Setting up a new short-term rental can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to make sure nothing gets missed. This short-term rental essentials guide is designed to function as a practical short-term rental setup checklist, helping hosts understand exactly what to buy when equipping a property from scratch. Organized room by room, this resource focuses on the core items needed to fully equip a new STR so it’s functional, durable, and ready to list with confidence.
How to Use This Short-Term Rental Essentials Guide
This page is designed to be used as a working setup guide, not just a reference. If you’re equipping a short-term rental for the first time, start with the priority sections below, then work through each room category to make sure nothing is overlooked.
This guide reflects what we’ve learned works best in real short-term rentals — items that hold up to repeat use, reduce guest questions, and create a better experience without overcomplicating turnover or restocking.
Each section highlights:
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Why the space matters
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A few core short-term rental essentials worth prioritizing
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A link to the full room checklist for complete coverage
Where to Start When Equipping a New STR
While every room matters, some areas have a much bigger impact on guest satisfaction, reviews, and day-to-day operations. These are the spaces where thoughtful setup pays off the fastest. Start with the kitchen, coffee bar, bedrooms, game room, and outdoor spaces, then work through the remaining rooms to ensure nothing is overlooked.
Quick Setup Tip: We recommend Roku TVs throughout the house, including bedrooms, for a consistent guest experience and easy turnover.
Kitchen Essentials: Where Guest Experience Is Most Noticeable
In our experience, the kitchen has an outsized impact on how guests perceive a short-term rental. When it’s done well, guests frequently mention that the home had “everything they needed and more.” When essentials are missing or poorly chosen, the kitchen is also the space most likely to generate guest messages during a stay.
A thoughtfully equipped kitchen doesn’t need to be high-end or overfilled — it needs to be complete, intuitive, and easy to use. Guests should be able to cook, serve, and clean up without hunting for tools or asking questions.
Focus on Completeness, Not Excess
Rather than offering specialty gadgets or novelty items, we’ve found it works best to prioritize:
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The basics guests expect to find
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Durable items that hold up to repeat use
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Tools that are easy to clean and reset between stays
When guests feel confident using the kitchen, they use it more — and that confidence shows up in reviews.
Consistency Reduces Questions
Standardizing kitchen items wherever possible makes a noticeable difference. Matching cookware sets, consistent utensil styles, and clearly organized drawers help guests quickly understand where things are and how to use them.
This reduces:
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“Do you have a…?” messages
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Mid-stay interruptions
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Last-minute purchases to fill gaps
Small Details Guests Appreciate
Certain kitchen touches consistently elevate the experience:
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Enough cookware to prepare a full meal
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Sharp knives (safely stored)
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Plenty of dishes and glassware so guests don’t have to run the dishwasher constantly
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Simple, clearly labeled storage
These are the kinds of details guests may not call out individually — but they’re exactly what leads to comments like “the kitchen had everything we needed and more.”
Coffee Bar Essentials: What We’ve Learned Works Best
A coffee bar is one of the easiest ways to make guests feel welcome, but it’s also an area where hosts often overthink or under-plan. Over time, we’ve learned that flexibility and simplicity matter more than offering every possible option.
One Machine That Covers Most Guests
Most guests expect a pod machine because it’s fast and familiar. At the same time, some guests strongly prefer traditional drip coffee. We’ve found that trying to meet both needs with multiple machines quickly eats up counter space.
What works best:
A combo machine that supports both pods and a carafe.
This setup:
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Covers single-serve and traditional coffee drinkers
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Reduces guest questions
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Prevents future “Can you add a regular coffee maker?” requests
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Uses space more efficiently than separate machines
French Press: A Simple Backup Option
We also recommend including a French press when space allows. It appeals to guests who don’t like pods, requires no electricity, and is inexpensive to replace if broken.
This isn’t essential for every property, but it’s a thoughtful addition that covers another type of coffee drinker with minimal effort.
👉 French Press
Coffee Bar Consumables That Actually Get Used
This is where coffee bars quietly win reviews.
We’ve found it best to stock:
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Coffee pods
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Tea packets (a few varieties)
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Hot chocolate pods (especially popular with families)
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Sugar packets
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Artificial sweetener packets
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Non-dairy creamer packets
Packets are ideal because they’re:
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Shelf-stable
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Easy to restock
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Clean and consistent between stays
Disposable cups, stirrers, and napkins can also be helpful, especially for early departures or outdoor use.
Bedroom Essentials: Creating a Finished, Comfortable Space
Guests may not remember every piece of furniture in a bedroom, but they always notice the bed. A well-made bed immediately communicates cleanliness, comfort, and care — setting the tone for the entire stay.
Quiet Bedding Makes a Big Difference
Neutral, “quiet” bedding photographs well, appeals to a wide range of guests, and avoids feeling dated. Busy patterns or bold colors tend to polarize guests and show wear more quickly. Simple, high-quality bedding helps the room feel calm and intentional while holding up to frequent laundering.
Pillow Layering That Feels Intentional
A thoughtful pillow setup goes a long way in making the bed feel finished without adding unnecessary clutter:
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Two sleeping pillows per guest
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Two pillows for structure or shams
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One lumbar pillow to complete the look
This combination creates a bed that feels comfortable and slightly luxurious, without increasing laundry or turnover complexity.
