_{above image:  Michelle Gage}

The beds in your Airbnb property are paramount to your guests' enjoyment and your overall success. People care deeply about the beds in a rental! The aesthetic of the headboard/bed will set the tone for the bedroom, so it's important to think through the mood you're after when you select this item. BUT, I will say for certain that although the look of the bed's headboard and frame is important, you do NOT need to spend a ton of money on it. Bed prices have increased a lot in the last few years, as have all other furniture costs. 

However, there are plenty of good quality beds at excellent prices out there, and I've spent HOURS combing the internet to find the best deals on quality beds to put into this post. 

Now, when you buy lower-priced beds, sometimes this means you'll be assembling a flat-pack product yourself, or paying someone else to do it. So do factor that into your equation. If you can swing it, hire a handyman or flat-pack assembly company to come in one day and knock all this stuff out for you in one shot. Or if you're trying to save money on the front end, buy some booze and bribe your friends to come for an assembly party one night! (Disclaimer: Assembling flat pack furniture takes twice as long when drinking.)

The bed is of critical importance to guest happiness, so do buy smart when it comes to mattresses and bedding. I wrote more about in this post right here. 👈

I believe you can buy a decent enough quality headboard and bed frame for under $1,000, and I'm going to prove it!

 So what bed should I buy for my Airbnb?

Before I show you my favorite all-in-one beds, I want first to discuss an alternative option that some hosts swear by, especially for markets where people tend to be tougher on furniture. It's a wall-mounted headboard and separate bed base. This keeps costs down and allows you to spend more on a high-quality bed base, like this one by Sleep Nest which is made of steel specifically for the hospitality industry. There are two other big bonuses to using the Sleep Nest base and they are 1.) No box spring is required because of the steel platform supports and 2.) it has a solid surround therefore nothing can get lost under the bed by a guest, and your cleaning team doesn't have to sweep and vacuum under this large piece of furniture constantly. Boom. 

So here are a couple of boards of my favorite heavily researched bed bases, (box spring covers if you need one) and wall-mounted headboards. 

1. Sleep Nest | 2. Sleep Nest | 3. Wayfair | 4. Ballard Designs | 5. Etsy | 6. Wayfair

Now take a look at these wall-mounted headboards, which will serve you well if you need more durability for your rental furniture. I especially love No. 6 below, a customized headboard option from Etsy that comes in many fabric choices, and a couple of different shapes. I'm not entirely sure if I would use the 3M tape to mount in a humid environment. I would probably instead try to have a handyman add a cleat to the back and use metal brackets to attach it to the wall. 

I also LOVE the boho look of No. 3 below...

 1. Wayfair | 2. Wayfair | 3. Wayfair | 4. West Elm | 5. Pottery Barn | 6. Etsy

Okay, and now here is a curated list I spent HOURS making of beds that pass this designer's inspection for quality, durability, and price. I've been reading all of the reviews and have included brands that I've used before and trust for a rental. Let's dive in. 

Best Upholstered Beds

_{above image: Bari J Designs}

 1. Target | 2. Joss & Main | 3. Birch Lane | 4. Article | 5. Wayfair | 6. Joss & Main

Best Wood Framed Beds

_{above image: Emily Henderson}

 1. Ikea | 2. Birch Lane | 3. Plank + Beam | 4. Birch Lane | 5. All Modern | 6. Wayfair

Best Metal Framed Beds

_{above image: Quill Decor} 

1. Birch Lane | 2. All Modern | 3. Target | 4. Joss & Main | 5. Wayfair | 6. Walmart

Best Rattan and Cane Beds

 _{above image: The Sweet Beast}

  1. Wayfair | 2. Wayfair | 3. Wayfair | 4. Target | 5. Wayfair | 6. Home Depot

Best Trundle & Bunk Beds

_{above image: Three Birds Renovations}

1. Birch Lane | 2. Wayfair | 3. Amazon. | 4. Plank + Beam | 5. Birch Lane | 6. Target

Nightstands

I would be remiss not to discuss nightstands in a bed blog. So, here are my thoughts on nightstands, this very special and uniquely important side table.

• Always have TWO if there's room next to a TWO-person bed. If there's not room, consider something else on the other side of the bed. A tiny ledge attached to the wall? Or a small vintage stool, perhaps? A wall-mounted light...

Your guests are likely not all going to be as low maintenance as my husband, who never complains about his glass of water and phone plugged in on the floor next to the bed. But c'mon. Have 2 nightstands if the bed is for 2 people. It's just basic manners. Don't make them drag a dining chair in there to serve as an extra nightstand. (I've definitely done this before when staying at a short-term rental!) 

• Make them mismatched if you want. This adds character and personality to a room! Go for vintage! This is the kind of furniture item that's easy to ship, so go shopping on Etsy or eBay and find something that makes your heart sing!
• There's NO NEED to spend a fortune on nightstands. Get creative, paint a flea market find, or just check out these options below for inspiration! 
• Don't forget to throw some cute coasters around (everywhere in the house!) to remind the guests not to ruin your tables. Make it easy for them to be considerate.

1. Joss & Main | 2. Birch Lane | 3. Birch Lane | 4. Birch Lane | 5. Plank + Beam | 6. Etsy

I hope this has you feeling inspired for the fun of bedroom designing! Best of luck and happy shopping!!