How Much Does It Actually Cost to Furnish an Airbnb?

Short answer?

More than people think.

And usually in the wrong places.

Most people go in thinking they’ll spend 10–15k and be done. Then they realise halfway through they’ve blown the budget, and the place still doesn’t look right and is still so empty. Spoiler alert, they spent it all in all the wrong places and didn't maximise their budget.

Because furnishing an Airbnb isn’t just buying furniture.

It’s building something that photographs well, feels good in person, and actually competes with other listings.

That’s where the cost creeps in.

Rough numbers (so you don’t waste your time)

For a standard setup:

1 bedroom apartment $10K – $20K

2 bedroom $15K – $40K

3 bedroom house $35K – $50K+

That’s a realistic range if you want it to perform, not just exist.

Could you do it cheaper? Yeah.

Will it book as well? Usually not.

Where the money actually goes

People think it’s big items like sofas and beds.

It’s not.

It’s everything else.

• rugs

• artwork

• lamps

• cushions

• linen

• styling pieces

• kitchen setup

• outdoor touches

All the stuff that makes the place feel finished.

Individually it doesn’t seem like much.

Together it’s half your budget.

Where people get it wrong

This is where money gets wasted.

1. They buy everything retail - Full price, random stores, no consistency. It adds up fast and still ends up looking mismatched.

2. They go too cheap on key pieces - A bad sofa or bed kills the whole space. Doesn’t matter what you style around it.

3. They underdo it - They stop early to “save money”, and the place ends up looking empty and flat.

That costs more long-term in lost bookings.

4. No plan - They just start buying random shit. No layout, no direction, no thought about photos.

That’s how you end up re-buying half of it.

Why some Airbnbs charge more (and get it)

It’s not luck.

It’s how the place presents.

Better styled properties:

• photograph better

• stand out instantly

• feel more premium

Which means they can charge more per night and stay booked.

Even a small lift in nightly rate adds up fast over a year.

Doing it yourself vs doing it properly through a company like Haus of Gray

You can furnish it yourself.

A lot of people do.

But what usually happens is:

• it takes way longer than expected

• costs creep past the original budget

• and the end result is… fine

Not bad. Just not strong.

The difference with doing it properly is intention.

Everything works together. The layout makes sense. The photos actually sell the space.

That’s the part most people don’t see until it’s too late.

Where we come in (and why it can actually cost less)

This isn’t about “designer furniture” or blowing budgets.

It’s about doing it efficiently.

Because we:

• plan the whole space upfront

• know what actually matters in photos

• and source through trade accounts*

That last part is what people underestimate.

*Access to trade pricing means:

• better quality pieces for the same budget

• or the same look for less

And no wasted spend on things that don’t work.

The real question

It’s not just “what does it cost to furnish an Airbnb?”

It’s: What does it cost to do it twice?

Because that’s what happens when people rush it, guess their way through, and end up reworking the space later.

Final thought

You don’t need to spend a fortune.

But you do need to spend with intention.

Because on Airbnb, how it looks is how it performs.

And that’s what actually makes you your money back.

And if you want to save money through our trade pricing, send us a message below!

DM us for help with your Airbnb!