If we were to put together a list of Airbnb guests’ top priorities, the sleeping experience would definitely be at the top. Whether they’re taking a long vacation or renting the apartment for a few nights, guests want a good night’s sleep—and you need quality bedding to make that happen.
To provide your guests with the highest level of comfort (that they’ll rave about in reviews), you need the best bedding for Airbnb. Since there is so much to think about when buying bedding (the material, the color, the maintenance, the price, etc.), we’ve decided to create this ultimate guide for the best bedding for vacation rentals.
Recipe for an Amazing Airbnb Bed
What do you need to make your Airbnb bed? Let’s review the bedroom essentials from bottom to top—you can even use this list as a vacation rental bedroom checklist:
Bed Frame – Depending on the size of the bedroom, you can opt for a full-, queen-, or king-size bed frame. The best choice for Airbnb is a durable and sturdy frame, such as this ZINUS SmartBase Heavy Duty 14-Inch Metal Platform Bed Frame. If you want to increase your rental’s sleeping capacity but you don’t have much space, bunk beds are a clever option. Our favorite bunk bed is the Harper & Bright Designs Twin Over Full Bunk Beds.
Mattress – A soft but supportive mattress is essential for quality sleep, which is why our top pick for short-term rentals is the Sweet Night Twilight Hybrid Mattress.
Mattress Topper – If you don’t want to invest in a new mattress, but you do want to improve your guests’ sleeping comfort, we suggest getting a quality and affordable mattress topper, such as the LUCID 2-Inch Zoned Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper.
Mattress Protector – While this isn’t an absolute necessity, Airbnb owners who want to prolong the life of their mattress should add a mattress protector to their list.
Sheets – There’s no comfy sleep without silky soft sheets, so buying a sheet set is one of the most important bedding decisions you’ll have to make. You want to get a set of bed sheets that are durable, breathable, and luxuriously soft. We managed to find that combo in the SONORO KATE Super Soft Microfiber Sheet Set.
Pillows – A bad pillow can cause pain in your guest’s neck and back. If you want to get the best pillows for Airbnb at an affordable price, we suggest the Original Pillow by Sweet Night.
Pillowcases – Sets of sheets usually come with pillowcases, but you’ll probably want to get extras—we all know how inviting a bed with numerous pillows can be. These California Design Den cotton pillowcases will complement any set of sheets while providing your guests with superior comfort.
Pillow Protector – If you want to add an extra layer of protection, you can get pillow protectors to prevent sweat stains and wear and tear.
Duvet – A quality duvet is also essential for restful sleep. You should aim for a duvet that provides weight and breathability and is suitable for weather conditions in your area. We picked the Bedsure Comforter Duvet Insert as the best choice for Airbnb because it is smooth, cozy, and ensures year-round warmth.
Duvet Cover – A duvet cover is a part of your duvet set, and if you want to get a quality one you can check out our selection of the best duvet covers for vacation rentals (spoiler alert: our top pick is the Bedsure Solid Color Duvet Cover).
Comforter – The comforter is the top layer of the bedding and is responsible for warmth and coziness, so you want to buy a quality comforter that can rise to the occasion, such as the Beckham Hotel Collection Comforter.
Blanket – If you decide to get a blanket to give your guests more variety, we suggest our winner in the best blanket for Airbnb category, the Utopia Bedding Luxury Fleece Blanket.
Factors to Consider When Buying Bedding for Airbnb and Vacation Rentals
These are the most relevant factors for Airbnb owners that should influence your choice of bedding:
Material – The bedding material can help your rental stand out from the rest and receive one 5-star review after another. Plus, you can use the material to attract your ideal guests. For example, if you get luxurious bedding made of Egyptian cotton or silk, you can catch the attention of guests who want luxury. The cotton-poly blend is perfect for people who prioritize comfort, while the “green” materials will entice guests who’re looking for eco-friendly rentals.
Color – What color of bedding is the best for vacation rentals? If we set aside the aesthetic of colorful bedding, white is the best choice for Airbnb. It is the easiest to maintain, gives that clean look, and is the easiest to replace or buy another set when needed.
