The Best Airbnbs In Portland, Maine

Planning a trip to Portland, Maine? The largest city in the state has a lot of architecture and style, dating back to its founding in its nearly 400-year history. The New England city is a coastal community, and a lot of its home design and decorations are rooted in that tradition. For example, coastal colors like light blue and soft greens reflect the ocean, and neutral colors like tan, ivory, and white reflect the sand and natural white-washed tones. Accent colors are popular too, including coral, influenced by lobster and shrimp, and navy, also reflecting the water.

This city is home to a variety of rental styles, including historic homes, penthouses, luxury properties overlooking the water, Cape Cod-style homes, and even a barn-turned-rental property. On this list, there's definitely something here for every preferred style, and it's all right in Portland or very close by. Now that you're ready to take your trip to this coastal Maine destination, here's a look at the best-styled Airbnb properties in the city.

This classic Colonial house mirrors its New England heritage by incorporating rustic architectural elements, like dark ceiling beams running across the ceilings and a heavy stone hearth in the large living room. These accents help make the house seem older than it is, giving the architecture some gravitas. For example, the thick brick fireplace looks like it might have been there for centuries. It appears as if it can just as easily light a cozy evening fire as it can cook a filling dinner. 

Speaking of cooking, even the kitchen leans into the city's seafaring history, sporting nautical blue walls and swirly marble countertops that mimic lapping waves. They churn in all directions, creating a welcome contrast in the somewhat minimalist space. The kitchen looks both modern and rustic at the same time. The white cabinets are right on trend, but the wooden bar stools and seafoam blue paint help give it a maritime vibe. 

There's a chance you may fantasize about permanently moving into this apartment in an 18^th-century Victorian home. The house has been thoroughly renovated, swapping old-fashioned Victorian architecture for clean, crisp white lines. The charming Portland rental is bright and airy with pops of blue such as in the living room rug and throw pillows. The vibe is serene and a little nautical. While much of the living room is painted white, the wall with the window features a white-washed wood that looks rustic yet light — a look that's on point for a property in coastal Maine. 

The coordinating mirror on the door completes the look. There's charm in the architectural angles of this property, too, as seen in the dormer-like angles on the wall with the window. While most of the room is white-washed, it doesn't fall flat since there is a lot of texture. From the shearling pillows to the jute rugs to the sheer linen curtains, the space appears inviting rather than one-dimensional.

Views, views, views. This oceanfront luxury property in Falmouth, Maine (about 20 minutes north of Portland) is called Sea Salt for a reason. It's just steps from the beach and boasts modern amenities in a contemporary coastal style. Like in most beach properties, the nature outside is just as much a part of the decor as the furniture and trinkets inside. And luckily, you won't miss an ocean view thanks to the gorgeous floor-to-ceiling windows. 

The well-appointed living room has a coastal aesthetic but isn't as on-the-nose about it as using rattan chairs, gingham couches, or seashell knick-knacks. Instead, the space feels elevated yet vaguely beachy. The gold leather sofa melds seamlessly with a white, black and blue color scheme. The white club chairs play off the light blue dining chairs and the driftwood-inspired dining table. The shiplap accent wall cinches the theme.

The Francis Fassett house, a historic Victorian in Portland's West End, is a genuine piece of history. The landmark property, which was designed by Fassett, one of Portland's finest architects at the time, is 3,900 square feet. It features a high Victorian Gothic style, an urban aesthetic typically used for public buildings or mansions. The style favors gabled roofs, exaggerated forms, and heavy stone and brickwork.

Even though it was built over 145 years ago, it's been modernized. We're fascinated by the two parlors downstairs. Parlors were and are the center of attention of a home, marking the place to entertain guests in high style, especially for formal occasions. The first parlor in this historic home features floor-to-ceiling windows, hardwood floors, a fireplace, crown molding, and built-in shelves. The room is bright and airy and showcases a lime color scheme. The second parlor, which has access to the outdoor deck and the sunroom, has a yellow-gold color scheme but the same inviting and opulent atmosphere.

This Airbnb is awash in light blue with coral, which isn't a color combo you see every day. Not everyone is comfortable combining two bold colors, but this home balances the hues expertly. The mix of the two colors is vaguely nautical, making one think of buoys bobbing in seawater or the color schemes of seafood shacks near piers. But it's not just the color that makes the space nautical. The seaside theme also comes through in the distressed white sideboard, sailboat accent piece, and light blue kitchen cabinets. 

It's also a retro color combination, throwing one back into the shabby chic era of the '90s and early 2000s. The vintage theme is threaded throughout the furniture as well, appearing in the vintage table and chairs in the dining room. Because it feels a bit old-fashioned and a smidge coastal, it's also very inviting and cozy. 

If the idea of staying in an old barn sounds dank and drafty, think again. This West End barn in Portland is a turn-of-the-century property with many modern amenities and appeal. It has a lot of impressive features, including a bright red barn door, charming blue siding, and a hayloft-turned bedroom.

This barn also has a white kitchen that we love. The kitchen embraced the old-fashioned vibe of the barn by forgoing stainless steel appliances and instead opting for white ones to better blend in with the color scheme. It looks like it has the original metal cabinets that were popular in the 1950s (just painted white) and was accented with a charming subway tile backsplash. The open shelving is also a throwback to how kitchens used to be. The shelves are both functional and decorative, especially when full cabinet storage isn't an option. The entire space toes the line between retro and modern.

The Margaret suite in Portland, Maine, is housed in a former 1850s warehouse-turned-penthouse overlooking the city. The property features slanted windows, showcasing Casco Bay and downtown Portland. Not only do they help the city come into the apartment, but they themselves are a noteworthy architectural feature. Outlined in black and featuring geometric window grids, they pop in the space rather than blend into the background. We also love the exposed bricks throughout the home which gives the space an industrial, urban look that's also sophisticated.

One of the many standout areas is the primary bedroom, which features floor-to-ceiling windows, a wood-paneled ceiling, and, best of all, a soaking tub and walk-in shower just steps from the bed. While the bed and bath combo is a little unexpected, it works. Best of all, the floors are heated and there are roller shades, so you can sleep, bathe, or shower in luxury and in privacy.