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
The common area is where a homestay stops feeling like a hotel. It is where groups play carrom after dinner, where a family eats together and where a solo traveller ends up chatting with other guests. Guests regularly mention ours in reviews. This guide covers what we put in the shared living and dining space at Happy Moon Homestay, and it works for a guest house lounge, a villa living room or the front room of a family home you share with guests.
1. Seating that works twice
- Sofa cum bedneededone-time₹3,399 (Oct 2025)
Seating by day, an extra bed at night. Move it into any room that needs a bed for an extra guest.
Our pick: View on Amazon → - Coffee tableneededone-time
View on Amazon → - Large floor mat for the living roomneededone-time
Warm underfoot, softens the echo, and kids play on it. Roll it up for monsoon cleaning.
View on Amazon →
2. Dining
- Dining table and chairsneededone-time
Guests who cook want to eat at a table, not on the bed.
View on Amazon → - Dining table matsneededone-time₹722 (Oct 2025)
Protect the table and make cleaning quick.
Our pick: View on Amazon → - Salt and pepper shakersneededone-time
Small touch, always used.
View on Amazon → - Spoon and fork stand for the tableneededone-time
Clean cutlery always on the table, so guests do not search the kitchen drawers.
View on Amazon → - Tissue paper boxesneededrecurring
View on Amazon →
3. Air, light and power
- BLDC ceiling fans (Atomberg)neededone-time
Much lower power draw, so they run longer on the inverter and cut the bill.
View on Amazon → - Motion sensor lights for the common areaneededone-time
Light the way at night and switch off by themselves, so lights are never left on till morning.
View on Amazon → - Wi-Fi routerneededone-time
Place it centrally; see the power and internet guide for backup.
View on Amazon →
4. Atmosphere
We use a smart speaker programmed with routines: it starts playing soft Indian classical instrumental music in the morning and stops by itself at night. The whole house feels calm without anyone touching a button, and it goes quiet before guests sleep.
- Smart speakeroptionalone-time
Set a routine: classical instrumental music in the day, automatic stop at night.
View on Amazon → - Vasesoptional
View on Amazon → - Paintingsoptionalbuy locally
Local art, bought locally. Goan scenes work well with guests. - Frames for your licencesneededone-time
Display your Goa Tourism registration and other licences in the common area. It builds trust at check-in.
View on Amazon → - Chandelieroptionalone-time
A statement light makes the common area photograph beautifully for your listing.
View on Amazon →
5. Entertainment without a TV
Guests mention our carrom and the swing in reviews. Games get guests talking to each other, which is what makes a homestay memorable.
- Carrom boardneededone-time
The game every Indian family plays.
View on Amazon → - Foosball tableoptionalone-time
A hit with groups and families.
View on Amazon → - Children's play area (slide or swing)optionalone-time
Not required, but families with children choose a homestay that has one.
View on Amazon →
What our guests say about this (verified Airbnb reviews):
“I have to say that the photos don’t do justice to how well done the shared space and the rooms are. Everything is so well thought out and curated for guests to have the best experience.”
— Kinnari, 5★ on Airbnb, February 2026
“The upper floor is dedicated to the guests with 5 different rooms, so neither does it feel like you're in someone's house and neither does it feel like a service oriented Hotel space… There's pretty much everything you might feel the need of, from Washing machine, microwave, fridge, iron table etc.”
— Madhu, 5★ on Airbnb, July 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 furniture does a homestay common area need?
A sofa cum bed (which doubles as an extra bed), a coffee table, a dining table with chairs and a large floor mat. Add games such as carrom and foosball instead of a TV.
Why use a sofa cum bed in a homestay?
It is seating by day and a bed at night, and you can move it into any room when a booking has an extra guest.
How do you keep the common area calm?
We programme a smart speaker to play Indian classical instrumental music during the day and to stop automatically at night.
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
- Common area and dining (this article)
- Bathroom
- Supplies and maintenance
Staying in North Goa? See our rooms at Happy Moon Homestay.