How often should I refresh/update my STR decor?

Category: Design & Furnishing

By: Priya Nair

Posted: 2025-12-18T06:45:37.028Z

My Airbnb has been furnished with the same stuff for 2 years. Everything is still functional but it's starting to look... tired. Throw pillows are flat, the area rug has permanent indentations from furniture legs, towels are getting thin. At what point do you refresh your STR's look? And how do you decide what to replace vs what to keep?

Reply by Tony Russo:

I follow a refresh schedule: **Replace every 6 months:** - Throw pillows and pillow inserts — they go flat and stained - Kitchen sponges and dishcloths (obviously) - Bath mats - Candles, diffusers, any scented items **Replace annually:** - Towels (all of them — buy in bulk, white only) - Pillows (bed pillows, not throw pillows — those are every 6 months) - Area rugs in high-traffic areas - Shower curtain and liner - Kitchen utensils (spatulas, tongs, etc. — the silicone wears out) - Any linens showing wear **Replace every 2-3 years:** - Mattress toppers - Duvet covers and comforters - Window treatments (curtains, blinds) - Non-upholstered furniture (tables, dressers) if showing excessive wear - Lamps (styles change, bulbs dim) **Replace every 4-5 years:** - Major furniture (sofa, bed frame, dining set) — unless visibly worn earlier - Mattresses (hotel-grade lasts longer) - Appliances (coffee maker, TV, etc.) - Outdoor furniture **Budget: set aside $100/month per property** into a "refresh fund." That gives you $1,200/year which covers the annual replacements comfortably. Major furniture replacement comes from that accumulated fund. Guests notice "freshness" even if they can't articulate it. Walking into a space with crisp towels, plump pillows, and clean rugs feels different from a space with "technically functional" but tired-looking items.

Reply by Jake Anderson:

The easiest refresh that gives the biggest visual change: **new throw pillow covers and a new throw blanket.** For $50-60, you can completely change the living room vibe. I swap my throw pillows and blankets seasonally: - Spring/Summer: light blues, greens, natural linen textures - Fall/Winter: deep oranges, burgundy, chunky knit textures Same sofa, same room, completely different feel in photos. I update my listing photos each season too. Guests see fresh photos and assume the space is recently updated.

Reply by Michael Thompson:

A trick I learned: take FRESH listing photos every time you do a major refresh. Even if it's just new throw pillows and towels, update your first 5-10 Airbnb photos. The "new photos" signal to the algorithm and to guests that the listing is active and maintained. I've noticed a booking bump every time I upload new photos.