Lots of hosts fall prey to the allure of a cheap sofa for their vacation rental. I get it – they’re expensive, and how can you tell if a couch is any good or not? The wrong one will start to look shabby, fast, and cheap is expensive when you have to replace it sooner than you planned. How can you tell if a new sofa for your Airbnb is worth the money?
Never fear; a few key things to look for in a sofa for your Airbnb will ensure it stays comfortable and attractive after many happy guests have cozied up on it. Read on to find out what to look for, what to avoid, and why.
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How to Buy a Non-Terrible Airbnb Sofa
Sofas are the thing I see owners getting wrong most often in their vacation rentals. Last summer, I had the pleasure of traveling quite a bit, and I stayed in vacation rentals throughout Europe and the U.S., many of them quite charming, except for one thing. A thing most of them had in common. A flat-cushioned, uncomfortable Ikea sofa with a blanket tucked over it to cover who-knows-what (I didn’t dare look). Classy, right?
Okay, okay. They’re not all flat-cushioned. Sometimes, they’re brand new, in which case they are rock hard.
Look, I get it. I, too, have been tempted by the allure of an $800 sofa. But now, many couches later, I want to save you the pain of having to replace something you feel like you just bought because it already looks like crap.
And no one is falling for that blanket.
(Okay, then, you’ll get one at Costco. Congratulations. Your listing now looks like 90% of your competitors.)
Not exactly inviting, is it?
Please don’t buy your couch in the same trip as a toilet paper run.
Spend a little money on your sofa, please.
No matter how exciting your location is, chances are your guests will at least end the day relaxing on it. If you can’t afford a new one, look for a good quality used one. After all, if it still looks great after a couple of years, chances are it will hold up for a few more (do your bedbug due diligence, of course.) No, your guests probably won’t write you a bad review if the sofa is garbage but they might not be so eager to rebook if they weren’t comfortable.
What’s the difference between a sofa and a couch? Nothing, but if you say “couch” in interior design school they beat you with a drapery tassel. When I say sofa here, it includes sectionals or loveseats or whatever you need for your particular room.
Make a plan
The best way to spend wisely on any short-term rental furnishings is to start with a plan. In fact, a plan is essential. It doesn’t have to be super specific to brand and model, especially if you are looking for second-hand furniture, but you need guidelines. For expert help with this, consider my Designed DIY package.
What needs to be in your plan:
- Minimum and maximum size
- Color range
- Style (i.e., mid-century, relaxed slipcover, etc.)
- Material (fabric or leather)
Keep these notes with you, maybe on your phone, so that if you run across something that looks perfect, you can double-check your requirements. Better yet, download and fill out our FREE PDF workbook to help you keep it all straight.
Things to Consider in your Search for an Airbnb Sofa.
What’s your style?
Is your property rustic, coastal casual, or luxe? Do you have brand colors that you can incorporate into your decor? Is your vibe formal, family-friendly, playful, or retro? Does your location influence your style? These are all elements that can and should play into your choices.
What size do you need?
What’s your overnight occupancy? That’s the number of people you need to be able to seat in your living room. To figure out how many people a sofa will seat, divide the seat width (inside the armrests) by 22 (for inches) or 50 (for centimeters). Note that this will indicate how many people can fit, but most probably won’t want to sit that close to each other. Measure your room and calculate how big of a sofa will fit, figure out how many that seats, and plan on adding more seating with a second sofa, loveseat, and/or armchairs. Double-check that the size you’re looking for will fit through any tight spaces it will need to, like hallways, stairwells, and doorways.
What’s your location?
How people will use your property will help rule out some materials. For example, if you have a house with a pool, you might want to skip leather as people sitting on it in wet swimsuits will destroy it. (I learned this the hard way, so you don’t have to.) If you’re in a hot climate, skip warm materials like velvet, and if you’ve got a cozy cabin, linen might not be the right choice. You get it.
