Do you furnish your property using second-hand products, new products, or a combination of both?

[Rebecca]

Hello, wonderful community! 👋 

We’d love to hear from you about your furnishing choices for your properties. Furnishing can set the tone for your space, creating a unique atmosphere that resonates with guests. Whether you scour thrift shops for vintage treasures, invest in sleek new furniture, or mix and match to reflect your style, we want to hear from you! 

Do you prefer to furnish your space with second-hand products, go for brand new items, or use a combination of both? Share your experiences, the reasoning behind your choices, and any tips you might have for others in the community. 

Looking forward to your responses! 😊

[Laura7347]

We furnished our property with a combination of somethings old, somethings new and somethings borrowed! At first we were using things from our own home that we didn't need but I knew we could use in the desert.  Then we combed Facebook Marketplace daily and discovered so many great things. We also bought new decor that were important main visual elements and comfort elements, like a new sofa, new mattresses, etc. We  went to a lot of flea markets and picked up dozens of treasures. To achieve the desert vibe throughout, we went to local shops to pick up soft goods like pillows, blankets, baskets, etc. Some of the most amazing touches we found were at the local flea market, like the horse table in our second bedroom, what a treasure find that was!  But it's important to say, that I made mistakes along the way too!  For example, I bought two wardrobes on Facebook marketplace for the bedrooms, sight unseen, and they didn't work and I had to give them away. I think the combination of old and new gives the house a lot of charm and a curated/designer feeling. Here is the link to our property! https://www.airbnb.com/hosting/listings/editor/1144144568726969600/view-your-space

[Rebecca]

@Laura7347  Wow, it sounds like you’ve put so much thought and effort into creating a unique and inviting space! I love how you blended old treasures with new comforts to capture that perfect desert vibe. The horse table sounds like such a fun find!  Your property is stunning - I also like the flamingo in the pool

Thanks for sharing the link, however it doesn't go direct to your listing. This is the one you need - https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/1144144568726969600?guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=252df651-7... 

[Karen4256]

I furnished my Airbnb with new furniture and appliances, but I quickly regretted my choice because very soon after I suffered significant damage from guests. Approximately three months after setting up the space a guest spilled a wax like substance on my very expensive sofa bed, I suffered loss of cutlery dishes and broken furniture.

[Rebecca]

I'm so sorry to hear about your experience with your guests @Karen4256. Did you replace with second hand items or did you buy new again? 

[Kimberly1197]

I bought everything new and of good quality. I wanted our guests to feel like they were in a hotel and have the certainty that everything was specially curated for them in mind. I am not opposed to a transitional style, but in my case, I went with everything new. 

[Rebecca]

Thank you for sharing with us @Kimberly1197 😍 

Do you guests reviews reciprocate the hotel feel? 

[Lee5615]

Since our Airbnb is a 1973  27' Airstream, we don't have a ton of room to furnish with anything. But we do love some of the flea market, Marketplace, and estate sale finds we've added for color and character—especially things that remind us of that era. 

[Rebecca]

I had to go and take a look at your Airstream @Lee5615 - it's so beautiful. I can see that you've added lots of little homely features to it! I really like the shower too! 

Do you find your guests like the 70's vibe of our Airstream? 

[Linda4616]

Oh yes, I use a combo of both second hand and new items to furnish our rental.  We did invest in a custom sofa bed and loveseat which I made some envelope coverlets for to protect the gray curdouroy.   It was a good decision and has worked well to be able to wash the coverlets and protect the sofa / loveseat.  Hope this helps.

Linda

[Rebecca]

That sounds wonderful @Linda4616 - are you quite handy with a sewing machine? Were the sofa bed and loveseat the new additions to your listing? What's your favourite second hand item you put in there? 

[Kirsty189]

Hi Rebecca,

We furnished out place with mainly new items. There were some items that we purchased with the house (main bedroom suite, leather lounges and hutches in the living room). We bought all brand new mattresses, linen, and fully equipped our kitchen with new appliances etc. We repurposed books we no longer read from our own home into the library area but otherwise mainly new items.

Cheers,

Kirsty

[Rebecca]

Thank you so much for sharing @Kirsty189. I think a lot of hosts have said the same thing about having new linens, towels, mattresses and electrical appliances- to ensure comfort of the guests and also longevity of the items. 

Is there anything that you may consider doing differently next time? 😊

[Hemavathy1]

Hi Rebecca,

We used new products for furnishing as it reduces maintenance cost and if at all some damage is caused by guests, then we will have warranty for the products to claim.

[Rebecca]

I didn't even think about warranties on products @Hemavathy1 - that's a great point! Have you had any instances where you needed to replace any items and the warranty came into play?