Luxurious blankets can be an excellent investment for Airbnb hosts, as it can impress clients not used to luxury while also helping a space meet the higher expectations of those who might more typically have access to luxurious linens. Luxury linens canbe pricier, but not so pricey that they’re out of range for most hosts. Renting linens like blankets can also put some of these high-end options more within reach.
The Best Blankets for Airbnb Guests
The following are some of the best types of blankets to consider if trying to offer guests the best possible experience:
1. Egyptian Cotton Blankets
Egyptian cotton is a particularly soft, strong cotton that is considered to be among the best for blankets and other linens. Highly breathable and extremely soft, it’s often a go-to standard when considering higher quality linens. While not cheap, it also isn’t prohibitively expensive. This material sports a high thread count and lasts quite a long time. There’s very little about the material to complain about.
Egyptian cotton is often compared to Pima cotton, and both share many similar properties. Which material an individual might prefer is largely a matter of taste, as either makes for a suitable luxury cotton if buying linens for a space and hoping to impress guests. Of the two, Egyptian cotton seems to have the reputation as the slightly more luxurious.
2. Merino Wool Blankets
A luxurious wool derived from the namesake Merino sheep, this material is an especially fine wool that comes with the many benefits typically associated with wool, including its ability to wick away moisture, its durability, and more. Wool is relatively flame resistant (although will eventually catch), and Merino wool specifically is known to be wrinkle-resistant.
3. Silk Blankets
Silk is made from very fine fibers produced by silkworms. It is many people’s go-to when discussing luxury fabrics, as it is incredibly soft, highly breathable, excellent at keeping its shape, and more. Silk’s distinct shiny look also means even people relatively unfamiliar with fabrics and linens can identify it. Coupled with its good reputation, this can be a major plus. A guest's ability to recognizeluxury can have a real impact on their experience, even if less recognizable but equally luxurious options were already available.
Not every room needs luxurious silk linens available, but it’s a great way to stand out. The pricier a rental, the more luxurious guests expect it to be. At a certain point, silk and similar linens are more than justified, especially if they can leave a good impression and bring guests back for more.
4. Electric Blankets
Electric blankets are designed to warm themselves through insulated wires or other heating elements inside the fabric. If a person is cold, there is little that can warm them up faster or keep them warm longer.
These blankets do come with an important caveat, however. While newer blankets typically can shut themselves off if overheating, there is still a risk of fire if they are misused or malfunction. This risk is much higher in older blankets, which may not have the newer safety mechanisms in place.
A good practice if you want to offer electric blankets to guests is to just talk with them about the dangers of these blankets so they use them responsibly. You can also provide some basic safety and use materials that they can read later as a reminder.
5. Weighted Blankets
Weighted blankets are special blankets designed to apply pressure to a user, which can help some people feel calm and reduce their anxiety. Many people find them extremely comforting, although it should be noted they come in many different weights, from around 20 pounds to over 40. If in doubt about the ideal weight, a lighter weighted blanket likely has broader appeal than a heavier one.
6. Microfiber Blankets
Microfiber is a relatively new material, developed as a man-made fabric rather than coming from a particular animal or plant. It tends to be highly affordable although it remains a good blanket option for its durability, warmth, softness, and more. It’s especially good for thinner blankets one might want to put around a space for guests to take around and wear when sitting and lounging.
How to Prioritize
It’s unlikely that a host will want to buy allthe options discussed above. When choosing how to prioritize, consider things like the typical temperature in your region and the average level of humidity. You will want blankets well-suited to those conditions, so that those staying at your space can be kept comfortable.
A host should also have a few hypoallergenic options available. These are blankets designed to minimize allergens, and these can be very important for those with sensitive skin or particular allergies. Staying prepared for at least the most common needs that might crop up for guests helps show you care about them and improves the chances of locking in more repeat customers.
Let Alsco Uniforms Manage Your Airbnb Blanket Needs
Not every rental needs all the blankets we discussed, but these are all options you should at least consider. Each can be thought of as sitting in its own niche, helping to appeal to a certain subsection of potential customers and making a space more attractive to them. The more a space can be tailored to the needs of particular guests, the more likely you are to attract repeat business.
Our linen services at Alsco Uniforms can notably allow you to rent out luxurious linens at a fraction of the typical cost. If your business is trying to equip a room with the best available, we hope you’ll see what we can offer and contact our team with any questions you might have. Our company offers blankets, bed linens, towels, and more through our linen rental services. If there’s anything in particular you’re wondering about, just ask!