Scrolling through potential holiday homes to rent for your next trip can be much like swiping through a dating app.
Does the living room look cosy enough? Are the bedrooms sufficiently spacious? How well-equipped is the kitchen?
Interior designer Amy Durn, 35, from Hampshire, certainly agrees. Having run Amy Elizabeth Interiors since 2019, she has built a successful career designing homes and interiors.
And when it comes to securing a holiday let, she’s revealed there are some major interior mistakes that can put off even the unfussiest guest.
Nearly one in five Brits swipe past potential holiday homes faster than they swipe on dating apps, new research from Booking.com revealed this week. And 26 per cent decide in less than 10 seconds whether a property is worth a second look.
Amy, who works as an interior design partner for Booking.com, says: ‘You don’t need a full renovation to turn a home into a desirable holiday rental.
Interior designer Amy Durn has shared the reason why many decor options are actually detracting from the popularity of your property
‘A few intentional design choices, the right colour palette, layered textures and thoughtful lighting can completely change how a space feels and photographs.
‘Guests form an opinion within seconds, and small styling upgrades often have a bigger impact than big, expensive changes. It’s about presenting a home that feels easy to imagine staying in.’
When it comes to decking out your pad, not all choices pass the decor test, with the top décor faux pas now revealed by Booking.com.
The top 10 turn offs (not including garden elements) have been shared – and Amy’s weighed in on why they’re so bad.
Furry toilet seat covers
Furry toilet seat covers are an absolute no-no when designing a holiday let
The worst offender? Furry toilet seat covers. According to Booking.com’s research, 59 per cent say this is a turn-off when choosing a holiday home.
Amy says: ‘For me, I feel like it’s a cleanliness thing. I just get the impression that it has a lot of bacteria.
‘I would say that it is a bit gimmicky too. It raises hygiene and comfort issues for a lot of guests.’
Instead, she recommends a standard toilet seat – ‘clean, easy, comfort, cleanliness is going to always overtake something that is more of a personal choice.’
Shabby cabinet doors
Keeping cabinet doors modern and updated will help renters choose your property
In second place is shabby cabinet doors, with 55 per cent put off by them.
Amy says these will always lose out against more updated, clean designs.
Keeping things neutral is always a smart move.
Dolls or cuddly toys on display
Displays with toys, dolls and other objects could deter potential guests
Plus, 52 per cent are deterred by dolls or cuddly toys on display, putting that decor choice into the third spot.
Amy adds: ‘People are looking to rent something that is comfortable and clean, and something like dolls is a bit spooky. You’re renting someone’s personality if you are going to pick something that has gimmicks and dolls.
‘That’s going to put people off, because it’s just creepy.’
Old, outdated bathroom fixtures (e.g. toilet, sink, bath)
Outdated bathroom fixtures will never win against new, modern designs
Old, outdated bathroom fixtures would also deter renters – the fourth worst offender.
Amy says: ‘I think that people are looking for something Instagrammable. They want to show off where they’ve been, so something that is looking a little bit outdated.
‘People make a decision within 10 seconds, and if you’re scrolling and you come across something that looks outdated and unclean, and then you click on the next one, and that looks really clean, you’ll get overtaken every time.’
Taxidermy or animal heads
Taxidermy and animal heads are among the most off-putting features
It’s easy to understand why taxidermy and animal heads might deter prospective guests.
But Amy says: ‘They obviously can work, right? Say you’re going to America, and you’re staying out in Yosemite. They can work, they have their place.
‘But in someone’s personal home for the week with your family, it is very off-putting and not something that I personally would book.’
Mirrors on the ceiling or above the bed
Ceiling mirrors above the bed can deter many potential house guests
Meanwhile, ceiling mirrors would deter 49 per cent of Brits, coming in sixth.
‘It gives that illusion of something a little bit creepy,’ Amy says.
With potential sexual connotations, this could put off a whole host of guests – least of all families with young children.
She adds: ‘I wouldn’t be able to sleep if there was something there. I wouldn’t wake up in the middle of the night and see something reflecting on it, either.’
Signs with cheeky sayings
Humourous signs and saying should no longer decorate your property
Signs with cheeky sayings such as ‘nice bum’ and ‘wash your hands, you filthy animal’ are a big no-go too.
Amy reveals: ‘I feel like they had their time. They were very popular at one point, and I think they’ve just been overused.
‘It comes across a little bit immature. Nowadays, your property just needs to be clutter-free.’
Open shelving with visible clutter
Collections of books, decorative items, and antiques displayed on a shelf can put off renters
Open shelving with visible clutter should be avoided at all costs.
But, Amy says: ‘I love styled shelves. I think that is a really beautiful way of showing some really lovely accessories, but again, it shouldn’t be really small little knickknacks.
‘It should be something really big, and styled beautifully that can attract people.’
Excessive knick-knacks or ornaments
You want to keep shelves as clear as possible, clutter-free, Amy explains
Excessive knick-knacks or ornaments are deterrents for 40 per cent of those surveyed.
‘You need to have a clean space that doesn’t have a lot of things everywhere. You need to be able to envisage yourself staying in that property, and if everything’s looking a little bit too much, too all over the place it’s just something that people will move on from and not really want to book,’ Amy explains.
Instead, people want a space that’s not overly cluttered, that gives the feeling of being able to relax, she adds.
Pillows with sequins or rhinestones
Holiday homes with sparkly accessories are a no-go too, according to the study
And in tenth place was pillows with sequins or rhinestones.
Amy says: ‘I feel like they have their place in a themed room or a kid’s room.
‘But to have one in the master bedroom, just plonked in the middle of the bed, is not something that works.
‘It should be crisp white bedding, and some really lovely, beautiful, plain textured pillows that are really understated.’
Positive design choices, however, include high-end bedding and uncluttered spaces.
And, Amy adds, having a clean, plain carpet – instead of one with patterns or that is tattered – can be a game changer.
Convenient charging points, black-out blinds and coffee machines are also must-haves, the Booking.com data revealed.
And it’s not just what’s on the inside that counts.
Alfresco spaces are universally adored, with attractive greenery, a stylish seating area and hot tubs adding a sense of escapism that travellers crave.
And if owners were to make one key upgrade on a budget to increase the marketability of a property, Amy recommends a simple, low-cost revamp: bedding.
She says: ‘It’s a really, really cheap way of doing an upgrade. Crisp white bedding, and then layering in the textures after that – good pillows instantly elevate the space and photograph really well.
‘That would be a really cheap upgrade that could achieve hotel-level results fast.’
