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When setting up your new Airbnb rental property, it’s tempting to want to fill the space with personal touches, themed decor, and convenience items. But sometimes, less is more. Certain Airbnb extras — even well-intentioned ones — can create safety issues, frustrate guests, or lead to poor reviews.
As an Airbnb host, your goal is to make guests feel safe, comfortable, and cared for while protecting your property from unnecessary risks. You also want to keep things simple and as intuitive as possible. Keep it simple, stupid is a principle that should be front of mind when setting up your new Airbnb property. This means to avoid unnecessary complexity, and that often the best solution is the most straightforward.
Things To Avoid In Your Airbnb Rental Property
In a recent Airbnb hosting blog post, I shared all of the items that I make sure to buy multiples of when setting up a new Airbnb rental property. But today, I want to share some things that you likely will want to avoid. These are items that you will never see in my popular Airbnb Buying Guides, and that is intentional.
So, without further ado, here are nine things you should never have in your Airbnb rental property, plus what to do instead. Remember that each Airbnb is different, and there are a few situations where an item may be somewhat necessary. But I encourage you to think long and hard before including these items in your new Airbnb property. Is there a better option?
#1 Candles and Lighters
Candles might look inviting, but they’re one of the biggest fire hazards in any short-term rental. Guests may forget to blow them out or place them too close to fabric, curtains, or furniture. Even a small candle accident can cause serious damage or trigger your smoke alarms.
I also don’t think a lighter is necessary (or a good idea) unless you have an outdoor fire pit that requires one. In that case, consider keeping it in a secure box near the fire supplies.
Better Option: I could recommend flameless, battery, or USB-operated LED candles, but honestly, they’re just one more thing to clean and manage. Why do most people use candles? To mask smells. So, consider offering some order neutralizer under the sinks in your bathroom and kitchen. You can opt for something neutral, like Ozium Air Sanitizer or a standard Febreze or Lysol air freshener. Or do both. Only some guests will want these, but those guests will appreciate this!
In this section, I am only referring to products that your guests will use as needed during their stay. In #5, I will share best practices and options for your cleaners and turnovers between guests.
You may enjoy this related post: Safety And Emergency Preparedness For Your Airbnb
#2 Large or Powerful Speakers
Unless your rental is on private land or far away from neighbors, large Bluetooth or surround-sound speakers are generally a bad idea. They encourage loud music, parties, and noise complaints, all of which can upset your neighbors, especially if brought outside.
Better Option: If you cater to events or have something like a bridal suite, it’s okay to provide a modest Bluetooth speaker like the JBL Go 3. However, please note that it has the potential to walk away and have a backup on hand if you are listing this as an amenity. You can also just rely on your Airbnb smart TV for music streaming. You can even use a sound bar type setup if it’s user-friendly and doesn’t require multiple controls.
Keeping sound levels in check helps maintain good relationships with your community, which is especially important if you are located in an area where neighbors aren’t enthusiastic about Airbnbs.
#3 Complicated Thermostats or Remotes
Technology should make your guest experience easier, not confusing. Overly complicated thermostats, smart home systems, or multi-function remotes often lead to frustration and late-night messages like, “How do I turn on the TV?”
Better Option: Use simple, clearly labeled remotes and thermostats that anyone can figure out. I always recommend using Roku Smart TVs because you can control everything with one universal and easy-to-replace remote. Add any necessary or helpful instructions to your Airbnb House Manual. A smooth, stress-free setup means fewer questions and happier guests at your Airbnb rental property.
#4 Fragile Knick-Knacks or Decor That’s Not Kid-Friendly
Small decorations, glass figurines, and delicate artwork may look charming, but they’re magnets for dust, clutter, and breakage. Guests with children (or even adults who are unpacking and rearranging )could easily knock things over. You will also notice that parents traveling with children will collect and move knick-knacks or anything breakable within minutes of arrival, often putting things back in the wrong place, if at all.
Better Option: Stick to clean, simple decor that’s durable, wipeable, and easy to replace. Keep surfaces empty with the exception of lamps, trays, and maybe a few tasteful and easy-to-clean decorations.
Minimalism not only looks clean and modern — it also speeds up cleaning and guest turnover. A clutter-free space photographs beautifully, too, which helps your Airbnb rental property stand out online.
RELATED POST: How To Make Your Airbnb Baby Friendly
#5 Strong Scented Plug-Ins or Air Fresheners
While it might seem like a good idea to make your property smell “extra clean,” strong scents can easily backfire. Many guests are sensitive to fragrances, and heavy plug-ins or sprays can cause allergic reactions or headaches.
Better Option: Keep your Airbnb rental property smelling fresh the natural way — through frequent cleanings, opening windows, and using an air purifier between guests when needed. Remember, “clean” doesn’t have a scent! And, most guests don’t want the extra noise of a portable air purifier during their stay. So, while you can have it available, I would limit its use to the time between guests.
