosing how much table area and seating to provide, think about the maximum amount of guests your Airbnb can hold. If it only sleeps 4, it’s unlikely that you’ll need to provide dining space for eight guests at a time. You don’t want to overcrowd your space with an unnecessarily large table.
In regards to choosing the right table shape, we suggest taking a page from King Arthur’s book. Circular tables can be the most space-efficient, removing angular corners that can cut into pathways and living space. That doesn’t mean that square or rectangular tables are off-limits—they might be better suited for your space than a circular table. But if space is at a premium, a circular table can be a great way to offer ample seating without commanding a large area of floor space. Circular tables are also a more casual option than rectangular tables, perfect for the board game sessions and hang-outs that are a hallmark of most Airbnb stays.
Television/Entertainment
Consider mounting the living room television directly to the wall rather than using an entertainment console or other TV stand. This will keep you from taking up more space than is necessary for your television, and also adds a high-class vibe to your living room. There are two types of mounts to consider—fixed or adjustable. Fixed mounts keep the television in a set position that can’t be altered by you or your guests. An adjustable mount can be turned rotated, and adjusted for the perfect viewing angle. Adjustable mounts are obviously more flexible, and can allow your guests to view the television clearly from various spots in your rental. That being said, it’s no surprise that an adjustable TV stand invites guests to adjust it. They might not all be as delicate and respectful as you, and this could result in damage to your mount or the television itself.
If you do opt for an entertainment console, choose one with opaque doors that will let you hide away electronics and other peripherals to avoid clutter.
As far as the TV itself, there’s no need to go for a mega-huge option. But guests will also be turned off if all you offer is a 12” tube TB from 1995. Nice, relatively large digital TVs are fairly cheap these days.
Should you opt for a more common (and inexpensive) LED TV or a 4K Ultra High-Def option? That’s your call. Personally, considering how impressive even mid-range LED TVs have become, we’re not sure springing for a more expensive 4K option will be worth the cost for you or your guests. But that’s a call you’ll have to make on a case-by-case basis.
Back view of couple watching wildlife movie on television in living room
The Power of Multi-Purpose Pieces
Designing an Airbnb with limited space is all about finding the best way to maximize the floor area. That’s why we love adjustable and multi-purpose furniture. If you choose options that provide multiple arrangements or uses while still remaining stylish and contemporary, you’ll be rewarded with a more spacious, appealing Airbnb that will land you more guests.
Let’s take a look at a few of the most common multipurpose furniture items and how you can use them to expand your living room space (as well as other spaces in the home) for maximum appeal.
Daybed with Storage
If you don’t opt for a pull-out sofa, a daybed with storage can be a great alternative. A comfortable seating option by day and an additional place to sleep by night, some Airbnbs feature daybeds in their living rooms in lieu of sofas. They also offer the added benefit of providing storage in drawers or shelves underneath, increasing the flexibility of your space and reducing clutter throughout the home.
A daybed is worth considering for a living room space, particularly if you’re in an area that caters frequently to large groups and you want to absolutely max out the amount of guests who can sleep in your rental.
Pull-Out Couch
We already mentioned this above so we won’t go into too much more detail. However, it’s worth mentioning that not all pull-out furniture is created equal. Many lower-end models leave you with a poorly constructed sofa and a poorly constructed bed in one. If you do go for a sleeper sofa, choose one that rates highly in comfort both in sofa-mode and once it transitions into a bed. Uncomfortable sleeping arrangements can lead to poor guest reviews and decreases in bookings.
Extendable Table
Whether it’s a coffee table or dining table located in the living room, choosing extendable surfaces is a great way to maximize the available space. Some feature side ‘leaves’ that fold out from under the table and lock in place. Others use sliding pieces to extend smoothly from below, and still others are actually two separate pieces. These are designed so that the slightly smaller table can fit under the other when not in use, but then spread out for additional space when necessary. This can be a very flexible and helpful factor in making the most of your living space for your guests.
Moveable Surfaces
Speaking of flexibility, choosing surfaces with wheels or ones that are lightweight enough to be easily moved can greatly increase convenience for your guests. When they have the ability to quickly move a table aside or arrange seating around a board game or other activity, your guests will feel more at home in your rental. Using furniture with wheels will also help prevent scraping and scratching on your floor.
Extra Tips to Consider
We’ve covered some of the considerations for maximizing your space and providing an effective, homey and stylish Airbnb. But let’s take a quick look at some additional last-minute tips that will help your living space translate into more bookings, higher income, and less costs down the road. You’ll find that expending just a little thought towards these tips and some of those listed above will absolutely transform the appeal and profitability of your Airbnb in a way you never thought possible.
Washability
This tip is more for your sake than the sake of your guests. Choose furniture that’s rated highly for washability. Selecting high-end fabric that are impossible to safely clean will leave you with a lot of expensive, poor-looking furniture after just a few guests. Remember—wear and tear on your furniture will be higher with guests than if you were living in the unit yourself. Stick to washable, easily cleaned fabrics to make your life easier.
