What to Put in Storage Before Putting Your Home on Airbnb

Before putting your home on Airbnb, remove personal, valuable, fragile, and unnecessary belongings that you don’t want guests using or handling. A storage unit can give you a place to keep these items while freeing up closets, cabinets, rooms, and other areas for guests. 

Start by walking through your home as if you’re staying there for the first time. Look for anything you wouldn’t want a stranger to access, anything that takes up space guests could use, and anything that could easily be damaged. Then decide what to keep in the home, lock away, or move into storage. 

Key takeaways 

• Remove personal and valuable belongings before hosting guests. 
• Store excess furniture if it makes rooms feel crowded or limits usable space. 
• Clear closets, cabinets, and drawers so guests have room for their belongings. 
• Move personal paperwork, photographs, collectibles, and sentimental items out of guest areas. 
• Store seasonal belongings you won’t need while the home is being rented. 
• Consider climate-controlled storage for belongings that may be vulnerable to temperature or humidity changes. 
• Make an inventory of everything you move into storage so you can find it later. 

Remove personal belongings before hosting guests 

Start with personal items that you don’t want guests handling or seeing. This might include family photographs, personal mail, bills, journals, important paperwork, prescription medications, and other private belongings. 

You don’t necessarily need to remove every personal item from your home. But anything containing sensitive information or something you would be upset to lose or see damaged should be kept somewhere guests can’t access. 

If you rent the home regularly, moving these belongings into storage can be easier than repeatedly packing them away every time a guest arrives. 

Store valuable belongings 

Consider moving expensive or irreplaceable items out of the home before your first guests arrive. 

Examples might include: 

• Jewelry 
• Collectibles 
• Family heirlooms 
• Expensive artwork 
• Rare books 
• Memorabilia 
• High-end electronics 
• Sentimental items 
• Important documents 

A storage unit isn’t automatically the best place for every valuable item, so check your storage agreement and insurance coverage before moving anything in. For especially valuable or irreplaceable belongings, consider whether another secure location makes more sense. 

If you do use storage, document what you’re storing and keep records of valuable items outside the unit. 

Remove excess furniture 

A home that’s furnished for your own everyday life may have more furniture than guests need. Walk through each room and look at how much space guests have to move around. A large sectional, extra chairs, side tables, bookcases, or other furniture may make a room feel crowded. 

If you want to keep the furniture for your own use, moving it into storage can free up space without requiring you to sell it. 

Measure the furniture and the storage space before moving it. Disassemble larger pieces when possible, and keep hardware in a labeled bag with the furniture. 

Clear out closets 

Guests need somewhere to put their clothes, coats, shoes, and luggage. A closet packed with your belongings doesn’t leave much room for them. 

You don’t have to empty every closet in the house. Instead, decide which closets guests will use and clear a reasonable amount of space. 

Seasonal clothing is an easy place to start. If you’re renting your home during the summer, for example, you may be able to move winter coats, boots, sweaters, and other cold-weather gear into storage. 

Label your storage boxes so you can switch belongings back when you’re using the home yourself. 

Make room in kitchen cabinets 

Your kitchen should have enough open space for guests to store groceries and use the items they need. Go through your cabinets and drawers and remove duplicates, specialty appliances, dishes you don’t use, and other items that aren’t necessary for a short stay. 

You can donate or sell things you no longer want. Belongings you plan to keep can go into storage if you don’t need them while the home is being rented. 

Keep everyday cooking essentials accessible, and avoid filling every cabinet with your own belongings. 

Remove personal food and pantry items 

A short-term rental isn’t the place to leave your entire personal pantry. 

Check the refrigerator, freezer, and cupboards before guests arrive. Remove food that could spoil and anything you don’t want guests to use. 

If you rent your home regularly, consider leaving only the food and supplies intended for guests. Don’t move perishable food into a storage unit. Storage facilities generally prohibit food and other perishables. 

Store seasonal decorations 

Holiday and seasonal decorations can take up a lot of space. If you won’t be using them while your home is being rented, storage can get them out of the way. 

Pack decorations carefully, label the boxes, and group similar items together. For example, keep holiday decorations in one section of your storage unit and outdoor seasonal items in another. 

If you plan to return to the home between bookings, you’ll know exactly where everything is when it’s time to decorate again. 

Remove fragile or easily damaged items 

Think about which belongings could be knocked over, broken, stained, or otherwise damaged during a guest’s stay. 

You might choose to store: 

• Delicate decorations 
• Glass collectibles 
• Fragile artwork 
• Antique furniture 
• Specialty kitchenware 
• Decorative objects 
• Fragile lamps 
• Breakable personal items 

You don’t have to remove every breakable item from the home. Focus on belongings that are particularly valuable, sentimental, or difficult to replace. 

