How thoughtful interior design can help your Sussex holiday let stand out in a competitive Airbnb market
The holiday-let market has never been more competitive.
With guests having hundreds of properties to choose from, simply offering a clean and comfortable place to stay is no longer enough. Today’s guests are looking for an experience, somewhere beautiful, memorable and a little bit special.
As an Interior Designer and Stylist, I have been involved in transforming properties specifically to attract the ever-competitive Airbnb and holiday-let market. I am very pleased to say that the properties I have worked on have been extremely successful, with some continuing to be booked months ahead.
What I’ve learnt is that you don’t always need to spend a fortune or completely renovate a property to make a real difference.
The right design choices can transform how a property looks in photographs, how guests feel when they arrive and, importantly, how desirable it is when they are comparing it with other holiday lets.
So, if you’re looking to increase the appeal of your holiday property, here are my top 10 design upgrades that can help increase bookings.
1. Create a Wow Factor
Your holiday let needs to make an immediate impression.
Guests scrolling through Airbnb or other booking platforms are often looking at dozens of properties at the same time. Your photographs need to make them stop and think:
“Wow, I want to stay there.”
This doesn’t necessarily mean installing an expensive kitchen or completely renovating the property.
A statement headboard, beautiful wallpaper, an impressive piece of artwork, a fabulous pendant light or a carefully styled seating area can create that all-important wow factor.
Think about creating one or two memorable features in each property rather than trying to make every element compete for attention.
For a Sussex coastal property, this could mean sophisticated coastal colours, natural textures and beautiful woven materials rather than the traditional blue-and-white nautical look.
For a countryside retreat, rich earthy colours, layered textures and natural materials can create a luxurious but relaxed feel.
The key is creating a property that guests remember.
2. Invest in the Bedrooms
Bedrooms are incredibly important when it comes to holiday accommodation.
After all, guests aren’t simply booking a property — they’re booking a good night’s sleep and the feeling of waking up somewhere beautiful.
A well-designed bedroom should feel calm, comfortable and luxurious.
Consider investing in:
- A good-quality mattress
- Beautiful bed linen
- A statement headboard
- Layered cushions and throws
- Bedside tables
- Attractive bedside lighting
- Blackout curtains or blinds
- Full-length mirrors
- USB charging points
You don’t need to use expensive designer products throughout. It’s about combining quality basics with carefully chosen details.
Layering textures is particularly effective. Linen, velvet, wool, boucle and natural woven materials can instantly make a bedroom feel more luxurious.
And don’t forget the styling. A beautifully made bed can be one of the most important photographs in your entire listing.
3. Make the Living Space Somewhere Guests Want to Stay
When guests imagine their holiday, they’re imagining themselves relaxing.
Perhaps they’re sitting on the sofa with a glass of wine after a day exploring Sussex, reading a book on a rainy afternoon or gathering together after dinner.
Your living room needs to sell that experience.
Choose comfortable furniture and then layer the room with:
- Soft cushions
- Throws
- Rugs
- Curtains
- Artwork
- Side tables
- Decorative lighting
- Plants and greenery
Don’t be afraid of colour or pattern either.
A holiday let is an opportunity to create an interior with more personality than you might use in a conventional residential property.
The objective is to create somewhere guests want to spend time, not simply somewhere that looks good.
4. Upgrade Your Lighting
Good lighting can completely transform an interior — and it is one of the upgrades that is often overlooked.
A room with one bright central ceiling light can feel stark and uninspiring.
Instead, create layers of lighting using a combination of:
Pendant lights Wall lights Table lamps Floor lamps Picture lights Under-cabinet lighting Decorative lighting
Warm, ambient lighting creates atmosphere and makes a property feel much more inviting in the evening.
It also makes a huge difference to your photography.
If you’re investing in a beautiful interior but photographing it under harsh overhead lighting, you’re not showing your property at its best.
Good lighting isn’t simply practical — it’s part of the design.
5. Create a Cohesive Colour Scheme
One of the easiest ways to make a holiday property feel more expensive is to introduce a carefully considered colour palette.
This doesn’t mean every room needs to be the same colour. Instead, create a visual connection between the spaces.
For a Sussex coastal property, I might use a palette of soft neutrals, sandy tones, muted blues, sage greens and natural timber.
For a countryside property, warmer greens, earthy tones, soft terracotta and natural materials could create a wonderfully welcoming environment.
The important thing is that the property feels designed as a whole rather than furnished room by room.
A cohesive colour scheme also makes your photographs work beautifully together when guests are scrolling through your listing.
6. Give Your Property Personality
There is a big difference between a holiday let that looks furnished and one that feels designed.
Guests are increasingly looking for properties with character.
Artwork, accessories, books, ceramics, mirrors, plants and carefully selected decorative pieces can all help tell the story of your property.
