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Whether you’re furnishing your first Airbnb or replacing a well-loved sofa after years of Airbnb hosting, choosing the right Airbnb couch can make a big difference. It’s one of the most-used pieces of furniture in any vacation rental, so it needs to look great, feel comfortable, and withstand frequent use. In this post, I am sharing my first-hand tips for choosing the best couches for Airbnb rentals!
As a seasoned Airbnb host, I’ve learned that the best couch isn’t necessarily the most expensive one. It’s the one that gives guests a comfortable place to relax while being easy to clean, durable enough for short-term rentals, and affordable to replace if needed.
You wouldn’t believe it, but I’m actually shopping for a replacement Airbnb couch right now after a guest somehow left bright white bleach stains all over one of ours. We don’t even keep bleach in the rental!
In this short-term rental guide, I’ll share what I look for when shopping for an Airbnb couch, why Ashley Furniture is one of my favorite places to browse, and a few recommendations to help you furnish your vacation rental.
Short on time? Browse some of the best Airbnb couches here!
Best Couches for Airbnb Rentals
Buying a couch for an Airbnb is different than buying one for your own living room. In a vacation rental, your sofa may be used by hundreds of guests each year, so it has to withstand far more wear and tear than the average household couch.
And, I hate to break this to you, but many Airbnb guests won’t care for your sofa the same way you would at home!
RELATED POST: 8 Honest Truths About Airbnb Hosting
What I Look for When Choosing an Airbnb Couch
After hosting thousands of guests and frequently staying at Airbnbs when we travel, I’ve found that the best Airbnb couches all have a few things in common. While style is important, comfort and durability matter just as much.
Guests want a comfortable place to relax after a day of exploring, and hosts want furniture that’s easy to clean and built to last.
When I’m shopping for an Airbnb couch, I focus on finding the right balance of:
- Durability
- Comfort
- Easy maintenance
- Timeless style
- Good value
A quality Airbnb couch may cost a little more upfront, but it can last for years, earn better guest reviews, and save you money by reducing the need for repairs and replacements.
So let’s look a little deeper into the characteristics you should look for when shopping for rental property couches!
Durable Couch Fabrics That Hold Up to Guests
Your couch will likely see everything from sandy and wet swimsuits to spilled coffee and messy little toddler fingers. So, fabric choice matters. I prefer materials that are durable, stain-resistant, and easy to clean.
Look for:
- Performance fabrics
- Polyester blends
- Microfiber
- Easy-clean upholstery
I generally recommend avoiding delicate linen, boucle, velvet, or other fabrics that can stain easily or show wear quickly. You want to be able to use an upholstery cleaner on them frequently without issue.
TIP: I always keep a bottle of Folex under the kitchen sink so guests can clean up upholstery messes right away. This stuff works so well!
Comfortable Couch Cushions Guests Actually Enjoy
Most Airbnb guests spend a lot of time in the living room, especially families after a day at the beach or sightseeing. A couch should be comfortable enough for movie nights, morning coffee, or simply relaxing after a long day of travel.
I look for:
- Medium-firm cushions
- Supportive back cushions
- Comfortable seat depth
- Plenty of seating space
A stylish couch doesn’t do much good if guests don’t enjoy sitting on it!
And be mindful of your occupancy. If your rental property sleeps eight people, you will likely need two full-size Airbnb couches or an oversized sectional. Whenever possible, try to offer as much seating as your Airbnb living room allows. This is the same strategy I use when choosing a dining table set for rentals.
Neutral Sofa Colors That Hide Everyday Wear
Neutral colors tend to have the broadest appeal and hold up better over time. They also do a better job hiding everyday dirt and minor stains between cleanings.
Some of my favorite colors include:
- Gray
- Beige
- Taupe
- Navy
I usually avoid bright white unless you’re willing to do extra maintenance. Between sunscreen, snacks, kids, and the occasional pet, lighter fabrics can require much more attention.