Durability
Along those same lines, we recommend choosing furniture that’s built to last. While you might feel thrifty by choosing cheap furniture with a low-end price tag, you’re likely to end up paying down the road when the furniture breaks down more quickly. Replacing furniture should not be a regular part of your routine as an Airbnb host. Opt for quality and you’ll be rewarded with a low-maintenance living space.
Neutral vs. Unique
We touched on this a bit already, but let’s talk about style. Balancing the level of personal touches in an Airbnb is a delicate art, one that many hosts have a hard time mastering. You might absolutely love the quirky appeal of your armchair shaped like a swan—but many of your guests may not feel the same. That being said, you don’t have to erase any semblance of uniqueness or personality from your unit altogether.
We recommend striking a balance. For major furniture items like sofas, coffee tables, and major wall art, try to stick to universally appealing, current and modern styles. But you can then feel free to season the rental with small, unique touches that will allude to the owner’s personality without it becoming overpowering. A good rule of thumb—if you’re not sure whether a piece of furniture item is too strange for your rental, it probably is.
Photo Factor
When you visit a rental listing on Airbnb, what’s the very first thing you do? If you’re like most potential guests, you scroll through photos of the unit. And the living room where you’ll spend most of your time in the unit is at the top of your mind.
That’s why it’s vital to choose furniture that not only looks good in person, but also photographs well in your space. A photogenic listing is absolutely vital to securing guests. We recommend trying different furniture arrangements and taking photos as you go. You might find that something which feels right in person might not translate as well to a photograph. In that case, you may want to consider a new arrangement or removing/swapping a certain item in the living space.
Key Take-Away Points
Overall, it’s impossible to overstate the importance of your living room or living space when it comes to attracting guests and impress them once they arrive. Keep the space clutter free, implement multi-purpose or adjustable furniture, and keep quirky or personal touches to a minimum while sticking to primarily neutral and contemporary furniture choices. This will allow you to achieve great reviews and hopefully, your investment home will be fully booked per month!
Feel overwhelmed by the thought of furnishing your rental yourself? You can always hire a professional furnishing company to handle the entire process on your behalf. An experienced furnishing organization will analyze your unique space, target guests, and budget, then impeccably decorate and furnish your listing to maximize bookings and boost your list price. Read about how Jason was able to boost his nightly rates.
Don’t do it yourself. Furnish your space in a day with Furnishr.
We’ve furnished many short-term rental homes in cities and by the beaches. The decor and furniture in a unit need to complement the style of the home and the neighborhood it is in. If the unit is in a city, use more contemporary finishes with wall arts that speak to the culture of the city and the host. This shows a personal touch for a city-loving guest. If the unit is a cottage get-away, then mixing different styles of furniture tastefully is the way to go.
If you’ve never booked an Airbnb before, you probably have quite a few questions about the whole process of paying to sleep in strangers’ apartments. Not to worry, it’s really not that complicated. We’ve composed a detailed guide on booking an Airbnb the right way your first time.
Research the Area
One of the most important steps in booking an Airbnb is researching the area it’s located in. You want to make sure that it’s safe and close to your destinations. Some listings will claim to be “near downtown” but are actually quite a distance from it, proving to be inconvenient especially if you are planning on walking or taking transit. Airbnb will not post the exact address of the property until after you’ve confirmed your booking, but will give quite a specific area so that you know what you’re working with.
Reserve with Superhosts
Airbnb superhosts are hosts who have gone above and beyond expectations and are certified by Airbnb themselves. To become a superhost, they must meet these requirements:
Have at least a 90% response rate
Host at least 10 trips
Receive a 5-star rating at least 80% of the time
Complete each confirmed reservation without canceling
These hosts are truly reliable and have gleaming reviews from other guests. You can’t go wrong booking an Airbnb with them.
Save Money with “Special Offers”
Something that many don’t know when booking an Airbnb listing is that you can sometimes get special discounts off of the advertised price. You can try this out by clicking “Contact Host” instead of “Book” and messaging them to see if they’re open to offering you a discount. Make sure to introduce yourself and have a friendly conversation first before asking them to knock off a few percent off their price. If the host agrees, they will be able to send you a special offer that’s not seen on the website. You should use this method to its full advantage if you are planning an extended stay, or are booking last minute, as hosts try to fill any vacant dates.
Airbnb has three different categories of cancellation policies:
Flexible
Moderate
Strict
Each host has the option of choosing any one, and it will be displayed on the listing. Pay attention to this so that you aren’t surprised by any cancelation fees should you change your mind. This is extremely important, especially if you are booking your stay well in advance.
These tips will make your first experience with Airbnb a pleasant and impressionable one. Just remember to do your research and keep an open mind. Happy travels!
