San Diego Interior Design for Vacation Rentals and Homes
Salt & Sky designs short-term rentals that photograph beautifully and earn five-star reviews, and primary homes that feel like you. We design, source, install and style, from a single room to a full property.
For a short-term rental, design is a revenue decision.
We host our own vacation rentals and manage homes for owners across San Diego County, so we design with real booking data in mind, not just a Pinterest board. Before we choose a single piece, we study your macro and micro market to see which style, layout and amenities perform best where your home is.
Sleeping capacity, flow, durability and the photo moments guests share all get planned on purpose. The goal is a home that stands out in search results and earns glowing reviews.
- WhoAubrey and Brad, a husband and wife team based in San Diego
- WhatShort-term rental design (full design and install, design only, or virtual), primary home design, project management for rehabs and builds, and coaching
- WhereSan Diego County in person, and virtual design for homes anywhere
- RecognitionReaders' Pick for Rustic Home of the Year, San Diego Magazine Home & Design Awards 2025
Airbnb & vacation rental interior design
Three ways to design your short-term rental, with clear starting prices so you know where you stand before we talk. Every project gets a detailed estimate before work begins.
Full design & install
Hand us an empty home and get back a finished, photo-ready rental. We design it, then source, deliver, install and style every piece.
- Market analysis and space planning
- Sourcing, delivery and installation
- Full styling, ready for guests
- Photoshoot coordination
- A realistic materials budget we stay inside
For example, a 900 sq ft condo runs about $7,200 to $13,500, and a 1,600 sq ft house about $12,800 to $24,000. Your rate depends on the scope of work, layout, amenities and materials budget.
Design only
Our complete design plan for your whole home. You or your team handle the install, and we can order every item for you or hand you the list to buy yourself.
- Market analysis and space planning
- Room-by-room design boards
- A shoppable list with a link to every item
- Or we order every item for you, with delivery arranged based on your location
For example, a 900 sq ft condo runs about $2,700 to $4,500, and a 1,600 sq ft house about $4,800 to $8,000. Your rate depends on the scope of work, layout, amenities and materials budget.
Virtual design
A complete design delivered remotely, room by room, with feedback calls along the way and a link to every product.
- Mood board and design boards
- Two feedback calls
- A shoppable product list
$750 per main room · $400 per small room, like a bath or entry
Furniture and materials follow a realistic budget we set with you in detail before work begins, and we stay inside it. No number in mind yet? We'll put one together for you. You pay in scheduled payments throughout the project, not all at once, and financing is available.
Interior design for primary homes
Design for the home you live in, plus hands-on help with rehabs and builds, and one-on-one coaching.
Primary home design
Interior design for primary residences and second homes that balances function, sustainability and beauty. Every project gets a detailed estimate based on its size and scope.
Project management & design consulting
Renovating or building? We pick out finishes, plan layouts and keep the design decisions moving, so your rehab or build comes out right the first time.
Coaching
In person or on Google Meet. Personal coaching for owners and investors on short-term rental design, setup and running your own rental, with our honest advice.
From empty rooms to five-star ready
For full short-term rental projects, we handle every step, so you don't have to.
Market analysis
We study your neighborhood, your competition and your guests to decide what will book best.
Design & space planning
Layout, sleeping capacity, finishes and every piece of furniture, chosen for guests and for durability.
Sourcing & installation
We order, receive and install everything, then style every shelf, bed and table.
Photos & launch
A styled photoshoot and a listing ready to go live, with the option to hand it to our management team.
A one-hour consultation, then a mood board and a one-hour feedback call, then design boards and a second feedback call, and finally your finished design boards with a link to every product.
Homes we've designed across San Diego County
Most of these are homes you can book. That's the point: our designs are tested by real guests.
The Sapphire: from close of escrow to five-star stay
The Sapphire had solid bones and needed a lot of work. We took it from close of escrow all the way to its first guests: a full rehab, project management, every renovation detail, furnishings, setup and styling until it was photo ready and guest ready.
We reworked the layout like a Tetris puzzle to add a second living room, an outdoor living space, a primary suite and a full bathroom, and to extend the kitchen. Then we layered in our SoCal lux style, with every finish chosen for durability, impact and return.
- 5.0Airbnb rating
- 38Guest reviews
- Guest favoriteTop 10% on Airbnb
Honestly the whole house feels really nice and well done, nothing was flipped on the cheap here!Ally, Phoenix · Guest at The Sapphire
Guests notice the design
Our homes hold a 4.95 average across 700+ Airbnb reviews. These are guests, in their own words, on the spaces we designed.
