Renovating a Rental Property – [10+ Unique Ideas]
Renovating a short-term rental property does feel like a big job.
But do you know the exact plan you will follow and the changes you will bring into it? If so, the whole process of Airbnb renovation is kind of the opposite of overwhelming.
Sometimes, small changes can make a big difference, whether you’re fixing up an old unit or simply giving your place a fresh look.
So, how can you renovate your rental property? What are the small changes that have the most impact? What are the things that give a property a completely new look?
Read on and learn multiple rental renovation ideas!
- Manicure Your Lawn
- Add a Soaking Tub with a View
- Add a Pool or Other Water Feature
- Add an ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit)
- Add a Rooftop Deck
- Convert the Garage
- Bring Back the Old Charm
- Raise the Ceilings
- Build a Chef’s Kitchen
- Bring In All Necessary Appliances
1. Manicure Your Lawn
First impressions matter. Right?
Even if your Airbnb is beautiful on the inside, a poorly maintained lawn can kill your first impression. The result? It hurts your photos.
A great outdoor photo creates curiosity and helps people imagine themselves in the space. It makes them want to click through.
More clicks = more views = better Airbnb ranking.
These are things that make a “great lawn”:
- Stone or concrete paths
- Wood chips
- Green grass
- Flowers and trees
- Bushes
- A high fence with vines or plants growing on it
- Outdoor structures like a cabana
All of that will instantly double the value of your photos.
2. Add a Soaking Tub with a View
Yes, a soaking tub already feels luxurious.
But here is a better idea: Knock out a wall and put in a big, floor-to-ceiling window. Place your soaking tub next to that window so guests can enjoy a view while they bathe.
Let the window overlook a beautiful green lawn or a private natural scene. This gives you an eye-catching photo that keeps people clicking through your listing.
It also creates a luxurious, Class A apartment vibe for which guests are willing to pay more.
3. Add a Pool or Other Water Feature
Water features always add value.
If you have a cabin in the woods, consider adding a small pond. For regular homes, add a pool.
Want to go the extra mile? Include a water slide. Maybe even a waterfall.
These things make your place fun. Guests are looking for unique, exciting experiences—things they can’t find in their daily lives.
Don’t just think about it as a pool. Think of it as:
- A pool with a slide
- A pool with themed lighting
- A pool with a waterfall
- A pond near your cabin
- Or even just a water feature that creates a sense of peace
That is what will make your place stand out.
4. Add an ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit)
This is a small, secondary unit built on the same lot as your main home. It could be:
- A modular home
- A 3D-printed house
- A yurt
- A bubble dome
Adding an ADU does three things:
- Increases the number of people you can host.
- Lets you rent both the main unit and the ADU together, as a group retreat.
- Lets you create two separate listings.
Even if your ADU is simple and cheap, it makes your listing more unique. It helps you build something interesting instead of just another boring house.
5. Add a Rooftop Deck
Don’t have much of a yard? Use your roof instead.
Try this: Add a bubble dome and a hot tub to the rooftop. People will imagine themselves sleeping under the stars, in a bubble, on a rooftop in the city.
If you add its photo to the listing, it alone will make your listing stand out.
This idea works especially well in cities like:
- Boston
- Philadelphia
- DC
Cities where most buildings are small, only a few stories high, with rooftops that you can use. Airbnb guests want novelty, and this delivers that.
6. Convert the Garage
Most people just use their garage to park cars. But if you turn it into a functional room, you can add a lot of value. You could turn it into:
- A gym
- A studio
- A sleeping space
- An office
This is especially useful if your Airbnb attracts guests who stay more than 4 or 5 days.
Long-term guests look for extras like:
- A kitchen
- A washer and dryer
- A gym
If you already sleep enough people in your unit, adding another bedroom may not increase income. But adding a home gym (or something that guests want) gives long-term guests something to enjoy.
People often start to lose good habits when they travel, and they don’t want this to happen. So, they want a kitchen (or a gym) to stay in shape when they travel.