Focus on Function Over Extra Furniture
In most short-term rentals, guests are staying for a few nights — not moving in. Because of that, large dressers are often unnecessary and can actually create problems. They tend to become makeshift luggage stands, which leads to scratched surfaces and additional wear.
Instead of extra furniture, it’s more effective to prioritize items that serve a clear purpose.
Guests aren’t moving in — they’re staying.
Luggage Racks Protect Your Furniture
A luggage rack in each bedroom gives guests a designated place for suitcases and helps prevent damage to beds, nightstands, and other surfaces. This small addition keeps rooms looking better over time and makes cleanup between stays easier.
Bedside Setup Matters
Every bed should have:
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A bedside table
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A lamp for evening and nighttime use
In the primary bedroom, both sides of the bed should be treated equally. Guests expect symmetry and convenience, especially when sharing a bed.
Adding a small charging station beside each bed is a simple upgrade that guests appreciate immediately. It eliminates outlet hunting, prevents unplugging lamps, and keeps cords organized.
Closet Basics Guests Expect
Even for short stays, guests appreciate having:
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Plenty of hangers
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An iron and ironing board available in the room or nearby
These items don’t need to be prominent, but having them available avoids unnecessary questions during a stay.
Outdoor Essentials: Experiences Guests Remember
Outdoor spaces don’t need to be elaborate to be memorable. In our experience, simple, familiar games and activities get far more use than decorative extras.
Outdoor Games That Consistently Get Used
These are reliable crowd-pleasers that work across age groups:
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Cornhole
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Horseshoes
They’re easy to store, weather-resistant, and don’t require instructions. Guests instinctively know how to use them, which means they actually get played.
Standout Option: Exterior Table Tennis
If you have the space, outdoor-rated ping pong tables are a surprisingly strong upgrade. Many hosts don’t realize these exist, but they can:
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Withstand weather
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Fold for storage
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Create a true “wow” factor
This isn’t essential for every STR, but it’s a great differentiator when it fits the property.
👉 Outdoor Table Tennis Table
Small Touches That Elevate Outdoor Use
Experience-focused extras often outperform decorative ones. Items like fire pit accessories or activity baskets tend to get more appreciation than throw pillows or décor.
Game Room Essentials: Entertainment That Actually Gets Used
A game room can be a major differentiator for a short-term rental, but only if the items are durable, intuitive, and easy to reset between stays. The goal isn’t to fill the room — it’s to choose a few standout pieces that guests of all ages immediately understand how to use.
Arcade Games That Guests Love
One of the biggest hits we’ve seen in game rooms is a 1Up-style arcade game. These machines check a lot of boxes for STRs:
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Instantly recognizable
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Easy for kids and adults
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Nostalgic for parents
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Compact footprint
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Minimal setup or instructions required
One well-chosen arcade game often gets more use — and more mentions in reviews — than multiple smaller games.
Game Tables (If the Space Truly Allows)
Game tables can be a great addition, but only when there’s enough room for comfortable play. We’ve found the best options for STRs are:
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Foosball tables
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Shuffleboard tables
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Combination game tables (air hockey / ping pong)
The key is to avoid anything that:
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Requires frequent re-leveling
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Has lots of loose parts
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Feels flimsy after repeated use
If the room feels tight, it’s better to skip a table entirely than to force one in.
TVs Throughout the House: What We Recommend
TV setup is one of the most common questions hosts ask, especially when deciding whether TVs are necessary in bedrooms. In our experience, the answer is yes — guests expect TVs in bedrooms, and providing them helps avoid disappointment and questions during a stay.
Just as important as having TVs is keeping them consistent throughout the house.
We strongly recommend using Roku TVs in every room. Roku’s Guest Mode allows automatic logout of streaming accounts at checkout, protects host profiles, and creates a familiar, easy-to-use experience for guests.
Recommended TV Sizes by Space
Based on guest comfort and typical room use, this setup has worked well for us:
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Living Room, Game Room, Patio, and Other Common Spaces:
65″ TVs -
Primary / Master Bedroom:
50″–65″ TV, depending on room size and viewing distance -
Secondary Bedrooms:
45″–50″ TVs
This approach ensures:
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TVs feel appropriately sized for each space
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Guests can comfortably watch from beds or seating areas
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No room feels like an afterthought
Standardizing TV brands and operating systems across the home also simplifies setup, troubleshooting, and turnover between stays.
👉 Roku TV
👉 [View STR Game Room Essentials Checklist]
Complete Short-Term Rental Essentials (Room by Room)
Use the links below to access the complete checklist for each space.
Short-Term Rental Essentials Hub
STR Kitchen Essentials Checklist
STR Bedroom Essentials Checklist
STR Outdoor Essentials Checklist
STR Game Room Essentials Checklist
STR Coffee Bar Essentials Checklist
STR Security Essentials Checklist
STR Furniture Essentials Checklist
STR Living Room Essentials Checklist
STR Household Essentials Checklist
Final Thoughts for New STR Owners
Equipping a short-term rental is one of the most time-consuming parts of the setup process. Having a clear, room-by-room framework helps reduce decision fatigue and prevents costly last-minute purchases.
This guide reflects what we’ve learned works best in real short-term rentals — items that are practical, durable, and easy to manage over time. Use it as a foundation, adapt it to your specific property, and revisit individual sections as your rental evolves.
Last Updated 1/6/2026