I know there are some coastal-style vacation rentals where people like to use white Airbnb sofas with slipcovers that they can rotate and launder. This would be the only exception here!
Choosing the Right Size Sofa for Your Rental
Before you start shopping for an Airbnb sofa, measure your room carefully. A couch that’s too large can make even a beautiful living room feel cramped. And, as I mentioned above, if you have a large home with an oversized living room, you will likely need at least two Airbnb sofas.
Keep these tips in mind:
- Measure before ordering
- Leave room to walk comfortably
- Match the couch to the room size
- Think about traffic flow.
For smaller condos like our one-bedroom units, a standard sofa or apartment-sized couch is often a better fit than an oversized sectional. A well-proportioned room usually feels more inviting than one packed with furniture.
You also need to be mindful of whether people will be sleeping in the living area of your rental. If you choose to offer sleeper sofas, make sure they fully open, that there is enough room to move your Airbnb coffee table, and that the coffee table is lightweight.
I have another post all about choosing between Airbnb sleeper sofas and rollaway beds and why more heads-in-beds is not always better at an Airbnb!
Why I Like Shopping for Airbnb Couches at Ashley Furniture
Over the years, I’ve purchased several couches from Ashley Furniture for our own home, and if I were furnishing another Airbnb today, it’s one of the first places I’d shop. They have one of the best combinations of selection, value, and customer reviews, making it easy to find something that fits both your style and your budget.
While there are plenty of great furniture stores, Ashley consistently offers one of the best combinations of price, selection, and value for Airbnb hosts.
Click here to browse the sofas at Ashley Furniture!
Budget-Friendly Without Looking Cheap
One of the biggest reasons I like Ashley Furniture is that it offers a nice balance between quality and price. Vacation rentals can be expensive to furnish!
And I find that Ashley Furniture offers great couches for Airbnb rentals options across a variety of price points without sacrificing style and quality.
Huge Selection for Every Style
Every Airbnb has its own personality, and Ashley carries furniture to match just about every one. Whether you’re decorating a bright beach condo, rustic mountain cabin, or modern city apartment, there are plenty of Airbnb sofa options to fit your space.
I also appreciate that many of their sofas come in neutral colors that appeal to the widest range of guests!
Helpful Customer Reviews
When shopping online, I rely heavily on customer reviews. Ashley Furniture has hundreds (sometimes thousands) of reviews on many of its sofas, making it much easier to compare comfort, durability, and overall satisfaction.
I especially like reading recent reviews and looking through customer photos. They often provide a much better idea of how a couch looks in a real home than staged product images do.
Frequent Sales and Great Value
Ashley Furniture runs sales throughout the year, especially around major holidays, which can make an already affordable couch an even better value. If you’re furnishing an Airbnb on a budget, it’s worth keeping an eye out for seasonal promotions and clearance events.
When you get a great deal on a neutral Airbnb couch, you can often coordinate the rest of your Airbnb living room furniture and decor at places like HomeGoods, TJ Maxx, and Amazon without spending as much as you would at many higher-end retailers.
QUICK LINK: Shop my Big Airbnb Accent Furniture & Decor List on Amazon
Easy to Replace As Needed
One thing many hosts don’t think about is what happens a few years down the road. If a couch is damaged beyond repair or simply wears out, it’s much easier when you can find a similar piece of furniture at Ashley. This is helpful if you don’t have the time or budget to take new listing photos!
Types of Couches for Airbnb Rentals
As I said earlier, the best Airbnb couches for your rental property will depend on your property’s size, occupancy, and often location.
Here are the three main sofa styles you will likely be considering. In each section, I will include several of my favorite Ashley Furniture couches for that specific type!
I personally do not recommend reclining couches for Airbnb rentals. It’s just one more thing that can break! My motto is always to keep things simple and to minimize Airbnb hosting pain points whenever possible.