Airbnb has challenged the hospitality industry in many ways. Due to the increasing popularity, getting your Airbnb listing chosen seems to be impossible. Airbnb hosting business has become more popular recently and, of course, becoming more and more competitive every day.
As a furnishing expert, Furnishr has helped many Airbnb hosts with setting up their rental properties. If you want to get started and see what a custom Airbnb unit could look like for you, here’s how to begin.
Here are five Airbnb tips to help make your property stand out from the rest of the competitors.
5 Airbnb Tips
1. Make your Home Photogenic
Guests rely on photos when choosing their stay. Make your property look aesthetically pleasing!
Use neutral and easy-to-clean furniture such as metallics, grey and textured fabric.
Patterns and colours should be applied on area rugs, wall arts, throw pillows and beddings.
Use matching bed pillows and bedsheets. Mismatches never look professional.
Keep all the walls white and curtains neutral.
Use hardwood or tiled floor if you have a choice.
Always take the photo from the doorway of the room.
2. Maximize Occupancy and Space
The more people your property can accommodate, the higher your return in rent. While your space is limited, maximize the functions and utility in your furniture.
The easiest piece is to use a sofa bed with a pull-out mattress, i.e. not a futon! It will only be used if all the bedrooms are filled. Sofabeds with pull-out mattresses are comfortable for sleeping and sitting.
Round dining tables tend to fit more guests than rectangular tables, mainly because round tables stand on one pedestal leg and you can place more chairs around the table without interfering with the legs.
If you have space available, get an extendable table, but it can be more prone to damage because guests might not know how to open or close the extension properly.
Diversify the bed arrangements. If you have two or more bedrooms, try to fit two people in each room and use different sizes of beds to give travellers different sleeping arrangements.
Minimize the number of furniture pieces even if you have the space. If your property can occupy 8 people, get as few furniture as you can to fit all 8 people in one common space. The more furniture you have in a space (even if it’s a big space), the more cluttered it will look.
3. Keep the Property Spotlessly Clean at All Times!
Cleanliness is the key attribute for review. Send a cleaner once a day to clean up to make sure your guests feel comfortable staying at your property at all times. Sending a cleaner will not cost you more as the host since the cleaning fees are paid in additional as the accommodation fees. If you’re more comfortable with cleaning the space yourself, use these tips to clean on a time crunch.
4. Provide Friendly and Personal Notes
Guests on vacation want a nice memory from staying at your property. Add a few personal notes with WiFi passwords or restaurant and recreational recommendations around your area to make your guests feel more welcomed. Perhaps even going to the extra mile and create an Airbnb Guidebook. You may also provide a welcome basket of toiletry.
5. Use Keywords in your Listing
With a nice home set up, you want to make sure your guests can find your listing. SEO (search engine optimization) is applied everywhere including your Airbnb listing. Use keywords that are found in Airbnb’s instructions for guests since new guests rely on those instructions to learn the booking process. Highlight the convenience and landmarks in your area – such as transportation options and how to get to the tourist landmarks in your city.
Overall, there are many things to consider when renting your home to the public. Another important aspect to consider are the legal and tax matters. Here are some additional information for you to know when renting your home at Airbnb.
Legal and Taxes Matters
Since property hosting is a business, there are legal and accounting aspects that matter. Before setting up your Airbnb listing, consider these legal and tax matters.
1. Setup An Active And Correct Insurance Policy Or Coverage
Before listing your property with Airbnb, you must understand that risks are inevitable. Setting up an active and correct insurance policy for protection against such risks is a must for you. You can simply use Airbnb Liability insurance or discuss with your insurance broker before taking the deep dive with your Airbnb listing.
2. Know About the Taxes
Operating an Airbnb rental business could attract some taxes on your earnings which, of course, is best to have a concrete knowledge of such taxes. Let the tax man know if you’re just earning some extra money from your Airbnb host to avoid unnecessary taxes.
3. Understand Landlord and Building Regulations
There are strict rules against Airbnb in many cities. If you’re planning to host a property on Airbnb that isn’t a personal property, you must think carefully how you’ll want to reach out and communicate with the landlord. Listing your property without landlord’s or property management’s consent may be illegal. While the side income is nice, getting into any legal matter just isn’t worth it.
Here is a checklist to help you design an Airbnb space that’s beautiful and accommodating! Because amazing room design = amazing prices.
For instance, a decent studio in New York City can be rented for $150-350 for a night.
Not only that, but a rental that sleeps more than 6 can net $650 or more per night.
It’s a fact that we regularly see high ROI (return on investment) in furnishing Airbnb rental units nicely. We might be biased, since we ourselves have furnished a number of luxury short-term stay homes and Airbnb rental properties over the past three years. But it’s true that branding your unit as a luxury retreat can help you generate more profits in the long term.
