Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, Happy Moon Homestay may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only list the kinds of items we use at our own homestay in Aldona, North Goa.
By Ulhas Polle, host at Happy Moon Homestay, Aldona, North Goa, since 2024 · Updated 2 October 2026
Our track record: Google 4.9★ (130 reviews) · Airbnb 4.88★ Guest Favourite (41 reviews) · Booking.com 9.8/10 Exceptional
A guest judges the room in the first ten minutes: the bed, the light, the smell, whether there is somewhere to put a laptop and a suitcase. This is the bedroom we set up for every room at Happy Moon Homestay, and the same list we use when planning rooms for other owners. Whether you are fitting out five rooms or your first spare room, set up one room completely, sleep in it yourself for a night, fix what annoys you, then copy it.
1. Bed and sleep
A queen bed is the sweet spot: bigger than a double for couples, smaller and cheaper than a king, and it leaves room to move. We prefer wooden beds and furniture: they look authentic, last for years and photograph well.
- Wooden queen size bedneededone-time
Looks authentic, lasts and is easy to repair.
View on Amazon → - Queen mattressneededone-time
Medium-firm suits most guests. Use a waterproof protector from day one.
View on Amazon → - Waterproof mattress protectorneededone-time
Protects your most expensive bedroom item from stains.
View on Amazon → - Bedsheets (at least 200 thread count)neededone-time₹317 (Oct 2025)
Keep three sets per bed: one on the bed, one in the wash, one spare. Below 200 thread count, sheets feel rough and pill quickly.
Our pick: View on Amazon → - Fibre-filled pillowsneededone-time₹569 (Oct 2025)
Washable and hold their shape. Two per guest.
Our pick: View on Amazon → - Cotton blanketsneededone-time
Cotton breathes, so guests sleep comfortably without running the AC colder to use a heavy blanket.
View on Amazon →
2. Storage: give guests somewhere to unpack
- Wardrobe: Nilkamal Freedom Big (FB1)neededone-time₹9,400 (Oct 2025)
Plastic, so termites cannot touch it and it shrugs off monsoon damp.
Our pick: View on Amazon → - Hangers (5 per wardrobe)neededone-time
Five is enough for most stays.
View on Amazon → - Wall hooks for clothesneededone-time₹360 (Oct 2025)
For wet towels and the clothes guests wear again.
Our pick: View on Amazon → - Remote holderneededone-time
AC remotes stop getting lost in the bedsheets.
View on Amazon → - Wall-mounted key holderneededone-time₹313 (Oct 2025)
Keys and RFID cards always in one place.
Our pick: View on Amazon →
3. Work and dressing
A wall-mounted folding table doubles as a desk for workation guests and a dining table for those who eat in the room, and folds away when it is not needed.
- Wall-mounted folding table (desk and dining table)neededone-time₹2,050 (Oct 2025)
Fits a laptop, saves floor space.
Our pick: View on Amazon → - Stool (Nilkamal)neededone-time₹550 (Oct 2025)
Our pick: View on Amazon → - Large dressing mirror with standneededone-time
A big mirror with a shelf below for small things. Guests get ready for an evening out here.
View on Amazon →
4. Light, air and quiet
A 1-ton AC is enough for a normal guest room. I prefer Voltas or Daikin. Give every AC its own stabiliser (see the power guide).
- Voltas or Daikin 1-ton inverter ACoptionalone-time
My preferred brands for reliability and service in Goa. Budget around ₹23,500 (what a client’s AC cost in October 2025).
View on Amazon → - Curtain rod setneededone-time
View on Amazon → - Full blackout curtainsneededone-time
Guests after a late night want to sleep past sunrise.
View on Amazon → - Tickless wall clock (Ajanta)neededone-time
A ticking clock keeps light sleepers awake. A visible clock also keeps guests aware of the checkout time.
View on Amazon → - Mosquito repellent machineneededrecurring₹89 (Oct 2025)
One per room.
Our pick: View on Amazon → - Mosquito repellent refillsneededone-time₹266 (Oct 2025)
Keep spares; guests use them up in the monsoon.
Our pick: View on Amazon → - Mosquito net for windowsneededone-time₹379 (Oct 2025)
Lets guests open windows without letting mosquitoes in.
Our pick: View on Amazon →
5. Finishing touches
- Wall paintings or art framesoptionalbuy locally
Bought locally. Make the room feel like a home, not a lodge. - Bedroom matneededone-time₹699 (Oct 2025)
Dry feet on the way to bed after a shower.
Our pick: View on Amazon → - Open bin for the roomneededone-time₹218 (Oct 2025)
Dry waste only; wet waste goes to the kitchen bin.
Our pick: View on Amazon → - Dry ironoptionalone-time₹599 (Oct 2025)
Guests going to weddings and meetings ask for one.
Our pick: View on Amazon →
What our guests say about this (verified Airbnb reviews):
“What I appreciate the most is that no corners were cut to setup the place. The washing machine, fridge, mattress, pillows, bedsheets, RO purifier, furniture, etc. were all really good quality and not some cheap items. This made me feel that the host truly cares for the guests and not looking to optimize his profits.”
— Tanishq, 5★ on Airbnb, August 2025
“The place is spotless, very well maintained and thoughtfully organised, which made the stay super comfortable. Every little detail was sorted, so I didn’t have to worry about a thing.”
— Ankita, 5★ on Airbnb, August 2025
See it working before you spend a rupee
Everything in this guide is running at Happy Moon Homestay in Aldona, North Goa. Book a consultation: two hours on site with me, walking through the security setup, power backup, rooms, kitchen and the systems that keep reviews at 4.9★, and then your own property and plan. ₹10,000 for 2 hours. Free for persons of Goan origin. Staying the night is optional and charged at our normal room rate, so you can experience it as a guest.
Book a consultation on WhatsApp →
Want us to set it all up for you? See our done-for-you Airbnb setup service.
Frequently asked questions
What size bed is best for a homestay room?
A queen bed. It is the sweet spot between a double and a king: comfortable for couples, cheaper than a king and it leaves room to move.
Is a 1-ton AC enough for a guest room?
For a normal-sized guest room, yes. We prefer Voltas or Daikin and fit a stabiliser to every AC.
Should homestay rooms have a TV?
We do not put TVs in rooms. They increase power use, disturb other guests, and guests use their phones anyway.
What thread count should bedsheets be?
At least 200. Keep three sets per bed.
The full homestay setup series
Start with the complete checklist with real costs, or go area by area:
- Security and outside the property
- Power, water and internet
- Kitchen
- Bedroom (this article)
- Common area and dining
- Bathroom
- Supplies and maintenance
Staying in North Goa? See our rooms at Happy Moon Homestay.