How much does it cost to furnish a 2-bed Airbnb in Cape Town?: The real cost of furnishing a standout Airbnb in Cape Town
- Liesa Jossel, owner: Home Stagers Cape Town
- Nov 12, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated on 20 June 2026
The Airbnb market is competitive. In Cape Town alone, there are more than 25 000 listings. Many investors quickly discover it’s not so easy to get booked. To stand out, you need to offer something special compared to the identical-size apartment next door and the dozens of others in your building.
An apartment with magnificent views needs quiet furnishings so guests can experience the surroundings
What it really costs to put a bedroom together
This is where most people get a surprise.
Yes, costs vary depending on size, finishes and the overall look you’re aiming for — but even a “simple” bedroom adds up far quicker than expected.
Let’s start with the bed.
A good queen bed — the kind guests actually mention in reviews (“best sleep ever”) — will cost from around R9 000 upwards. And that’s money well spent. A bad bed will haunt your reviews forever.
But the bed is only the beginning.
To properly set up a guest-ready bedroom, you also need:
a headboard
2 bedside tables
2 bedside lamps - don't forget the globes!
a bed wrap or base cover
a decent mattress protector
a very good quality duvet inners (summer and winter)
four pillows and four pillow protectors
curtains or blinds - these often have to be custom made to size, and include a block out lining, and there are the costs of installation
art or mirrors
2 scatter cushions
a throw
an extra blanket for colder nights
A mid-range bedroom setup can easily exceed R50 000, and that’s excluding linen, which is often supplied by the management agency.
And remember — that’s just one bedroom. And the list doesn't include a rug or a desk.
Smaller bedrooms are the hardest to get right. With the wrong choices, they feel cramped; with the right ones, they feel calm, comfortable and far bigger than they are.
The real cost of a sofa
Sofas are another area where expectations and reality don’t always match.
Here’s a realistic breakdown for a 3-seater sofa:
Lower quality (Mr Price, Decofurn): R7 000 – R12 000
Mid-range (@Home, Coricraft): R13 000 – R20 000
Higher-end (Incanda, Mobelli, Block & Chisel, Weylandts): R20 000 – R35 000
Cheaper sofas often feel like a win at first — until they start sagging, the fabric pills, or the cushions lose their shape after a few months of guest turnover.
In an Airbnb, durability matters. A lot.
Spending a bit more upfront on:
a sturdy frame
well-filled cushions
hard-wearing, easy-to-clean fabric
usually saves money (and frustration) in the long run.
A living room only really works when everything speaks to everything else — the sofa, the rug, the lighting, the art, even the cushions.
And the living room isn’t finished yet…
Just like the bedroom, the sofa is only one piece of the puzzle.
You’ll also need:
a large rug (big enough so that the feet of the sofa and chairs must be placed on the rug)
a coffee table - in proportion to the room, the rug and the sofa
one or two side tables
possibly extra seating, such as an occasional chair
art above the sofa
scatter cushions
decorative accessories to make the space feel warm and inviting
curtains or blinds, which sometimes have to be custom made to fit the space
a standing lamp.
Not included in the list above are a TV console, which is often necessary, and a TV of course.
Without these finishing touches, the space feels flat — and photos don’t convert into bookings.
Harmonising walls, floors, views, windows, light... and budget, is the job of the decorator.
Appliances and kitchen
Property managers have a long list of exactly what an airbnb needs in the kitchen. For a one-bedroom property that can accommodate two guests, you need to get four glasses (wine and water) and four of each kind of crockery and cutlery.
Pot sets, knife sets, Nespresso machine, vaccuum cleaners and other small appliances makeup just some of the 30 odd items that go into a kitchen.
A frost-free fridge (normal height) starts at R10 000, and don't forget the dishwasher, washing machine, microwave and the TV!
You're looking at around R40-60 000 for the kitchen and appliances, depnding on the quality you buy.
The hidden costs most people forget
Sourcing the right furniture for the space and target market is only one part. It all has to arrive at the property, be unpacked, and placed correctly. Beds must be made and styled; art and mirrors hung, rugs unfurled, hooks and headboards drilled into walls and the entire kitchen unpacked.
Beyond the furniture itself, there are costs people rarely factor in:
Delivery fees from multiple suppliers. Pretty much every retailer charges to deliver.
Assembly of flat-pack furniture, especially online purchases - here, you need to budget for handyman fees
Installation fees: It takes at least one day, usually more, to have everything delivered and set up. I need at least two other people to help me carry, unpack, style, hang, and a truck to take all the packaging to the dump.
Decorating fees
Most decorators charge a percentage of the total estimated budget for our work.
Clients sometimes are not aware of the time, not to mention, skill, in putting together a cohesive, balanced, practical and beautiful apartment within a budget.
It takes time to source the right size sofa, in the right colour and shape, that is in stock and can be delivered on time. And that goes for every single item that goes into furnishing a property. It's not a matter of just browsing and picking out furniture. It's a design.
In addition to the design, decorators:
must be available to receive deliveries, check them, return them if necesssary
sometimes have to store items, especially if the property is vacant
do a lot of background work - making payments, maintaining spreadsheets, checking on the budget
liaise with clients, stores, delivery people...
Getting the vibe right really matters. Every Airbnb attracts a different type of guest, and the look and feel should appeal to exactly that market.
The bottom line
A realistic budget for furnishing a two-bedroom Airbnb is upwards of R275 000.
It’s an investment — but when it’s done properly, it pays back in:
stronger bookings
better reviews
repeat guests
higher nightly rates
If you want real income, you need a professional-level offering.
That means:
quality that lasts
consistency throughout the space
a design that feels intentional and complete
When your Airbnb looks like it belongs on someone’s “favourite stays” list, guests notice.So does the algorithm. And so does your income.
This is where we come in
We:
work within your budget so nothing is wasted
know which suppliers deliver on time (and which don’t)
source durable, good-quality furnishings that make sense for short-term letting
design the entire space so it looks finished, cohesive and inviting
manage deliveries, quality checks and installation day
Most importantly, we design with return on investment in mind.
Guests book spaces that feel comfortable, memorable and easy to live in.They leave glowing reviews.They come back.
And that’s where your returns grow.
Let us help you get it right — the first time.
Whatsapp Liesa: +27848432426
