Much like the right flooring can improve the look and feel of your own home, you want to make sure that you’re selecting the right flooring for your Airbnb. After all, while guests are looking first and foremost for a rental that offers all the space and amenities they could need while they’re staying there, they’re also looking for a space that will feel like home.
The most complex aspect of nailing flooring in any Airbnb property is choosing from the wide range of options that you have. More importantly, you have to make sure that you’re making the right choice in each room.
If you’re looking to improve your vacation rental with the right flooring, here are some of the best flooring for Airbnb rental properties worth considering.
Comfortable Flooring Options for Airbnb Guests
When choosing the right flooring, it’s important to consider what guests are looking for in each room. When comfort is what guests have in mind, there’s no better flooring than carpet.
Wall-to-wall carpeting is a type of flooring that’s unparalleled when looking at other flooring found throughout the house. It offers a wide range of benefits that make it perfect for spaces like the bedroom or the living room of your Airbnb or vacation rental, including a soft warm surface to walk and rest on, reduced noise and reduced risk of injury should one fall, and even better air quality.
Of course, it’s important to remember that all flooring comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Carpet is a great choice for areas where comfort is a priority. However, it is susceptible to mold growth if it becomes damp, requires regular cleaning (which can sometimes be challenging), and can provide a hiding place for pests such as bed bugs and fleas. Take care to keep your carpet in immaculate condition to maintain your property and guarantee the happiness of your guests.
Durable Flooring for High-Traffic Airbnb Spaces
If you’re an Airbnb Superhost who sees many bookings throughout the year, you need flooring that is up to the task of dealing with the numerous guests who will be walking around your home. For high-traffic spaces, the best flooring is often vinyl flooring.
Luxury vinyl flooring such as luxury vinyl planks or even vinyl tile is valued because they’re durable and resilient, protecting against scratches, wear and tear, and regular foot traffic. More importantly, they’re water resistant, which makes them easy to clean and prevents mold growth or water damage in essential areas of the home, like the kitchen. They’re also affordable and easy to install, even when choosing high-quality options.
The main drawback of vinyl flooring is that it needs to be completely reinstalled if it gets damaged. Unlike other types of flooring, you can’t refinish vinyl, so it’s important to maintain it well to make it last for many years.
Easy-to-Clean Flooring for Hassle-Free Hosting
Low-maintenance flooring options are often the best choice for new Airbnb hosts. Affordable flooring can still complement the house’s aesthetics without adding extra cleaning tasks to your long to-do list.
Unlike other categories in this guide, there’s no clear winner on which flooring is the easiest to clean. Rather, there are multiple flooring materials that you can choose for your short-term rental if you want to make high-traffic areas a breeze to deal with. Some of the flooring choices that other Airbnb hosts choose include:
- Ceramic Tile: Ceramic is an excellent material for tiles because it can great material because handle heavy foot traffic, is resistant to scratches and stains, and doesn’t absorb messes. A simple mop job or a quick sweep will easily take care of your tile no matter where you place it. Better yet, it’s a great flooring for rental properties because there are so many different colors and patterns to choose from, helping you elevate your space with flooring that is visually appealing yet requires minimal upkeep.
- Stone: Stone is wonderful for outside design, but it can act as flooring for your Airbnb rental too. Stone is a great material because of its strength and resistance to messes. Just make sure to maintain the surface and the grout from time to time so that it stays looking its best!
- Porcelain Tile: Porcelain tile is an excellent alternative to ceramic. Porcelain is easy to clean and maintain while still being high-quality flooring resistant to damage and moisture. This makes it such a popular choice for areas like the bathroom.
Stylish Flooring to Impress Your Airbnb Guests
When you’re looking to impress your Airbnb guests, the most obvious type of flooring is hardwood. Hardwood flooring is visually stunning and can be installed in any room of the home, whether it’s the bedroom, dining room, or hallway. There’s a type of hardwood for nearly every type of interior style as well, with some of your options including bamboo, oak, and maple.
Moreover, different types of hardwood play a role in installation and customization, including options like engineered hardwood, solid hardwood, and parquet hardwood flooring. No matter what look you’re going for, you’re in control when you choose hardwood.
The only thing to note is that this type of flooring is often the most expensive. It also requires the most care as damage can be quite noticeable on hardwood. As long as you do your research and are willing to invest, it can be a worthwhile addition to your rental property.
Cost-Effective Flooring Solutions for Airbnb Hosts
If you’re an Airbnb host on a budget, you may be searching for more affordable flooring options. Luckily, there are several cost-effective flooring solutions for hosts to consider.
One option is laminate flooring. Laminate is similar to vinyl, except that it’s made from fiberboard and wood byproducts, which means that it’s not waterproof like vinyl is. However, it offers much of the same stain resistance and durability, making it a great option if vinyl isn’t quite within your budget.
Others get creative and use certain products like plywood to create an affordable flooring surface. Plywood is not used when installing hardwood flooring, but it is a cost-effective solution that can be dressed up to look good and enhance a space.
Don’t be afraid to get creative and explore your options for the best results within your budget.
Eco-Friendly Flooring for Sustainable Hosting
Many people inside and outside the Airbnb community appreciate efforts to be more eco-friendly, which can be a major selling point in your listing. But what type of flooring is eco-friendly? One surprising option is linoleum. Linoleum used to be a favorite for kitchens, but it doesn’t seem as popular as it once was. It’s a bit more expensive than vinyl and laminate, which may explain the decline in popularity.
It’s a fantastic choice for those seeking eco-friendly flooring, as it does not emit volatile organic compounds like similar options. It’s also low-maintenance, durable, and highly customizable. Overall, it’s a good choice if you’re a friend of the planet and want to make sure these values are represented in your property.
Flooring Maintenance Tips for Airbnb Owners
Flooring maintenance is the only way to guarantee that your floor lasts as long as possible and looks as good as it possibly can throughout its lifetime. But how do you go about flooring maintenance? Here are some helpful tips that will preserve your floors for years.
- Always research the type of care your floor needs before cleaning it. The wrong care can just do as much damage as neglecting to maintain your floor.
- After each guest leaves, carefully inspect your flooring to identify and address any damage before it becomes a bigger problem.
- Refinish your floors at least once every seven years, and add a maintenance coat yearly. You should regularly maintain the carpet as well, doing a deep clean at least every year.
Flooring Upgrades to Enhance Your Airbnb’s Value
Upgrading your Airbnb’s flooring with hardwood floors can greatly enhance its value. Don’t hesitate to get creative with your choices. Identifying popular trends in interior design and finding a way to mimic them with cheaper materials can make your Airbnb look and feel high-end without breaking the bank. It all boils down to how much you want to spend and how creative you can be. Value is almost always rooted in perception.
Finding the Best Flooring for Airbnb Rentals Is Easy With This Guide
Flooring is something that you shouldn’t skip over when you’re looking for ways to enhance the aesthetic and value of your vacation rental. After all, if your property seems more luxurious and desirable, more guests are going to want to book it. Moreover, if it’s designed in such a way that guests can easily get comfortable and navigate their space, it makes it the perfect place for them. Use the information above about the various flooring options at your disposal to make sure you have the right choices installed room-by-room. You’ll be sure to thank yourself later!