What’s the Difference Between Hiring an Interior Designer vs. a Vacation Rental Furnishing Company?
- Mehak Fiaz
- Sep 2
- 2 min read
If you’re preparing a short-term rental for guests, the way you furnish and set it up directly impacts your bookings, reviews, and revenue. Many property owners debate whether to hire a traditional interior designer or work with a specialized vacation rental furnishing company. The difference comes down to scope, speed, and ROI focus — and for most hosts, choosing the right partner determines how quickly they go live and how well the property performs.
Short-Term Rental Setup by the Numbers
● Typical Bee Setups project cost: $20,000–$25,000+
● Project minimum: $15,000
● Average completion time: 3–6+ weeks, depending on size and scope
● Primary goal: Create a guest-ready, revenue-optimized property without owner micromanagement
1. Scope of Service
Interior Designer
● Focus: Primarily aesthetics, style cohesion, and personalized touches.
● Process: Often billed hourly; can require the client to manage ordering, logistics, and installation.
● Vendor network: Broad range of residential suppliers, not always STR-specific.
Vacation Rental Furnishing Company
● Focus: Functionality, durability, and guest experience tailored to the STR market.
● Process: Turnkey — includes design, procurement, delivery, assembly, and staging.
● Vendor network: STR-focused, with products chosen for high turnover and easy maintenance.
2. Speed to Market
● Interior Designer: Timelines can extend for months, especially if waiting on back-orders or custom pieces.
● Vacation Rental Furnishing Company: Bee Setups typically completes projects in about 3–6+ weeks, depending on property size and scope, so you can start generating bookings faster.
3. Pricing Model
Interior Designer
● Many charge $6–$17 per sq. ft. just for design, project management, and labor — not including furniture.
● Costs can be unpredictable, especially if scope changes mid-project.
Vacation Rental Furnishing Company
● Bee Setups offers package-based pricing starting at $995 (design + management fee) and up to $6,500 for luxury projects.
● Furniture and essentials are purchased separately, with most projects totaling $20k–$25k+.
● Transparent pricing avoids mid-project surprises.
4. ROI & Guest Experience
An interior designer can create a beautiful home, but they may not factor in:
● Photogenic layouts for listing photos
● High-traffic durability for short-term guests
● Amenity choices that influence nightly rates
A specialized vacation rental furnishing company designs with ROI in mind — layouts that photograph well, furnishings that last, and setups that make guests leave 5-star reviews.
Case Study: Scottsdale, AZ – 3-Bedroom STR
Budget: $24,500 totalTimeline: 4 weeksResult: After launch, occupancy hit 88% in the first quarter, with nightly rates 18% higher than comparable listings in the area.
FAQs
Q: Do you work with owners who already have some furniture?
A: Yes, we can integrate existing pieces as long as they meet STR-ready standards.
Q: Do you handle delivery and assembly?
A: Absolutely — Bee Setups manages all logistics so you don’t have to.
Q: How do I get started?
A: Visit our Packages page or Contact Us to schedule your consultation.
Conclusion
If your goal is a fully-optimized, guest-ready rental in weeks — not months — a vacation rental furnishing company offers speed, specialized expertise, and a focus on profitability. Traditional interior designers excel at custom, aesthetic-driven projects, but for STR success, the turnkey approach can deliver measurable results faster.