You may think that cleanliness is the biggest influence on a customer’s ratings. It’s true that cleanliness is the baseline to your guest’s comfort and a 5-star review. But having decent looking and comfortable furniture is another major factor on your rental prices. Consider people traveling to a big city like NYC for fun or for work. They want the entire trip to be a positive experience! Thus, the interior design quality of their accommodation can take their whole experience up a notch. Not only that but many successful short-term stay companies like OneFineStay and Sonder have shown that Airbnb guests will pay big bucks for nicely designed homes when on vacation.
Regardless, this Airbnb host checklist provides you with a detailed description of the furniture, accessories and essential items you need to set up an Airbnb property and earn some extra money.
A final tip: Even if your unit is in a great location, terrible photos can make people skip right over your listing. It’s no wonder that Airbnb has started offering photography services for hosts to make sure they have decent photos. So — once you complete the checklist below, don’t forget to go get some high quality photos taken!
Happy furnishing!
Airbnb Host Checklist: Furniture and Accessories
For the Bedroom:
Bed with a nice headboard
An upholstered bed gives a warm cozy feeling to any bedroom
Don’t use a storage bed because guests are more prone to leave things behind if you give them more drawers in different pieces of furniture. It’ll just become an operational hassle
Mattress (at least 8” thick)
Vacationing and work travels are tiring. Make sure you give your guests good nights of sleep with a decently thick and firm mattress
Memory foam mattresses are more durable than spring mattresses because there won’t be any broken coils
Soft memory foam mattresses can sag on odd sides over time. You can easily just turn and/or flip the mattress to extend its life
Memory foam mattresses are also cheaper to replace
We also suggest using a mattress case, which is a fabric cover with a zipper used to protect the mattress from bugs and dirt. In the event of messy guests and messy stays, you can just replace the mattress case and keep the mattress
Dresser or chest of drawers
You need at least one storage piece in the bedroom. A luxurious bedroom should not ask your guests to live out of their suitcase.
A wide dresser with 6 drawers is ideal since there can be two people sharing this room
Nightstand or side table
There needs to be a surface area to put a table lamp, an alarm clock, a book, and a phone.
If you have a dresser already, you don’t need more drawers on the nightstand. Again, the more drawers you give your guests, the more chances they will leave things behind
If your bed is centered in a room, place one side table on each side of the bed to create symmetry
Mirror
Everyone needs to look good before they head out to make sure there is at least one mirror in the room, even if there is an attached ensuite bathroom
Place the mirror above the dresser or have a free-standing floor mirror
The mirror is also a decorative item so find one with an interesting frame
Lighting
Some guests might enjoy staying in to read a book or work some more. Make sure there’s ample lighting for the night.
Floor lamps and table lamps are both great options.
The lamp(s) can also be another design feature in the room so pick wisely!
Bedding
For the pillowcases, bed sheets, flat sheet and duvet, use the same set in white. Don’t mix and match from different brands because the white may be different.
And let’s not be too creative with the color matching or color blocking in the bedding set. Guests want to see clean white sheets on their beds to feel comfortable sleeping in a stranger’s room
Place one simple throw pillow to glam up the bed
Art & Rug
Arts and an area rug will add more colors and patterns to the room.
The nice and thick rug will keep their feet warm and soft in the morning.
Though they are optional, rugs do add the luxury touch to any bedroom
For the Living Room:
Sofabed (with pull-out mattress)
Increasing occupancy in the unit increases rent, so a sofa bed is essential to increase your return on investment.
It’s also important to differentiate a sofa bed with pull-out mattress and a fold-down futon.
Sofa beds with a pull-out mattress means there’s a proper mattress underneath the seat cushions. There is a lift mechanism that lets you pull out the mattress easily. These sofa beds are made to be comfortable for seating as well as sleeping. The mattress, though is thin, is a firm memory foam mattress that guarantees you a good sleep without having to feel the hardware underneath. These sofa beds are at least twice as expensive as futons but they are more structurally sound and are worth the investment.
Fold-down futons, on the other hands, are made a simple frame and a gliding mechanism to fold down the back cushions of the sofa to make it into the size of a twin or double bed. There are usually 2 or 3 back cushions and 2 or 3 seat cushions, so you will feel all the gaps when sleeping.
Coffee table
A coffee table provides a surface area to place drinks and snacks in your living space.
There are many lift-top coffee table designs that let you use it as a workstation which is a nice feature to sell on your listing.
Lighting
Many apartments don’t come with ceiling lights. Whether you get much sunlight or not through the windows, you will need at least one floor lamp.
You don’t want your guests wandering around in the dark and walking into walls or furniture!
Flat screen TV with a Chromecast
For nights of staying in, there should be a TV for Netflix or streaming of music and shows
Connected to a Chromecast, your guest will be more choices for entertainment
Other Airbnb Amenities and Essentials
In addition to furniture, you need to provide other living essentials and basic amenities for the kitchen and bathroom as well to make this Airbnb rental the “home away from home”.
