Getting the interior design of holiday rental correct is tricky. It can’t be personal or distasteful, and certainly can’t risk causing offence to your guests. At the same time, neutral is overestimated and can straddle too close to being bland. Go too neutral, rooms lack character.
There are ways to pop some subtle art on the walls of properties that add to its character without making it feel too personal.
- Take design inspiration from the location
A self-catering apartment rental in a city centre will command a different interior design to a cottage in a rural countryside. Likewise, coastal retreats will be different again. Take inspiration from what is around the local area.
A coastal property is more likely to benefit from cool blue hues, whereas a countryside cottage would look better with traditional furnishings and wall decor. City locations tend to be decorated with a modern trend, whereas urban and coastal properties tend to have a mix of modern and antique blended together.
- Print and frame a custom local map
Guests visiting towns and villages for the first-time benefit from local knowledge. In a self-catering property, there isn’t reception staff to provide local expertise. A custom framed map gives your guests the knowledge they need for a great experience in an area new to them.
If you are handy with software, there are numerous cloud services that let you create your own custom maps, import icons to include on them, colour code destinations, and export them as a PDF that you can then print and frame.
Some ideas that could be included are walkways, public rights of way, car parks, theatres, cinemas, and areas of interest.
- Showcase famous locals
Personal photos and memorabilia are for your home, not a rental property. Guests don’t want to feel like they are house-sitting for a stranger. Furnish to create an experience! In numerous places, there are famous people associated with the area that others may not know of. For instance, the birthplace of Ronnie Barker was Bedford. For a holiday rental in Bedford, you might consider framing a sketch. It doesn’t have to be a framed print. It could just as easily be literature. Like a copy of Nadiya Hussain’s cookbook in the kitchen, a famous local face from the Luton area of Bedfordshire. Research the local area to find out what famous people live or have lived there. The little touches are what create memorable experiences. - Highlight local artists
It’s always nice to add a little art to spruce the wall space up. If you don’t fancy including photos of famous people, two types of art that are almost always complimentary to walls are abstract art and landscape paintings. Both are popular types of art, and many towns and cities have prominent local artists, often with prints available to buy. If you do go this route, consider including information for your guests (perhaps in their welcome pack) that provides a little information on the painting, artist, and where they can buy copies, such as the artist’s website, or a contact telephone number. - Modernise with poster art
In city locations where you want to create a trendy, modern vibe, poster art lends itself well. Search online for retro posters, vintage posters, or even art deco posters.
For popular locations, you may find some specific to the area with the name of the town or village on the poster. Vintage posters displayed in a metal frame give a good balance of a throwback theme with a modern twist.