Once you’ve got your plan in place, here are some things to keep in mind.
These things are a yes for a vacation rental sofa
Performance fabric
With brand names like Crypton®, Fibreguard®, or Revolution® (among others), these fabrics make cleaning the inevitable spills and stains much easier. Sunbrella®, Perennials®, and other outdoor fabrics are also in the performance category, but their primary purpose is to be resistant to UV light. Most have water and stain-repellent properties and can be cleaned with bleach.
Note that non-performance fabrics aren’t off the table. If you find something that’s perfect and is upholstered with fabric, you can either treat it yourself with a stain protector or have it treated by a professional company like Fiber Seal (a national franchise). The benefits of having them do it are that they use high-pressure machines to impregnate the fabric with the stain protector and that the service includes return visits for stain removal, if necessary.
Microfiber
Microfiber is the 100% polyester, slightly fuzzy stuff that every household with kids and dogs is recommended to buy. It is generally very durable and stain-resistant but sometimes can look a little dated, especially in ’90s sage green (I’m not judging; I had one). Also, vacuum cleaners and butts can leave unattractive marks, depending on the color.
Leather
Good quality leather is very durable in homes where wet swimsuits will not soak it. Look for full-grain, top-grain, or embossed grain. Avoid bonded leather, the particle board of hides. Know that “genuine leather” means nothing – it can refer to the bonded stuff, and manufacturers are allowed to make that claim if the material is at least 51% leather bits (what’s the rest?!)
All foam cushions
Foam cushions (vs. spring-down or down plush) are typically high-density foam wrapped with a softer poly material. They are not as soft as down or down alternative cushions, but they keep their shape better, making them a better rental choice.
Spring suspension
The suspension is important for sofa construction because it determines its comfort level and longevity. Two kinds of springs will work for your rental sofa: 8-way hand-tied or sinuous. Most medium-priced furniture these days is constructed with sinuous springs, which work well and tend to last. You may find articles claiming that 8-way hand-tied springs are the only way to go. They can indeed indicate a higher level of construction, as they are more labor-intensive and therefore expensive, but it’s not necessary to look for them for a vacation rental sofa. If you find a secondhand sofa with this type of construction and it meets all your other requirements, go for it. Listen for squeaks or creaks from the springs if you’re sit testing.
These features are a maybe for your rental sofa.
Webbing
The cheapest sofas are often made with a webbing suspension rather than springs. Generally, this type of suspension should only be used for chairs, as it is not durable enough for bigger furniture. But, to make things a little confusing, some higher-end sofas use polypropylene webbing (similar to seatbelt material), which is very durable. So, webbing isn’t an automatic no. If the sofa is new, cheap, and has webbing, it’s a no. If it’s new and medium to expensive and has a warranty on the frame and suspension, it’s probably fine.
Vinyl or polyurethane faux leather
These materials aren’t an automatic “no.” After all, they’re used extensively in heavy-use environments, like restaurants, but the problem is that there are huge variations in quality. Some faux leather is so thin it will tear with the slightest provocation, and a well-placed high heel can puncture almost any vinyl. If you’re considering a faux leather sofa, look for one that’s commercially rated, and be aware that if you’re thinking of a white or light-colored sofa, you may end up with a blue one – blue jean dye loves white fake leather.
Avoid these for your vacation rental sofa.
Futons
Unless you are in Japan, no.
Down
Down or down alternative can make for a super cozy sofa, but it’s best used in your own home, not a vacation rental. It requires constant fluffing and rearranging to look good, and your housekeeper isn’t going to do that.
Slipcovers
Do you know what else your housekeeper isn’t going to do? Remove, wash, and replace slipcovers. Slipcovered furniture is usually more about style than practicality, no matter what you read in the description. Any notion of “easy to clean” will fly out the window as soon as you try to wrestle a slipcover off and back on a sofa. If you’re buying it because you like the look, slip-covered furniture is fine.
