If the hesitation is around investing in all the furniture and decor, then MTRs might not be right for you. 

Do y'all decorate at your STR for the holidays?

I usually start with Airbnb and VRBO - looking at properties in the area you are analyzing, specifically similar sized homes to what you are considering purchasing, and similarly set up homes (decor, style, hot tub, pool, etc etc). 

The dated lincoln log cabin w/ bear decorations w/ no view gets lost in the ether.

From themed decorations to special packages and exclusive events, our goal is to create a memorable stay during the holidays.

The unfinished basement turned into a games roomWould put rubber flooring down and add some gym equipment and activities like fooseball, pool, arcade, poker table with some cool movie and memorabilia decorations - pseudo man-cave for all ages3.

The key, in my opinion, to a successful AirBnB in Big Bear is quality pictures and decor, competitive pricing, and solid customer service (i.e. 5 star reviews). 

Gonna go a different direction with the decor and amenities, if you know what I mean :) 

. $6k may be barely enough for the furniture, such as beds and couches and tables and chairs, but what about the softer stuff like kitchen utensils and dinnerwares, and bedding and linen, and decorations?

How much input did you have on the actual decor of the house?