Décor and furnishings: The dos and don’ts
If your holiday home is newly decorated and freshly furnished when you take over ownership then you’re in a great position to consider holiday home rentals. However, most properties will need at least a lick of paint and a dining table, bed or sofa to make the place ready for guests.
The overall style should be one that will suit the widest range of holidaymakers, but avoid the cold faceless look of a hotel. Remember your guests are paying to stay in a private holiday home and your décor and furnishings should reinforce the image of a property that is warm and welcoming. Your choices in terms of décor and furnishings will depend to a large part on your own tastes and you should personalise the property, but before you order any chequered wallpaper or a Liberty’s 3 piece suite read our ‘Dos and Don’ts’ below.
DO –
- Keep it neutral
Choosing off-white and pastel colour schemes will give your property the widest appeal which is likely to invite more booking enquiries.
- Add personal touches
Add interest and style with small areas of colour, and add ornaments, throw rugs, pictures or paintings to give the feel of a home from home.
- Go for quality
Buy durable furniture and utensils – visitors tend to treat high quality items with more care and respect. Moreover, they’ll stand more wear and tear and you won’t have to replace them so often.
- Choose easy to clean features
Go for practical fixtures which you can clean easily and will still look good at the end of a long rental season. E.g. When fitting a log burning fire choose a plinth or surround in a dark colour or easy to clean marble finish. Plaster or light coloured granite will dirty quickly.
- Have a lockable cupboard
A private storage space will save you bringing things back and forth when you visit. You can also protect anything you don’t want to get broken.
DON’T –
- Overspend on stylish features
Unless you’re going for the top end of the market, go for quality rather than cutting edge designs.
- Have lots of clutter lying around
People don’t want to feel like they’re intruding into your home, so keep your things stored away neatly.
- Cut corners
Choose fixtures which will last, they’ll save you replacing them all the time and create a better impression on your guests.
- Settle for cast-offs
If you want to rent your place out to paying customers, filling it with your tatty old furniture won’t work.
- Make guests bring everything
Make your property a home from home, your guests won’t book with you again if they have to provide everything themselves. Linen and towels are the obvious examples, but items like garden furniture and beach towels make a stay much more pleasant.
Our common sense reminders should help you make your property ready for renting out to paying guests. Remember that keeping the holidaymaker in mind at this point could save you both hassle and money in the future!
