Austin Airbnb Furnishing Companies (2026 Guide)

Short answer: if you want an Austin Airbnb furnished turnkey (designed, bought, delivered, assembled, styled and stocked so it is ready for the first guest), the local companies that publish an Austin short-term rental furnishing service today include Surge, Guest Haus, Funkit Interiors, Belo Home Styling, Sassy Simplicity and Evelise Living, plus Polychrome for design plans you install yourself and Bee Setups as a national setup service with Austin clients. Expect a full furnishing project to take roughly 3 to 8 weeks from signed agreement to guest-ready, and budget for furniture separately from the designer's fee. Published furniture budgets we found range from about $12,000 to $15,000 for a 1-bedroom up to $30,000 to $38,000 for a 5-bedroom home.

Comparing furnishing help for an Austin rental? This guide covers who furnishes vacation rentals in Austin, what a furnishing package actually includes, how much to budget per bedroom, how long it takes, and how to choose a company. Every company below was checked on its own web page this month, and we only repeat what each company publishes about itself: services, service area, process and contact details. We did not rank companies by reviews, and we did not make up prices.

Austin Texas Airbnb furnishing at a glance

Question	Short answer
Who offers turnkey STR furnishing here?	Surge, Guest Haus, Funkit Interiors, Belo Home Styling, Sassy Simplicity, Evelise Living (full setup); Polychrome (design plan only); Bee Setups (national setup service)
What does a turnkey package include?	Design plan, furniture and decor, kitchenware, linens and towels, ordering, delivery, assembly, styling, and guest-ready stocking
Typical timeline	About 3 to 8 weeks depending on the company, home size and product lead times
Furniture budget	Bee Setups publishes $12K to $15K+ for 1 bedroom up to $30K to $38K+ for 5 bedrooms; Funkit suggests about $3,500 per space
Designer or setup fee	Separate from furniture at most companies; flat fee, hourly, or per project
Austin STR license	$736.60 new / $369.60 renewal, valid 2 years (official fee schedule effective Oct 1, 2026)
Hotel occupancy tax	17% total in Austin (6% state + 11% local)

Why furnishing matters so much for vacation rentals

Austin is a crowded short-term rental market. Surge market data shows roughly 24,000 active listings in the Austin metro, with median annual revenue around $41,300, an average daily rate near $216 and occupancy around 58%. In a market that size, guests add dates, check prices for a different weekend, and compare dozens of near-identical homes in the search grid, and the photos decide who gets the click. A furnished, styled vacation rental that photographs well, sleeps the number of guests it promises and survives heavy turnover is what lets a property hold its rate.

Note that this does not mean a designer guarantees higher revenue. No honest company can promise that. What good furnishing does is remove the most common reasons a listing underperforms: thin photos, uncomfortable beds, missing kitchen basics, and furniture that looks tired after a few months of guests. Listings on Airbnb show photos and nightly prices first in search, so both matter. Guests who add dates see the full total, which is where a well-furnished home earns the click. For the revenue side of the decision, see our breakdown of how much you can make on Airbnb in Austin.

Before you furnish: local rules that affect setup

Note for owners comparing markets: Austin rules are local, so a guide written for California or Illinois rentals will not apply here. Furnishing is the fun part, but a rental here also has to be legal before it goes live. Austin requires a short-term rental license, which now costs $736.60 for a new 2-year license ($642 plus a $94.60 notification fee) and $369.60 to renew, under the fee schedule that took effect October 1, 2026. Austin lists requirements and the application on its short-term rentals page. Since July 1, 2026, platforms can be asked to delist unlicensed rentals, and the owner needs a local contact who can communicate with guests and respond within 2 hours. Keep your registration details handy for the listing.

Guests also pay hotel occupancy tax. In Austin the total is 17%: 6% state, collected under the rules on the Texas Comptroller hotel occupancy tax page, plus 11% city. Our guide to short-term rental laws in Austin, TX covers licensing, zoning and reporting in detail, and Texas short-term rental taxes explains the tax stack. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.

Some licensing and safety items overlap with furnishing, so tell your designer about them early:

Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Alarm placement affects where art, shelves and bunk beds go. The NFPA smoke alarm guidance is a good starting checklist.
Occupancy and sleeping count. Do not furnish for more guests than your license, HOA and the home can support.
Posted information. Plan a spot for any notices or house rules your HOA or license requires.
Furniture anchoring. Dressers, bookshelves and TVs should be anchored to the wall in a rental that will host families.

