5 Easy and Inexpensive Ways to Upgrade Your Guest Room or Furnish Your AirBnb
- Kathryn Zambon
- Oct 25, 2024
- 5 min read
If you’ve ever stayed at my home or in one of my vacation rentals - you are all too familiar with the tried and true comforts I continue to purchase and recommend. You can also furnish your AirBnb or VRBO to maximize your guest's experience with these simple upgrades.
One example is the down alternative pillows for all types of sleepers; King AND Queen sizes for all sized beds.
Another; having extra linens and towels available without guests needing to ask for them.
Phone Charging stations...
Internet Info on a felt letter board hanging on the wall by the front door Antibacterial wipes...
A Keruig or with coffee and tea options and bottled water, and to-go cups - because you want your guests to be out and about enjoying what the area has to offer...
The list goes on….
Here are a few Must-Haves that are continuously raved about by guests:
1
Let’s start with where your guests will likely spend the majority of their time during their stay:
First staple for a good night’s sleep:
Utopia Bedding Bed Pillows for Sleeping Queen Size (White), Set of 2, Cooling Hotel Quality, Gusseted Pillow for Back, Stomach or Side Sleepers: Queen Size and King Size
SIDE NOTE** Always make sure to get full-zip waterproof pillow and mattress covers to protect the life of your items and keep your space clean.
- Pillows: Full-Zip Hypoallergenic Cover (check sizing)
- Mattress: Full-Zip Waterproof Cover (check sizing)
Speaking of Mattresses, the crowd favorite is Tuft and Needle. And/Or A Nectar Mattress.
Best thing about the Nectar mattresses is that you get a 365-night trial and a “forever warranty”
Neither of these need an additional foam topper for extra comfort, they are amazing as is.
If you don’t want to purchase new mattresses and just want to upgrade your current set-up, the My Pillow 2” Mattress Topper is the winner.
SIDE NOTE** I always make sure to include a second set of bed linens (no matter how long the stay) so that the guests do not have to make a separate request if needed.
2
Best bed linens for high guest turnover/multiple washes are these Bamboo Sheet Sets.
Fun fact about the Pure Bamboo brand — they have a trusted sustainability certification for their products!
Moving on from the bed to the bathroom…
Washing bulky towels can cause more wear and tear on your washing machine so I opt for Turkish Towels.
They dry fast and are not as heavy, making them easier to stack and take up less storage space.
If you want something a bit more luxurious, Sand Cloud is a great option.
They add a bit more decorative flair with the fringed edges and come in a wide variety of sizes.
SIDE NOTE** I always match the colors of the towels and bed linens for ease of maintenance when washing. I usually pick a dark color (charcoal, navy, etc.) to match the style of the room, but you can never go wrong with pure white.
3
Let’s get techy for a minute… Always display your internet information.
I like to put a brief welcome note along with the internet name and password on a Felt Letterboard and hang it on the wall by the front door.
It is always visible and serves as a quick reference to connect additional gadgets without having to search for it in their bookings.
SIDE NOTE** Most of these boards only come with upper case letters, so if you have an internet Password that includes lower case letters, make sure to purchase supplemental letters to accurately display the information.
It’s also a relief for guests to have wireless charging stations throughout as well. I always make sure to have a minimum of two charging docks in the primary bedroom and at least one in every other bedroom and shared living spaces.
Most any charging dock will do, but if you want to go above and beyond for your guests, place these Qi-Certified Fast Wireless Charging Stands with a Sleep-Friendly Adaptive Light in easy to find, convenient locations.
4
Speaking about phones, and things that are constantly handled… it is helpful to have on-hand antibacterial wipes for hands, furniture, and even individually packed make-up remover towelettes for convenience.
It should be obvious that all appliances, remotes, and light switches should be disinfected after every guest checks out but they might also want to do this for themselves upon arrival!
Providing disinfecting wipes under the bathroom sink or individually wrapped hand and/or makeup wipes is a huge bonus.
Here are a few brands you can purchase in bulk that are quality on a budget:
SIDE NOTE** I would avoid offering flushable wet wipes in the case that these could cause a potential plumbing issue if handled incorrectly.
5
If you’ve made it this far into the post, you might need a pick-me-up; how about a coffee?
Most vacation rentals have access to a kitchen; some don’t.
In addition to a complete list of your local independently owned coffee shops and (in my opinion, mandatory) mini-fridge and microwave, I like to include a single-serving coffee maker at the bare minimum.
Single-serve specifically because it keeps contaminants to a minimum and most machines are user-friendly.
Take Keurig for example, you pop open the lid, drop in a pod, add water to the fill line, and push a button. Doesn’t get much simpler than that. It also allows for easy cleanup.
They are slim, take up minimal countertop space, come in multiple fun colors, and have great space-saving storage and organizational options for the pods, creamers, and extras.
If you want to boost that luxury feel, a step up from your standard K-cup would be investing in a Nespresso.
The machine and Nespresso-specific pods are definitely pricier, but you can choose from a wider variety of coffee styles, such as a shot (or two) of espresso. And if you purchase a machine with a frother, the variations are almost limitless.
These machines do require a bit more cleaning and maintenance but offer the same slim design and single-serve option.
SIDE NOTE** Things to include when you provide a coffee maker:
- Water Bottles - So much easier (and less likely to have a potential spill) than having to fill mugs or cups from the tap.
K-Cup of Coffee Pod options in a variety of flavors. They even have tea!
Light or Medium Roast (the lighter the roast, the higher the caffeine content)
Decaf or Half-caf
Different Flavors; French Vanilla, Caramel, Hazelnut, etc.
Tea options: Black Tea, Green Tea, Camomille, etc.
- Individually Packaged Creamers and Sweetener Packets
- Mugs! Or preferably single-use to-go cups meant for hot liquids.
6
You’ve made it to the end of the post!! To thank you for your dedication and time spent with me, I want to share a few BONUS ideas that I think truly make your guest’s stay seamless:
... Get it, “seem-less”?
Let’s keep things off the floor with a Luggage Rack.
Make check-in a breeze with an Electronic/Automatic Door Lock with Keyless Entry and private code assigned to each stay.
FINAL SIDE NOTE** In my next blog post, I’ll be diving deeper into a few electronic door lock brands and discussing the benefits of each. Plus explaining how they can be automated through your reservation sites. Stay Tuned!!
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