Flooring in your Airbnb property may not be an amenity you can use to entice guests, but it is still worthy of your attention as one of the biggest investments in designing or renovating a rental. The best flooring for Airbnb should unite quality, durability, and aesthetics. On top of that, you also want to aim for low-maintenance floors.
Considering everything that an Airbnb floor needs to embody, and the best choices are laminate vinyl tile and luxury vinyl plank. Engineered hardwood is also a good pick as well as tiles for the kitchen and bathroom.
Why Is Quality Flooring Important for Your Airbnb?
Investing in a high-quality floor can maximize your profit. Quality flooring will last longer and be more appealing to guests. Since replacing flooring is such a tedious and demanding job (of both your time and money) the goal is to get the highest value for your available budget. Cheap floors won’t last long, so quality flooring is the logical choice.
Damaged floors will also make your rental look scruffy and neglected which can turn away potential guests. Floors play a big part in the overall aesthetic of the rental, so that’s why quality and durability should be prioritized.
Factors to Consider When Buying Flooring for Your Airbnb
You’ll want to get a few things straight if you wish to find the perfect flooring for your short-term rental. The most relevant factors that should influence your decision process are as follows:
Durability – Covering the floor with a rug may prolong its life, but unless you want to pave the home with carpets, you need to think about durability. You want floors that can endure wear and tear so you won’t need to replace them. However, you should also strike a balance between durability and easy maintenance.
Some materials need to be refinished after several years, and others will have to be replaced. For example, hardwood floors last the longest, but repairing dents or scratches (which are inevitable in an Airbnb) can take a big chunk out of your budget. On the other hand, laminate floors are more resistant to scratches, which means less maintenance hassle.
Functionality – The choice of the floor also depends on the room for which is intended. While the kitchen and bathroom need flooring that can handle splashes and dampness, living areas and hallways ask for flooring that is resistant to scratches. Areas with less traffic, such as the bedroom and dining room, can be enriched with a more expensive flooring variant, but still, keep in mind that you can’t rely on guests to be gentle with it.
Aesthetics – If you’re tempted to experiment with some unusual colors and designs, just remember that flooring is there to stay for a long time. The best color palette for a short-term rental is one of classic neutral colors. Whenever you decide to change up the style, a neutral color floor will match the theme.
Type of Guests – Who is your ideal guest? If you want to attract guests who are in pursuit of luxury, investing in a costly floor will pay off. However, if your rental is mostly suited for families with kids, you need to expect scratches and dents. Damage is also more likely to occur in rentals suitable for birthday celebrations and bachelor and bachelorette parties. In addition, you want the look of the floor to match your ideal guests’ aesthetic aspirations.
Rental Value – The value of your rental and the cost per night should dictate your flooring budget. The investment in flooring shouldn’t cut into your profits. Luxury rentals with luxury nightly prices can afford top-of-the-line flooring, while budget rentals should choose budget floors.
The Best Flooring for Airbnb and Vacation Rentals
If you want a durable floor that isn’t outrageously expensive, complements various interior designs, and suits different areas of the house, we suggest laminate vinyl tile (LVT) or luxury vinyl plank (LVP). LVT comes in squares, has a surface texture, and usually imitates the appearance of tile, stone, and concrete. LVP is in the shape of a plank and it looks like real hardwood—it can even have realistic embossing.
This type of floor has been one of the most popular choices in the last few years because of its affordable price and ease of installation. It is also easy to clean—just a bit of vacuuming and mopping, and it will be ready for the next round of guests.
One of the best features of vinyl flooring is that it can replicate the look of natural materials. In addition to a wide variety of design choices, here is why this type of flooring is suitable for Airbnb:
Highly Resilient – When you need a floor that can endure lots of foot traffic, LVT is the top pick.
Low-Maintenance Material – LVT doesn’t need any extra care like periodic resealing or grouting, so if you want to minimize the effort you need to invest, you can’t go wrong with this type of floor.
Ease of Installation –There are three main types of installation of vinyl flooring: interlocking, peel-and-stick, and glue down. They are all super easy to install.
Affordable – The price range of vinyl flooring allows everyone to find their match. On the cheapest end of the spectrum, you can get sheet vinyl, while the most expensive choice is luxury vinyl plank.
Works Well for Any Room – You can install LVT across your rental property because of its durability and ease of maintenance.
Handles Spills and Moisture – Contributing to the previous point, since LVT is water-resistant, it is also great for the kitchen and bathroom.
Goes Over Existing Flooring – LVT can go over your current flooring so you don’t need to struggle with removing it. That is, of course, if the floor is even and smooth.
If you’re liking what you’re reading, but you’d like to see and feel LVT before you spend your flooring budget on it, the good news is that you can buy samples on Amazon. Here are some options:
- Modin Rigid Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring Sample Kit
- LUCiDA SURFACES Luxury Vinyl Floor Tiles Sample
- Art3d Peel and Stick Floor Tile Vinyl Wood Plank Samples
Other Great Types of Flooring for Airbnb
If LVT doesn’t work well for your short-term rental, you can also consider engineered hardwood or tiles. Both of these choices check the boxes for affordability, durability, and aesthetics.
Engineered hardwood has a real wood surface which gives off that genuine hardwood look and feel (without the high price). It is very durable, easy to maintain, and does an amazing job of absorbing noise. The latter can be an important factor for apartment rentals for families with kids.
Engineered wood is also great for patios, decks, and outdoor areas in general. You can get some samples on Amazon if you’d like to test them out.
If you’d like the benefits of conventional hardwood (durability and warm feel) without the drawbacks like rotting from moisture and warping from changes in humidity, engineered wood is an excellent choice. However, engineered hardwood also demands special care like genuine hardwood and it is more expensive than laminate flooring.
The most common choice for kitchens and bathrooms is tile flooring. Tile is long-lasting and promises a key feature for these areas: being waterproof. Cleaning will be a piece of cake which is perfect for Airbnb hosts. The choices and patterns are endless, and you can get a sample kit like this
QDÉCOR Sample Pack Swatch Color Kit to find the best color for your space.
QDÉCOR Sample Pack Swatch Color Kit
The downside of tiles is that their purchase and installation can be quite costly. Also, tiles get cold during the winter, so if they’re placed in the living area, guests won’t be very comfortable.
Final Thoughts
Finding a floor that adds value and appeal to your Airbnb can ease your mind and wallet for many years to come. Flooring options are many, but if you carefully consider the main factors, you will find your way to the right choice for your rental. You can also order those helpful samples so you can get a better idea of how different types of flooring will look in your rental.
