Utlilise The Outdoor Space At Your Holiday Cottage

Fortunate enough to have some outdoor space at your property? We look at some of the best ways to utilise your space, whether it be a large grass garden, a courtyard or a balcony.

Courtyard Areas:

Many of the traditional, stone cottages in the Lakes have smaller outdoor spaces such as courtyards. Many guests seeking a traditional cottage like this are choosing the property due to its location, often these type of properties occupy prime locations close to town centres. Despite guests spending a lot of time exploring the scenery, you can still offer some features in the yard to improve guests experience.

Consider adding a seating area, if your cottage is a couples retreat, you only need to add a couple of chairs. Flower beds or potted plants will also brighten up the space, and make the yard feel more homely. Fairy lights hung up will be a welcome feature, and will make the space feel cosy.

The Sunflower Ref. 1122936

Large Garden:

If your property comes with a grassy garden, guests will be wanting to spend time outside. It’s vital to offer a seating area, there should be enough seating for the amount of guests that the cottage sleeps. Consider adding a fire pit, or a barbeque. As the cottage is self catering, guests will welcome the chance to do some home cooking, especially if it’s outside! The fire pit will also help guests to stay warm in chilly evenings.

Wykefield Ref. 1041514

Garden sofas are a hit with guests, and offer the chance to laze around the garden, perhaps reading a book or listening to some music. Table areas are also a must, as they offer guests the opportunity to dine al fresco.

If the property is dog friendly, there should definitely be some grass in the outdoor space. Think about the kind of guests your cottage is for, will there be children playing? If the answer is yes, a grassy area is ideal.

Orchard Cottage Ref. 1064500

If you’ve got the space, a mix between patio and grass is the perfect combination. Also think about plants and flowers, fill your garden with lots of colours. Guests looking to escape to nature will love colourful flowers as a feature. You could also include a water element, such as a small water feature to fill the garden with lovely sounds. Be cautious when adding any body of water such as a pond, as this could be a safety risk for guests with children and may deter them from booking.

If you’ve got the space, adding a hot tub will also be a great feature. Guests love indulging in the luxuries when on holiday, and what better way to end a day hiking in the Lakes! Hot Tubs could also boost your bookings and generate more income by an extra 35% in Winter and an extra 25% in Summer*.

Terrace garden patio:

One of the benefits of incorporation a terraced patio as part of your garden landscape is the versatility of the materials that can be used. From concrete, to pavers, stone, tile, brick and gravel, changing materials can create separate zones within your patio. Ideal if you want guests to use the patio for multiple things such as a dining zone or a reading corner. A patio or decking that is versatile and equally low maintenance improves the functionality and use of your holiday home’s outdoor living space.

Use materials like composite decking, which is a lower maintenance material than wood. Or opt for a natural stone patio, which is not only easy to clean but also relatively slip resistant. It’s guaranteed to provide the pleasure of outdoor living without the hassle.

Mayfair House Ref. 1119883

Balcony:

A balcony is the perfect feature for smaller properties or apartments and an ideal way to add some outdoor space. A balcony with space for a couple of chairs is ideal, and will be a selling point for people looking to book your property. With the incredible views in the Lakes, guests will love the opportunity to sit outside and take the views in.

You can also add potted plants around the balcony, this will brighten the area up. Fairy lights also will look nice on the balcony, especially for when guests take to the outdoor seating in a Summers evening. Ensure the balcony frame is a good height and check the railings are safe.

Lauron’s View Ref. 1042150

Interested in hosting your property with Lakelovers?

Join our community of successful holiday let owners today. Request your FREE owner pack which will provide you with more information and guide you in the right direction. Call us on 015394 88855 or drop us an email on newowners@lakelovers.co.uk and we’ll get right back to you.

*All data is from our parent company Sykes Holiday Cottages.