Themed Airbnb: 5 Creative Ideas and 8 Examples to Differentiate Your Rental

One of the big attractions of a short-term rental is the experience that it offers. Unlike hotel stays that usually offer the same design style, Airbnb rentals can provide a one-of-a-kind experience.

Airbnb guests typically search for more than just a place to sleep. As such, there’s a real market for unique Airbnbs that are decorated around specific themes.

It’s especially a good idea if your property is situated in a saturated market and you need to think creatively to let your listing stand out. That said, a crowded marketplace isn’t the only reason why you should consider this design approach. If you’re interested in going this route, here are popular Airbnb theme ideas and real-life examples of how hosts have transformed their humble abode to an out-of-this-world rental.

Five Airbnb Theme Ideas

You can keep it relatively subdued by, for example, introducing only hints of your favorite bygone era or go all out and transform your house into a Barbie dream house. Whichever approach you prefer, here are five examples to awaken your inner interior designer.

1. A time period

Basically, each decade has its own unique style. If you’re looking for some design inspo, this can be a good place to start.

Is there a specific era that resonates with you more? Perhaps there’s a time period that’s currently trending?

Or, maybe you have inherited your grandma’s furniture and it’s only gathering dust in the garage. In this case, instead of it taking up space, why not use it to transform your space?

Decades that are quite popular include the 1920s, 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. More recently, the 1990s have also made a comeback.

If you prefer something more glamorous, let your imagination travel back more than a century ago and relive the roaring 20s. Think gold, jade green, chandeliers, luxurious fabrics, mirrors, and wallpaper.

If you’re not scared to play around with bright colors, the 60s and 80s will add color to any overnight stay. Think contrasting colors, graphic wall art, and vintage items like a radio or turntable.

For those who want to keep it fun, there’s the 70s and 90s. Think flowers, geometric shapes, a pool table, and wall posters.

2. Movies, TV shows, and popular culture

The movies are a great source of inspiration for many hosts. While you’ll appeal to a smaller target audience, there are some die-hard fans who’ll pay good money to stay in a rental that looks like the set of one of their favorite movies.

Examples of popular movies that you can use include:

• Jumanji
• Star Wars
• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Harry Potter
• Disney classics like Cinderella
• The Hobbit
• Lord of the Rings

There are also many trending TV shows, like Games of Thrones and Friends, that have very loyal followings.

3. Sports

If sports are more your type of action than an action movie, you can consider decorating your short-term rental around a specific sport like football, golf, or baseball. This can work especially well for Airbnb rentals that are located close to a stadium.

You can either keep in general and stick to a sport code or target specific fans and decorate it according to a team. If you go with the latter approach, just keep in mind that your target audience will become smaller.

4. Space

The Space Race has resumed. Why not look to space for inspiration on how to decorate your own space? You can possibly combine it with movies and incorporate elements from Star Wars, for instance.

5. A specific architectural style

If you prefer a more general theme, you can consider decorating your property to match a specific architectural style. This can work especially well if the building already has a unique style.

For example, if an abandoned factory or farmhouse was transformed into a residential property, why not let that shine through when you decide on decor?

8 Themed Airbnbs That Will Leave You Feeling Inspired

From castles in Hollywood to flying saucers in the UK… You think you might have seen it all, but the following eight Airbnb rentals give a whole new meaning to taking a trip.

1. A Games of Thrones Historic Home in Lexington, Kentucky

This Airbnb rental is a historic home that dates back all the way to the 1800s, making it a great choice for a historic TV show like Games of Thrones. To create the same style, the bedroom has a wooden king-sized bed. There are also playroom features and a mini-dungeon to keep it as realistic as possible.

That said, it’s also a great example of when you shouldn’t stick entirely to the script. The host has made sure to include modern amenities like a coffee machine, Wi-Fi, and smart lock — all foreign objects during the medieval period.

2. A Barbie Dream House in Hudson, Wisconsin

At the upper end of the price range, there’s this five-bedroom mansion that can accommodate big groups. It has all the extras and luxuries that you associate with Barbie’s lifestyle like a hot tub, massive swimming pool, air conditioning, indoor fireplace, home gym, outdoor fire pit, and patio.

