Airbnb Furnishing Guide for Estonia: What Guests Expect in 2026

The gap between a good Airbnb listing and a great one is rarely location. Location gets guests to your page. What converts them — and what gets you five-star reviews — is how the property feels when they walk in.

Guests in 2026 have seen thousands of listings. They know immediately whether a property has been set up with care or thrown together with leftover furniture. The difference shows in your bookings, your reviews, and your nightly rate.

Here is a practical guide to furnishing an Estonian Airbnb that performs.

Start With the Basics: Comfort Over Style

It is tempting to prioritise aesthetics when setting up a short-term rental. Aesthetics matter, but comfort comes first. A beautiful apartment with an uncomfortable bed will get a mention in every review. An ordinary-looking apartment with an excellent mattress and quality bedding will not.

Invest in these before anything else:

• Mattress quality: a medium-firm mattress from a reputable brand. Do not use a cheap foam mattress — guests notice immediately

• Bedding: white linen looks clean, photographs well, and is easy to launder to a consistent standard. Invest in at least two full sets per bed

• Pillows and towels: hotel-grade towels in white. Multiple pillow options so guests can choose

• Blackout curtains: essential in Estonia, where summer nights barely get dark. This is non-negotiable for summer bookings

Guests who sleep well leave good reviews. Guests who do not mention it in their first sentence.

The Kitchen

A well-equipped kitchen is one of the most frequently mentioned positives in Estonian Airbnb reviews. Many guests — particularly those staying three nights or more — cook at least some of their meals. Equipping the kitchen properly costs relatively little and pays back in reviews.

The essentials:

• Sharp knives — a single good chef's knife beats a full block of dull ones

• A decent frying pan and saucepan

• A kettle and a coffee maker — both, not one or the other

• Enough crockery and glasses for the maximum guest count plus two

• A basic spice rack, cooking oil, salt, and pepper

What guests do not expect but consistently appreciate: a French press alongside the drip coffee maker, a wine opener, and clear labelling of where everything is.

Living Space and Connectivity

Guests spend time in the living space. Make it comfortable and functional.

• A sofa large enough for the guest count to sit on comfortably

• A dining table with enough chairs — not a breakfast bar that seats two in a property that sleeps four

• Fast, reliable Wi-Fi — this is not optional. Display the password prominently. Test the speed before your first booking

• A smart TV with Netflix or equivalent — guests expect this in 2026

For Estonian properties specifically, good heating is critical. Winters are cold, and a guest who is uncomfortable in February will say so. Make sure the heating system works efficiently and that guests know how to operate it.

Bathroom

The bathroom is where guests form a strong impression quickly. Keep it simple and spotless.

• A proper shower — not a trickle. Adequate water pressure matters

• A heated towel rail if possible

• A mirror with good lighting

• Basic toiletries: shampoo, conditioner, body wash, hand soap. Branded dispensers look more considered than single-use bottles

• A hairdryer

What sets Estonian Airbnbs apart from Western European ones is the sauna. If your property has access to a sauna — either private or shared in the building — this is a major draw for international guests and should be prominently featured in your listing. If you are in a position to add one, it is worth the investment.

Photography and First Impressions

All of the above means nothing if it is not photographed well. Professional photography is not expensive in Estonia and it is one of the highest-return investments you can make in your listing.

• Shoot during the day with natural light

• Declutter completely before the shoot — every surface should be clear except for intentional styling

• Include a shot of every room, the view if there is one, and any standout features like a sauna or terrace

For buyers who are setting up a property specifically for short-term rental, our Airbnb investments page covers the full picture from market selection through to management. If you are still looking for the right property to set up, browse our current listings — we can flag which ones have the strongest short-term rental characteristics.

If you want guidance on renovation and fit-out before launching your listing, our renovation and design team can help you get the property to the right standard efficiently.

Get in touch with the Bryan Estates team if you want to talk through a specific property or setup.