10 Best Home Renovation Ideas For Your Airbnb

Refurbishing apartments or homes are a great way to keep your short-term rentals in high demand. And if you’re familiar with short-term vacation rentals, you should know that renovations are always continuous and you need to breathe new life into your property if you want great reviews.

With that being said, we would be covering some awesome interior design renovation ideas you can make use of in your entire apartment or short rentals. From painting your front door to adding a new coffee maker, here’s how to make more money and attract new guests with these creative refurbishment ideas.

Comfort is Key

Part of the top Airbnb requirements when leasing your apartments is comfort. Learn to ask yourself the question, “How much comfort does the apartment really offer? To ensure your customers keep coming back for more and to avoid renting your Airbnb property cheaply, there are some light renovations you need to make to your beautifully decorated room to make it more comfortable:

Replace The Mattresses  

Your vacation rental property is not your personal apartment; think of it as a small hotel room. Always have that in mind when running a rental.  As such, always consider the comfort of your customers when making any new home refurbishment projects.

Consider checking your mattresses regularly to be sure they still offer the much-needed comfort that they were purchased for. Do a routine check for lumps that might have been developed due to overuse. And if you do notice that the mattress is due for a change, don’t hesitate to.

While under normal circumstances, mattresses should be changed every 6-8 years, small hotel rooms tend to replace old units with extremely chic ones every 3 to 5 years.

Mix Up The Pillows 

Aside from mattresses, pillows are also necessary when providing comfort to customers. The right pillow can guarantee a good night’s sleep, but what is the right pillow? Unfortunately, there is no right or wrong when it comes to pillows. Customers might have different preferences regarding the exact pillow that meets their comfort needs.

This is why you need to learn to mix it up. Provide a perfect mix of soft and firm pillows so your customers can choose from a good array of options. You should also look towards getting high-quality pillow protectors and learn to change this often.

Every pillow should be changed regularly, as pillows tend to show their age with use. So learn to change or replace your pillows every two years at most. In all you do, always go for high-quality pillows and mattresses.

Offer Wheelchair Access

Wherever possible, try to add details that would make the property more accessible to wheelchair users. Not only will it make your space more comfortable for an often overlooked demographic but also help you stand out from your competition.

Depending on your budget you can add features like wheelchair ramps, elevators, wider entryways, ceiling or mobile hoists, and grab bars in the bathroom.

Change Your Walls 

In most cases, simply changing the wall paint or adding a fresh coat can make all the difference in the world when it comes to your rental property. Consider changing every wall in the apartment regularly, from the living room walls to the bathroom walls. An accent wall is a step away from traditional design but allows you to create something unique in your living areas.

And if you’re wondering what exact coat colors would be perfect for your rentals, then consider neutral coat colors that will help your guests unwind. Whites are a standard for most small hotels and Airbnb properties. Asides from white, there are other neutrals you can try like beige, gray, and a host of others.

You can also consider using modern design wallpaper art on your walls to liven up your whole house. You would be pleasantly surprised that there are lots of cool wallpapers you can get at the same price range that could help you save money while making the huge difference you are searching for.

Consider New Flooring 

New tiles or floorings can also greatly benefit your Airbnb short-term rentals. If you’ve got old carpets installed in your apartments, then you might consider changing them. You can also decide to refinish hardwoods when searching for that new look.

Oftentimes, this project involves a lot of money, as new floorings often aren’t cheap. But there are lots of inexpensive options that you can go for. You can consider changing the floor colors by staining the wood finishes. Or you can opt for a more polished concrete floor to give your apartment a unique or particular style or look.

Installing new floorings can be the best bathroom remodeling practice you can try. In order to get your bathroom looking like a top-of-the-line luxury spa, then consider finding wood laminate flooring for your small bathroom space that gives a particular rustic cabin style. Or opt for a relatively cheap bathroom tile that works well.

DIY Projects Are Great For Saving Money 

Most times, carrying out a home renovation project on your rental properties can be extremely costly. Sometimes it can be the cost of the project itself that is expensive and other times, it can be the cost of hiring good local handyman services to get the work done.

You can save a lot of money if you get some renovation projects done yourself. There are lots of DIY focal point products that you can create to make your apartments look and feel a lot better. You can take a wooden pallet and craft it into a small table or coffee table for your living room.

Empty tin cans could also be made into flower or garden pots to help keep your Airbnb renovation project looking really good. Not only do DIY projects help in saving money, but they can also help keep your space a lot more environmentally friendly.

