How To Pick A Couch For Your Airbnb
A long day of work or exploration can easily zap anyone’s energy. Who wouldn’t like to just relax and take stock of the day from the comfort of a comfy couch? You could be in front of a TV binge-watching on your favorite shows or spend some quality time with the rest of the family. Picking out the right couch for your property can be a big decision. Thankfully, our experience should point you in the right direction.
Firstly you have to select what type of couch you need. There are many different options in sizes, shapes, and styles. A couch is a big investment and would take up a big chunk of your furnishing budget. So it would be wise to take your time and look at most options before committing to something.
Size:
Pick out an area in the house where you would like the couch to be. Measure it out and determine the amount of space you have for the couch. Make sure there are enough wide-open passages to move a couch into that marked out space. You will need a media center or a coffee table or another sitting area to go in the same location so leave some space for that too. If there is a corner in the room, consider getting a sectional sofa that fits snugly in the corner. Try to get a couch that can be assembled. That way, you don’t have to try to get a whole unit up the stairs or through a tiny corridor.
Shapes and Styles:
There are many different sofa styles. Pick something that matches your decor. A Sectional Sofa is your best bet for the modern household. Picking a classic style like a Bridgewater would work with most rooms too. Something old and archaic like a Chesterfield will look and feel out of place unless the rest of your decor matches that style. Get something with classic shapes, clean lines, and neutral colors. You can add pillows and blankets and rugs later to match the look of the rest of the property. Couch fillings are important for how comfortable the sitting experience is. Do you want a bouncy couch or something to sink into? Pick between an innerspring core or poly-wrapped foam respectively. A memory foam couch is just overkill since no one will be or rather shouldn’t sleeping on it. If you are catering to families or expect children in your property, get a couch with eight-way hand-tied springs or poly webbing.
Material:
The material of the couch matters. A couch in a shared and often used space should be easy to clean and shouldn’t stain. You are going to have a lot of people with a lot of different levels of carelessness. You need to pick some material that will last. Your options are leather, microfiber or vinyl. We would recommend microfiber because it is easy to clean with water. Leather can scratch easily. Vinyl is not as comfortable. Get a darker color so that even if they stain, it doesn’t show easily.
Recommendations from Amazon:
HONBAY Convertible Sectional Sofa Couch: This one is an Amazon bestseller. It has a modern look with modern linen fabric. It has a reversible chaise lounge so you can mix and match the configurations that you want. The cushions are firm but comfortable. This is a great option for small spaces that need some sitting space.
Lifestyle Solutions KD Rolled-Arm Collection Grayson Micro-Fabric Sofa: This one is made of 100% polyester microfiber material. It has a real wood frame and legs. Wood adjusts to the size and pressure applied to it. It is a great option for long time seating as it comes with high-density foam for the back and the base.
Homelegance Resonance 83″ Bonded Leather Double Reclining Sofa: If you want to spoil your guests with a modern look and feel then this leather reclining sofa is a great addition. If you are providing a media center or a small movie room, this becomes a no-brainer. It has a lever-action reclining mechanism for easy reclining. The bonded leather gives it a premium feel.
Ashley Furniture Signature Design – Larkinhurst Sofa – Contemporary Style Couch: For a traditional room this piece is a great match. It has weathered faux leather with polyester/polyurethane blend upholstery. The neutral earthy tone will fit in with most rooms. It arrives assembled so be sure to check whether you can get this through your doorway.
Precautions to take:
Before spending a lot of money, ask yourself if you really even need a couch in your property. Do you have a dedicated media center? Do you just have a lounging area in the living room for socializing? Can you make do with chairs and or bean bags?
From our experience, as an Airbnb host, your biggest pain points with the couch are going to be people sleeping on them when they are not supposed to and people spilling things on them. This is why a futon just doesn’t make sense for an Airbnb. If you get a futon, people will use it as a bed. They may have extra guests over. If you want to keep a strict policy and maintain a semblance of control on your property then avoid a futon. If the guests bring someone else anyway and are ready to pay the fee for the extra person, then make sure you provide them bedding that can go on the couch. The bedding will protect the couch.
If you are buying online, make sure you check it well on delivery. You can order fabric samples online to get an idea of how the material feels to the touch.
If you are getting a vinyl or leather couch, you should also consider getting a repair kit. Small problems like discolorations, scratches, rips, tears, burn holes and cracks can be fixed with that kit.
As usual, if the couch gets damaged, be sure to ask the guest for compensation. If they are not responsive, escalate it to Airbnb via the resolution center. The money for repairs should come out of the security deposit.
Love,
Scooch and Steve