Airbnb furnishing services Austin owners can hire (verified October 2026)

Each listing below links to the company's own page, so guests and owners alike can verify it. We include only what the company says about itself on its website: services, area served, process and contact. Fees appear only where the company publishes them. Always confirm details directly before you sign.

1. Surge

Surge Design is the interior design and furnishing service from Surge, a short-term rental management company operating in Texas and Florida. The service covers interior design for short-term rental performance, full property furnishing from empty unit to guest-ready, staging and styling for listing photos, renovation coordination and smart home setup (smart locks, noise monitors, thermostats). Surge is a good company to talk to if you also want hospitality and management handled after launch.

What sets it apart is that design and management can sit under one roof. The same team that picks the furniture also runs pricing, guest messaging, cleaning and maintenance after launch, so the furnishing choices are made with turnovers and reviews in mind. Full-service Airbnb management in Austin is priced starting at 15% for full service. Design and furnishing are quoted per project.

Best for: owners who want one company to furnish and then manage the home
Service area: Surge markets, including Austin
How to reach them: call or text (888) 616-8149, or request a design quote online

2. Guest Haus

Guest Haus is an Austin boutique short-term rental management company with a design and staging service. Its site describes five stages: a design consultation with a quote, a design proposal you approve item by item, sourcing and install (they handle ordering, deliveries and building), final styling with stocking and a deep clean, and then photography, listing copy and pricing before launch. It offers full buildouts, refreshes and staging.

Best for: owners who also want a local manager after setup
Service area: Austin, Hill Country and surrounding areas
How to reach them: 512-823-1286, info@guesthausrentals.com, 2503-B E Cesar Chavez, Austin, TX 78702

3. Funkit Interiors

Funkit Interiors is an Austin-based design firm that focuses on short-term rentals, boutique hotels and unique stays, known for bold, themed interiors and murals. It offers virtual design and a full white-glove design and installation service. Per its FAQ, virtual design typically takes 3 to 4 weeks and the full white-glove service 4 to 8 weeks. The team places and tracks all orders, aims to have items at the property by week three, and spends about one week on site for installation, staging and the photoshoot. It coordinates painters, muralists, electricians, movers and photographers. Furniture and contractors are paid by the owner on top of its service fee.

Best for: owners who want a memorable, themed vacation rental
Service area: based in Austin; full service anywhere in the U.S., virtual worldwide
How to reach them: contact@funkit.co, +1 775-628-9040, 3306 Hyclimb Cir, Austin, TX

4. Belo Home Styling

Belo Home Styling provides full-service interior decorating for vacation rentals and says it works with budgets from affordable to luxury. Its published process runs 4 to 6 weeks: weeks 1 to 2 for a phone consultation, a lookbook for each space and an item list for approval; weeks 3 to 5 for orders and deliveries; and week 6 for assembly, installation, optional murals and accent walls, and stocking basics like cleaning products, cooking oils and spices.

Best for: owners who want a clear week-by-week plan
Service area: Austin, Round Rock, Cedar Park, Georgetown, San Marcos, Leander, Pflugerville and nationwide
How to reach them: 512-766-3603 or its online consultation form

5. Sassy Simplicity

Sassy Simplicity designs, shops for and installs fully furnished rentals in the greater Austin area, including short-term, mid-term and long-term rentals. It also offers home staging and interior design, with virtual design for clients outside Austin. Its site lists interior design at $100 per hour and rental furnishing priced per project, notes that rental furnishing projects are booked 8 to 10 weeks out, and describes a typical whole-home timeline of 2 weeks of design and shopping followed by 2 to 3 days to install.

Best for: mid-term and short-term rental owners in the Austin area
Service area: greater Austin; virtual design elsewhere
How to reach them: hi@sassysimplicity.com

6. Evelise Living

Evelise Living is a company that sets up Airbnb and short-term rental properties. It lists full-property furnishing and styling; furniture, decor, kitchenware and essentials sourcing; space planning; assembly and setup; and optional photography and vendor coordination. Its process runs from consultation and a furnishing plan through purchasing approvals, delivery, assembly, styling and a final walkthrough. The site is clear on the details: it handles furnishing and setup only, not ongoing property management or guest communication.

