Bloom Stays’ tips for creating an inviting holiday home that holidaymakers will love
Design, colours, and materials; hot tubs and high-end coffee machines… When it comes to kitting out your holiday cottage, there’s seemingly no end to the options available. As an owner, knowing exactly where to invest your money can be a challenge – particularly when you’re constantly reviewing improvements.
The good news? Modern holiday let setups can be cost-effective, and there are certain small changes you can make that can have a big impact. While trends will come and go, there are some tried-and-tested ways to improve your holiday home that will stand the test of time.
In this blog, we’ll guide you through practical and creative ways to improve your holiday cottage. From optimising your interior design to selecting the right amenities, we’ll cover everything you need to know to make your property stand out – ensuring a memorable stay for your customers, and helping increase your odds of securing repeat bookings.
Understanding the holiday cottage market in Kent & Sussex
Kent and Sussex are popular holiday destinations for city folk and staycationers, with the counties renowned for their picturesque landscapes, charming coastal towns, and medieval historical sites. The holiday cottage market here is thriving, but you’ll have an edge on your competitors if you take time to really understand the preferences and wishes of potential guests.
At Bloom Stays, our most successful owners are those who take a really considered approach when it comes to making improvements on their property. They ensure decisions made on investing in the right design elements, decor, and amenities will resonate with a variety of customers.
Essential advice for improving your holiday let
The atmosphere you create in your holiday cottage plays a major role in guest satisfaction. Remember: the goal is to make your cottage feel like a home away from home – but elevated, comfortable, and full of character. Here’s how:
Use warm, ambient lighting
A few well-placed table lamps or floor lamps can help transform a room – and don’t be afraid to go bold! Rather than relying solely on overhead lighting, opt for lamps in the corners of rooms to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. Soft, ambient lighting adds depth and charm, especially in the evenings.
Avoid small, underwhelming lamps and instead go for larger, more striking designs that make a statement. A few bold lamps placed strategically in rooms can elevate the space and create a more relaxed, welcoming environment – especially somewhere unexpected, like the kitchen. Additionally, even a small change, like fitting overhead lights fitted with warmer bulbs, can go a long way.
Not every light needs to be wired in these days, either. Most retailers are stocking a good range of rechargeable lights which are smart, portable, and affordable. Pooky.com has some excellent styling ideas.
Enhance warmth with natural materials
Incorporating natural materials, such as wooden slat walls or furniture, can lend a timeless, rustic charm to your space. Avoid dated finishes like pine, and instead opt for richer, more sophisticated wood tones to create a cosy, inviting aesthetic.
Focus on high-quality bedding and mattresses
Make sure your guests enjoy a restful night’s sleep by investing in high-quality mattresses, linens, and pillows. Oversized bedding (for example using a king-size duvet on a double bed) will make sleeping feel like a true luxury, while small touches like velvet or matching wooden hangers – no plastic! – help your property feel like a luxurious retreat, significantly enhancing the guest experience.
Be thoughtful in adding decorative touches
Layer in throws, cushions, and artwork to make each room feel inviting and thoughtfully designed. These small decorative touches can add personality and warmth, creating a space that feels more like a home than a showroom or rented property.
Try to select materials that feel luxurious, but which are easy to keep clean throughout the season. Linen and cotton cushion covers and pure wool throws can be cleaned easily either at home or via specialist cleaners.
Incorporate unexpected, fun elements
Surprise and delight your guests with fun, unexpected touches like board games, table tennis, a foosball table, or outdoor equipment like lawn games and sports (or, if you have a pool or are close to the beach, pool floats). These additions not only offer entertainment to visitors (especially on rainy days!), but also create a sense of joy and novelty during their stay.
Utilise smart tech – but don’t go too large…
Leverage smart home technology and entertainment features to help create an experience that aligns with the price point of your holiday let. Smart TVs that allow guests to easily access streaming services like Netflix, Apple TV and Prime are widely welcomed, and we recommend having a guest login set up for primary channels.
Don’t feel pressured to go too large with your television, though – having TVs that can be placed anywhere in the home means you can adapt rooms to suit different purposes if needed.
With over 30 years’ experience in holiday letting, we at Bloom Stays have plenty of industry experience and expertise to help owners ready their homes for the holiday let market. Whether it’s property layouts, interior design, practical additions, or smaller details, we can help you get the ‘product’ right, inside and out.
Get in touch with us to find out more – call us on 01227 903404 or email hello@bloomstays.com and our team will be happy to talk you through any ideas.