★★★★★It blends cozy, rustic mountain vibes with elegant, modern design. Every piece of decor feels intentional, creating an atmosphere that is both incredibly chic and deeply welcoming.Annalisa, San Diego · Dark Moon Chalet
★★★★★It honestly felt like living inside a design magazine. Everything… was brand new, beautifully curated, and top quality.Matteo · The Swell, Oceanside
★★★★★The interior design is impeccable and feels like a true home, with every detail thought through.Tom, Carlsbad · Wild Moon Ranch
★★★★★The best Airbnb we have ever rented! Gorgeous interior… Oh and now I have good design inspiration for my own house!Jessica, Austin · Coastal Palm
★★★★★Super clean, modern, and tastefully designed with an upscale beach-house feel.Sallyann, Appleton, WI · The Sapphire, Pacific Beach
★★★★★The home is beautifully decorated and you can tell that every single space was thoughtfully designed for the sole comfort and enjoyment of her guest.Anja, Prescott, AZ · OB Surfer's Paradise
★★★★★Every detail of the home and facilities has been thoughtfully designed. It is cozy, welcoming, beautiful, and the back yard is a true spa-like oasis.Cherisse, Albuquerque · The Sapphire, Pacific Beach
★★★★★We really enjoyed the unique design throughout the home, the very White Lotus-esque powder room, and the surf themed master bedroom.Kristen, Ramona · Velvet Surf
★★★★★Beautifully decorated! It was clear every detail was thoughtfully made. High end furnishings, appliances and so many fun things to do.Jennifer, La Mesa · Wild Moon Ranch
★★★★★We were shocked to enter the house and find it even more beautiful and thoughtfully curated than the photos.Jaimie, Julian · Dark Moon Chalet
★★★★★Lots of sheepskins, beautiful linen curtains, and super comfy beds with fresh white bedding that felt like an expensive hotel.Lizzie, Santa Barbara · Velvet Surf
★★★★★Gorgeous design. You can really tell they took their time and thought out the place.Debbie, New Orleans · The Swell, Oceanside
★★★★★It felt like walking into a magazine! The details from floor to ceiling were so modern.Shirlynn · Dark Moon Chalet
★★★★★The house is so beautiful and inviting, curated with such an eye for detail and warmth.Rachel, Oceanside · Dark Moon Chalet
★★★★★The home actually feels like a beautifully designed home. It was so peaceful and the decor was amazing! We loved the wallpapers on the walls in the bedrooms!Emanuela, Scottsdale · Velvet Surf
★★★★★This home is well decorated, thoughtfully and tastefully designed, and well stocked.Emily, Denver · OB Surfer's Paradise
All reviews are five-star Airbnb reviews from guests at homes designed by Salt & Sky.
Want it designed and managed?
Once your home is finished, you can hand it straight to our management team. We launch it with a styled photoshoot, its own direct booking page and marketing across our social media and email list, then care for it every day after.
Interior design questions, answered
How much does Airbnb interior design cost in San Diego?
We price short-term rental design by square foot, and your rate depends on the scope of work, layout, amenities and materials budget. Full design and install runs $8 to $15 per square foot, so a 900 square foot condo is about $7,200 to $13,500. Design only runs $3 to $5 per square foot, and virtual design is $750 per main room. Furniture and materials follow a realistic budget we walk through with you in detail up front, and we stay inside it. Payments are spread throughout the project, and financing is available.
How do you handle the furniture and materials budget?
Before any work begins, we build a realistic materials budget with you and go through it in detail, so you know exactly what your home will cost to furnish. If you don't have a number in mind, we'll come up with a realistic materials budget for your home based on its size, your market and your goals. Then we design and source within that budget and stick to it.
Do you offer payment plans or financing?
Yes. Instead of one large invoice, you pay in scheduled payments throughout your project. We also offer financing, so you can get your rental designed and booking sooner.
What is the difference between full design and install, design only and virtual design?
With full design and install, we design the home and then source, deliver, install and style everything, so it is ready for photos and guests. With design only, you get our complete design plan and a shoppable list. We can order every item for you, with delivery arranged based on your location, or you can buy it yourself, and you or your team handle the install. Virtual design is done remotely, room by room, with feedback calls and a link to every product.
How is short-term rental design different from regular interior design?
A short-term rental has to work for guests and for revenue. We design for the market your home competes in, plan sleeping capacity and durability, and create the photo moments that make a listing stand out. Because we host and manage our own rentals, we design with real booking and review data in mind.
Do you design primary homes too?
Yes. We design primary residences and second homes starting at $125 per hour, and every project gets a detailed estimate based on its size and scope.
Can you do everything, from design to installation?
Yes. For full short-term rental projects we handle market analysis, space planning, sourcing, installation and styling, so the home is ready for photos and guests. If you want, our management team can launch and run it from there.
Can you refresh an Airbnb that's already listed?
Yes. We do strategic refreshes for existing Airbnb and vacation rental properties, from a few key rooms to the whole home.
Do you work with homes outside San Diego?
Yes. Our virtual design service is done remotely, so it works for homes outside San Diego. You get mood boards, design boards and a link to every product, with feedback calls along the way.
Do you help with rehabs, builds and coaching?
Yes. Project management and design consulting is $125 per hour, for picking out finishes, planning layouts and keeping design decisions on track during a rehab or build. One-on-one coaching is $250 per hour, in person or on Google Meet, for owners and investors who want our advice on designing, setting up and running a short-term rental.
Tell us about your space.
The more we know up front, the more useful our first conversation will be. It takes about 10 minutes, and you can skip anything you're not sure about yet.
- About you
- The property
- The project
- Style & feel
- Budget & timeline
Thank you, we got it.
We'll read through everything and be in touch soon to set up a call. In the meantime, take a look at more of our work.