When it comes to short-term rentals, the kitchen is often the difference between a four-star stay and a rave five-star review. Guests want to feel comfortable enough to cook, but hosts need a setup that is durable, stylish, and easy to maintain. As interior design experts with experience in rental properties, we understand the critical balance between aesthetics and utility. This is why we created the ultimate Airbnb Kitchen Essentials checklist. We’ve broken down the 15 must-have items that deliver both high style to make your listing a premium, giving tips for great style while ensuring every item is functional enough for a flawless guest experience.

The Aesthetic Game-Changers (The “Style”)

To earn those coveted high marks for style and attention to detail, a beautiful kitchen must be intentionally designed. These choices elevate the perceived value of your rental and guarantee a photo-worthy experience for your guests.

1. The Warmth of Thoughtful Gold Accents

Overcome the temptation of an all stainless kitchen by adding some cozy elements. Introduce touches of gold on small elements like flatware handles, utensil holders, and trim on appliances or cookware. Gold acts as a timeless, essential neutral that adds immediate elegance and warmth, seamlessly pairing with any design scheme to instantly elevate the everyday items.

Gold Utensil Holder

Gold Flatware (set for 4)

2. Cohesion Through Matching Countertop Appliances

Mismatched, plastic appliances are instant style killers. For a premium aesthetic, invest in a coordinated set for your primary countertop appliances. This might include the toaster, electric kettle, coffee pot, and microwave. Make selections, all in the same finish and color palette (e.g., all matte black, white, stainless, etc.). Cohesion signals deliberate, high-end design, communicating a premium rental experience.

Here is a go to pair, perfect for any style!

Toaster

Electric Tea Kettle

3. Elevated, Textural Clear Glassware

Guests use glassware constantly, so quality matters. Stick to clear color only for all glasses, but add visual interest through texture. Seek out a variety of sizes (highball, wine, etc.) with elevated, vintage-like patterns such as hobnail or ribbed glass. This texture catches the light and adds a thoughtful visual appeal without clashing with your decor.

Textured Glassware by Libby

4. Style, Comfort, and Safety with a Kitchen Rug

A well-placed rug adds instant warmth and defines the space. Choose a rug that is machine washable and features a strong grip or non-slip backing for guest safety. We recommend sticking to muted tones and soft movement in the pattern. Buy two so you always have a clean backup available, ensuring continuous style and comfort.

This runner is a trifecta of perfectness: Machine Washable, Non-Sip, & Affordable! Plus it offers a gentle pattern in a neutral palette.

5. Neutral Dishes & The Signature Mug Set

Pair practical staples with experiential items. Your core dishes should be practical, neutral white porcelain or stoneware, as this is durable and provides a clean backdrop. However, elevate the morning ritual by providing a set of mugs with a little more color, pattern, or texture. Since enjoying a beverage is a key comfort ritual, the signature mug transforms a basic moment into an indulgent experience.

I like the simple design and size of these (only 12 oz) & the right size to eliminate waste!

Set of 4 Mugs

The Functional Necessities (The “Substance”)

Style loses its charm instantly if a kitchen is unusable. These items are the “substance” of your setup. Therefore, they are durable, functional, and ensure guests can comfortably cook and enjoy their stay. This is what can make the difference between a positive and negative review.

6. Quality, Sharp Knife Set

A dull knife is the top source of kitchen frustration and lead to a low rating. Do not skimp here. Invest in a quality, sturdy knife set secured in a block or on a magnetic strip. Focus on the core needs: a high-quality chef’s knife, a serrated knife, and a reliable paring knife. Sharp, functional tools show respect for the guest’s desire to prepare their own meals.

I like this set. It covers all the bases and keeps things elevated in coordinating with the appliances.

Knife Set in Acacia Wood

7. Sturdy, Non-Warped Cutting Boards

Cheap plastic cutting boards look worn quickly, warp in the dishwasher, and signal a lack of care. Provide two durable options: one attractive wood or bamboo board (for display and serving cheese/charcuterie) and a separate, dishwasher-safe plastic board for safe meat and vegetable prep.

I love this set of three because they are dishwasher safe and reversible. Nice and simple.

Set of 3 Cutting Boards

8. Durable Cookware Built to Last

Avoid thin, flimsy, and cheap non-stick pans. They degrade the experience and look terrible. Invest in quality, mid-range stainless steel, ceramic non-stick, or hard-anodized aluminum cookware. Ensure the set is comprehensive, including a large stock pot for big meals, two saucepans, and two appropriately sized frying pans. Durability protects your investment and consistently delivers a reliable cooking experience.

