A Buyer’s Guide to Finding the Best Couch for Airbnb Rentals

A quality couch is the perfect example of how you can combine function with aesthetics. It acts as an eye-catching centerpiece in certain rooms, while at the same time serving as a practical way to add enough seating. Plus, if you opt for a sleeper sofa, you can accommodate additional guests to make more money. So let’s figure out the best couch for Airbnb rentals.

Very few furniture pieces are as inviting as a couch, making it an even more valuable investment for a vacation rental. 

Considering that a couch can cost you thousands of dollars, you’ll want to do your due diligence before you buy. From sizing to material choices, uncover helpful tips to ensure both comfort and cost savings. 

Popular Shapes, Sizes, and Styles

Sofas practically come in all shapes and sizes. From a sleeper bed to a sectional sofa, you don’t have to settle for a traditional, three-seater, rectangular couch any longer. 

Let the style of your vacation rental guide you when it comes to choosing the shape. For example, if the rest of your living room follows a minimalist design, avoid bulky leather sofas with nailhead trim.

Another crucial design element is color. The color of the sofa should also work with the rest of your color scheme. If you’re unsure, stick to more neutral colors like beige or gray. These colors work with most styles. 

Patterns are best avoided. It can easily look overwhelming. If you want to make a statement, rather add patterned scatter cushions which can create an eye-catching effect without overwhelming your guests. 

Needless to say, a sleeper sofa is one of the most popular choices for an Airbnb property. This way, small spaces with limited bedrooms can accommodate more guests, allowing you to charge more per night. 

At the end of the day,  your top priority is comfort. Look for couches with cushioned backs and deep seats. These elements typically increase the level of comfort.

While your decor style should guide you, don’t choose your personal preferences over comfort. It’s great if you can add a pull-out sleeper sofa or sofa bed. However, if guests won’t sit or sleep comfortably, rather stick to traditional couch seating. 

What’s the Best Couch Material? 

Your couch is one of the furniture pieces that will be used the most. You must select a material that’s durable and easy to clean. There are bound to be a couple of drink spills, making an easy-to-clean fabric the best choice. 

The ideal material is leather. If your budget allows it, try to find a leather couch. While faux leather is more affordable than real leather, there are a few things to consider. 

For example, bonded leather (leather made up of scrap leather and bonding materials), won’t adjust to the body’s temperature. In winter it can feel colder, while in summer it can feel hotter. As mentioned, comfort should be at the top of the list and you want to keep features like this in mind. 

After leather, you can consider materials like:

• Microfiber
• Linen
• Velvet
• Polyester blends

Your goal is to search for material that will withstand wear and tear, yet offer enough comfort.  

Selecting a Suitable Size Sofa

Loveseats and smaller sectional sofas work best for narrow spaces. If you buy a bulky piece for a small living room, the area will feel cramped which will negatively impact the overall atmosphere. 

In addition to the size of the living room, also use the number of guests that you typically accommodate as a guideline. You should have enough seating for the maximum number of guests that you can accommodate. For example, if the maximum number of guests allowed is six, you’ll need two three-seater sofas or a three-seater sofa, a two-seater sofa, and an extra armchair. 

Once you’ve found a potential sofa, it’s a good idea first to map out its dimensions. Using masking tape, you can measure out the width and length allowing you to visualize much better how much space it will take up. 

Don’t forget about the back height. This measurement will give you a more accurate idea of how the couch will look in your living room. 

Also, consider how much room will be left. Guests must still be able to move around freely. Plus, ideally, there should be enough space to add a side table. 

Where to Buy Your Next Couch

When shopping for a sofa, you have two main options. You can either buy a new couch or see if you can find a used couch. 

If you want to go the secondhand route, try to find a lightly used couch. Avoid buying a couch with big stains, visible damage, or a noticeable odor.

Antique stores, vintage shops, flea markets, garage sales, and Facebook Marketplace will be your best bet. If you have an eclectic style, buying a used couch will also make more sense from a design point of view. What’s more, you’ll probably save money too!

If budget isn’t that big of an issue and contemporary style is more your vibe, you can try online marketplaces like Amazon or buy directly from the manufacturer.  

