Lately, Airbnb themes have been super popular amongst guests and hosts. Hosts are seeing the need to differentiate themselves even further in saturated markets and going for a super custom experience. 

Now, it is not necessary for every host to go out and change up the design of their property. Rather, for those hosts entering into a saturated market, this could be a way to differentiate yourself from the crowd. More and more people are seeking out experiences versus just a place to stay at a destination and they’re willing to pay a premium.

Guests are searching for things like “star wars Airbnb” or “Airbnb family friendly stays”. Depending on your market, location, and attractions, having an Airbnb theme could prove to be a lucrative way to differentiate yourself from the crowd.

This post is all about Airbnb themes. 

Best Airbnb Themes

What theme do I choose?

Before diving into 5 super popular Airbnb theme ideas, you are probably wondering the best way to choose what is right for your property. That can be decided through three things: location, target audience, and competition.

Benefits of Your Location

Before choosing a theme you need to understand your location and why people are traveling there. What are the main local attractions and what is it that brings guests here? For most, this will be obvious like the beach, theme park, mountains, or national parks. For other listings, it could be less obvious but asking other hosts in the area why travelers are coming is an easy way to find out.

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Who’s Your Target Audience

A lot of this will be dictated by the size of your listing and the number of guests you can accommodate. Then decide from there who you want to cater your listing too at the location. Getting clarity here will strongly inform the theme you choose. Another way to choose this can be based on how you are planning to use the property. Is this purely an income property or is it your personal vacation home that you are allowing other guests to use?

What is the Competition Doing

Lastly, what is your competition doing? Are they putting together Airbnb themes for their properties? A popular destination by me is Joshua Tree National Park. It gained immense popularity in early 2020 due to its affordable housing, high ADR, and proximity to many major cities in Southern California. Travelers wanted to get out of these big cities during lockdowns and investors flooded the market.

The best investors are doubling down on amenities and building out themed properties. The market is so saturated with listings that they need to do more to stand out. Now, there’s a huge visitor draw so this isn’t out of desperation for more bookings but rather a way to get a higher ADR.

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5 Airbnb Themes Guests Are Searching For

1. Sports

Sports and Sports team themed Airbnbs are some of the most sought after listings by guests looking for a unique experience. If your listing is by a popular professional team where guests could be visiting for games, decking out the property in themed apparel and colors could be a fantastic way to attract those fans and command a higher ADR. Remember it’s all about ROI!

Another angle for a sports theme could have all the sports amenities like a basketball hoop, batting cages, volleyball net, soccer net, etc! This would be a super fun listing that attracts big groups and would command a higher ADR than average since the listing is the destination.

2. Disney

Disney-themed properties are not just for Florida and Southern California but could be a great theme for a family-friendly property. Families looking to make memories in your area would be more apt to book a property that would leave a lasting impression with their kids over one where they may be worried about their kids damaging something.

There are so many fun ways to bring this one to life from all the Disney movie classics over the years. You could even have a theatre room with all the Disney movies ready to go for guests to enjoy! Each room could be a different movie theme or you could pick a classic like Lion King and go all in.

3. Barbie

It’s no secret that the Barbie movie took the box office and world by storm in 2023. The female empowerment message resonated with so many young millennial and Gen Z women that it made it a prime opportunity for investors. You’re seeing so many Barbie-themed Airbnb’s popping up in destination cities attracting girl’s getaway groups. These listings are commanding a high ADR for their prospective markets and people are paying it!

4. Beach

A classic theme that many beach houses have fully embraced and rightfully so! As a Californian, I spent most of my adulthood so far living 15 minutes from some of the best beaches in the US, I totally forget that most of the country doesn’t live by the water. If they’re spending their vacation budget on a beach getaway, guests want the full experience of a beachy-themed Airbnb.

Not only should you make sure to theme out your property this way but provide beach essentials to ease guest experience and the amount of stuff they have to travel with. The best part about this theme is that it’s been done so much and there are plenty of ideas out there on Pinterest and Google to get the creative juices flowing.

5. Gaming

Whether it’s a classic Mario Kart gaming theme or a garage turned into an e-sports arena, a gaming-themed Airbnb has been proven to be on the rise. While I’m not personally a gamer, I think this is a great way to create a top-notch guest experience for not a ton of additional investment outside of quality game equipment. Hosts that have invested in this theme are attracting top ADRs for their market and seeing that extra investment pay off big time.

This post was all about Airbnb themes.