This set really elevates any kitchen. And the ceramic non stick coating offers a “cleaner option” as it is made from silica rather than harsh chemicals.

White & Gold Cookware Set

9. Adequate Nested Mixing and Serving Bowls

Cooking and serving require space. A nested set of three stainless steel, sturdy plastic, or glass mixing bowls is space-efficient, easy to clean, and highly versatile for food prep, mixing salads, or even serving popcorn during a movie night.

This set is a great option! It offers the ability to prep ahead of time and keep covered. Plus, you are able to use for serving if needed.

Set of Mixing Bowls with Lids

10. Cohesive, High-Quality Cooking Utensil Set

Mismatched plastic and melting nylon utensils ruin the cooking experience and look messy. Invest in a cohesive set. Select either durable stainless steel or high-heat silicone sets that include the essentials: spatulas, ladles, whisk, and tongs. Storing them neatly in a stylish holder(like the gold-accented one from Category 1) maintains both style and functionality.

This set below works really well.

Utensil Set

Thoughtful Extras (The “5-Star Factor”)

These low-cost, high-impact details are what separate a good rental from a 5-star experience. These items show guests that you have anticipated their needs, adding comfort and convenience to their stay.

11. Starter Set of Essential Spices and Oils

Guests dislike purchasing full containers of staples for a short stay. Provide high-quality salt, pepper, and a neutral cooking oil (like olive oil) in attractive, easily accessible decanters. This convenience is deeply appreciated and frequently mentioned in positive reviews.

This cute salt and pepper are perfect. Plus, having salt and pepper literally listed avoids any confusion – what a simple way to please guests!

Set of Salt & Pepper Shakers

12. Quality Tools for Leisure

Avoid the frustration of cheap bar tools. Invest in a sturdy, reliable corkscrew and bottle opener. These small, durable tools ensure guests can relax and enjoy their beverages without struggling. Don’t underestimate the idea that a tiny investment can yield big satisfaction.

Quality Cork Screw

13. Nested Storage Containers for Leftovers

Anticipate the guest’s need to save food or pack a lunch. A small set of 3-4 nested, clean storage containers (glass or quality plastic) makes your rental feel more like home and provides added value by saving the guest money and preventing food waste.

Set of 5 Nesting Storage Containers

14. Organized Cleaning Caddy

A neat cleaning station is functional and reassuring. Under the sink, keep a tidy caddy containing a new dish sponge/brush, dish soap, and necessary dishwasher tabs. The organization of these items shows attention to detail and ensures guests can easily clean up after themselves.

You don’t have to overthink this one AT ALL! But I do suggest using something sturdy with handles that actually move. This sort of detail is what sets things apart for a quality guest experience. I like this simple but elevated caddy.

Cleaning Caddy

15. The Simple Welcome Touch

While not an item, the presentation matters. Use a small, attractive welcome basket or note to briefly orient the guest to the kitchen (e.g., where to find the coffee or the trash). This human touch guides the guest and makes them feel personally welcomed.

I think this is a nice opportunity to showcase a little extra design or style. You can source a quality vintage basket or find one that has a unique shape and attention to detail, like this one. The oversized crescent shape offers the ability to display a variety of things without feeling too much like a cavern to fill. Plus, it can always double for something else if you needed to repurpose it.

Beachcomber Basket from Pottery Barn

Ready to Design a Profitable Rental?

Investing in the right Airbnb kitchen essentials isn’t just about shopping; it’s a strategic design decision that directly impacts your booking rate and guest satisfaction. Need a little more help?

Let our experts at FunCycled handle the vision for the entire property. We specialize in creating functional and beautiful residential and rental spaces. Whether its the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, & more, we want to help you design a space that you (and any guests) will love!

Click the button below to book your 1-Hour Design Consultation today and start turning your rental into a consistent 5-star earner!

If you would like to purchase all of these products in one place (and access the full product list for your Airbnb or home!), you can click the link below.

FunCycled’s

Airbnb Kitchen Essentials

To access our FULL list of essentials for your kitchen, click the link below for ONE stop shopping!

Shop in One Place

Thank you all for following along! If you’d like to get this blog in your email once a week, please sign up for our weekly newsletter by adding your email in the little box below my picture at the top of this page. 

If you’ve enjoyed this post, please like FunCycled on  Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest if you don’t already. Keep up to date on the newest finds, vote on colors and give your input on our creativity. We share fun tutorials, great before and after, and new design inspirations. 