Clear out the garage 

Don’t forget about spaces outside the main living areas. 

If guests will have access to the garage, remove belongings that you don’t want them using or handling. This could include tools, personal equipment, bicycles, seasonal decorations, hobby supplies, and extra household items. 

A storage unit can also help you clear the garage if you plan to advertise it as an amenity or provide parking. Before storing tools, lawn equipment, or other items, check your facility’s current prohibited-items list and rental agreement. Some items may not be allowed in storage. 

Organize the home office 

If you’re renting a home with an office, decide whether guests will have access to it. 

Remove personal paperwork, tax records, business documents, mail, and other sensitive information. If guests will use the room as an office or workspace, clear enough of the desk and storage areas for their needs. 

If you don’t want guests accessing the room at all, make sure it’s clearly separated from the guest-accessible areas. 

Decide what should stay in the home 

Not everything needs to go into storage. 

Leave the belongings guests are expected to use, including: 

• Basic kitchen equipment 
• Dishes and glasses 
• Towels and linens 
• Basic cleaning supplies 
• Furniture 
• Lamps and lighting 
• Basic outdoor furniture 
• Guest amenities 
• Entertainment items 

Keep the home functional rather than completely empty. The goal is to remove unnecessary personal belongings while leaving guests with what they need for their stay. 

Organize your belongings in storage 

You’ll want to be able to find your belongings when you eventually move back into your home. Label every box clearly, and keep similar items together. Put things you’ll need sooner toward the front of the unit and belongings you won’t need for a while farther back. 

Leave a walkway through the unit, and keep an inventory of the boxes and larger items you’re storing. Taking a photo of the organized unit can give you another reference. 

What should you lock away instead of putting in storage? 

Some items may not need to leave the property. If your home has a secure owner’s closet, locked cabinet, or other area that guests can’t access, you may be able to keep some belongings there. 

This can work for things you’ll need between bookings, such as extra linens, cleaning supplies, or host materials. 

Don’t rely on an unlocked closet simply because it’s labeled “private.” If something is valuable, sensitive, or irreplaceable, consider moving it somewhere more secure. 

Create a pre-guest storage checklist 

Before your first guest arrives, walk through the home one room at a time. 

Bedrooms 

• Remove personal belongings. 
• Clear guest closets. 
• Store excess clothing. 
• Remove valuable or sentimental items. 
• Check under beds and in drawers. 

Kitchen 

• Clear personal food from the refrigerator and pantry. 
• Remove unnecessary appliances. 
• Put away specialty cookware. 
• Leave enough cabinet space for guests. 

Living areas 

• Remove fragile valuables. 
• Store personal photographs and memorabilia. 
• Consider removing excess furniture. 
• Clear unnecessary items from tables and shelves. 

Office 

• Remove sensitive documents. 
• Clear personal paperwork. 
• Decide which office equipment guests can use. 

Garage and outdoor areas 

• Remove personal tools and equipment. 
• Store seasonal items. 
• Clear space if guests will have access. 
• Secure belongings you plan to leave behind. 

Storage unit 

• Clean and dry belongings before storing them. 
• Label boxes. 
• Create an inventory. 
• Leave a walkway. 
• Put frequently needed belongings near the front. 
• Check your facility’s rules before storing anything questionable. 

Decluttering for Airbnb FAQs 

How much of my stuff should I remove before renting my house? 

Remove anything personal, valuable, fragile, or unnecessary for guests. You don’t need to empty the home, but guests should have enough room to use the furniture, closets, cabinets, and other spaces included with the rental. 

Where should I keep my belongings while Airbnb guests are staying? 

You can keep some belongings in a locked owner’s closet or another secure area that guests can’t access. For larger amounts of furniture, seasonal items, or personal belongings, a storage unit can provide more space. 

Should I remove family photos from an Airbnb? 

You don’t have to, but removing personal photographs and other family memorabilia can make the rental feel more neutral and reduce the chance of personal items being damaged or misplaced. 

Can I put my belongings in a storage unit while I rent out my house? 

Yes. You can use a storage unit to hold personal belongings, seasonal items, furniture, and other possessions you want to keep while your home is rented. Check the storage facility’s current rules before moving items in. 

Should I remove valuables from an Airbnb? 

Consider moving valuable and irreplaceable belongings somewhere guests can’t access. Review your insurance coverage and storage agreement before deciding where to keep particularly valuable items. 

How do I prepare my closet for Airbnb guests? 

Remove enough of your own clothing and belongings to give guests usable hanging and shelf space. Move seasonal clothing and other items you won’t need while the home is rented into storage. 

What should I do with furniture I don’t want guests to use? 

If you want to keep the furniture but don’t need it in the rental, consider moving it into storage. Disassemble large pieces when possible, protect them from dust, and keep hardware labeled with the furniture.