When you’re preparing a short-term rental in Northwest Arkansas — whether in Bentonville, Bella Vista, Rogers, Fayetteville, Springdale, or Siloam Springs — the process always begins with bubbles. Bubble wrap protecting décor, bubble mailers arriving at your door, bubble frustration when assembly instructions don’t make sense, and, eventually, if everything finally comes together, a celebratory glass of bubbly to toast the accomplishment.
At Set The Stage Northwest Arkansas (STS NWA), we believe bubbles matter in staging because they represent the behind-the-scenes work: the protection, the preparation, and the payoff. They’re the story of how a space goes from empty to extraordinary — and how much time, energy, and money it actually takes.
But here’s the piece most investors underestimate…
The Bubble-Wrap Phase: Protecting Value Before Guests Ever Walk In
Bubble wrap does one job beautifully — it protects what matters. In staging and turnkey furnishing, we do the same.
Before the first guest books your short-term rental, staging safeguards your investment by:
- Ensuring the layout is functional and inviting
- Creating flow that guests instantly understand
- Presenting a high-end, clean, cohesive appearance
- Producing polished photos that drive bookings
According to the National Association of Realtors, staging significantly reduces time on market and helps viewers visualize a space more clearly. For STRs, better visualization means higher occupancy, stronger reviews, and increased nightly rates.
Why DIY Furnishing Bursts More Bubbles Than You Expect
Most owners believe they can save money by furnishing their rental themselves.
And yes — you can do it.
But here’s the uncomfortable truth the data shows over and over again:
DIY furnishing usually costs more and takes far longer than owners expect.
Let’s break down the real story.
💸 The Real DIY Cost: Thousands More Than Expected
Even when owners shop sales, discount retailers, and online deals, the total cost of furnishing a 3-bedroom short-term rental themselves typically lands in this range:
➡️ DIY Total Cost: $7,000–$18,000
(including furniture, décor, mattresses, rugs, kitchenware, linens, appliances, and essentials)
That number represents the broad range most owners report across Airbnb and STR communities — even those determined to stay “budget friendly.”
Why does DIY cost escalate so easily?
Because owners forget to account for:
- Extra décor items
- Replacement pieces when something arrives damaged
- Hardware, tools, and repair kits
- Items that don’t fit the space
- Forgotten essentials like bedding layers, bathroom items, or kitchen utensils
- Returns and reorder shipping fees
- Last-minute “oh no” fill-in purchases
Even investors with careful spreadsheets find themselves adding hundreds or thousands in unexpected extras.
⏳ The Real DIY Time Investment: Weeks of Hidden Labor
Most owners underestimate time even more than money.
Based on Airbnb host reports, BiggerPockets investor discussions, and average consumer time-use patterns:
➡️ DIY Time Required: 84–142 hours
That’s 2–4+ weeks of part-time work, not including delays or mistakes.
This includes:
- Endless online shopping and comparing
- Tracking inventory across multiple vendors
- Managing shipping issues
- Waiting for deliveries
- Handling returns
- Assembling furniture
- Installing curtains, shelves, art, décor
- Stocking kitchens and bathrooms
- Cleaning packaging and bubble wrap
- Troubleshooting design mistakes
By the time owners hit hour 90 of assembly, the “bubbles” of excitement have usually flatlined.
🥂 Where STS NWA Changes the Story: The Bubbly Moment
This is where our favorite bubble enters the picture — the bubbly you get to enjoy when everything is done for you.
At Set The Stage Northwest Arkansas, we take your STR from blank canvas to beautifully furnished, fully staged, guest-ready home.
And the best part?
We stage it, YOU own it.
Our furnishing packages are not temporary staging furniture.
You pick your budget.
We create a fully furnished environment.
You own every piece — beds, sofas, décor, art, towels, cookware, everything.
What you get:
✔ Professional design
✔ Furniture selection within your budget
✔ Ordering and vendor coordination
✔ Delivery and assembly
✔ Décor installation
✔ Kitchen & bathroom stocking
✔ Photo-ready styling
You get a turnkey short-term rental without the trial-and-error, without the assembly headaches, and without budget creep.
The Bubble Philosophy: How We Design STRs That Guests Love
Every STR we furnish includes three kinds of “bubbles” — and they’re what make your rental stand out.
1. The Protective Bubble: Structure & Strategy
We stage with intention:
- Durable furniture that resists STR wear and tear
- Layouts that maximize photos and in-person experience
- Neutral palettes with pops of personality
- Guest-friendly zones for work, dining, sleeping, and relaxing
This protects your investment and extends the life of your furnishings.
2. The Efficiency Bubble: Time You Don’t Have to Spend
We eliminate the 84–142 hours DIY owners typically spend.
You don’t lift furniture.
You don’t assemble anything.
You don’t guess on décor.
You don’t wait on mismatched deliveries.
You don’t scramble to solve setup problems.
We handle every bubble before it pops.
3. The Bubbly Bubble: The Celebration
This is the moment when:
- You walk into a fully furnished rental
- Photos are ready
- Guests could arrive that night
- The revenue clock can finally start ticking
This is the pop, the fizz, the champagne moment.
And it’s what keeps owners coming back to STS NWA for their next project.
Why Beautiful Furnishing Drives STR ROI
Design is not superficial — it’s strategic.
According to Airbnb’s own insights, listings with highly rated décor and well-staged environments consistently outperform others in bookings, nightly rate, and guest satisfaction.
People book with their eyes first.
A beautifully furnished rental:
- Photographs better
- Commands higher nightly rates
- Generates stronger reviews
- Converts browsers into bookings faster
This means your initial investment pays you back month after month.
FAQs About STS NWA Turnkey Furnishing Packages
Do I get to choose the budget?
Absolutely. We build packages around your spending goals.
Do I own everything in the property?
Yes — all furniture, décor, linens, art, and supplies belong to you.
How long does the process take?
We set up significantly faster than the DIY timeline of 84–142 hours, because everything is coordinated for you.
Do you serve all of Northwest Arkansas?
Yes — Bentonville, Bella Vista, Fayetteville, Rogers, Springdale, Siloam Springs, and surrounding communities.
🥂 Ready to Skip the Stress and Celebrate Sooner? Contact Us
If you’re ready to protect your investment, save time, and enjoy that bubbly moment even sooner, our team is here to help. Let STS NWA transform your STR into a beautifully staged, fully furnished space — without the headaches of doing it alone.
