Holiday cottage furnishing tips everyone should know

It’s easy to get overwhelmed when thinking about how to furnish your holiday cottage. There’s lots to think about and styles to consider but before you get carried away, here are our top tips for covering the essentials.

Don’t go OTT

Many holiday home owners can’t wait to get stuck into decorating and furnishing once all the hard-grafting has been completed. Choosing paints, picking trimmings and carefully selecting artwork is all part of the fun to create your perfect haven. But before you get swept away in a sea of décor, remember it’s best to keep things simple. From furniture to colour schemes, less is definitely more.

Not overdoing it with patterns, colours, accessories and knickknacks will lend itself to a calmer, less cluttered and easier to clean environment. Read our blog on shabby chic tips and tricks if you’d like to have a go at creating your own signature pieces and watch our Style Seminar video for more handy hints.

Make the most of where you live

If you live in the heart of a coastal village or have a lot of history to share, why not let this influence the personality of your holiday let? Guests want to feel in tune with their location and will choose a property based on what interests them and where they feel at home. From city to country to coast, make the most of where you live and let your guests feel even more connected.

Pick a good sofa

You’ve put all the hard work in and your holiday cottage looks beautiful, don’t fall at the final hurdle.

Imagine you’ve gone out for a long day of walking; you’re happy and tired and want to return to your home-from-home to snuggle up and relax. You drop onto the sofa and instead of falling into a squidgy, luxurious cushion, your bottom hits the equivalent of a church bench.

Your guests’ comfort is crucial to letting success and soft furnishings play a huge part, so don’t skimp on a decent sofa and spoil a good thing!

Pick a good bed

Likewise, good beds make happy guests. Your guests are coming to your property to escape reality for a while and a great nights’ sleep is very important. A really comfortable mattress and good pillows will make them never want to get up, let alone leave your cottage.

Create storage

Storage is a great way to keep clutter at bay, and also allows guests to temporarily stow their belongings. Remember to add plenty of storage so your guests don’t have to live out of their suitcases and can really feel at home.

Combine quality and durability

Quality and durability are the winning combinations for any holiday home. Pick furnishings and fittings that will last and your self-catering accommodation will keep from looking tired and worn.

De-personalise

It’s wonderful to surround yourself with happy memories and your own home is a great place for personal decorations and knickknacks. However, your holiday let is a totally different ball game. Guests want to feel as though your property is all theirs, and there’s nothing like bursting their bubble than leaving personal trinkets lying around. Keep family photos and private items out of your holiday cottage; that way you’ll prevent anything special from getting damaged and your guests won’t feel like they’re intruding in someone else’s home.