Browse all Ashley Furniture sofas here!
I love that Ashley Furniture lets you filter by size, color, fabric, price, customer rating, and delivery availability, which makes narrowing down hundreds of options much easier.
Standard Airbnb Sofas
A standard three-seat sofa is the best choice for most Airbnb rentals. It’s comfortable, easy to style, and fits well in everything from condos to larger vacation homes. Here are some great options:
Sleeper Sofas
Sleeper sofas are a great way to add extra sleeping space without taking up another bedroom. They’re especially popular in family-friendly rentals, but they do require more room and regular maintenance.
If you’re considering one, be sure to read my Guide for buying Airbnb Sleeper Sofas.
Here are some Ashley Furniture sleeper sofas for your Airbnb rental:
- Storrow Sleeper Sofa
- Cashton Sleeper Sofa
- Rannis Sleeper Sofa
- Stonemeade Sleeper Sofa
- Altari Sleeper Sofa
Sectional Sofas
Sectionals work well in larger homes where guests spend a lot of time together. They maximize seating, create a cozy gathering space, and are perfect for movie nights or family vacations.
Make sure the room is large enough so the sectional doesn’t overwhelm the space. And I find that sectionals often see more wear and tear, mainly because they are super comfortable and people can end up sleeping on them. So, just make sure they are easy to clean and avoid specialty fabrics!
Here are some of my favorite Airbnb sectionals at Ashley Furniture:
Best Upholstery & Couch Cleaning Tools for Airbnb Hosts
No matter how durable your Airbnb couch is, it’s eventually going to need a little extra attention. Between spilled drinks, sunscreen, sandy swimsuits, and everyday wear, upholstery cleaning is simply part of hosting.
I always keep a few cleaning tools on hand so I can tackle stains quickly and help my furniture last as long as possible. Matt and I spot clean the couches in our Airbnbs every time we are there!
RELATED POST: Deep Cleaning & Maintaining Your Airbnbs
My Favorite Airbnb Upholstery Cleaners
If I could recommend just one upholstery cleaning tool for Airbnb hosts, it would be the Bissell Little Green. It’s one of my most-used cleaning tools because it’s portable, easy to store, and does an amazing job removing stains from couches, chairs, rugs, and even car interiors.
Be sure to check out my full guide to the Bissell Little Green to see why I recommend it for every Airbnb host.
There are also several other similar models that work really well, too! So, check out the list below and see if you can find a great deal on one of these popular upholstery cleaners.
Other Airbnb Couch Cleaning Tools I Recommend
Having the right cleaning supplies makes turnovers much easier and can significantly extend the life of your Airbnb furniture. A few minutes spent treating a stain today can save you from having to replace an expensive couch later.
So, in addition to the main upholstery cleaner, which I keep in my locked cleaner’s closet, I also recommend keeping the following extras on hand in your Airbnb.
More Airbnb Furniture & Shopping Guides
Furnishing an Airbnb is about much more than choosing the right couch. If you’re updating your vacation rental or setting up a new Airbnb, here are a few more shopping guides that can help you create a comfortable, guest-friendly space.
And you can always browse all of my Airbnb hosting content to help set yourself up for success!
- Airbnb Coffee Tables
- Airbnb Curtains
- Airbnb Furniture
- Airbnb Mattress Protectors
- Airbnb Kitchen Checklist
- Airbnb Bedding Guide
- Airbnb Mattress Post
- Airbnb Closet Extras
And make sure to check out my Airbnb Setup Checklist for everything you will need for your short-term rental property.
You would be surprised at the items most hosts forget, and you will want to make sure to buy multiples of the items that need to be replaced the most often.
And I invite you to join my private Airbnb hosting group on Facebook for even more firsthand Airbnb hosting insights, answers to frequently asked Airbnb hosting questions, and a place to connect with other like-minded Airbnb hosts!
Pin These Couches for Airbnb Rentals for Later