Living Essential
Iron & Ironing board or steamer
Hangers for each closet
Trash can in each room
Kitchen Essentials
Plates, bowls
Cups, glasses and wine glasses
Utensils
Cutleries
Can opener
Pots & Pans
Cooking utensils
Coasters
Toaster
Kettle
Bathroom Essentials
Hair dryer
Bath towels
Hand towels
Hand soap
Shampoo, conditioner
Body wash
Toothpaste
Mouthwash & disposable cups
Disposable toothbrush
Air freshener
Extra toilet papers
Hooks on the door
There are also other welcoming gadgets to make your apartment feels like home for your guests. In particular, if they love your unit, they will return next time and recommend you to their friends.
Our Stylish Over-the-Top Welcoming Kit
Universal phone chargers for androids, iPhones and other brands
Outlet converter (for travelers from outside of North America)
Finally, you want to get your entire home set up ASAP so you can start making money right away.
Most landlords lose out on the rent for the first month because they take too long to set up the home and take photos of the entire place. Just remember that a rental home isn’t your own home! You do not have the luxury to take your time to shop for furniture and each item with care.
In other words, the more time you take to set up the home and take nice photos of each room, the more money it will cost you. This is exactly why people hire us!
Furnishr Review: Furnished Airbnb Design
Our customer, Jason, got the keys to this beautiful townhouse in West Village of Manhattan last month and we furnished the entire house the next day. His first guest checked in three days after he got his keys.
All he gave us was a floor plan, his budget and how many beds and sofa beds he wanted. We took care of everything else; from deciding on the colour scheme based on his preferred style of the home, selecting the furniture, selecting the accessories, space planning to delivery and setup in one day.
Jason’s budget was $15k for 3 bedrooms, 1 living room, 1 dining room, 1 kitchen, 1 basement studio and an outdoor patio for a total of 8 rooms. The average cost for the living room, dining room, bedrooms and basement studio was $2000 which includes all the furniture and accessories. The outdoor spaces and kitchen cost about $3000 in total.
Although it is a big cost up front, he is now able to brand it as a luxury, high quality Airbnb rental and charge $800-1000/night to rent out his entire home. The cost of furnishing the whole home was paid off within the first half of the month.
With Furnishr’s help, you can soon be on our way to receive great reviews with your Airbnb fully booked each month.
Planning a big move? The cost of furnishing a home from scratch might not be what you expect. Whether you’re relocating for work or finally making the leap to live on your own, you have a lot to consider. Your moving budget has got to cover all those pesky move-in fees: the increased costs of rent, utilities, and internet.
And what about furnishing? If you have furniture but can’t decide which furniture to bring with you, read our post Three Ways to Decide Which Furniture to Bring When You Relocate. If need to buy everything from scratch, need some help what furniture to buy, then read on!
This post takes you step-by-step through the entire process of how to furnish an apartment from scratch. We even use a real case study from to illustrates the common benefits and pitfalls of furnishing an apartment.
Key Topics About The Cost Of Furnishing An Apartment
Where to start? The REAL cost of furnishing an apartment.
We’re about to break down the cost of furnishing an apartment from scratch. But first, some real talk.
You’re probably thinking, sofa, TV, mattress — easy! Shouldn’t cost more than a couple hundred here and there.
The truth is that you need more than just these three items to live an adult life. How your home is set up has a huge influence on your lifestyle and social life!
A truly upgraded and adult space should have a few more furnishings, such as an armchair, a coffee table, a dresser, sturdy and stylish dining set for entertaining to feel like a home. But we’ll cover essential and bonus furnishings in a bit.
Okay, now let’s think through the entire moving process. Not only do you need to buy furniture from stores with quality stuff, you will also need to coordinate the move and assemble it all.
Ultimately, no matter how much you plan for it furnishing is no easy task! The last thing you want is your TV sitting on the floor for 2 weeks because you forgot to buy a TV stand that matches your living room décor. Or to discover that your closet space is actually too small so you end up living out of your suitcase until you get a dresser. EVERYONE has been there!
This guide will show you how to prevent a worst case scenario by avoiding the biggest moving mistake of all, which isUNDER-budgeting your furniture + move-in costs.
Your Budget vs. Cost of Furnishing
To shed some light on the true cost of furnishing, we invited one of our recent customers, Lucy, to share her journey with us. We had a detailed chat about her experience through the “Three Stages of Moving”: confidence, anxiety, and finally, relief! (Spoiler alert: Lucy was super happy with her new place, which was actually furnished in a single day.)
At the beginning of her planning process, Lucy felt armed with her knowledge and experience from previous moves. She made a realistic “furnish from scratch” budget based on shopping only at IKEA. Sure, the store wasn’t Lucy’s top pick in terms of quality, but she wanted to avoid the stress of searching at multiple stores for coordinating furniture. Do you think her budget is realistic?
