How much does it cost to furnish a 2 bed 2 bath Airbnb?

How do we furnish our first Airbnb without breaking the bank?

Admittedly, this post is a bit self-serving, as I am currently budgeting with my co-buy group, but should provide valuable context for other people figuring out how to furnish their first Airbnb. If you need a framework to kickoff your budget planning for your short term rental, this is the post for you.

Let’s start with my group’s home details

Property we plan to furnish

• 2 bed, 2 bath 
• $300K home
• Borrego Springs, CA

The Borrego Springs area

• High desert
• Natural beauty and views
• Unreal sunsets and sunrises
• Golf courses
• HOT
• CA desert towns known for fun, funky vibes. 
• Casual, bright, relaxing, and loungy. 

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Our considerations

What do we remember when we stay at Airbnb’s on golf trips?

• Want to unwind in comfort after a day of golfing in the heat of the desert sun.
• Cleanliness, comfort, and relaxation to recharge for the next day of activities. 
• Never want it to feel like we are staying in someone’s primary residence. Too much clutter, nicknacks can make it feel like you are staying in someone else’s home. Not exactly relaxing.

New vs used furnishings

What needs to be new?

• Mattresses 
• Bedding
• Pillows
• Towels / kitchen linens
• Bathroom items 
• Bed frames

What can be used?

• Area rugs
• Couches
• Chairs
• Tables
• Side tables
• Lamps
• Kitchen dish ware/cups
• Patio furniture
• Art / wall decor 

Items we don’t want to compromise on

• Mattresses: A good night sleep can make or break a trip.
• Bedding: Durability, comfort for all sleep positions, sleeps cool (Borrego is in a desert).

Purchasing new durable items

• Marshalls, TJMaxx, discount stores (linens, towels, pillows, accent pillows, dish ware, kitchen items, bathroom items.

Purchasing quality used items

• Facebook marketplace, Craigslist, OfferUp (area rugs, sofas, side tables, coffee tables, lamps)
• Thrift stores / Goodwill (accent pieces, funky art, dish ware, kitchen utensils, lamps)
• Used furniture sites; AptDecp, Kaiyo, Floor Found (sofas, ottomans, living room furniture)

Budget

Consider how long it might take to make back your investment. Also, take into account most of your big ticket items will have a longer lifetime and continue to pay dividends for years to come. Bed, sofas, area rugs, etc.

• Projected Airbnb cashflow: $1,600 /month.
• One “season” in Borrego Springs is typically 9 months.

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Tight Budget: 6 months x $1,600 = $9,600 budget 

• Items might need to be cheaper and less durable and need to be replaced sooner.

Lenient Budget: 9 months x $1,600 = $14,400 budget 

• Can spend a little more on quality items that last longer and ultimately have a better ROI in the long-term.

Prioritize New, big ticket purchases that have a high impact on guests’ experience…aka all things bed

• Mattresses: 2 queen beds by Allswell ($380 x 2= $760)

• Bed frames: 2 queen bed frames on Wayfair ($280 x 2 = $560)

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• Pillows: 4 pillows by Beckham Collection x 2 beds +2 extra = 10 pillows ($25 x 10 = $250)

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• Bedding:
• 3 sets per bed = 6 sets of queen sheets by California Design Den ($55 x 6 = $330)
• 2 comforters / duvets ($130 x 2 = $260)
• 2 queen mattress protectors ($50 x 2= $100)
• Pillow protectors ($15 x 8= $120)

‍Total of 2 complete queen bed setups: $2,552 (includes CA sales tax) 

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With beds taken care of we are left with the remaining budgets to furnish the rest of the bedrooms, living room, kitchen/dining area, bathrooms, and patio.

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Tight budget: $9,600 - $2,552 = $7,048 leftover after beds 

Lenient budget:   $14,400 - $2,552 = $11,848 leftover after beds

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I won't bore you with the detailed breakdown of other items, but our big, prioritized items are accounted for and give us plenty of leftover budget to determine if we buy new/used on the remaining items.