7. Bring Back the Old Charm
This only works if your building is old—but if it is, it is worth it.
Old homes often have charm hidden under layers of renovation. Look for things like:
- Exposed brick
- Antique wood ceilings
- Fireplaces
If your home has any of those, don’t cover them—show them off.
We know one host who had a warehouse with exposed brick and a hand-painted Coca-Cola ad on the wall. It helped him make a ton of money. Then someone painted over the ad, and revenue dropped fast. That old ad was the photo that people clicked on the most.
So if your property has anything historic or vintage, lean into it. Don’t cover it up.
8. Raise the Ceilings
Vaulted ceilings make a space feel way bigger.
They create the feeling of luxury. And they look amazing in photos.
This is especially useful in lofts.
Knock out the ceiling, expose the beams or brick above, and install a cool chandelier or wallpapered ceiling.
The logic is simple: You’re not just competing with other Airbnbs. You’re competing with hotels and apartments. Those places almost never have vaulted ceilings.
Vertical space is space, too. Isn’t it? Show it off.
9. Build a Chef’s Kitchen
Airbnb has a category for “Chef’s Kitchen”.
If you want your place to qualify, here is what you need:
- A kitchen island
- A photo that clearly shows the full kitchen
- A description that says “full kitchen”
You don’t need high-end appliances or luxury cookware. Airbnb likely uses AI to scan photos and text to categorize your listing. So it just has to look like a chef’s kitchen.
If you upgrade the kitchen inside your rental property, you’ll start getting bookings from the people who filtered their search by “Chef’s Kitchen.”
10. Bring In All Necessary Appliances
One of the fastest ways to get better reviews and more bookings?
Add the appliances your guests actually need.
Most guests aren’t looking for luxury brands. They just want things to work. They want to feel like they have everything they need—without asking or going out to buy it.
Key appliances for an Airbnb rental property include those essential for cooking, laundry, and comfort, along with safety devices.
Kitchen:
- Refrigerator
- Microwave
- Toaster or toaster oven
- Coffee maker
- Pots and pans
- Cookware
- Dinnerware
- Utensils
Bathroom:
- Hairdryer
- Other bathroom essentials
Laundry appliances:
- Washing machine
- Dryer
- Iron and ironing board
Cleaning
- Vacuum
- Mop
Safety devices:
- Smoke detectors
- Carbon monoxide detectors
- Fire extinguisher
These small details add real value to your place, especially for:
- Families
- Long-term guests
- Digital nomads
- Business travelers
For example, if your Airbnb doesn’t have a washer and dryer, there are more chances that a guest staying a week might skip your place altogether.
People notice these things. They affect your photos, reviews, and how Airbnb ranks your listing.
So the goal here isn’t to impress. It’s to remove friction.
The fewer questions guests have to ask, the smoother their stay will feel. Over time, that translates into better reviews, more bookings, and more income.
Bonus Tip: Play Into Airbnb’s Categories
Although very common, some hosts don’t know this: Airbnb now uses categories.
You want your place to show up in as many of them as possible.
Here is how you can get your short-term rental property into specific ones:
Upgrade | Airbnb Category |
Vaulted ceiling or exposed beams | Architecture |
Old fireplace | Fireplace |
Pool | Pool |
Mini golf course in the yard | Golf |
Soaking tub with a view | Amazing Views |
Slide into the pool | OMG |
Treehouse or tent-style ADU | Tiny Home or Treehouse |
Bubble dome on the roof | Dome |
Instagram wall | Creative Spaces |
Exposed brick or antique charm | Historical Homes |
You should use these categories to increase your visibility on Airbnb.
Conclusion
That’s it!
These renovation tips aren’t just for style—they’re meant to boost clicks, bookings, and your bottom line. Whether you’re a property owner or just renting, these ideas help create a standout experience guests remember.
From soaking tubs to rooftop domes, each upgrade gives you an edge in a crowded market.
Now that your space is ready, it is time to furnish it with purpose.
The right furniture choices will turn great bones into a five-star guest experience—and help you earn even more.