How do you furnish STRs or BTR units?

Question

Hey everyone!

I’m doing some research and would love to hear from operators who have furnished units in the past. Do you DIY or work with an interior designer? I find that I don't have time and energy for the facebook marketplace/DIY furnishing but hiring a designer is too pricey. Has anyone found a better way to tackle this?

Michael Stagnitta · Answer

Hi Devon, It depends on your goal here, and what type of units these are. If these are luxury units, then you'll have a good ROI with hiring a designer. If its B or C then a DIY approach makes sense. Rental companies like Feather, Fernish, and Fülhaus offer stylish, durable pieces with curated packages for entire rooms, eliminating design guesswork. Wayfair and Castlery are also great retailers, where you can shop a style, and generally find things that will aesthetically work out, without being a designer. The type of rentals really dictate the spend and quality; material selection for longevity for sofas, and chairs, may be something to consider, whereas you may be able to cheaply put together decor and artwork that fit the space without looking to hard. Hope this helps.

Amit Patel · Answer

HI Devon! I totally get it, as PM with multiple units, furnishing  can be a huge time drain, and hiring a full interior designer often feels way too expensive. From what I’ve learned, there are some good middle-ground options that can help...

One thing that’s worked well for me is using online interior design services like Modsy or Havenly. You just send them your space info and style preferences, and they come back with a custom plan and shopping list. It’s way cheaper than a traditional designer and cuts out a lot of the legwork.

Another option is working with a decorator instead of a full designer. They usually focus on helping you pick furniture and accessories, so their rates are lower, but you still get expert advice to avoid costly mistakes.

Also, don’t overlook the design help that many furniture stores like IKEA, West Elm, or Pottery Barn offer. A lot of these retailers provide free or low-cost consultations, help you pick out pieces that work together, and even handle delivery and assembly. It’s a nice way to get a cohesive look without the hassle.

If you want to keep some control but don’t have time for full DIY, try mixing it up.Do the smaller stuff yourself like picking art or accessories, and leave the big decisions, like furniture layout and main pieces, to a pro. That way you save energy and still get a polished result.

A few quick tips: stick with durable, neutral furniture that appeals to most tenants, look for multifunctional pieces to maximize space, and keep an eye out for sales or secondhand accent items to save some cash. If you do any DIY, focus on small updates that really make a difference instead of trying to do everything yourself.

This approach helped me have balance pretty well. Hopefully it helps you too!

Devon Kelley · Answer

Hey Paul! That's awesome, and I think this is a super helpful tool for so many investors who can't afford a designer but need a little help. Curious, does your app just offer visual inspo or does it link to actual SKUs or items for purchase?

Paul Chauvin · Answer

Thanks Devon, Glad you think it could be helpful!
Right now it focuses on visual inspo with high-quality renders, mostly to help with planning layouts and marketing listings early.
SKU linking isn’t live yet, but it’s something I’m definitely exploring, would that be useful for you?

Paul Chauvin · Answer

Hey Devon, totally get the struggle, furnishing STRs takes serious time, and designers aren’t cheap.

One option that’s worked for some investors is using AI-generated mockups to plan furnishing before spending on the real thing. I actually built a tool  that lets you upload an empty room and see it fully furnished in different styles instantly,  no designer needed.

Could be a helpful middle ground to visualize setups or even show potential guests/tenants before the unit is ready. Happy to share a free link if you’re curious!

Devon Kelley · Answer

Thank you Josh, this is SUPER helpful. I hadn't considered a freelance or virtual designer to pull together a "look", and using furnishing services, batching sourcing, etc. I will admit the process has been a bit daunting but framing it like this makes it feel much less overwhelming. Curious, do you know of any companies that offer pre-curated modular design collections, kind of "room in a box" style, with one point for sourcing an entire cohesive collection? It would be amazing to have an option with a clear, up front price and one-stop sourcing so I don't have to think about it. Maybe that's wishful thinking! :) Thanks again, it's awesome to hear your recs.

Josh Sedivy · Answer

Great question. You're definitely not alone in feeling torn between the time-intensive DIY route and the cost of hiring a designer. Here's what I've found helpful both personally and from other operators:

1. Hybrid Approach: Consider hiring a freelance interior stylist or virtual designer for just a few hours to create a mood board and layout plan. Then, you or an assistant can handle the ordering and setup. This saves on cost while still giving you a cohesive look.

2. Use Furnishing Services: Some companies specialize in furnishing short-term rentals and offer affordable, all-in-one packages. They handle sourcing, delivery, and setup, which can save you a ton of time and energy.

3. Batch Your Sourcing: If you're still leaning DIY, skip Facebook Marketplace and stick with vendors that allow bulk ordering with easy returns like Article, Wayfair Pro, or IKEA's Business program. You can create a simple checklist and template that you reuse for each property.

4. Delegate Setup: If time is your biggest constraint, consider hiring a local task-based service just for furniture assembly and setup. This cuts your time involvement dramatically without the designer price tag.

Ultimately, the goal is to balance aesthetics with efficiency and cost and it’s very possible with the right system in place!