How to Choose the Best Beds for an Airbnb or Holiday Let

How to Choose the Best Beds for an Airbnb or Holiday Let

A comfortable bed might not be the first thing guests notice when they arrive at your holiday property, but it's certainly something they'll remember if they don't get a good night's sleep! A creaking frame, an uncomfortable mattress or a bed that's too small for the room can quickly take the shine off an otherwise lovely stay.

For Airbnb hosts and holiday let owners, choosing the right beds means balancing guest comfort with the practical demands of running a property. You want something that looks attractive in your listing photographs, feels comfortable for different guests and can withstand regular use without becoming another maintenance job.

It's also worth investing in furniture that won't need replacing after a few busy seasons. A well-made wooden bed can be a sensible long-term choice, particularly when you're furnishing a property that welcomes guests throughout the year.

What Should You Look for in an Airbnb Bed?

There are a few things worth prioritising when choosing beds for guest accommodation.

Strong Construction: A sturdy frame with secure joints and suitable mattress support will cope better with regular use and different guests.

A Practical Finish: Look for a protective coating that helps the furniture withstand everyday marks and makes routine cleaning straightforward.

The Right Size: A king-size bed can be a selling point, but only if there's enough space to move comfortably around it. A well-proportioned double is often a better choice for smaller rooms.

A Design That Suits the Property: A traditional wooden frame might look lovely in a country cottage, while a simpler platform bed could be more appropriate for a contemporary apartment.

Long-Term Value: Consider the quality of the frame and its expected lifespan alongside the initial purchase price.

One thing that's easy to overlook is how practical the bed will be when changing the bedding. If you're turning a property around between guests, having enough space to move around the frame can make a surprisingly big difference.

Why Solid Wooden Beds Make Sense for Holiday Accommodation

Wooden beds are a popular choice for holiday cottages, guesthouses and boutique accommodation, partly because they work with such a wide range of interiors.

But appearance is only part of the appeal. A properly constructed solid wood frame can provide dependable support over years of use, while a suitable protective finish helps keep the furniture looking presentable.

At The Wooden Bed Company, our beds are handmade in Yorkshire using solid European oak or Scandinavian pine. Our hotel beds are designed with the demands of guest accommodation in mind, with traditional mortise-and-tenon joints and independent strength testing up to 490kg.

They're also supplied with a high-performance severe-use lacquer as standard, providing additional protection for the timber in busy guest bedrooms. For holiday property owners, these are the details worth paying attention to. A bed that feels substantial, remains stable and is straightforward to look after can save time and inconvenience further down the line.

Choosing a Bed That Suits Your Holiday Property

Model 10 - Super King

The style of your property should influence the beds you choose, but it's worth thinking about the guests you're hoping to attract, too. A romantic countryside retreat might call for something quite different from a city apartment or a larger holiday home designed for families.

For traditional cottages and rural accommodation, a solid oak or pine bed with a wooden headboard can complement exposed beams, stone walls and other original features. Natural and medium wood finishes work particularly well in these settings, although darker colours can provide an attractive contrast against lighter walls.

In contemporary holiday lets, a simpler design often makes more sense. Our platform beds have a more understated appearance, while standard-height wooden beds are worth considering if you want a familiar, comfortable sleeping height for a wide range of guests.

A few smaller details can make a difference to the overall guest experience:

Invest in a Good Mattress: Even the strongest bed frame won't compensate for an uncomfortable mattress. Choose one suitable for regular use and protect it with a washable mattress protector.

Keep Bedding Simple: Good-quality cotton bedding in white or neutral colours is easy to coordinate across different rooms and helps create a clean, welcoming appearance.

Leave Space Around the Bed: Guests need somewhere to put their belongings and enough room to move comfortably, particularly when sharing a bedroom.

Consider Your Listing Photographs: A well-proportioned bed, attractive bedding and a pair of bedside lamps can make a guest bedroom look considerably more appealing online.

If you're furnishing several bedrooms, using the same bed design in different sizes can also help create a consistent appearance without making every room identical. Different bedding, artwork and wall colours will give each space its own personality.

Furnishing Your Airbnb With The Wooden Bed Company

When you're investing in furniture for a holiday let, it's reassuring to know where your beds are made and what goes into their construction. At The Wooden Bed Company, we handcraft our wooden beds to order in our Yorkshire workshop using solid European oak and Scandinavian pine. Our hotel beds combine substantial timber construction with practical finishing options suited to guest accommodation.

Every bed comes with a 12-year structural guarantee, while our hotel collection includes independently strength-tested frames and a protective severe-use lacquer designed to withstand the demands of regular use.

We also offer a trade and wholesale enquiry service for customers furnishing multiple bedrooms, holiday properties or larger accommodation projects, just get in touch with the team to discuss your needs. 

Whether you're replacing a tired bed frame in an established holiday let or furnishing a new Airbnb from scratch, explore our hotel bed collection to find a well-made wooden bed that will look good, feel substantial and guarantee a five star sleep for your guests. 

Back to blog

Leave a comment

Please note, comments need to be approved before they are published.