For your walls, you can consider crafting a beautiful DIY wall mirror. This is a really inexpensive project that could help bring some life to your vacation rental walls.

Change Your Windows

Installing new windows appears to be a more serious renovation when looking at all previous projects so far.  However, new windows can be crucial towards improving the overall resale value of your apartment or vacation rentals. Aside from that, they also help change the overall look of your space, providing perfect architectural detail and cutting-edge security and functionality.

Experts from Ecoline Windows Canada claim that modern quality triple-pane windows with a high Energy Star rating can be up to 50% more energy efficient than regular units, saving a ton on both heating and cooling bills, while still providing other core essentials like security and a lot more.

On average, windows and glass doors have a high lifespan, reaching up to 20 to 25 years, depending on the exact units you go with. A few signs can tell you if it’s time to change your windows. One of those is window cracks and cuts. If you do notice that your windows are way past their expiration date, consider getting replacement windows.

More Storage Space

Show your guests that your rooms are not just a beautifully relaxing atmosphere but equally functional. Storage spaces are a great way to achieve this.  Most Airbnb theme properties contain a lot of storage spaces for guests and customers to store their own belongings.

You can consider converting the extra space under the staircase into a small room, a free closet space, or a bookshelf. Or consider installing room cabinets and hanger spaces that can be used by your guests and customers.

Consider implementing some hidden storage areas in your vacation rentals. This can come in the form of extra storage space in the furniture like a sofa or bedding. Your customers would appreciate this a lot.

Invest In Upgrading Your Appliances 

A cool way to keep your Airbnb ratings and reviews high and to avoid renting your Airbnb property cheaply is to ensure the technology appliances are in excellent condition and up to date. Keeping them up to date does not necessarily mean spending a lot of money in picking the latest and greatest appliances.

By simply ensuring your appliances are in great working condition, you can increase the overall value of your short-term rental and make your potential and already existing customers or guests very happy. Here are some key energy efficient appliances to invest in.

Refrigerators    

Refrigerators are a great appliance you can invest in to make your space a lot better and more appealing to your guests or visitors. It is an amenity, especially when it comes to rental apartment kitchens. Always ensure your refrigerators are kept in good working condition at all times. It’ll help keep your costs as an Airbnb host lower in the long run.

On average, the lifespan of a refrigerator should last between 10 to 15 years, But there are a few faults that can affect the overall performance of these refrigerators. If your faulty fridge is rather new, then you can consider hiring a trusted repair service to help in fixing it.

However, if your refrigerator is a bit too old, a little over 10 to 15 years, then you can consider replacing the generator entirely. There are many affordable options to pick from when looking for the right refrigerator.

Check your refrigerators for signs that they might not be working properly. Does it cool properly? Is there a sign of frost or condensation? Does the motor make noises while running? Answers to these questions are needed.

Washing Machines

Another essential appliance to be had in your vacation rentals is a washing machine. This would be needed to make laundry a lot easier for guests who might be staying for a while. Washing machines are a lot similar to refrigerators when it comes to lifespan—lasting around 10 to 15 years of solid use.

Consider upgrading your washing machines entirely if they have nearly reached their expiration period. There are a few signs that could help you in deciding this. One of these signs is a noisy motor or spinner.

When getting a replacement washing machine, you definitely want one with a high energy star rating to help in saving energy and money in the long run.

Air Conditioning 

Air conditioners are a no-brainer when it comes to short-lets. Keep your guests feeling cool and comfortable during the hot season. Having a good and functioning air conditioning unit installed in your apartment should be a top priority.

On average, the lifespan of a new unit should last between 15 to 20 years. Consider replacing your Air Condition altogether if it is close to its expiration period. You can also opt for a trusted repair service or handyman service to keep your AC in top working condition.

Check for signs of overuse for your Air Conditioning unit. Overheating, excess noise, and low cooling can be a sure sign that you need to replace your Air Conditioning unit.

Work On Your Lighting

Changing your existing lighting fixtures can also be a good treat to your Airbnb guests. Work on upscale premium lighting fixtures that are modern and give your short-term rental apartment an overall impressive modern interior design look.

You can get great, modern lighting fixtures or antique lighting fixtures at a cheap rate when you purchase them directly from a manufacturer, or you get them from your local flea market. Always aim for something unique that could help spruce up your entire living space.

Stick to plain white lighting for your apartments. This enhances the overall visibility of your rooms and provides a much more mature feel to your Airbnb spaces.

Kitchen Renovations 

A seasoned host knows the importance of having a good-looking and good-functioning kitchen and dining areas. Your guests spend a long time in this space as this is where they cook and have their meals prepared.