There might be a lot of pink, but they didn’t forget about the Kens. There’s also a spacious backyard with a BBQ grill and all the utensils needed to entertain all your friends.

Basically, the only amenity that’s missing is a washer. However, there’s a nearby laundromat. After all, if you want to feel like Barbie for a week, washing isn’t going to be on your list of things to do.

3. A Pirates of the Caribbean Cottage in Topanga Canyon, California

If you’re located in a tropical area, you can explore a Caribbean theme like this listing. Just a short drive from Santa Monica, this two-bedroom guest house invested in many outdoor amenities to create that relaxing island vibe.

Features include a BBQ grill, ample outdoor furniture, a number of patios, and access to a private backyard that will let guests feel as if they truly are on a Caribbean getaway. Guests might miss a private pool, but with access to a private hot tub they’ll still feel as if they’re on an island getaway.

4. An 80s-inspired Two-bedroom House in Dallas, Texas

Located in the vibrant neighborhood of Lower Greenville is this equally vibrant two-bedroom rental. It’s been featured in a number of publications and even made the The Dallas Morning News.

Guests will have the ground floor of the duplex to themselves and access to a shared backyard where there are play structures for the kids. For the adults’ inner child, there’s a game console. Though, if they don’t get around to playing games from their childhood, the playful 80s interior will undoubtedly make them feel like a kid again.

5. A 60s and 70s Inspired Escape in Palm Springs, California

For another example of how you can use a specific decade as decor inspiration, there’s this rental. It features four bedrooms, a washer and dryer, and portable fans  — basically all the things that you expect from a suburban home in the 70s.

However, we’re fortunately no longer living in the 70s… The host also made sure to include modern conveniences like central air conditioning, Wi-Fi, and HDTV with all the popular streaming services too.

As for the decor style, you can expect to see bold geometric patterns, lots of color, and classic, restored chairs. The host also paid attention to smaller details by, for example, including a vinyl collection to take you on a musical trip down a memory lane.

6. A Spacious Spaceship in El Prado, New Mexico

This property is a great example of how the exterior and interior complement each other. It’s an example of sustainable art and also includes a shared greenhouse with banana trees and a fish pond as well as a food garden for an off-the-grid experience.

Thanks to basically no light pollution, guests are also treated to spectacular stargazing at night. From the comfort of their grounded spaceship-lookalike abode, it will feel as if they’re floating among the stars.

All in all, it’s for sure one of the most unique Airbnbs.

7. A Hollywood Hills Castle in Los Angeles, California

This is a great example of how you can let architecture guide you when choosing a theme for your Airbnb. Located in Los Angeles County, this castle has been newly restored and boasts a modern, full kitchen, a spacious dining room with gothic windows, a private pool and hot tub, and an inviting indoor fireplace to mention only a few highlights.

8. An Unknown Object in South Pembrokeshire, the UK

Unique Airbnbs aren’t restricted to the United States. UFOs might be synonymous with the US, but this didn’t stop this host in the United Kingdom who decided to transform a spaceship into a sleeping space that can accommodate up to four guests.

While it incorporates the space theme, it offers limited space. However, with some clever design and ample use of white, the area still feels spacious. Plus, considering that you’re located on a farm, you won’t feel cramped.

Staying with the space theme, there’s also a monitor with classic space games like Defender and Space Invaders.

The Common Theme Among Hosts — Automate

The jury will forever be out on what’s the best movie, sports team, or decade, but hosts and property managers have reached consensus that investing in a vacation rental software solution is the key to success. With artificial intelligence dominating online conversations, increasingly more hosts are turning to tools that will help them to automate many of their daily tasks.

For example, with iGMS, you streamline your daily operations and improve your guests’ stay. From cleanings to communication to calendar synchronization, it offers a host of tools for hosts.

If a themed Airbnb is too unusual for your taste, signing up for a software solution like iGMS can help you to offer an out-of-this-world experience in a different way. Plus, it’s very intuitive to use and doesn’t require any rocket science or course in wizardry like setting up some of these themed Airbnbs might require.