How to make your holiday cottage stand out

Once you have your property, how can you make it stand out from the crowd? 

There are thousands of holiday properties right across the UK, from castles to log cabins, and you want to get your share of those holiday bookings!

Read more for our helpful tips on how to get your property noticed

The first thing people tend to look for is the location and size of the property – whether it’s a romantic cosy hideaway just for two or a lovely family home with a garden, and space for family gatherings.

Images sell properties! Many guests will choose a holiday home based on the interiors, guests look for that luxury or unique design.

Think unique decor, outdoor spaces and seating, a comforting woodburning stove and lots of room to eat together inside. Perhaps there’s a games room, a boot room or a hot tub? This will make your property stand out in addition to opting for the cottage to be dog friendly.

All those little extras that our guests love make a holiday feel like a real luxurious break away. If you can achieve this feeling with your interior design, chances are you’ll get bookings regardless of the location. We all want to feel the WOW factor when we browse through the all-important photos.

To make your holiday cottage stand out, consider your surroundings when choosing your interior style. For example, if your cottage is based near a forest, take inspiration from the countryside and keep the country character of the cottage. Lots of guests visiting the Lake District look for the modern country style as they are eager to be in the countryside. Modern fittings do well in towns, as this reflects the surroundings well too.

Interior Design

We chatted with Anoushka Lancaster, Interior Designer and owner of two cottage experiences from our sister company, John Bray Cornish Holidays.  Anoushka owns Hillside & Rose Cottage, in Port Isaac North Cornwall. We asked her what she thinks makes a great holiday home.

“We all want to wake up in the morning on our holidays and feel happy. A playfully decorated home can achieve that. It’s all about creating an atmosphere from the moment a guest arrives at the cottage, making them feel welcome and curious about what their holiday will bring. It can be a real escape from normality and our every-day stresses and strains. Its’ all about little touches too, things that make a guest feel you’ve really thought about their stay and how to make it special. My aim is to create a space that is joyous and relaxing, somewhere different from your home environment, perhaps even something that makes you chuckle!

I love quirky and unusual interiors, particularly of colour and design, and I’m a huge believer that a house should show a personality not just creating a show home.  I love using playful and vibrant wallcoverings full of zingy colourful coral and sea-life, lively stripy blinds and individual cushions to complete the look.

Hillside, Port Isaac

Anouska’s Holiday Home Design Tips

1. My main tip would be fall in love with something – a piece of art, a photograph, a wallpaper, or a piece of fabric, then use it as the main feature and work backward from there. Maybe you find a floral wallpaper you love, then perhaps bring out, say 3 different colours from the wallpaper into blinds, cushions, and lamps.
2. Be brave and go for the impact – even consider colours that would be seen as clashing (like pink and orange).
3. Let each piece breathe and stand-alone – try and move away from wanting a match of cushions, and curtains, you’re looking for a complementary feel and if you’re very daring, a clash here and there.
4. Consider mixing patterns. Perhaps a floral pattern with a geometric one, perhaps 2 wallpapers or wallpaper and a fabric. The effect can be stunning.
5. Scour the local flea markets and antique shops, finding something quirky and authentic can be a real focus for your room. It really brings with it its own history, has a story to tell and is so much more interesting than having everything brand new.
6. Upcycling old pieces of furniture perhaps by painting them with vibrant colours that match your scheme is another great way of being original and different.
7. Your room should tell a story about you, your personality, where you’ve travelled and what you love in life.
8. My trinity is Art, Fabrics, Wallpaper. They give me that initial inspiration, and everything else follows.

Some Lake District examples of how to make your holiday cottage stand out

Kentmere Hall Bank Barn, Kentmere 

Recently refurbished by the current owners, this superbly decorated property offers a homely retreat in one of the most beautiful valleys in the Lake District, Kentmere. The owners’ attention to detail is evident throughout and all the furniture has been carefully chosen to create a unique, colourful and welcoming setting.

Landower House, Ambleside

Lovingly built and designed, Landower is a gem of property in the heart of Ambleside. Finished to a very high standard, Landower offers a welcoming, spacious, bright and airy open plan lounge with log burning stove, kitchen and dining area with patio doors onto the garden and two patios. Complemented by a choice of four en-suite bedrooms all with luxury en-suite facilities there is plenty of space for all.

Hares Breath, Bowness-on-Windermere

Hares Breath has been carefully developed by the owner to create a superb holiday retreat that offers first-class accommodation in a superb location. The property oozes luxury, whilst maintaining traditional features such as wooden beams and exposed brickwork. The furnishings includes a beautiful earthy tones, perfect for guests seeking a country yet contemporary Lakes getaway.

However you choose to decorate your holiday home, we hope you’ve been inspired to maybe try something a little bit different!

Discover how a local brand with a national reach can work for you. With over 40 years of letting experience, we pride ourselves on delivering the bookings you deserve. Want to know more about holiday letting in the Lake District? Give our lovely team a call on 015394 88855 or email us at owners@lakelovers.co.uk. Alternatively, complete the form below to request contact from our team, including a copy of our FREE Owner Guide.

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