The holiday rental market has never been more competitive. With platforms like Airbnb, Booking.com, and Vrbo giving guests access to thousands of properties at the touch of a button, your holiday let has just seconds to make an impression. And that impression, more often than not, comes down to one thing: how it looks.
I have designed and styled over fifty holiday lets and rental properties across the Cotswolds, Cornwall, and the wider UK. What I have learned is that thoughtful interior design is not an expense — it is an investment that pays for itself through higher nightly rates, stronger occupancy, and the kind of five-star reviews that keep your calendar full.
Here are my top tips for styling your holiday let for maximum bookings.
1. Think Like a Guest, Not a Landlord
The single most important shift you can make is to stop thinking about your property as a rental asset and start thinking about it as an experience. Your guests are not just booking a place to sleep — they are booking a feeling. They want to arrive and immediately feel that this is somewhere special, somewhere worth the trip, somewhere that will look beautiful in their photos and feel even better in person.
Walk through your property as if you have never been there before. What is the first thing you see when you open the door? Is there a sense of arrival? Are the spaces inviting? Would you want to sit in that living room with a glass of wine? Would you photograph that kitchen and share it with friends? If the answer is not an immediate yes, there is work to do.
2. Invest in Photography-Ready Styling
Your listing photos are your shopfront. They determine whether a potential guest clicks through or keeps scrolling. This means every room needs to look its absolute best — not just clean and tidy, but genuinely beautiful.
The key is layering. Start with a strong base of quality furniture in a cohesive colour palette, then add layers of texture and interest: linen cushions, woven throws, fresh greenery, interesting ceramics, a stack of coffee table books. These details cost relatively little but transform a room from generic to aspirational.
Properties I have styled with professional-level interiors consistently achieve 25-40% higher nightly rates than comparable, unstyles properties in the same area.
3. Create a Sense of Place
The best holiday lets feel connected to their location. If your property is in the Cotswolds, lean into the honey-stone warmth with natural materials, muted greens, and artisan touches. If you are on the coast, embrace the light with blues, whites, and driftwood textures. Guests choose a location for a reason — your interiors should celebrate that choice, not ignore it.
This does not mean cliched seaside prints or generic countryside kitsch. It means thoughtful nods to the landscape: a palette drawn from the view outside the window, local pottery on the shelves, artwork by regional artists, materials that feel appropriate to the setting.
4. Choose Materials That Last
A holiday let needs to withstand constant use by different guests, cleaning between stays, and the inevitable wear and tear. This does not mean compromising on aesthetics — it means being smart about materials.
- Performance fabrics for sofas and chairs that resist stains and clean easily
- Engineered wood or luxury vinyl flooring that handles foot traffic and the occasional spill
- Quartz or solid surface worktops that do not stain or scratch
- Commercial-grade mattresses that maintain comfort across hundreds of stays
- White hotel-quality bed linen that launders beautifully and always looks fresh
- Semi-gloss or eggshell paint on walls for easy wipe-down maintenance
The trick is selecting materials that look luxurious but perform like workhorses. This is where working with a designer who understands the holiday let market makes a genuine difference — we know which brands and products deliver on both fronts.
5. Design for the Guest Experience
Beyond aesthetics, think about the practical experience of staying in your property. The small touches that make a stay memorable are often the ones that cost the least:
- A properly stocked kitchen with quality cookware, sharp knives, and decent glassware
- Plush towels and quality toiletries in the bathroom
- Good lighting — a mix of ambient, task, and accent — with dimmable options for the evening
- A curated welcome pack that reflects the local area
- Comfortable seating that people actually want to sit in
- Blackout curtains or blinds in bedrooms for a proper night's sleep
These details do not just generate reviews — they generate the right kind of reviews. Five-star feedback that specifically mentions the interiors, the comfort, and the attention to detail is the most powerful marketing your property can have.
6. Maintain Consistency Across Properties
If you own multiple holiday lets, consistency is key. Guests who have a great experience at one of your properties should recognise the same level of quality and design thinking at another. This does not mean every property looks identical — but the standard of furnishing, the quality of materials, and the overall aesthetic sensibility should be consistent.
This is where working with a designer to establish a brand identity across your portfolio becomes especially valuable. We create a design framework that adapts to each property's character while maintaining the overall standard that keeps guests coming back and recommending you to others.
Ready to Transform Your Holiday Let?
If you are looking to elevate your holiday rental, attract premium guests, and maximise your booking rate, I would love to help. My Holiday Let Design service covers everything from initial property assessment through to photography-ready styling, with a focus on creating spaces that are as durable as they are beautiful.
Whether you have a single cottage in the Cotswolds or a portfolio of properties across the UK, every project starts with a conversation. Get in touch and let's discuss how we can make your property stand out.
