Homeowners often turn to online platforms like TikTok, Instagram or even Pinterest for home reno inspiration. While they are undeniably good visual references, a home’s design goes beyond its aesthetics. To experience first-hand the ambience and functionality of any home’s design, you’d have to stay in it, which is where booking an Airbnb in Malaysia may come in handy.
Whether you prefer the starkness of an all-white minimalist home or the warm and cosy vibes of a boho-style villa, we’ve got you covered with our list, sorted by price.
1. Malacca—Ultramodern minimalist apartment (from S$58/night)
Image credit: KH via Airbnb
With its curves and creamy white walls, this apartment in Malacca is good inspiration for homeowners looking to renovate their home in a minimalist style. The home’s design ticks all the boxes of a basic minimalist interior: an uncluttered layout, neutral colour palette, and a lack of overt ornamentation.
Image credit: KH via Airbnb
This clean, ultramodern take on a minimalist home is perfect for up to 6 guests, with 4 beds. At S$58/night, staying here offers a unique chance to experience living in a minimalist home before you commit to a full home renovation.
2. Kuala Lumpur—Jungalow-style loft (from S$61/night)
Image credit: Naibnb via Airbnb
On the opposite end of the spectrum, homeowners looking for more maximalist inspiration can book a stay at this jungalow-style loft in KL. Each room in the apartment is a good look at how a jungalow-style HDB could look like, with rustic decor and plants that replicate the feel of being surrounded by the jungle.
Image credit: Naibnb via Airbnb
From the colour scheme to the thoughtfully chosen furniture, every detail imbues the home with the lush ambience typical of jungalow homes. Bookings start at S$61/night for 4 guests, though a minimum stay of 2 nights is required.
3. Kuala Lumpur—Cosy Japandi loft (from S$71/night)
Image credit: Naibnb via Airbnb
If jungalow homes are too chaotic and green for you, switch gears to this cosy Japandi home that’s perhaps more your kind of serene and zen. The home is enveloped in warm ambient lighting, bringing a sense of inner peace and zen to any weary resident.
Image credit: Naibnb via Airbnb
The look is complete with its collection of wooden furniture and tatami seating in the living area, lending it some character amidst its more sparse decoration. The home’s decor will inspire any homeowner looking to incorporate Japandi aesthetics into their home.
Image credit: Naibnb via Airbnb
Stays at this home start from S$71/night for up to 4 people, with a 2-night minimum stay.
4. Selangor—NYC-style loft (from S$72/night)
Image credit: Loft And Co via Airbnb
Homeowners interested in incorporating an industrial aesthetic into their home can take a look at this NYC-style loft apartment. While double-volume ceilings may be difficult to include in a regular HDB, the exposed brick, sleek cement screed walls, and dramatic black wall sconces are still fair game to take inspiration from.
Image credit: Loft And Co via Airbnb
However, what gives the home its NYC-style flair is its efficient use of space. Layouts in these homes tend to be clean and open because NYC apartments are compact, requiring the maximisation of space. The spacious layout of the home sleeps up to 6 people, with each booking starting at S$72/night.
5. Johor Bahru—Black & white apartment overlooking the beach (from S$75/night)
Image credit: Shyan via Airbnb
If you’re not moved by the raw industrialism of NYC flats, you may want to book a stay at this colonial-inspired apartment in JB instead. If you’re looking to add some drama to your home renovation, a stay at this rental might inspire you with its arched walkways and wainscotted walls.
Image credit: Shyan via Airbnb
The monochromatic black and white colour scheme ties the bolder aspects of the home together, illuminated by the rays of the sun from the beachfront balcony. A stay here starts from S$75/night, and is good for up to 6 guests.
6. Kuala Lumpur━Cosy Scandi duplex (from S$78/night)
Image credit: Jerry via Airbnb
Aside from its extremely festive Christmas tree, this duplex apartment in KL is the perfect inspiration for anybody looking to adopt the creamy Scandi look in their home.
Image credit: Jerry via Airbnb
The clean ornamentation and light wood fixtures infuse an air of calm into the interior, underscored by the moody ambient lighting that transforms the space at night.
Image credit: Jerry via Airbnb
Scandi homes are well known for their cosiness, so if you want to test how comfy they really are, you can book a stay here for up to 4 people, starting from S$78/night.
7. Kuala Lumpur—Minimalist all-white loft (from S$75 a night)
Image credit: Xander via Airbnb
All-white homes have been gaining popularity as of late, and this home is the logical conclusion to the trend. Every corner of this KL flat is in various shades of white, creating a striking first impression.
Image credit: Xander via Airbnb
Despite the lack of colour, the home does not look clinical and instead exudes an air of elegance with its sleek furniture and abstract minimal artwork. These unique touches are especially important in all-white homes like these, as they prevent the space from feeling cold and uninviting.
Image credit: Xander via Airbnb
Those unsure of committing to an all-white home for their reno can book a stay here for a trial run. Bookings start at S$75/night, accommodating up to 4 guests.
8. Pahang—Coastal boho apartment with sea views (from S$89 a night)
Image credit: [OOOU Homestay] Eric via Airbnb
This home is the epitome of vacation feels, with the crisp scent of the ocean and the sound of the waves lending this flat a sense of calm. However, you don’t need to fret if your home doesn’t have beachfront views like this—you can still capture the coastal boho style through some key elements.