Here, you can see our case study client Lucy’s first draft of a moving budget. At this stage, she hopes to furnish her apartment from scratch for a total cost of $1,985.
Definitely a modest budget. Plus, she’s moved before… no sweat! Right??
Unfortunately, this budget needs some changes. Take a breath and bear with us. The costs of furniture on her list may have been accurate during Lucy’s college days, but inflation, labour and gas prices have all increased since then. Even Lucy was surprised once she began to shop online.
When she started adding items to her virtual shopping cart, her total estimated cost came in OVER BUDGET by 55% — and that was just with IKEA furniture!
Even if you’re a thoughtful planner like Lucy, you might be shocked by the total price of furnishing an apartment. But if you want to do it right, you need to ask yourself which kind of furniture you want. High-quality, stylish furniture that will last is a smart investment.
Okay, so what IS a reasonable budget for furnishing a studio or one-bedroom apartment?
First, let’s find high-quality furniture. You need to graduate from your IKEA days! The furniture in your new home should bestylish and high-quality, especially if you’re making a big move or starting a new job.
The way you live is dictated by where you place the furniture. That’s the beauty and power of interior design. If you place a chair by the window, you’ll sit by the window and enjoy the view. If you use broken hand me downs, you’ll never feel like an adult.
PRO TIP: Plan your furnishing budget around high-quality basics.
We’re going to review the 3 – 4 pieces of essential furniture for your living room, plus 3 essential pieces for your bedroom. Then we’ll show you the cost breakdown of bare basic items for furnishing both a living room & bedroom.
Let’s get started with cost specifics!
Cost Breakdown Of Furnishing Your New Living Room
Average Retail Cost to Furnish a Basic Living Room? $2,050 – 3,150
Here’s a breakdown of essential living room furniture (sofa + coffee table + floor lamp) and their typical retail costs. Remember, this is brand new furniture directly from the retailer.
ITEM ONE. Sofa + Accent Chair, or Sectional Sofa: $1800-2600
Your layout determines which item you need.
If you have a wide living space, use a 3-seater sofa and an accent chair to create a conversational seating arrangement. Generally, people don’t like to sit next to each other in a sofa even if it’s a wide one. Therefore, adding an accent chair opposite to the sofa will create a conversational environment. Try mixing different fabrics/textures to make the setting more intentional and ‘designer’.
Otherwise, if you have a small living space, use a sectional sofa. Remember, the smaller the space you have, the fewer pieces of furniture you should have!
ITEM TWO. Coffee Table: $120-260
How do I choose a coffee table?
A coffee table provides a necessary surface area to place drinks and snacks. Many coffee table designs have additional storage. Try to use as much multi-functional furniture as possible!
Keep in mind that cost will increase as the piece shows more style and function. If you’re excited about multi-purpose furniture,look forlift-top coffee tables that become workstations or dining tables.
Another thing to keep in mind for multi-purpose furniture is that most people get lazy in changing the configuration of the furniture, so make sure your multi-purpose furniture is easy to change into its different purposes.
ITEM THREE. Floor Lamp: $130-290
This is a big one!
Many apartments don’t come with ceiling lights. Whether you get much sunlight or not through the windows, you will need at least one floor lamp. Trust us on this one!
PRO TIP: Note the locations of all your outlets to help you plan your lighting scheme.
Your total cost to furnish a living room will be between $2,050 – 3,150 if you use traditional retailers. Sticker shock? Here’s a secret…
Full retail cost is actually more expensive! You can save loads of money by cutting out the middle man, and going directly to a furnishing company.
Want to see an example of what we mean? Check out the table below.
Here’s a price comparison of how much cheaper your living room couldbe (on the left) if you buy from a direct furnishing companylike Furnishr versus more expensive retailers like WestElm or Crate & Barrel (on the right side). These are the average prices for products with decent quality.
Cost Breakdown of Furnishing a Basic Bedroom
Average Retail Cost to Furnish a Basic Bedroom? $880 – 2,300
You’ve planned your living room, so now you need bedroom furniture! Here’s a breakdown of essential bedroom furniture (bed frame + mattress + nightstand) and their typical retail costs. Remember, this is the cost of brand new furniture directly from the retailer.
Essential Bedroom Furniture and Typical Retail Costs
ITEM ONE. Bed Frame: $400-800
Obviously this is an unavoidable cost! There are many options for bed frames, like storage drawers or lift-up under-bed storage. Again, the more storage, the more you’ll pay.
A bed should be made to last, so consider it a key investment piece. Don’t skimp!
A nice headboard can also serve as a statement design item in the bedroom, so it’s important that you love the headboard!
ITEM TWO. Mattress: $300-1200
A good mattress is the key to a good night’s sleep, so definitely don’t skimp here either.
There are many different kinds, like memory foam and spring mattresses. But don’t worry, mattress technology has advanced so much over the past decade that it’s actually difficult to find an uncomfortable mattress unless you’re an extremely picky sleeper.
Choose a mattress (and bed) size that fits properly in your bedroom. You want plenty of room to sprawl out in bed, naturally, but remember that you also need enough space to move around the room comfortably. Nothing creates dead energy in a bedroom quicker than a poorly sized bed.
Make sure your mattress is at least 8″ thick to ensure all the foams and padding are thick and high-quality.
ITEM THREE. Nightstand(s): $180-300 each
You need at least one surface area next to the bed for a table lamp, an alarm clock, your phone or a book.
PRO TIP: Check for outlets! Place the nightstand closer to the side with an outlet for charging all your electronics.
Nightstand sizes vary. Pick one that fits with the size of your bedroom, and also that will fit everything you typically keep beside your bed.
If your bed is not against a wall (or window), use two nightstands (one for each side of the bed) to create a symmetrical look.
Now let’s do a price comparison. How does the cost of bedroom furniture change if you buy it from Furnishr versus a retailer?
Cost of Furnishing – Bedroom Furniture Price Comparison
(P.S. When choosing your furniture, make sure you choose pieces that “spark joy”.)
Wait! Remember, you do need to plan for some additional furnishing costs to help get that “Designed” look.
Now you know how to budget for the essentials when furnishing an apartment from scratch.
So once you cover the basic pieces (bed frame and coffee table), you’re free to add more style and more function to your space. So let’s level up. You may as well plan for your best life if you’re planning a move anyway!
In this next section, we’ll cover the items that can transform a house into a home.
These items are optional, but they definitelylevel up your space in terms of usability and aesthetic appeal. For these items, the interior design “rules” become a bit trickier — for instance, how on earth do you choose the correct size for an area rug?
You definitely want to avoid a mismatched set of furniture in your home.
Need some visual inspiration first? Go check out these beautifully styled rooms that can be achieved with high OR low budgets:
Excited yet? Feeling overwhelmed? No worries! Get a free design proposal from Furnishr to see 2-3 design options for your whole apartment.
Just answer a few questions about who you are and what your space is like, and you’ll get a custom proposal in 1-2 days. Each design includes all the furniture for your entire home. They also set up the whole home in a day, just like a home make-over show!
If you are committed to a picture-perfect apartment, then you’ll need some extra furnishings to take it up a notch. Now let’s get back to the bonus furnishing tips.
Non-Essential Furniture and Their Typical Retail Costs
Here’s what our interior design team recommends for optional, bonus furnishings.
ITEM ONE. TV Stand (or Sideboard): $400-700
For small spaces, a TV stand can be the only storage piece you have. Because of this, invest in one with ample storage compartments.
However, if space is really limited, do without the TV stand. Get a storage coffee table instead and mount the TV onto the wall.
ITEM TWO. Side Table(s): $100-200 each
Give yourself more places to put lamps, glasses, and decor items!
Each side table should be at least 18″ wide to hold everything safely. You need room for a few small knick knacks, and several drinking glasses.
ITEM THREE. Area Rug: $290-500 (depending on size)
The standard size is 5×8′, then the next size up is 8×10′.
In living rooms, the rug size should be proportional to the size of your living area. Measure your sofa and coffee table and make sure both front legs of your sofa can be on the rug. If your coffee table is centred on the rug, have at least 18″ of walkway between the coffee table and any surrounding furniture.
For bedrooms, the rug should be near the foot of the bed with at least 30% of the rug under the bed. Just like in the living room, both legs of the bed should fit comfortably on top of the rug.
Bedroom rugs should be gentle, both in texture and color. You want to feel softness on your feet every morning when you get out of bed. You also want to see enough of the rug so you can really appreciate the patterns and colours on it!
ITEM FOUR. Dresser: $400-800
A dresser should have at least two drawers.
In small bedrooms, you could use a small chest of drawers to serve as your nightstand. This saves you the cost of a nightstand and saves space while providing more drawers for storage.
If your budget and/or space are limited, that’s okay!
Just make sure that you have covered the 3 – 4 pieces of essential furniture for both your living room and bedroom. The rest can follow later. It takes time to furnish a space from scratch if you’re doing it yourself.
To review, here are the cost breakdowns of living room / bedroom, and essential / nonessential furniture for your new place:
• Total costs for essential living room furniture will be: $2050 to $3150
• Total costs for essential bedroom furniture will be: $880 to $2300.
• Total costs for nonessential furnishings will be: $1190 to $2200.
OVERALL FURNITURE costs for JUST ESSENTIALS: $2930 to $5450.
OVERALL FURNITURE costs for ESSENTIALS + NONESSENTIALS: $4100 to $7600.
In short, $3500-5800 should be the total range of cost of furnishing an apartment with just the essential furniture.
Living Room Essentials
Bedroom Essentials
Bonus Items
Sofa $1800 – 2500
Bed $400 – 800
TV Stand / Sideboard $400 – 650
Coffee Table $120 – 260
Mattress $300 – 1200
Side Table(s) $100 – 200 each
Floor Lamp $130 – 290
Nightstand(s) $180 – 300
Area Rug $280 – 480
Dresser $400 – 800
$2,050 to $3,150
$880 to $2,300
$1,180 to $2,130
Okay, one more thing to consider. What about the cost of your time?
Don’t Forget the Time & Hassle of Moving!
Remember our case study, Lucy? All she wanted to do was prepare for her new job.
But there are additional time and energy costs associated with furnishing.
DELIVERIES
How much is your time really worth? What is your plan for handling furniture?
You could rent a truck or get some friends to help you with the moving, setup and cleaning. You could also get it delivered in multiple shipments. You will need to coordinate each delivery with your new building, and remember to book the service elevator.
• Did you know most furniture stores can’t guarantee your furniture will arrive all at once?
• And your delivery costs could range from $150 to $300 per item per store.
Before you buy, remember that most delivery services drop off items on different days, and many don’t include assembly.
ASSEMBLY
Once you finally have all your unassembled furniture, then you have to assemble it. Doing it yourself is time consuming, and hiring a handyman to assemble your furniture can cost you an additional $30-50/hour. And when assembly is done, what about the boxes and clean up? You would have to cut up the boxes or fold them down in order to fit them into your building’s recycling bins.
But there is an easier way.
Ultimately, Lucy found a way to furnish her apartment completely from scratch and all in a single day, with no need to assemble anything or clean up.
You don’t need to take vacation days to stay home and wait for multiple furniture deliveries!
Your new job is starting soon, and your official move-in day is rapidly approaching! You know what you want your new apartment to look like. You’re feeling ready. Well, almost.
How can you make this move easy for your future self? Your future self probably wants to start a new adventure without the stress and anxiety of managing all this annoying moving stuff. We’ve got your back.
Ready to see how Lucy solved all her moving & furnishing difficulties with a single, comprehensive solution?
CASE STUDY: Lucy’s Studio
Lucy ended up using Furnishr and purchased a comprehensive furnishing package, completely avoiding the stress of furnishing her studio apartment alone. She spent a few minutes gathering accurate measurements of her new space, and then took a brief style quiz for her designer.
She was paired with Elle, one of Furnishr’s dedicated designers. Together they chose the perfect items to fit Lucy’s budget and her style preferences.
Size of Lucy’s studio: 350 square feet
Lucy’s furnishing budget: $2900-3200 USD
Lucy’s living space is small, but it’s a good rectangular space that can easily be segmented into a living room and separate sleeping area.
Just 15 days after placing her order, every single piece wasdelivered and set up in Lucy’s studio, all in a single day.
Here’s how Lucy furnished her studio, from empty room to mood board to finished and styled!
Lucy’s Empty Studio Apartment
Lucy received all the above items in her $2999 USD Furnishr package. She was super happy to pay for a comprehensive service and save time and money on the furniture, delivery, and assembly.
“I can’t believe I furnished the whole apartment for just $3000 without doing any work.The transformation was miraculous!”
Here is the final layout of Lucy’s studio space.
The biggest lesson? Lucy realized her time is actually worth more than a bit of savings, especially in the midst of a big life change. Maybe it was on moving day that somebody coined the phrase ‘Time is money!’
Whew! What have we learned?
Moving is stressful — but that means that you’re trying something new and exciting. So congrats! You are well on your way to furnishing an amazing apartment.
Moving and furnishing an empty apartment is no walk in the park, but Furnishr can make it easier.
SUMMARY of the best ways to furnish your space:
First, save money by furnishing with a single company. The retail costs of Lucy’s furniture would have been at least 20% more if she went elsewhere.
If you are planning a move, bookmark this page and get a custom proposal for furnishing your own space. (It’s right over there, where it says “Get Started” —>).
Furnishr wants to help you save time and create a nicely furnished home with high-quality furnishings.
Our goal is to make your move easy, wherever your next adventure takes you.So do right by your future self, and go check out your options to Get A Custom Design ASAP.
Good luck!
Want us to furnish your apartment?
Complete a design request and we will show you design packages that fit you!
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, roughly 35 million Americans move house every year. To some the thought of moving is filled with intimidation concerning cost, labor, and leaving family. But for many, transitioning out of an old space leaves endless possibilities for how you can create your new home. It’s easy to be overwhelmed with endless design and decor ideas on what you want your space to look like. Having a starting point is essential. We’ve curated some tips on where to begin when creating your cozy and inviting home.
You can trust that mindfulness is a growing trend among many demographics, no matter your location. Cities are still a major destination for Airbnb guests, with the most popular North American cities in 2018 being New York City, Orlando, and Miami. Airbnb also announced a growing trend towards “more rustic and non-traditional digs” like nature lodges and yurts. 
Now you know how to budget for the essentials when furnishing an apartment from scratch.