We offer interior design, kitchen cabinet painting, and custom built tables, barn doors, and repurposed furniture. Thank you, again, for working with us and for taking the time to spread the word about what we do. 

Happy FunCycling Friends,
Sarah ; )

Exquisite Spaces. Sustainable Designs. Brighter Futures.

Note some of the the links provided are affiliate links, and I may earn from any qualifying purchases.

Hi Friends!

Happy second week of the new year! I’m BEYOND excited to share another airbnb that I designed. This one is so special because of the view alone. It sits right on State Street in Schenectady so the view and how close it sits to all the shops and restaurants makes this destination top tier!

If you’d like to book this Airbnb to check out the design in person, head to my design clients Airbnb page here.

Please click here if you have trouble viewing the photos on this post.

Sadly, I accidentally deleted the before photo for this design. It was simply an empty room filled with construction materials when I first looked at it. We didn’t move any walls or change anything with the layout. It’s the finishes that made all the difference. Here’s the design board that I submitted to the client:

Here are links to some of the products for you:

Bed
Dresser
Comforter Set
Table and Chair Set

One of my favorite design elements in the room is the headboard accent wall. It makes such a dramatic difference adding the accent wood, and it helped make the headboard pop as well!

Check out the finished room!

I wanted to thank Adnan for working with me on this project as well as 4 other Airbnb’s! It’s been such a joy to work with him!

Could your home or airbnb use design help? I’d love to be a part of the project! Please message me today to set up a consult and get the project started! 

Check out more details about our Interior Design Services. 

Thank you all for following along! If you’d like to get this blog in your email once a week, please sign up for our weekly newsletter by adding your email in the little box below my picture. 

If you’ve enjoyed this post, please like FunCycled on  Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest if you don’t already. Keep up to date on the newest finds, vote on colors and give your input on our creativity. We share fun tutorials, great before and after, and new design inspirations. 

We offer interior design, kitchen cabinet painting, and custom built tables, barn doors, and repurposed furniture. Thank you, again, for working with us and for taking the time to spread the word about what we do. 

Happy FunCycling Friends,
Sarah ;)

Hi Friends!

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!! We enjoyed the day and were able to spend the weekend in the Electric City shopping at local shops, going to Proctor’s for the Charlie Brown Christmas Musical, and ended the night staying in this Airbnb! I did the design work for this Airbnb over the last year, and it was an absolute joy to be able to stay in it and relax in a space that I put so much time and heart into designing. Huge thanks to Adnan and Carissa for their hospitality!

If you have trouble seeing any photos from this post, click here.

Let me show you the building the first day I went to go see it:

Here’s the design boards I created before the project started:

Are you ready for the after photos?

If you’d like to rent this airbnb, click here. 

Could your home or airbnb use design help? I’d love to be a part of the project! Please message me today to set up a consult and get the project started! 

Check out more details about our Interior Design Services. 

Thank you all for following along! If you’d like to get this blog in your email once a week, please sign up for our weekly newsletter by adding your email in the little box below my picture. 

If you’ve enjoyed this post, please like FunCycled on  Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest if you don’t already. Keep up to date on the newest finds, vote on colors and give your input on our creativity. We share fun tutorials, great before and after, and new design inspirations. 

We offer interior design, kitchen cabinet painting, and custom built tables, barn doors, and repurposed furniture. Thank you, again, for working with us and for taking the time to spread the word about what we do. 

Happy FunCycling Friends,
Sarah ;)

Hi Friends!

How are you? I hope you all had a nice weekend! I started the celebrations for my birthday this past weekend, but my birthday isn’t until the 7th so I have a few more days to fit in all the 40 by 40 experiences. It looks like we’re going to make it!

If you’re having trouble viewing the photos in this post, click here.

For this week’s makeover, I’m sharing another airbnb design that I did for a VERY tight space. We had one small room and needed to fit a kitchen, small living room, and seating area into it. Believe it or not, this is the room I walked into when I was asked to design the space. It was hard to even move around to get the measurements of the walls. It also had one large wall full of windows so that made the design a little challenging, too!

Here’s the design boards I created for the space to get approval before moving ahead on anything:

Ready to see the boards come to life?

 If you’d like to rent this airbnb, click here. 

Could your home or airbnb use design help? I’d love to be a part of the project! Please message me today to set up a consult and get the project started! 

Check out more details about our Interior Design Services. 

Thank you all for following along! If you’d like to get this blog in your email once a week, please sign up for our weekly newsletter by adding your email in the little box below my picture. 

