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The bed experience is arguably the most important part of the guest experience— so here are some incredibly useful Airbnb bedding tips for your short-term rental.
For some reason, selecting bedding for your Airbnb can feel so daunting.
Sheets come in every color, print, and material you can think of. Pillows range from firm to down, to anywhere in between. And then there’s the issue of choosing between comforters, quilts or duvets. The options are endless.
When I was getting started Airbnb hosting, I obsessed for weeks over what kind of bedding to use at my first short-term rental. In the end, I’ve tried most every option out there, and I finally feel like I have a good handle on what makes a great bed.
So I thought I’d share a little bedding advice for your Airbnb, including a full bedding checklist, where to buy your bedding, and we’ll even handle the comforter vs. duvet vs. quilt debate.
Keep reading for my best Airbnb bedding tips.
Airbnb Bedding Tips:
How to Dress a Bed for Airbnb
From the mattress all the way up, you’ll need to layer your bed with the right things to protect your mattress, provide comfort for sleeping, and give your guests the perfect sleep experience at your Airbnb. Tip #1— Here is a checklist of everything you’ll need to dress your bed:
Mattress protector: The first element of your bedding should be a bed bug repellent & waterproof mattress protector. You really don’t want to mess with guests bringing in bed bugs, so having this is a necessary precautionary measure. The waterproof element will save you from spills or fluids (I know, yuck) that inevitably end up on the bed at one point or another
Sheets: Next, you’ll want a good set of soft, durable bed sheets. I wrote a whole post on sheets and where you can get them.
Pillows: A good rule of thumb is to provide 4 pillows per bed for every bed full sized or larger. I like to provide 2 soft pillows and 2 firm pillows so guests have a choice as to which works for them.
Pillow Protectors: Pillow protectors are an amazing addition to your bedding lineup because they’ll save your pillows from turning that gross yellow color over time from the unmentionables that seep through pillow cases and onto your pillows.
Pillowcases & Shams: Often, pillowcases come with your sheet set. I usually use the pillowcases that come with my sheets for the back two pillows, and then use the sham set that goes with my duvet or quilt for the front two.
Duvet, Comforter, or Quilt: This is where it gets hairy. You have 3 options when it comes to the top layer of your bedding: a comforter, duvet, or quilt. There are pros and cons to each. Read the section below all about comforters, duvets, and quilts.
Throw Pillows: I just think that a bed is never fully dressed without throw pillows! I like two throw pillows right in front of my other pillows for a completed, cozy look. Its a great way to add in some color if you’re using all white linens too.
Throw Blanket: A throw blanket is optional, but does offer an extra layer of warmth especially if you go with lighter bedding like a quilt. Again, its also a great design addition and an opportunity to bring some color and texture to the bed.
What bedding is best for Airbnb
Now that you’ve got a list of all the bedding needed to put together the perfect Airbnb bed, the next thing to address is what type of bedding to use. What’s best when it comes to colors and fabrics, and what type of comforter should you use? Let’s talk through it.
What Color Bedding for Airbnb
Tip #2–The simplest option is to keep everything white. That way when it comes to laundering, everything can go in one load and it can all get bleached to keep your linens bright white. White also just looks luxurious and clean.
However, if that all-white luxury look is not your thing, go for colors or prints! Don’t feel like you have to stick to white just because it’s standard. If design is your strong suit, express yourself and have fun with layering up your bed with bedding that reflects your unique space and style. Just make sure you have a good plan & products that will work to keep your bedding looking super clean being that bleach won’t be an option.
Best Sheets for Airbnb:
Tip #3 –Microfiber sheets are a great option because they are so soft, inexpensive and surprisingly durable. You can get them so inexpensively on Amazon. I have a whole post all about sheets here if you want to know more about other sheet materials, the deal with thread count, etc. The bottom line is that you’ll want something inexpensive, durable, and soft. If it fits those criteria, you’ll be golden. No need to overthink it.
Comforter, Duvet or Quilt for Airbnb?
The ultimate debate! Should you use a comforter, duvet, or quilt for your top bedding layer? Oh the choices. There are pros and cons to each, so let’s talk about them!
Comforter
Pros: Comforters can come in really cute prints and designs. They’re also so easy because you throw them right on the bed and they effortlessly make your bed look fluffy, cozy, and beautiful. They also often come with shams, which is a nice plus.
Cons: In general, comforters are tough to work with because you’ll be hard pressed to find one that washes well. And since you’re going to be washing them quite frequently, this is a huge issue. With that said, it’s not impossible to find one that washes well. I personally have had great luck with this set from Target.
Duvet:
Pros: I’d rank duvets highest on the scale of coziness- 10 out of 10. They just look and feel amazing. The duvet option is great because you simply remove the duvet cover each time to wash it, saving you (or your cleaner) from having to stuff a whole big comforter in the wash. Another plus is that you can easily change out the cover for a new look at any time.
Cons: As far as cleanliness goes, one thing that bothers me about the duvet set is that fluids, oils, and smells can hypothetically seep through the cover onto the duvet insert, leaving you needing to wash the whole set on a frequent basis.
Quilt:
Pros: Quilts are super durable and can withstand heavy washing. This means they’ll stay looking great for years and years.
Cons: What I don’t like about quilts is that they’re just not as cozy looking as the other two options. Sure, you can throw on a textured throw blanket to help layer up your bed, but at the end of the day, it’s hard to get that same fluffy and inviting look you’ll get with a duvet or comforter. Secondly, you won’t get the same level of warmth with a quilt, so again, you’ll need to think about adding extra blankets to help address that.
Where to Buy Bedding for Airbnb
Tip #4–The next of my Airbnb bedding tips is that to shop where I know I can get the same exact thing again should I need to replace it. Uniformity and consistency is important to me since I have 10 listings to manage. By not switching up bedding on my cleaners, they become confident working with the same consistent linens and know the ins and outs of how to care for them.
Tip #5–Here are some of the places I find the best bedding for my Airbnbs:
Target
I love Target for their quilt options. I’ve done a ton of shopping around and love this quilt for durability, comfort, and style. I use it in several of my listings. I’ve also bought comforters and duvet inserts at Target that have washed really, really well. Finally, just have to add that although I don’t use them at my STRs (too expensive)—some of my absolute favorite sheets that I use on my bed at home are these ones by their Casaluna brand.
Amazon
My favorite mattress and pillow protectors come from Amazon. The pillow protectors in particular were life-changing! They’ve made my pillows last way longer than they would if I hadn’t used them. I also get all my sheets on Amazon and I wrote a whole post on bed sheets and why I like this particular set. I’ve been using these sheets for years and they haven’t failed me yet.
H&M Home
I had never purchased anything from H&M Home before until another blogger tipped me off to their linen duvet cover. It’s absolutely gorgeous and by far my favorite bedding piece I’ve used!
Conclusion:
Getting your bedding right is essential not only to your cleaning and maintenance operation, but also for providing the best guest experience possible. I hope you found these Airbnb bedding tips helpful!
For more helpful tips, check out these other posts:
The Absolute Best Place to Buy Furniture for Airbnb: Top 5 Picks
The Ultimate Airbnb Cleaning Checklist Template Your Cleaners Will Live By w/ FREE Editable Template
9 Best Tips for New Airbnb Hosts to have a Successful Short Term Rental
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