Best for: owners who already have a manager or self-manage
Service area: statewide, per the company
How to reach them: email and phone through the contact page on its site

7. Polychrome (design plan only)

Polychrome is an Austin design studio that offers design for ADUs and short-term rentals. Its packages range from a strategy session to a full specification package with space planning, finish and material strategy and a product specification list. This is a design service: you or your contractor buy and install. It suits owners building or renovating a small rental who want a professional plan without paying for full install.

Best for: ADU and new-build owners who will install themselves
Service area: Austin
How to reach them: the contact page on its site

8. Bee Setups (national)

Bee Setups is a national Airbnb setup service, not an Austin-only firm, and it lists an Austin client among its financing examples. Its process: sign and pay the setup fee, an on-site visit for photos and measurements, floor plans and design boards with a purchasing list, then delivery, setup and go-live. Its site publishes setup fees of $995 (studios and 1-bedroom apartments), $2,500, $4,500 and $6,500 (high-end homes), each plus furniture, and says most projects take 3 to 6+ weeks. Financing is offered to qualified applicants.

Best for: owners who want published, tiered pricing
Service area: nationwide
How to reach them: book an intro call online

What a turnkey furnishing package includes

"Turnkey" means you hand over an empty property and get back a home that is ready for its first booking. The exact list varies by company, so get it in writing, but a complete package usually covers:

Design: a concept, a furnished floor plan, and a product list by space you approve before anything is ordered.
Furniture: beds and mattresses, sofas, dining table and seating, nightstands, dressers, desk or workspace, outdoor seating.
Kitchen: cookware, dishes, glassware, utensils, small appliances such as a coffee maker and toaster, and pantry starters.
Linens and bath: at least two full sets of sheets per bed, towels, mattress and pillow protectors, bath mats.
Decor: art, mirrors, lamps, rugs, pillows, plants, and the one or two photo moments that make the listing stand out.
Cleaning setup: clean storage, a vacuum, extra linens, and supplies so the cleaning crew can turn the property quickly.
Logistics: ordering, receiving deliveries, assembly, placement and haul-away of boxes.
Styling and stocking: beds made, shelves styled, toiletries and cleaning supplies stocked.

Items that are often not included unless you ask: major appliances, TVs and electronics, painting and wallpaper, murals, hot tubs and specialty outdoor gear, renovation work, cleaning, and professional photography. Funkit, for example, says the owner pays for contractors like painters and photographers on top of its fee, and Evelise Living lists photography as optional. Ask every company for a written list of what is in and out.

How much to budget per bedroom in Austin

The biggest expense is the furniture itself, which is usually separate from the designer's fee. Here are the only published numbers we found on company websites in October 2026:

Home size	Bee Setups published furniture range	Funkit rule of thumb (assumption shown)
1 bedroom	$12,000 to $15,000+	About $17,500 (5 spaces x $3,500)
2 bedrooms	$15,000 to $20,000+	About $21,000 (6 spaces)
3 bedrooms	$18,000 to $24,000+	About $24,500 to $28,000 (7 to 8 spaces)
4 bedrooms	$25,000 to $30,000+	About $31,500 to $35,000 (9 to 10 spaces)
5 bedrooms	$30,000 to $38,000+	About $35,000 to $42,000 (10 to 12 spaces)

How to read this table: Bee Setups publishes its typical full setup ranges by bedroom count. Funkit Interiors suggests counting every space in the home (each bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, dining, living, outdoor and game room) and multiplying by $3,500, so ten spaces is about $35,000. The Funkit column is our own math using that rule and assumes a typical home: for example, a 1-bedroom with one bathroom, a kitchen, a living area and an outdoor space counts as 5 spaces. Your count will differ.

On top of furniture, plan for:

The design or setup fee. Bee Setups publishes $995 to $6,500 by tier; Sassy Simplicity lists design at $100 per hour; most other firms quote per project.
Sales tax, freight and assembly fees. These add up on a full house, so ask whether a quote includes them.
Extras. Murals, paint, smart locks, a hot tub or game gear, and photography.
Startup fees. The $736.60 STR license, insurance, and your first stock of supplies. Our guide to the cost of running an Airbnb in Texas covers the ongoing side.

