Dress for Success

We have been noticing more and more the impact the way a property is dressed can have on booking levels and guest feedback. Guests' expectations have risen significantly in recent years and they are now looking for accommodation that is a step up from their own homes.

With this in mind we have put together some general guidance on how you can dress your cottage to make it appeal to as big a market as possible, as even small changes can have a big impact on bookings. We have also teamed up with a third-party and can now offer a specialist design service to owners that would like further assistance with this.

Inviting Seating Area

A mainly neutral colour scheme appeals to most people and you can still add splashes of colour/personality through your soft furnishings and accessories. This also means that you don’t have to repaint walls or replace expensive items of furniture (such as sofas) in order to give the room a new look. Another simple way of adding colour to a room is having a painted or wall-papered feature wall. This is easily touched up or changed and is cheaper than repainting the whole room.

Sitting Rooms

Soft furnishings such as cushions and throws can really tie a room’s colour scheme together and help you add a personal touch. They also help to give a warmer more comfy feeling to sitting rooms, especially when you have leather sofas. They can also be changed easily should you decide to change your room’s colour scheme.

Rugs can help protect your carpet from excessive wear in high traffic areas – after all, it is much cheaper to replace a rug than an entire carpet. In wooden floored rooms they also help provide warmth and a cosy, comfortable feeling. Lighting can help to create atmosphere in a room. Try adding lamps as well as a main ceiling light, so that people have a choice of which they would prefer depending on what they are doing - from reading and watching TV to playing board games and napping.

You can see how much of an impact furnishings can have in the before and after below:

Kitchens

Kitchens should be well-stocked with matching crockery, cutlery and utensils. It is essential to have a dining area, even if it is one that can be folded away and there should be sufficient chairs and space for all of your guests to dine together.

Bedrooms

Bedrooms can again be kept neutral, with colour and texture provided by cushions, curtains, accessories and bed throws. These give a luxury feel to the room and throws also provide extra warmth. There should be a bedside table and lamp for each bed, as well as drawers and hanging space for clothes. It is advisable to provide a dressing table or an area with a power point and a mirror so that people can blow dry their hair. Bedding and mattresses should be fire retardant and mattress/pillow protectors are recommended for hygiene purposes. It is also worth considering black-out curtains/blinds to stop the light streaming in.

Bathrooms

Bathrooms should be clean and well presented with minimal accessories and should ideally have matching towels. Monochrome (black and white, or black and cream) can work well in bathrooms, perhaps with a splash of colour to keep it feeling warm and inviting.

Lovely Outdoor Dining Area

Conservatories/Outside Space

It is important to make use of whatever outdoor space you have with seating, a BBQ, etc. Even small terraces and patios can be made to look much more inviting with garden furniture. It is also key to make sure that the grass and any hedges are neat and well maintained.

Dressing your property well can help encourage guests to book with you and some of the thoughtful touches we have suggested can help make them want to come back again and again. It may also reduce complaints.

If you would like any advice on dressing your property, or are interested in the specialist design service that we now offer with a third-party provider, please contact our property team: