What furniture gets you the most bang for your buck in a STR?

As an “Airbnb” or Short Term Rental Interior Designer, I am frequently asked by clients which furnishings have the biggest impact on bookings. In other words, what is the items that will get ‘the most bang for the buck’?

It’s a great question because most people don’t have the immediate budget to implement all the décor strategies we employ in our practice, so it makes sense to start with the décor that has the most powerful influence on attracting new and repeat guests and easily getting 5-star reviews.

There are two main items I would focus your budget on: The Bed (mattress, sheets, pillows), and the Sofa. Why? Because these are the items people are going to be spending the most time on. They are going to be sitting on the sofa watching TV, or they will be laying down in the bed to rest. You can spend less on the items that will get less use, such as the barstools, dining chairs, dining table, side tables, etc. because guests will often times only be using this space for short period of time.

However I have seen guests give 4 out of 5 stars simply because the mattress wasn’t to their liking. Now, be aware, you are not going to please everyone, and that is okay. But if you have multiple guests giving you the same feedback (hard bed, uncomfortable sofa, etc.) it is time to consider investing a little money in order to get higher returns, and happy customers.