How to Furnish a Holiday Let

The most successful holiday lets feel like true homes away from home, offering all the creature comforts along with those extra special touches that create an elevated stay away.

But furnishing your holiday home is not just about making it look good in photos – striking the right balance of style, comfort, functionality and durability is crucial. Here are some key practical considerations when it comes to decking your property out in a way that provides value for both you and your guests.

Think About Your Ideal Guests

Whether you’re starting from scratch or are looking to update your interior design to better maximise profits, it helps to frame your decisions around one core question: who will be staying at your property?

For instance, the way you furnish an intimate getaway for couples will be very different from the way you approach a holiday let geared at multi-generational families. Luxe upholstery and cosy snuggle chairs will suit the former, while hardwearing, easy-to-clean materials and plenty of diverse seating options will work better for family-friendly stays.

Get the Basics Right

Before getting excited by accessories and decor, make sure you get the basics right. Guests may be drawn in by the glossy photos of your property listing, but you’ll need to back this up with a high-quality experience to make their stay comfortable and memorable for all the right reasons.

Ultra-comfy beds and exceptional bedroom setups are musts to ensure the sweetest of dreams. Elevated bathroom experiences are also often sought after by guests, whether this means a swish modern design or ensuring everything is spotless and providing high-end toiletries for a spa-like vibe.

Ultimately, you should first focus on creating practical, frictionless spaces that give your guests a seamless experience – you don’t want them feeling like something is missing. Basics like plenty of power sockets, storage space and kitchen utensils or properly-working everyday appliances are essential.

New Forest Escapes guests often praise how well-equipped their holiday cottage is. To ensure this high standard across our properties, we issue every property owner with a holiday let inventory checklist that gives plenty of guidance on how to kit out the space.

Consider Layout & Flow

Beyond individual pieces of furniture, think about the general layout of the space and how good energy flow and a sense of feng shui can be maximised. Scale your furniture appropriately for the room; big, bulky sofas and large coffee tables will make a cosy nook feel cluttered or stuffy. Measure each room carefully and then measure again, so you have an accurate picture of how much space you actually have to play with.

Properly considering the available space and potential layouts before diving in with furniture can also help you think about how natural light plays a role and how guests will practically use each room.

Make the most of open plan living spaces by placing furniture in a way that facilitates easy movement and togetherness – you do not want to block the space visually or physically.

Blend Comfort With Durability

If everything goes to plan, a lot of people will be staying at your property, so you need furniture that is up to the task. Yes, comfort is key, but so too is the longevity of your pieces. You’ll save a lot of money, time and effort if you invest in high-quality, long-lasting furniture at the beginning, rather than replacing less durable pieces that quickly become worn or faded over time.

Antiques are great in this respect, as not only do they bring an extra element of charm and personality to your interiors, but in most cases, they’re made to last and will stay looking fantastic in your property year after year.

It can also help to prioritise easy-to-clean materials, as spills and stains are inevitable. Things like machine-washable rugs, stain-resistant fabrics and removable sofa cushion covers make getting your holiday let guest-ready in between stays quick and painless.

Tie Everything Together With a Cohesive Theme

At the most basic level, you should aim to keep the overall interior design style fresh, light and free of clutter. This doesn’t mean everything needs to be neutral or lacklustre, though; your property’s unique style and charm are key factors in attracting guests after all!

Sticking to a generic theme throughout your holiday let can help provide a cohesive, intentionally styled look that gives your guests that luxe boutique feel. One great source of inspiration when picking your overarching theme is your property’s location – modern nautical vibes are ideal for coastal spots, while farmhouse chic is always a winner for countryside hideaways.

Whatever your theme, aim for a sense of timelessness with a leaning towards contemporary elegance. Interiors that rely on fleeting trends or gimmicks will quickly look dated, so it’s best to embrace enduring staples and make the most of your property’s individuality and quirks.

Add Thoughtful, Personal Touches

Once you’ve got the basics down and have styled all your pieces according to your chosen theme, it’s time to add the final touches. Providing welcome packs with information about the area, as well as some tasty local treats, is a brilliant way to make guests feel at home and like no detail has been ignored.

Incorporating art from local artists is another nice touch, elevating interiors with a distinctive stylishness while also giving guests even more insight into what the area is all about!

For more information about putting this into practice, you can read our guide on creating holiday home welcome packs.

Here at New Forest Escapes, we’ve got over a decade of experience helping holiday let owners get their properties guest-ready. With a nudge in the right direction, a beautifully presented property that’s fully equipped with all the essentials (and a few well-thought-out extras) is more than set up for success!

If you’re interested in hosting with New Forest Escapes, please get in touch! Our dedicated team can provide advice on all aspects of holiday cottage ownership to help ensure you get the most out of your investment.