If you’ve enjoyed this post, please like FunCycled on  Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest if you don’t already. Keep up to date on the newest finds, vote on colors and give your input on our creativity. We share fun tutorials, great before and after, and new design inspirations. 

We offer interior design, kitchen cabinet painting, and custom built tables, barn doors, and repurposed furniture. Thank you, again, for working with us and for taking the time to spread the word about what we do. 

Happy FunCycling Friends,
Sarah ;)

Hi Friends!

How are you? I hope you had a great weekend! We had friends in from out of town and went to the Washington County Cheese Tour on Saturday. It was so much fun!!

If you have trouble viewing this post, please click here.

For this week’s makeover, I wanted to show you a bathroom design that I recently did for an airbnb in Schenectady! If you’d like to rent this airbnb, click here. 

Here’s the bathroom before:

Pretty bad, right?

First, I came up with the design board for the client. We tweaked the vanity because the one I picked went out of stock.

My favorite part of this design was the floor tile! It brought a retro vibe and the orange we wanted to have in the space.

Ready for the afters?

Could your home or airbnb use design help? I’d love to be a part of the project! Please message me today to set up a consult and get the project started! 

Check out more details about our Interior Design Services. 

Thank you all for following along! If you’d like to get this blog in your email once a week, please sign up for our weekly newsletter by adding your email in the little box below my picture. 

If you’ve enjoyed this post, please like FunCycled on  Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest if you don’t already. Keep up to date on the newest finds, vote on colors and give your input on our creativity. We share fun tutorials, great before and after, and new design inspirations. 

We offer interior design, kitchen cabinet painting, and custom built tables, barn doors, and repurposed furniture. Thank you, again, for working with us and for taking the time to spread the word about what we do. 

Happy FunCycling Friends,
Sarah ;)

Hi Friends! 

How was your holiday weekend? I hope all my upstate friends are enjoyed their last full week of summer!

If you’re having trouble viewing the photos, please click here.

For this week’s makeover, I wanted to show a bathroom that I designed in Schenectady, NY as part of a complete design layout, furniture selections, and decor for 5 airbnb’s. I want to say a huge thank you to Adnan for working with me on all of these projects and trusting me with the designs. If you’d like to rent this airbnb, click here. 

I don’t have a before photo of this bathroom unfortunately, but I’ll share links to order any of the product to make it up to you. How does that sound?

Here are the product links if you’d like to order anything.

Shower tile
Shower Faucet System
Towel Hangers
Wall Tile
Bathroom Mirror
Faucet
Vanity
Floor Tile

Could your home or airbnb use design help? I’d love to be a part of the project! Please message me today to set up a consult and get the project started! 

Check out more details about our Interior Design Services. 

Thank you all for following along! If you’d like to get this blog in your email once a week, please sign up for our weekly newsletter by adding your email in the little box below my picture. 

If you’ve enjoyed this post, please like FunCycled on  Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest if you don’t already. Keep up to date on the newest finds, vote on colors and give your input on our creativity. We share fun tutorials, great before and after, and new design inspirations. 

We offer interior design, kitchen cabinet painting, and custom built tables, barn doors, and repurposed furniture. Thank you, again, for working with us and for taking the time to spread the word about what we do. 

Happy FunCycling Friends,
Sarah ;)

Hi Friends!

How was your weekend? I hope all my upstate friends are enjoying their last few weeks of summer, and I hope all my southern friends who have kiddos are enjoying the rhythms of the new school year.

If you’re having trouble viewing the photos, please click here.

For this week’s makeover, I wanted to show a room that I designed in Schenectady, NY as part of a complete design layout, furniture selections, and decor for 5 airbnb’s. I want to say a huge thank you to Adnan for working with me on all of these projects and trusting me with the designs. If you’d like to rent this airbnb, click here. 

Here was the bedroom before:

I know, not the best photos, but it’s what I have friends. lol

Here are the after photos:

Could your home or airbnb use design help? I’d love to be a part of the project! Please message me today to set up a consult and get the project started! 

Check out more details about our Interior Design Services. 

Thank you all for following along! If you’d like to get this blog in your email once a week, please sign up for our weekly newsletter by adding your email in the little box below my picture. 

If you’ve enjoyed this post, please like FunCycled on  Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest if you don’t already. Keep up to date on the newest finds, vote on colors and give your input on our creativity. We share fun tutorials, great before and after, and new design inspirations. 

We offer interior design, kitchen cabinet painting, and custom built tables, barn doors, and repurposed furniture. Thank you, again, for working with us and for taking the time to spread the word about what we do. 

