Beds, Furniture, and a Problem Most Airbnb Hosts Discover Too Late

An Industry That Looks Simple Until It Isn’t

In recent years, short-term rentals through Airbnb have grown rapidly. In practice, almost any apartment can be turned into a short-term accommodation, even temporarily, with the goal of making a profit. This, by itself, is not a problem.

The problem begins when hosting is treated as something simple, without an understanding of the real risks involved. One of the most serious — and often underestimated — risks in short-term rentals is the introduction of bed bugs into the apartment. This risk does not come from poor intentions or lack of cleanliness, but from the nature of frequent guest turnover and constant exposure. In Airbnb properties, bed design and furniture choices play a much larger role in bed bug risk than most hosts expect.

The Moment Furniture Stops Being Just Furniture

When it comes to bed bugs, the furniture inside an Airbnb plays a critical role. Certain types of furniture allow bed bugs to settle, hide, and survive, while others make inspection and pest control possible. At this point, furniture stops being a design choice and becomes an operational factor.

Among all pieces of furniture, the bed is by far the most critical element. It is the primary contact point for guests, the most likely introduction pathway, and the hardest item to manage once an infestation is suspected.

Beds That Turn Small Problems Into Persistent Ones

Many hosts, often for cost reasons, choose metal bed frames that are hollow inside. These beds may be lightweight and inexpensive, but they create serious problems. Once bed bugs enter hollow structures, access becomes extremely limited, and in many cases the bed ends up being discarded.

On the other hand, beds selected mainly for aesthetic reasons — decorative frames with hidden storage, fabric upholstery, or deep folds — tend to create ideal hiding places for bed bugs. These designs almost always lead to the same outcome: the bed eventually has to be removed and replaced.

When Treatment Fails Before It Even Starts

In many cases, pest control treatments fail not because the products are ineffective, but because the bed design does not allow proper dismantling. Some beds cannot be taken apart without the risk of damaging them or being unable to reassemble them correctly. This makes it impossible to access all critical areas.

During this process, another issue often appears. As the bed is handled, some bed bugs may move downward and escape into surrounding areas. Even when specific protocols are followed, it is not realistic to control every movement. In real-world conditions, you cannot have eyes everywhere.

Time Pressure, Repeated Interventions, and Real-World Constraints

For this reason, beds used in Airbnb properties must be simple in design. Ideally, they should be easy to dismantle in just a few steps, allowing proper inspection, cleaning, or steam treatment, which is often the most effective method.

Repeated treatments are common in bed bug cases. This means the bed must always be accessible, every time. In many situations, the time available between one treatment and the next is extremely limited. The time margin that a bed allows for inspection and treatment becomes a decisive factor.

What Happens When Furniture Cannot Be Worked With

Another serious issue caused by poor bed selection — and generally poor furniture choices — appears during the treatment process itself. When a bed is difficult to handle and not suitable for pest control, and when nearby furniture is also problematic, the entire intervention becomes significantly more complicated.

In a typical treatment, everything within roughly a two-meter radius of the bed must be treated, and in many cases heat treatment is also required. If the furniture does not allow technicians to work properly, it may need to be discarded. Once furniture is thrown away, it must be replaced — something that is often not possible when another booking is already scheduled.

The Cost Is Not the Bed — It’s Everything Around It

The time between bookings can be very short, and in most cases there are no spare beds or furniture available to temporarily place in the apartment. By contrast, a properly selected bed and well-chosen furniture can be dismantled and reassembled quickly, placed back in position without delays, and allow the work to be completed without additional complications.

From the host’s perspective, there is still time to clean the property, knowing that a waiting period is required after treatment — the apartment is not handed back on the same day. What becomes critical is avoiding the need to search for replacement beds or furniture at the same time. That process takes time, coordination, and is not always possible, especially if the issue occurs on a weekend or a holiday.

The right bed is not defined by appearance, but by how it behaves under pressure. A solid, practical, affordable, and easy-to-handle bed can save money not only by avoiding repeated replacements, but also by reducing the time, complexity, and overall cost of pest control interventions.

Learn more about other urban & indoor pests that affect houses and buildings.