And this is where the location can become part of the design.
A Sussex property might draw inspiration from the coastline, surrounding countryside or local architecture.
You don’t need to go down the obvious seaside route with shells and anchors everywhere.
Instead, take inspiration from the colours, textures and landscape of the area and interpret them in a more sophisticated way.
Good holiday-let design should have a sense of place.
7. Create an Instagrammable Moment
Let’s face it – we live in a very visual world.
Guests love taking photographs of beautiful places, and creating one or two memorable moments within your holiday let can encourage them to share their stay online.
This could be:
- A stunning freestanding bath
- A statement headboard
- A beautiful window seat
- A dramatic pendant light
- A feature wallpaper
- A cosy reading corner
- A beautifully styled kitchen
- An outdoor dining area
- A firepit A spectacular view
You don’t need every room to be “Instagrammable.”
In fact, trying too hard can have the opposite effect.
Instead, create a few beautiful moments that naturally photograph well.
When guests share those images, they’re effectively giving your property additional exposure — and that’s valuable marketing you don’t have to pay for.
8. Don’t Forget the Outside Space
If your property has a garden, terrace, balcony or courtyard, treat it as an extension of the interior.
Outdoor space can be a huge selling point, particularly for properties in Sussex where guests are looking to escape the city and enjoy the countryside or coast.
Comfortable outdoor furniture, cushions, planting, lighting and accessories can turn an ordinary garden into another destination within the property.
Think about how guests might use it. Could they eat breakfast outside?
Enjoy an evening drink?
Sit around a firepit?
Relax with a book?
Watch the sunset?
The more clearly you can communicate that experience through your photographs, the more valuable the outdoor space becomes.
9. Don’t Underestimate the Little Details
Luxury isn’t always about spending more money.
Often, it’s about getting the details right.
Guests remember the things that make their stay easy and enjoyable.
Think about:
- Plenty of coat hooks
- Full-length mirrors
- Good bedside lighting
- USB charging points
- Quality towels
- Attractive toiletries
- Comfortable dining chairs
- Plenty of glasses and crockery
- Good kitchen equipment
- Hairdryers
- Practical storage
- Beautifully presented welcome areas
These things might not necessarily feature in your main listing photograph, but they can have a significant impact on the guest experience.
And a great guest experience can lead to better reviews, repeat bookings and recommendations.
10. Style Your Property for Photography
This is one of the biggest lessons I have learnt from working on holiday-let properties.
Your photographs sell the property before your guests ever walk through the front door.
You can have a beautiful property, but if it isn’t styled and photographed properly, potential guests may never appreciate what it has to offer.
Before photographing your property, think about every detail.
Make the beds beautifully.
Arrange cushions and throws.
Remove unnecessary clutter.
Add greenery and flowers.
Style shelves and coffee tables.
Open curtains and blinds.
Make sure lighting is switched on where appropriate.
And photograph the rooms from the angles that best showcase their features.
Your photographs are your holiday let’s shop window.
If they create an emotional response and make someone imagine themselves staying there, they are doing their job.
Design Your Holiday Let With Your Guest in Mind
Ultimately, successful holiday-let design isn’t about following every interior trend.
It’s about understanding your target guest and creating a property that gives them a reason to choose you over the competition.
Perhaps they’re looking for a romantic weekend away.
Maybe they’re planning a family celebration.
They could be looking for a luxury countryside escape or a coastal retreat in Sussex.
Whatever your target market, your interior should reflect the experience you are selling. And this is where professional interior design can really add value.
Rather than simply choosing cushions and paint colours, I look at the property as a whole — considering layout, functionality, colour, lighting, furniture, styling, photography and the overall guest experience.
The aim is to create a property that doesn’t just look beautiful, but works commercially as a holiday let.
Is Your Holiday Let Reaching Its Full Potential?
If you’re preparing a new Airbnb or holiday let, or you feel your existing property isn’t achieving the bookings it should, it may be time to look at the design from a different perspective.
I have worked with holiday-let properties to transform them into beautiful, memorable spaces designed to attract guests and stand out in a competitive market.
I am delighted that the properties I have been involved with have gone on to be highly successful, with bookings continuing months ahead.
From individual room makeovers and styling through to complete holiday-let transformations, I can help you create a property that guests will want to book, photograph and come back to.
If you’re considering upgrading your holiday let in Sussex, I’d love to hear about your property and discuss how we could transform it.
Andrea Stratton Interior Design
Creating beautiful, considered interiors that work for you and your guests.
Ready to Transform Your Home?
If you’re looking for an interior designer in Sussex who specialises in creating elegant, timeless interiors tailored to your lifestyle, I’d love to hear from you.
Get in touch today to book your consultation and let’s start creating a home you’ll love coming back to every day.