Image credit: [OOOU Homestay] Eric via Airbnb
The light colours of the rattan furniture, combined with the sandy colour palette of the home, give the home its tropical feel. Step out into the patio, however, and you’ll get the full vibes with its bamboo wall and blinds, and more rattan furnishing.
Fans of the beach house aesthetic can book a stay here from S$89/night, though it only accommodates 2 guests.
9. Penang—Modern rustic heritage shophouse(from S$101/night)
Image credit: Wayne via Airbnb
Located in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Georgetown, Penang, this Airbnb is found on the 2nd floor of a heritage shophouse. It combines the calm ambience of a Scandi home with a rustic industrial look, with double-volume ceilings that give it an elegant edge.
Image adapted from: Wayne via Airbnb
The home is decorated in a mix of rustic decor in combination with more modern and contemporary pieces, giving the space character. Homeowners who want to style their home like a sophisticated art gallery will want to take inspiration from this Airbnb, which accommodates 4 people. Stays start from S$101/night.
10. Kuala Lumpur—Minimalist apartment with Lego room (from S$124/night)
Image credit: Hugo & Stella via Airbnb
The centrepiece of this Airbnb in KL is undoubtedly the vibrant multicoloured Lego bunk bed with a slide in its living room. Homeowners with Lego-loving kids, this one’s for you to consider.
Image credit: Hugo & Stella via Airbnb
The Lego slide is linked to a bunk bed by a colourful bridge and ladder that is sure to ignite playtime excitement for kids of all ages. The rest of the home is styled in a minimalist aesthetic, offering a calming and clutter-free environment for adults—the perfect balance to the playful energy of the children’s area.
The apartment accommodates 6 guests, and rates start from S$124/night, with a 2-night minimum stay.
11. Malacca—Colonial era Peranakan shophouse (from $140/night)
Image credit: Tan via Airbnb
Another time capsule of an Airbnb, this refurbished shophouse in Malacca dates back a hundred years at least to the British colonial era. The home is distinctly Peranakan in style, as seen in its patterned floor tiles and vintage-looking furniture.
Image credit: Tan via Airbnb
The twist here is the influence of colonial interior design in the home, with the presence of wainscotted walls and hanging pendant lights adding a decidedly English touch.
Stays here are priced from S$140/night for groups of up to 8 guests.
12. Penang—Oriental townhouse (from $169/night)
Image credit: Szu Fen via Airbnb
Part of a curated collection of restored properties by The Blue Mansion, this Straits Eclectic style townhouse in Penang is perfect for any homeowners looking to incorporate some heritage into their home reno.
Image credit: Szu Fen via Airbnb
The home inherently has a vintage atmosphere by virtue of being a shophouse dating back to the early 20th century. Its rustic aesthetic is further amplified by fixtures like the 3m tall Chinese doors, and the 5-foot way that fronts the house.
Image credit: Szu Fen via Airbnb
A restored airwell allows plenty of light to enter the 82-foot-deep home, giving it a bright and airy atmosphere that blends seamlessly with the home’s courtyard zen garden. A stay here starts from S$169/night for 2 people.
13. Petaling Jaya—Airy gallery-style terrace (from S$173/night)
Image credit: Chia家 via Airbnb
Those seeking to incorporate methods to allow natural light into their landed home can look to this semi-detached terrace home for inspiration. The open-concept layout of the home and minimalist decor create efficient light flow in the home, creating a bright and airy atmosphere.
Image credit: Chia家 via Airbnb
With its open concept, glazed doors, and glass block wall in the kitchen, almost every element in this home is thoughtfully designed to diffuse natural light into the home, which accommodates 10 guests from S$174/night.
14. Sarawak—Tropical colonial villa (from S$230/night)
Image credit: Marcus & Peggy via Airbnb
Even if you don’t own a villa, you can take inspo from this Sarawak home’s tropical aesthetic, with its abundance of jungle print wallpaper, rattan lamps and green joinery.
Image credit: Marcus & Peggy via Airbnb
The aesthetic is further bolstered by their use of rustic wood furnishings—-it even has a bamboo canopy at its poolside. Booking a stay at this villa will cost S$230/night, accommodating a maximum of 12 people.
15. Penang—Industrial townhouse (from S$508/night)
Image credit: Eddie via Airbnb
With its cement screed floors, raw brick wall and clean black fixtures, this townhouse in Penang will inspire any homeowner looking to adopt an industrial style for their home.
Image credit: Eddie via Airbnb
In this case, the harsh edges of this style are softened with the addition of greenery such as the tree growing in the courtyard of the airwell. Housing 7 bedrooms, accommodating up to 14 people, stays here are priced from S$508/night.
Airbnbs in Malaysia you can book for home reno inspiration
Make your next trip to Malaysia a recce for your home reno inspo. Considering its diverse culture and storied past, it’s no surprise that the Airbnbs there reflect that fact. From ultramodern homes to culturally rich Peranakan interiors, there will always be an option to draw design inspiration from.
For more home reno inspiration:
- 8 most unique 3-room HDB renovations
- Best ways to hide your HDB structural beams without hacking
- Guide to Bauhaus interior design
Cover image adapted from: Naibnb, Tan, Loft and Co, and Xander via Airbnb
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