Furnishing a Hot Springs Vacation Rental

Plan beds around the city rules

Inside city limits, maximum occupancy is two guests per bedroom, plus two. A three-bedroom home tops out at eight guests no matter how many bunk beds or sleeper sofas you add.

The city's policy page lists the annual license fee as $50 per bed, so extra beds that guests cannot legally use cost you money. Match sleeping space to the limit and describe it accurately in the listing.

Buy for durability

• Choose performance or outdoor-rated fabrics and washable slipcovers for sofas and chairs. Lake guests bring wet swimsuits and hikers bring mud.
• Solid wood and metal frames hold up better than particleboard when furniture is moved and bumped every week.
• Spend on mattresses and pillows first. Sleep quality shows up in reviews more than decor does.
• Buy at least two full sets of sheets and towels per bed so one set can be in the wash during a turnover.
• Keep a written replacement schedule and a monthly reserve for soft goods and furniture.

Set up for photos

Listing photos do most of the selling. Keep a limited color palette, avoid all-white upholstery that shows stains, and add texture with throws, lamps and wood so rooms do not look flat.

Local touches help a listing stand apart. Prints of Bathhouse Row, Ouachita Mountain landscapes or work by Arkansas artists give guests something specific to remember.

Photograph each room from the doorway at the same height, with lights on and curtains open. Make sure every bed in the photos matches what the listing says.

Safety and devices

• Working smoke detectors and a fire extinguisher are basic. The city requires a fire and building code inspection before a new license is issued.
• Do not install any indoor camera. Airbnb has banned indoor security cameras in all listings since April 2024.
• Disclose any outdoor camera or noise monitor in the listing before guests book.

Where to shop

Estate sales and secondhand shops around Garland County can turn up solid wood furniture for less than new. Little Rock is about an hour's drive for larger furniture and home stores.

For linens, towels and kitchen basics, buying in bulk from a warehouse club or restaurant supply store usually costs less per item and holds up to commercial laundering.