Happy FunCycling Friends,
Sarah ;)

Hi Friends,

How are you? I hope you had a nice week! I was in Georgia last week helping with an airbnb layout/design and while I was there, I was able to do a couple more of my #40by40fun where I’m trying to do 40 new experiences before I turn 40!

If you’re having trouble viewing the photos, please click here.

I flew an airplane and visited a cat cafe for the first time.

I loved flying the plane so much and even though the cat cafe was a little…um, underwhelming, petting kittens can never be a bad thing! I wanted to take them all home!

For this week’s transformation, I’m sharing the living room design that I did for an airbnb in Schenectady! Here’s the room before:

The contractors had to completely redo the flooring since it was so uneven! It was a blank slate otherwise.

Here’s the initial design board for the space:

Ready for the after photos?

I want to say a huge thank you to Adnan for working with me on all of these projects and trusting me with the designs. If you’d like to rent this airbnb, click here. 

Could your home or airbnb use design help, I’d love to be a part of the project! Please message me today to set up a consult and get the project started! 

Check out more details about our Interior Design Services. 

Thank you all for following along! If you’d like to get this blog in your email once a week, please sign up for our weekly newsletter by adding your email in the little box below my picture. 

If you’ve enjoyed this post, please like FunCycled on  Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest if you don’t already. Keep up to date on the newest finds, vote on colors and give your input on our creativity. We share fun tutorials, great before and after, and new design inspirations. 

We offer interior design, kitchen cabinet painting, and custom built tables, barn doors, and repurposed furniture. Thank you, again, for working with us and for taking the time to spread the word about what we do. 

Happy FunCycling Friends,
Sarah ;)

Hi Friends!

How was your weekend? My sister and her family are visiting for the first time in 6 years and we are thrilled to have them here. We spent some of the weekend in NYC going on a boat ride and watching my nephew play chess games in Washington Square Park.

For this weeks makeover, I’m sharing a complete new kitchen design that I did for an Airbnb in Schenectady. I don’t have a great before photo, but here’s what I do have:

It was just a blank slate with nothing much in the room, and a wall full of windows looking out over State Street.

So, I started by creating a design board:

We picked the layout of the kitchen and the contractors got to work!

Here are the after photos:

I want to say a huge thank you to Adnan for working with me on all of these projects and trusting me with the designs. If you’d like to rent this airbnb, click here. 

Could your home or airbnb use design help, I’d love to be a part of the project! Please message me today to set up a consult and get the project started! 

Check out more details about our Interior Design Services. 

Thank you all for following along! If you’d like to get this blog in your email once a week, please sign up for our weekly newsletter by adding your email in the little box below my picture. 

If you’ve enjoyed this post, please like FunCycled on  Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest if you don’t already. Keep up to date on the newest finds, vote on colors and give your input on our creativity. We share fun tutorials, great before and after, and new design inspirations. 

We offer interior design, kitchen cabinet painting, and custom built tables, barn doors, and repurposed furniture. Thank you, again, for working with us and for taking the time to spread the word about what we do. 

Happy FunCycling Friends,
Sarah ;)

Hi Friends, 

If you’re having trouble viewing the photos on this post, please click here.

Last week, I showed you the main area of a spiral staircase and half bathroom that turned into a kitchen and living room. This week, I wanted to share the rest of this design by showing you the bedroom and bathroom makeover.

Here’s the bedroom before:

The walls were painted with Chantilly Lace, I added a BOHO vibe with the artwork above the headboard and the velvet duvet cover.

Ready for the afters?

Here you can see into the bedroom from the living room.

I don’t have a before photo to show you of the bathroom because it was built in an open space in the hallway!

Check out how beautiful it is though:

The second photo’s wall color is more true to the actual color of the walls. I love the wallpaper wand the floating vanity in this bathroom!

If you’d like to rent this airbnb, click here. 

Could your home or airbnb use design help, I’d love to be a part of the project! Please message me today to set up a consult and get the project started! 

Check out more details about our Interior Design Services. 

Thank you all for following along! If you’d like to get this blog in your email once a week, please sign up for our weekly newsletter by adding your email in the little box below my picture. 

If you’ve enjoyed this post, please like FunCycled on  Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest if you don’t already. Keep up to date on the newest finds, vote on colors and give your input on our creativity. We share fun tutorials, great before and after, and new design inspirations. 

We offer interior design, kitchen cabinet painting, and custom built tables, barn doors, and repurposed furniture. Thank you, again, for working with us and for taking the time to spread the word about what we do. 

Happy FunCycling Friends,
Sarah ;)