Viscose
Viscose (or Rayon) is a fiber made from wood pulp. You probably won’t find 100% viscose upholstery fabric, but it is sometimes included in fabric blends because it’s cheap and lends a silk-like sheen. It is not durable and tends to react badly to spot cleaning, so I recommend avoiding it entirely if possible. This goes for rugs, too.
Bonded leather
Have you ever seen an old “leather” sofa where the material has split and cracked, revealing white backing underneath? That’s bonded leather, and it’s a no-go. You’d be better off with vinyl.
MDF frame
MDF, or particleboard, just isn’t strong enough to hold the glue, staples, and nails required to build a sofa. Look for furniture-grade plywood, engineered hardwood, and solid wood frames instead. If you’re testing out a sofa in person, ensure the frame feels solid and doesn’t sway when sitting on it.
Drop-in or pocket coils
These are cheap coils of the type used in innerspring mattresses. They can squeak and sometimes deform over time, causing a dip in the sofa.
Memory foam
Memory foam should only be used in sofa sleeper mattresses, not sofa cushions. It distorts too much and will make your sofa look saggy.
So, where should you look for the perfect vacation rental sofa?
Second hand sources for furniture
Online
Back in the day, Craigslist was the place to go. I think I furnished half of my vacation rental with Craigslist finds, but sadly, those days seem to be over, as the site is rife with scammers. It doesn’t hurt to look, though. These days, I check Facebook Marketplace, Nextdoor, and apps like OfferUp and LetGo first.
Vintage and consignment shops
Your mileage with these will vary based on your location (and patience).
Flea Markets
Same as with vintage and consignment shops, skip this if you don’t have the patience for them.
Chairish
I love this site for good quality vintage and secondhand finds. It’s not the cheapest, but you don’t have to sort through a lot of garbage. Start by searching locally first, as shipping is possible but very expensive for large items. It can be a good place to find floor models.
Where to buy new furniture
Brick and mortar
There are lots of great stores out there, and of course, you might want to go somewhere where you can sit on the furniture. Just look for the construction I described above, and get as much information as you can from the salesperson. If you can find reviews before you buy, even better. It’s so easy to be tempted by something that looks great in the store, especially if it’s on sale, but a lot of good-looking furniture just isn’t made to last, even if it’s marketed as high-end.
A couple of retailers that have a good reputation for construction in the design world are Crate and Barrel and Basset, and they both have styles you can order in performance fabrics.
Online
There are so many online furniture retailers now that keeping track is hard. One of my favorites is Maiden Home, which is handmade in North Carolina. I recently used several of their pieces for a whole home remodeling project and was very pleased with the quality. Another that gets good buzz is Article, but they do not offer performance fabrics. Two others that have a good reputation are Benchmade Modern, which, like Maiden Home, offers customizable sizes, and Flloyd, which uses steel frames. For any online furniture, be sure to get swatches first and double-check the fabrics’ fiber content and durability rating.
Yup, it’s really called a double-rub test.
If you’re looking at upholstery fabrics, you might see something called a double-rub rating. This mechanical test is exactly what it sounds like – a machine tests how many times you can abrade a fabric until it wears out. Even in a vacation rental, this test is less important than in a commercial setting, as you are unlikely to get hundreds of butts on your sofa in a week. Despite what a salesperson may tell you, anything over 15,000 is considered heavy-duty for residential use and will be fine.
Did you find a great score on your vacation rental sofa? Mad that I insulted your Swedish furniture? Post a comment below!
3 Comments
Thankful for the illuminating guide on ‘How To Buy the Best Sofa for Your Vacation Rental.’ Your expert tips simplify the decision-making process, ensuring vacation rental hosts make the right choice for comfort and style. Grateful for the valuable insights!
Your opt in is totally covering your text. I opted in just to get rid of it but still there! Just thought you might like to know.
Thanks for letting me know, Karen. I’ll look into it.