If you’ve got a small apartment you’re furnishing for a short-term rental and you’re on the hunt for Studio Airbnb ideas, check out these great tips for providing a really lovely & optimal small space for your guests.
Airbnbs come in all shapes and sizes, and one of my favorites is the studio apartment. Small just has a charm to it, and when you’re traveling, a small space is all you really need- hence the traditional hotel room model!
And lucky for us as hosts, furnishing a studio apartment can be just about as simple-and budget-friendly-as it gets! But no worries, you don’t have to lack on the creative side. A studio apartment Airbnb can provide just as fun an experience for guests as any other type of place.
Studio apartments have been my absolute favorite to design as a short-term rental host & designer. And I’ll let you in on a secret too- they’re my most profitable listings as well!
So in this post I’ll be sharing some small Airbnb ideas I LOVE. Hope these small studio Airbnb ideas give you just the inspiration you need when designing your next short-term rental! And P.S. Read to the end for some encouraging numbers on how one of my studio apartments performed last year!
This post is all about studio Airbnb ideas.
1. Stack Seating in Front of the Bed
I never would have thought to stack seating in front of a bed until seeing this gorgeous space on Instagram, but I just LOVE this setup! The adorable settee not only brings in some vibrant color, but it also is just the perfect size to place at the end of the bed. That way, you can place a TV opposite the bed/chair setup and have the option to lounge and watch from the bed or from the loveseat.
CLICK HERE TO SHOP SIMILAR LOVESEAT AT WAYFAIR
2. Go for Tiny Appliances
CLICK HERE TO SHOP MID-SIZE FRIDGE ON AMAZON
CLICK HERE TO SHOP KEURIG MINI ON AMAZON
I love the idea of tiny everything in a tiny space. One of my favorite ways to achieve that feeling is by getting a small apartment-sized fridge. While guests may do some light cooking at your Airbnb, they realistically will only need to store a few items in your fridge during a short stay. An apartment-size fridge will do just the trick. Plus, they’re just so darn cute!
Another favorite tiny appliance I use across many of my listings is the mini-keurig. It comes in a ton of really fun colors and it is so sleek and slim that it can fit into even the tightest of spaces!
3. Double a Dresser for a TV Stand
In a small space, whatever you can make multi-functional- do it! This gorgeous solid wood dresser brings so much charm to the space, gives guests storage for theirs clothes, AND it functions as a TV stand.
The best part is, you can probably get a dresser like this fairly inexpensively secondhand. I find some of my best pieces secondhand, especially when it comes to dressers.
Related: The Absolute Best Place to Buy Furniture for Airbnb: Top 5 Picks
4. Get a Murphy Bed
CLICK HERE TO SHOP MURPHY BED AT WAYFAIR
A murphy bed can be a really great option if you’re working with a super tight space and you don’t want to sacrifice on providing a workspace, a dining area, place to workout, etc. They can be a little bit of an investment, but a great one if its right for your space! A murphy bed is also just kind of a fun novelty thing for some reason. And remember, that’s why guests choose Airbnb over a hotel. Its the experience they’re after!
5. Feature Bunk Beds
Lykke Living also offers property management & interior design services.
Instagram:@lykke_living
And since we’re talking about unique experiences when it comes to beds, why not consider bunk beds in your Studio apartment like this short-term rental host did! This stylish and modern bunk bed is SO fun and pulled off in such a way that would make any full-grown adult giddy about sleeping in- without giving kids room vibes.
The great thing about this idea is that it appeals to guests who are traveling with a friend, family member, or child but want separate beds to sleep in.
6. Make a DIY Room Divider
What a way to transform a tiny space and provide such a mood! This room divider is just gorgeous and gives just a little bit of separation between spaces in this studio apartment. While it might not be totally necessary to break up your space this way, its just a really cool and unique feature guests will love. Plus it can provide some privacy for guests staying together who might not go to bed at the same time.
7. Provide a Rolling Kitchen Island for Extra Prep Space
CLICK HERE TO SHOP KITCHEN CART ON AMAZON
This one’s just a great feature for those guests who like to cook. Its no fun cooking in a space with barely any counter space. A rolling kitchen cart just gives that extra bit of surface for prepping food-or really for anything. You can’t hurt with more surface space.
This kitchen cart form Amazon is super inexpensive but sturdy and provides a good amount of surface. I also love how neutral it is and have used it several times across a few of my listings.
8. Create a Tiny Dining Area
CLICK HERE TO SHOP DINING TABLE ON AMAZON
CLICK HERE TO SHOP DINING CHAIRS AT TARGET
I’ve got to say, I think my favorite part of this space are these mustard dining chairs. They just provide the perfect opportunity to bring in a fun accent color to an otherwise neutral space. They’re also super comfortable and sturdy and look so cute paired with this tiny cafe table.
9. Create an Entryway Space with Hooks for Belongings
Wall hooks have got to be the most under-rated amenity out there. Whether for creating an entryway space in your studio apartment, extra towel hooks in the bathroom, or hooks for a robe or jacket in the bedroom area, hooks can be decorative and cute but also SO functional from a guest’s perspective.
10. Have a Floor Mirror
CLICK HERE TO SHOP SIMILAR FLOOR MIRROR ON AMAZON
And last, but not least- another under-rated amenity in my book is the floor mirror! Outfit checks are SUPER important, so don’t miss this! Especially in a small studio apartment with a tiny bathroom, having a floor mirror gives guests an extra space to get ready and give a last glance at themselves before heading on their way. And another plus- mirrors give the appearance of a larger space, and they just look so stinkin’ good.
FAQ:
Do studios do well on Airbnb?
In my experience- yes! When comparing our profits on our studio listings vs 1 bedrooms, vs 3 bedrooms in our market, we found the studios to perform better by far than our other listings!
When we did a little deep dive into why that might be the case, we realized that most people in our market tend to travel as a couple or by themselves. They are not coming with large groups. Therefore, they just need a small space with one bed.
We were around the same nightly rate on a studio apartment as we were able to get for the 3 bedroom apartment, PLUS expenses are way less to run the studio. Cleaning is less than half of what we’d pay for the 3 bedroom, utilities were less, and insurance was less.
We ended up getting out of the 3 bedroom unit for this reason. Moral of the story- know your market!
How much can a studio make on Airbnb?
While its going to depend vastly on your market, I thought it could be useful to share my experience in a suburb area of a metropolitan market in Upstate, NY.
In 2022, we made $27,160 revenue on one studio apartment. That’s an average of $2,263 per month. After all expenses (a “rent” expense paying towards our mortgage, cleanings, repairs, insurance, and other overhead costs), our profit was around $17,425 (~$1,452/month)!
*The only expense not mentioned here is paying off furnishing costs, but we were able to furnish and stock this place almost entirely with things we had on had, so we don’t currently owe anything on this unit.* To learn how we did this read this article about how to furnish an Airbnb on a tight budget!
Conclusion
Hope this post gave you all the inspiration you need to get started furnishing and setting up your Studio apartment Airbnb! For more tips, try reading these articles as well:
The Complete Host’s Guide: How to Decorate Airbnb on a Budget in 9 Easy Steps
Best Airbnb Decor Secrets that Will Get You Bookings and Have Guests Loving Your Place
19 Genius Small Airbnb Ideas Guests Wont Be Able to Resist
New Airbnb Hosts: Click here to setup your host account for the first time!
This post was all about studio Airbnb ideas.