Top Brands for an Airbnb Listing

The following manufacturers have received great reviews online:

1. Elephant in a Box

Based in New York City, Elephant in a Box is a home furniture innovation company that’s been featured in the likes of Forbes and BuzzFeed. Their products use a patented HoneyComb Support Technology, allowing its sofas to fit through doors and hallways. Plus, it also makes the sofa much lighter. In fact, according to its website, the structure is five times lighter and stronger. This innovative quality makes it a great choice for small spaces. 

Elephant in a Box’s sofas are also water resistant. They’re so confident about the quality that they include a lifetime warranty (Ts and Cs apply, of course).  

Sofas come in gray. However, if you want to add some color, there’s a range of color fabric covers. Not only will these covers add a pop of color, but it can also protect the sofa from spills.  

Included in its range are:

• Sectionals
• Ottomans
• Non-modular sofas
• Chaise lounges

2. HONBAY

HONBAY is relatively new on the sofa scene. Founded in 2018, it offers great customization and is one of the best brands if you’re interested in buying a modular or sectional sofa. 

Its best-sellers include mostly bigger couches, including a wide nine-seater modular sectional sofa bed with an ottoman that offers extra storage space. However, you’ll also be able to find much smaller sofas, better suited for Airbnb listings targeting solo travelers or couples. 

Unlike Elephant in a Box, they offer a selection of colors. From aqua blue to emerald green to pink,  depending on the sofa, there are over a dozen colors available. Even if you’re happy with a neutral color like gray, you’re spoilt with choice. There’s a pearl gray, bluish gray, and green-gray to mention only a few options. 

3. Lifestyle Solutions

Lifestyle Solutions is another great choice for Airbnb hosts. The company offers several brands and you can choose from sofas, sectionals, loveseats, and armchairs. 

You’re mainly limited to microfiber or faux leather. However, when it comes to color, the selection is more substantial.

4. Rivet

If you’re keen on shopping on Amazon, you can check out Rivet. It’s one of Amazon’s private-label furniture brands.

Business Insider has compared its quality to that of West Elm and CB2. The style is mostly mid-century modern. 

In Rivet’s range, there are two couches in particular that you can check out. There’s the Rivet Revolve Modern Upholstered Sectional Couch and the Rivet Revolve Modern Upholstered Loveseat Sofa. Both have been voted as the best overall couch. 

It’s understated, without compromising on comfort or quality. It has a sturdy hardwood frame and solid beech wood legs, while the durable polyester material offers great resistance to wear and tear. It’s also available in caramel leather. 

As for color, it offers a decent selection of neutral colors. It comes in denim, gray weave, or light linen. 

What makes any one of these couches such a great option for Airbnb and vacation rentals is that they’re easy to clean. The cushions can be removed and as it’s raised on wooden legs, you don’t need to move the heavy sofa to vacuum underneath. 

Not only do the tall tapered legs make light work of cleaning, but it also helps the sofa to appear lighter, making it ideal for a small space. 

Cleaning Tips for Your New Couch

It’s always best that you stick to the manufacturer’s cleaning guidelines. 

Valerie Malone, the founder of Quill Decor an interior design and decor company dedicated to Airbnb and vacation rental properties, a pro tip is that you invest in a couple of microfiber clothes. She suggests that you first use a clean, damp microfiber cloth and gently tackle that mark. This works wonders for any cleanable, pre-treated fabric. 

That said, don’t wait for a spill before you grab that cloth. Cleaning your new couch is essential. Not only will it ensure many years of service, but it will ensure you receive many great reviews for cleanliness. The last thing you want is for your next guest to be welcomed by your previous guest’s missing earrings or cookie crumbs. 

To help you stay on top of all your cleaning jobs, you can sign up for an all-in-one property management software solution like iGMS. It’s created by Airbnb hosts for hosts.

You can use it to streamline communication with your cleaning crew, assign specific cleaning tasks to specific cleaners, and get a quick overview of schedules. 

In addition to streamlining cleaning operations, iGMS offers Airbnb hosts and vacation rental owners an assortment of other useful features, helping them to:

• Manage multiple accounts and listings on the major vacation rental platforms via a single interface
• Arrange messages into a single feed 
• Automate the guest review process
• Compile reports on business activity within minutes
• Manage direct bookings via a direct booking management toolkit
• Implement dynamic pricing through integrations leading tools like PriceLabs, Wheelhouse, and DPGO
• Receive payouts and create invoices with Stripe.