How to Furnish an Airbnb: What Actually Holds Up (After Hosting 8 Properties)

What are the best towels to use? Where do I buy sheets? What color should I get? Are there pots and pans that hold up over time better than others?

Furnishing an Airbnb isn’t about decorating—it’s about durability, cleanability, and consistency.

After hosting for years, operating 8 Airbnbs, and maintaining Superhost status for nearly 8 years, we’ve learned what guests truly care about and what makes turnovers faster and easier for cleaners. Some of these lessons came the hard way—but now every property we furnish follows the same proven formula.

This guide walks through the most important furnishing decisions and exactly what we use today.

Towels: The Right Colors Matter More Than You Think

Guests absolutely notice towels. They don’t need luxury spa brands—but they do want towels that feel clean and intentional.

Our towel system (this is key)

• White bath towels (body towels)

• Black hand towels and washcloths

Why we do this

White bath towels

• Can be bleached and sanitized between guests

• Look cleaner in listing photos

• Feel more “hotel-like” to guests

Black hand towels & washcloths

• Prevent makeup stains

• Save you from constantly replacing face towels

• Still look clean even with heavy use

This combo alone has saved us so much money over time.

👉 White Towel Link

👉 Black hand towel link

Material recommendation: Stick with 100% cotton for towels. They absorb better, feel higher quality, and hold up longer than microfiber. In a pinch and need to replace towels same-day? Costco is your best friend!

Sheets: Cotton Is Best — But Laundry Logistics Matter

This is where most hosts go wrong.

The truth

Cotton sheets are the best.They’re breathable, comfortable, and guests love them.

But they also take the longest to dry.

What we recommend

If you have:

• Multiple washers/dryers or

• Off-site laundry service

Use 100% cotton sheets

They feel premium and elevate the stay.

👉 Best cotton sheets for Airbnb

***Cotton sheets are harder to keep from wrinkling. Be sure to run through the dryer again right before making the bed!***

If you:

• Do laundry on site

• Have limited machines or tight turnover windows

Use a polyester or cotton blend or high-end microfiber

Look for:

• Hotel-grade

• Breathable

• Wrinkle-resistant

These dry much faster and keep turnovers running smoothly.

Always choose:

• White sheets

• Simple weaves (no patterns or textures)

White sheets = bleach + sanitization + easier stain removal.

Bedding Setup That Saves Cleaners Time

Our standard setup:

• Waterproof mattress protector

• Fitted sheet

• Top sheet

• Light weight quilt set

  
  

Why this works:

• Quilts are easier to wash than comforters

• No bulky bedding slowing down laundry

• Faster bed resets for cleaners

  
  

👉 Mattress Protectors

👉 Best Quilts (Click picture for direct link)

Best Comforter for Airbnb

Best Comforter for Airbnb

Best Comforter for Airbnb

Pots & Pans: Easy Cleaning Beats Fancy Every Time

Guests will use your cookware—and they will not treat it gently.

What we recommend

• Non-stick pots and pans

Why?

• Easier for guests to clean

• Easier for cleaners to inspect

• Less food residue stuck on

The key rule with non-stick

👉 Replace them when they get scratched

Scratched non-stick:

• Looks dirty even when clean

• Feels low quality to guests

• Is better replaced than salvaged

👉Non-stick cookware set link here

We skip:

• Cheap dollar-store pans

• Fancy specialty pieces

• Cast iron (too much maintenance)

A simple, durable non-stick set covers almost every guest need.

Coffee: One Small Upgrade = Big Guest Satisfaction

This is a huge guest win.

What we provide

• Standard drip coffee maker

• Keurig

Why both?

• Some guests prefer brewing a full pot

• Others only drink one cup

• No complaints, no confusion

Starter K-Cups (Low Cost, High Impact)

We always provide a small starter set of K-cups:

• A few regular

• A few decaf

This costs very little but makes guests feel welcomed and cared for.

👉 Coffee maker link

👉 Keurig link

Where We Buy Everything

We keep furnishing simple and repeatable.

Our approach

• Amazon for:

  • Linens

  • Kitchen basics

  • Lamps

  • Small appliances

• HomeGoods for:

  • Final touches

  • Art

  • Decorative accents

  • Pillows and throws

Amazon = consistency and easy reorderingHomeGoods = personality and warmth

This combo lets us furnish quickly without making the space feel generic.

Color Rules We Always Follow

This applies to almost everything:

• White for washable items

• Neutral tones for furniture and décor with pops of color to make the space memorable and unique

  
  

Why?

• Easier replacements

• Cleaner listing photos

• Less visible wear over time

Guests associate:

• White = clean

• Neutral = calm, upscale, intentional

Final Thought: Furnish for Scale, Not Perfection

Even if you only have one Airbnb today, furnish it like you’ll have five someday.

Ask yourself:

• Can this be bleached?

• Can this survive misuse?

• Can a cleaner reset this quickly?

• How can I make this space feel cozy without overdoing decor?

  
  

That mindset is how we’ve grown to 8 Airbnbs without constant replacements or burnout.

You can find our specific Art and Decor items here!