Ease of Cleaning – White bedding can be washed at a higher temperature, and you can use bleach to remove stains. Also consider that some materials such as cotton take more time to dry, and the same applies to thicker blankets and duvets.
Price Point – Is your goal to create a luxurious ambiance or to get the best value for your money? If your ideal guests are people who prefer luxury, you might want to up your bedding budget, but if you’re aiming at quality and affordability combined, you can still find budget-friendly but high-quality items.
Easy to Replace – In case one of the items gets stained, you want to be able to replace it without buying a whole new set. That’s why simple but elegant designs and basic colors work best for short-term rentals.
Where to Shop for Bedding
Our top recommendation for supplying the best bedding is Amazon. The rationale behind this is simple: Amazon provides the widest variety of choices, and you can read through customer reviews to find out whether the product is as good as advertised. If you want to go to brick-and-mortar stores, you can find quality bedding at Target, Costco, or Bed Bath & Beyond.
Do I Need a Mattress Protector for My Airbnb?
A mattress protector may not be crucial for your guests’ comfort, but it can be a lifesaver for Airbnb owners. Imagine this: you bought this incredibly comfortable and expensive mattress but the very first guests who tested it out stained it permanently.
To avoid Airbnb nightmares such as this and save your budget from unnecessary expenses, invest in an inexpensive mattress protector. Not only will it keep the stains, spills, and bed bugs away and ensure the longevity of your mattress, but it will also protect your mattress from bacteria and germs that can activate your guests’ allergies.
If you need suggestions for the best mattress protector, our top pick is the SafeRest Mattress Protector. You can find out more about it in our Best Mattress Protector article.
How Do I Pick Between a Duvet, Blanket, and Comforter?
Let’s clarify the eternal question: do I need a duvet, comforter, or blanket?
First, we should briefly touch upon the differences between the three. A duvet is a quilted insert that you put inside a duvet cover, while a comforter is used as-is and is filled with down. Lastly, a blanket is a thinner layer that is usually used on top of a duvet or comforter if guests want more warmth. You can also throw a blanket on the couch if guests want to snuggle up while watching TV.
If you ask us, we vote for a duvet over a comforter because you don’t need to wash the duvet insert, just the cover which will dry in no time. With comforters, you have no other choice but to wash the whole thing, which is quite demanding as some may not fit into your washing machine.
Do I Really Need Pillow Protectors?
A pillow protector plays the same role as a mattress protector. It will act as a shield between your quality (maybe even expensive) pillows and pillowcases and spills, stains, bacteria, germs, bed bugs, and other nasties. On top of that, it will prolong the life of your pillows. Some pillows even come with pillow protectors like our pick for the best pillow, the Sweet Night Pillow.
How Many Extra Sets of Sheets Should I Stock?
Extra sheets are a must-have in case of a stain, rip, or if guests simply ask for clean ones. An unwritten rule is to stock 2-3 sets of sheets per bed. This also comes in handy if you have a tight turnover time or last-minute booking so you don’t have to rush.
How to Maintain Airbnb Bedding
We’ve compiled some of our favorite laundry tips from fellow Airbnb property owners in our Best Laundry Detergent article, so here they are:
- Check the bedding for stains before throwing it in the wash, and set aside items that need treatment with stain remover.
- Speed up the wash process by setting the laundry on a quick 30-degree Celsius/ 86-degree Fahrenheit wash.
- Do another spin after the washing has finished if you want the bedding to come out of the washer damp instead of wet.
- Buy fast-drying bedding that will come out of the washing machine almost dry (especially after that extra spin).
- Bonus tip: Use a colored marker on the tag of sheets to differentiate the sets for master and second bedroom or queen and king size beds. For example, mark the master bedroom set blue, the second bedroom set red, and so on.
Final Thoughts
Once you get the bedding crossed off your host checklist, you’ll have taken care of one of the key elements that make your guests’ stay enjoyable and comfortable. Don’t forget that quality bedding is the path to guests’ positive reviews. Hopefully, we’ve managed to answer some of the burning bedding questions to help you set up the perfect sleeping experience for your guests.