As such, it is important that you make your kitchen a very cool place for them to make use of. Work on repairing or replacing a few Airbnb kitchen essentials or equipment.

Create a few key storage spaces and kitchen cabinets to help create more room in the kitchen or replace the existing cabinets with improved ones to help avoid excess clutter. Get some high quality kitchen cabinets in Sacramento, San Francisco or a nearby location to your AirBnB, since you want these to be long lasting and they can come in different colors to accentuate your home.

All in all, you want the kitchen to radiate and shine all through. So keep the kitchen clean at all times and provide the right state-of-the-art equipment to make it extra special.

Bathroom Renovations    

The bathrooms are just as important as the kitchen. They deserve special attention as a lot of time is often spent in this room. This is why it is essential to make proper use of these spaces.

One sure way to improve your bathroom is through good-quality maintenance. And hygiene is the best way to achieve this. Keep your bathrooms clean at all times; install a new shower pan and get rid of the old and dirty ones.

If your bathroom comes with a toilet installed, then focus on replacing all old-looking toilets and installing good functioning and clean ones.

What Are The Three Types of Renovation?

In simple words, you can put all home renovation projects into 3 different categories taking into account how much value they add to your rental property:

Basic Renovations

These projects go with fixing any tiny defects your house has to make it cozier. Such standard renovations might include repairing the attic, painting the walls, or remodeling your outdated kitchen.

Homeowners also prefer buying inexpensive things that make a big impression when conducting basic upgrades – for example, a new picture on the wall can sometimes make the space look much more elegant. If you’re looking for unique contemporary art to elevate your living space, check out Singulart.

While such projects add value, they don’t drastically improve the market value of your property.

Cosmetic Renovations

When it comes to cosmetic renovations, Airbnb property owners might consider new windows installation, painting an accent wall, getting warm lighting or significantly upgrading some home areas (kitchens and bathrooms first off).

These upgrades aim to increase your property’s market value and make it more appealing for rentals.

Personal Renovations

Personal renovations are those made by homeowners to make the space as comfortable as possible. Often, such upgrades are made in those homes where you currently live and don’t plan to move out, so it is not the thing for rental properties unless you have a premium market in mind where rentals seek luxury spaces. Personal upgrades are a mix of basic and cosmetic renovations with an emphasis on more quality items and luxury goods.

Takeaway

Being a well-seasoned Airbnb host is a lot more than having a lot of apartment rentals or short vacation rentals. It involves keeping your guests and customers happy in the long run.

By following the tips and tricks listed above, you can achieve this and make the best out of your Airbnb space. It is very important that you work with your budget when it comes to these renovations. Always plan all renovations in advance to avoid spending on the wrong things.

Taking advantage of vacation rental software like iGMS is the easiest way to perfect your communication strategy and streamline your business with the help of our award-winning automation tools.

With iGMS, you will be able to:

• Managing multiple accounts and listings on the top OTAs from a single interface
• Improving communication with automated templates and triggered messaging for more guests at one time
• Automating the process of guest reviews
• Processing payments securely via integration with Stripe.
• Adjusting your pricing in a smart way through integrations with PriceLabs, DPGO, and Wheelhouse

FAQ

What are the most common vacation rental upgrades you can make?

So far, Airbnb property owners usually consider four most popular upgrades. These are the kitchen, the bedrooms (appliances and cabinet spaces), the bathrooms and the window installations.

Why should you renovate your Airbnb property?

The major reason you should renovate your Airbnb rental property is to ensure it stays relevant and in high demand. This also helps to boost the rental price for your space.

How can I decorate my Airbnb home for cheap?

One sure way to avoid considerable expenses when decorating your Airbnb home is to handle some projects yourself. Consider DIY projects that could test your creativity while still helping to save a lot of money.

Where can I start my Airbnb property renovation?

Even though home renovations can get overwhelming, it is crucial that you start at your own pace and budget. A simple mattress change in the bedroom can be a good start.

When is it time to renovate your property?

Renovations should be done regularly, especially if it’s an Airbnb rental. Significant renovations, like window replacement, should be planned in advance since manufacturing takes a long time. If you want to go with the simple wall decoration or bathroom upgrades, you can take up these renovations at any convenient time.

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About the Author:

Roman Tymchenko is the lead writer at Ecoline Windows, a Canadian-based company helping homeowners across the country with window & door replacement projects. For more information, contact Roman at roman.t@ecolinewindows.ca.