One more line item worth knowing: furniture in a rental property is generally a depreciable business asset. See rental property furniture tax deductions in Texas and talk to your CPA.

How long does furnishing take?

Published timelines from local furnishing companies (timelines vary with home size and lead times):

Company	Published timeline
Belo Home Styling	4 to 6 weeks
Funkit Interiors	3 to 4 weeks virtual; 4 to 8 weeks full install
Bee Setups	3 to 6+ weeks
Sassy Simplicity	2 weeks design and shopping, 2 to 3 days install; booked 8 to 10 weeks out

A typical project follows the same shape:

Week 1: consultation, measurements, photos, budget and style direction.
Weeks 1 to 2: design concept, floor plan and product list; owner approval.
Weeks 2 to 5: ordering and deliveries. Backorders are the most common delay.
Final week: assembly, install, styling, stocking and a deep clean.
Launch: photos, listing setup and pricing.

Start the Austin license application in parallel, not after the furniture lands. If you close on a home in early spring or November, remember that big event periods fill up fast and prices vary by night, so working backward from your target launch date matters.

DIY, designer or turnkey: other options for vacation rentals

Do it yourself

You pick, buy, receive and build everything. It costs the least in fees but the most in time, and first-time hosts often miss rental details: durable fabrics, enough linens for back-to-back turnovers, a lockable owner closet, and photo-friendly layouts. It works if you live in Austin and have a few free weeks.

Hire a residential interior designer

A residential designer can create a beautiful home, but not every designer works with short-term rentals. Ask whether they design for turnover, cleaning speed, sleeping count and listing photos. Some, like Polychrome, offer a design plan you install yourself.

Hire a vacation rental furnishing company

An STR-focused company handles the whole process, from design to stocked kitchen, and knows which amenities guests expect. It costs more than DIY, but it is the fastest route for an out-of-town investor. If the same company also manages the property, you get one point of contact from setup to the first review.

How to choose a furnishing company

Use these questions when you compare quotes. Most can be answered in a first call.

Do you design for short-term rentals specifically? Ask to see vacation rental projects, not just staged homes for sale.
What exactly is included? Get a written list: design, furniture, kitchen, linens, delivery, assembly, styling, stocking, photography.
How is the fee structured? Flat fee, hourly or percentage, and is furniture billed at retail, at wholesale or with a markup?
Who orders, receives and stores deliveries? Out-of-town owners need someone on the ground.
What is the timeline, and what happens with backorders?
How many revision rounds are included?
Do you plan for durability? Performance fabrics, washable slipcovers, sturdy bed frames, and replaceable items.
Do you plan the sleeping count with my license and HOA in mind?
What happens after launch? If the company does not manage properties, line up your Austin Airbnb management company and cleaning crew before the install week.

Other things to check: each company's Google Business profile and recent reviews yourself, and ask for references from owners with homes similar to yours.

Listing highlights guests expect, from downtown Austin to the suburbs

Good furnishing starts with what guests search for and what they mention in reviews. Before a company picks a single sofa, pay close attention to the guests your location attracts and the amenities they filter for. A few things show up again and again in local vacation rentals:

A full kitchen (one of the top listing highlights). Groups and families staying several nights cook. A well equipped kitchen with real knives, a good coffee setup and enough dishes for every guest is something guests notice.
A pool or outdoor space. In an hot summer, a pool is a top amenity. If the home has one, furnish the pool area with shade, loungers and durable outdoor furniture, and add pool rules to your house manual. If there is no pool, a shaded patio still helps.
Sleep and comfort. Quality mattresses, blackout curtains, extra pillows and good air conditioning. Stock shampoo and conditioner in every bathroom.
A TV and fast Wi-Fi. A smart TV in the living area (and often the main bedroom) plus a workspace for business travelers.
Pet-friendly options. If you allow a pet, choose washable fabrics and hard flooring, and charge a pet fee to cover extra cleaning.
A clean, easy-to-reset room layout. Every room should be simple for the cleaner to reset between guests, which keeps each night profitable.
Clear house rules. Austin rentals near downtown Austin see event groups. Spell out your policy on parties and noise, and furnish so the home is easy to clean and reset.
Local tips. A guidebook with local restaurants, coffee shops and things to explore near the exact location of the home helps guests relax and leave better reviews.