TIP: Consider purchasing an Ozone Generator to have on hand for your cleaners. This comes in handy when they arrive to pet smells or lingering kitchen smells from meals.
#6 Personal Belongings
Guests don’t want to feel like they’re intruding in someone else’s home. Leaving personal items — clothes in the closet, toiletries in the bathroom, or family photos on display — makes the space feel less professional and less private.
Better Option: Remove personal belongings or lock them in the owner’s closet. Keep decor neutral, clean, and welcoming so guests feel like your Airbnb rental property was designed just for them. Similar to many hotels, use your destination to add a personal touch, including artwork from the local area.
#7 Old or Leftover Food
Leftover condiments, pantry snacks, or half-used oatmeal and coffee containers might seem thoughtful, but they make the kitchen feel messy and can attract pests. Most of your future Airbnb guests want a clean slate when they arrive. Of course, your arrival set of k-cups, coffee, etc, is necessary, but those are for individual use and restocked between guests.
The one exception is that I think you should have salt, pepper, and cooking spray in every kitchen. Read more in my big Airbnb Kitchen Guide!
Better Option: Start every stay with a spotless, empty refrigerator and pantry. Depending on the size of your kitchen and the likelihood that people will cook, add necessary extras. A nice seasoning set that you or your property managers can replenish as needed is better than a mix of random half-used spices in cabinets. You may also want to include olive oil and coffee filters. For condiments, I recommend single-use condiment packets kept in a clear container, and over-half-used condiments kept in the refrigerator.
As part of my departure checklist, I ask guests to remove all opened food and perishables. Unopened non-perishable food, along with zip-lock bags, extra coffee, etc., can be left in the borrow baskets. This gives them a place to put extras but keeps your kitchen cabinets, pantry, and counters feeling clean and fresh. These are great additionals in all Airbnb properties!
Read all about my Airbnb Borrow Basket concept in my Airbnb essentials blog post!
#8 Interior Cameras
This one’s a non-negotiable at Airbnb rental properties. Cameras inside your rental or pointing toward the inside of your Airbnb rental property are a huge privacy violation and against Airbnb policy. Even if you only intend to monitor security or cleaning staff, indoor cameras make guests extremely uncomfortable — and can result in your listing being suspended.
Better Option: Outdoor cameras facing entryways are fine, as long as they’re disclosed in your Airbnb listing. Transparency builds trust and keeps your Airbnb rental property compliant with Airbnb’s safety policies.
#9 Decorative Bed Pillows & Excess Blankets
It’s important for the beds in your Airbnb to feel clean and inviting. The bedding should be fresh and feel like a hotel. For that reason, decorative bed pillows, unless they are shams that you wash between every guest, are a bad idea. I do have a couple of throw pillows on our couches in the living room, but I make sure to use easy-to-wash pillow covers and have backups on hand for my cleaners to swap out.
I also do not like excess blankets. In my post about whether or not to have blankets in your Airbnb rental property, I discuss the pros and cons. On one side, they can be nice and cozy. But they are often not washed between guests, and a guest finding a hair, stain, or smell on them could be an unpleasant pain point.
Better Option: Purchase easy-to-wash throw blankets and limit them to one or maybe two. Communicate with your cleaners that you want these washed between guests and provide extras so that they have ample to swap out and launder. For the pillows, limit it to one set on each couch and buy easy-to-clean pillow covers.
Keeping Your Airbnb Rental Property Simple, Safe & Sanitary
When it comes to hosting, less clutter equals fewer problems. A clean, simple, and safe Airbnb rental property helps prevent accidents, reduces maintenance, and makes your guests feel at ease. You want your Airbnb guests to feel at home and provide instructions and answers to questions in advance. Avoid anything overcomplicated and dangerous in your rentals, and you want to protect your Airbnb investment as best as possible. If you have time, read my blog post called Protecting Your 3 Ps: Property, Profits, and Peace, which is at the core of my Airbnb hosting strategy!
By avoiding these nine items and replacing them with safer, more functional alternatives, you’ll create an Airbnb rental property that’s not only beautiful but also easy to manage and maintain. The result? Happier guests, smoother turnovers, and more five-star reviews. This, in turn, results in more of the same, which increases your short term rental income, which is the main goal for me!
What Should You Have In Your Airbnb Rental Property?
In this post, I highlighted some things NOT to have in your Airbnb, but there are a whole bunch of things that you do want to include! My popular Airbnb Buying Guides are a great place to start if you are setting up a new Airbnb rental property. They are detail-oriented and based on my first-hand experience. I also have a number of curated Airbnb shopping lists available on my Amazon storefront for even more inspiration.
More Tips For New Airbnb Hosts
Depending on where you are in your Airbnb hosting journey, I have countless blog posts about everything from where to buy your first Airbnb to how to deal with late check-out requests. To help you navigate my content, you can start with my FREE 5-Star Airbnb Hosting Guide, which is organized by topic.
Or, just view all Airbnb Hosting blog posts!
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