Furnishing is only the first step

Once the home is furnished, the work shifts to the day-to-day as a host: guest communication, booking access codes, cleaning scheduling, cleaning and turnover scheduling, restocking, and property upkeep. A beautiful home with slow communication or an unreliable clean will still lose reviews. This is where many owners decide whether to self-host or hire property management. Good managers focus on reliability and on maximizing each property: fast responses, clean homes, maintenance handled before guests notice, and pricing that adjusts to dates, demand and events. If the furnishing company does not offer management, ask which managers they work with, and do not hesitate to inquire how other owners keep the home in shape after launch.

Furnishing tips for short-term rentals

Design for the guest you want. Condos in downtown Austin and on the east side often host couples and event groups; larger homes near Lake Travis or in the suburbs host families and groups. Furnish for that guest.
Invest in beds first. Sleep quality shows up in reviews more than art does, and the most mentioned complaints are usually beds and cleaning.
Plan for heat. Blackout curtains, ceiling fans and shaded outdoor seating matter in an hot summer.
Make the outdoor space count. Patios, string lights and comfortable seating photograph well and get used most of the year.
Add a real workspace. A desk, a good chair and fast Wi-Fi help with business and longer stays.
Keep an owner closet. Lockable storage for spare linens, consumables and replacement items speeds up turnovers.
Design for photos. One clear hero shot per space helps the listing stand out in search.

For a deeper checklist, read our guide to the best Airbnb home designers, and for statewide rules, the Texas Airbnb laws overview.

Frequently asked questions

Who offers turnkey Airbnb furnishing in Austin?

Companies that publish an Austin short-term rental furnishing or setup service as of October 2026 include Surge, Guest Haus, Funkit Interiors, Belo Home Styling, Sassy Simplicity and Evelise Living. Polychrome offers design plans only, and Bee Setups is a national setup service.

How much does it take to furnish an Airbnb in Austin?

Published furniture ranges run from about $12,000 to $15,000 for a 1-bedroom to $30,000 to $38,000 or more for a 5-bedroom home (Bee Setups). Funkit Interiors suggests about $3,500 per space. Add the design or setup fee, sales tax, freight and extras like murals or photography.

How long does it take to furnish a short-term rental?

Most local companies publish 3 to 8 weeks from agreement to guest-ready. Product backorders are the most common cause of delays.

Is the designer fee included in the furniture budget?

Usually not. Most companies charge a design or setup fee and bill furniture separately. Ask whether furniture is billed at retail, at cost or with a markup.

Do I need a license before I furnish my Austin rental?

You need an Austin short-term rental license before you operate. A new 2-year license costs $736.60 and a renewal $369.60. Start the application while the home is being furnished so you can launch on time.

Can the furnishing company also manage my Airbnb?

Some can. Surge and Guest Haus both furnish and manage properties in Austin. Evelise Living states that it does furnishing and setup only.

Which amenities should I add to my vacation rental?

Focus on the amenities guests filter for: a full, well equipped kitchen, fast Wi-Fi, a smart TV, free parking, a workspace, and outdoor space. A pool is a major draw in summer if the property has one. Pet-friendly setups and self check-in access also widen your booking pool.

What should I do after the home is furnished?

Line up guest communication, cleaning scheduling, restocking and property upkeep before launch. Clean, consistent turnovers and fast replies matter as much as design for reviews and booking volume. A host who self-manages should build a cleaning checklist and a guidebook with local restaurants and more other types of tips near the home's location.

Where do Austin Texas vacation rentals get furnished fastest?

Companies operated locally can visit the property, receive deliveries and fix issues on site, which helps when the host lives out of town. National services work too, but confirm who will be at the location on install day so guests are not the first to find a missing item.

Can furniture for a rental be deducted?

Furniture in a rental property is generally a depreciable business expense. The rules depend on your situation, so check with a CPA.

Furnish it and manage it with Surge

Some owners explore other options and some book a full package. Either way, the point of maximizing the setup is a home that keeps booking.

Surge designs, furnishes and manages short-term rentals in Texas and Florida, including downtown Austin and the surrounding area. Full-service management is priced starting at 15% for full service, and design and furnishing are quoted per project. If you are setting up a vacation rental there, get a free estimate for your Austin property and we will walk you through the setup, the license and the numbers.