Making your Holiday Home Great!
Holiday homes have become increasingly popular in recent years. They are great places to getaway to over a long weekend or for leisurely family holidays. And, when you are not using it, a holiday home can generate extra income by being let out to other holidaymakers.
So, what makes one holiday home stand out from the rest? What makes your house more desirable than the one down the road?
There are a few things that are essential in any holiday home as well as other special features that will draw people in and get them coming back again and again.
Space
A holiday home should be comfortably proportioned to house a family of at least four. Parents obviously would prefer their own space (and an en-suite!) but children can share bedrooms. If you have a three-bedroom house and put bunk beds in two of the bedrooms, you could house 6 people – even more if you want to add a sleeper couch as part of the lounge furniture. However, you don’t want to cram too many people in one space. People like to feel pampered on holiday and a cramped environment with too many people ends up feeling a bit claustrophobic. There needs to be common space for eating and games but also places for people to go off by themselves and have some private downtime.
General Décor
Because of peoples varied preferences it is best to keep a holiday home fairly neutral and able to appeal to a wide range of tastes.
The décor doesn’t need to be fancy or of the latest fashion, but it mustn’t be old and tacky either.
Make sure your throw pillows are clean and well stuffed. Try to make sure that when you buy soft furnishings, they are made of fabric that is easy to clean. Dark colours are often a wise choice.
Provide ambient lighting in the form of bedside lamps, standing lamps and table lamps. These provide soft lighting options that make a space particularly appealing.
If your holiday home is in a warm climate, make sure that you have fans – either ceiling or standing fans. And of course, first prize is to have air conditioning!
A fireplace or stove is a lovely option for a winter evening spent in-doors.
Tiled floors might not be everyone’s cup of tea but they do provide a durable and easily cleanable option, especially in the common living areas.
Window dressings should be kept simple – curtaining is a good option because blinds could break with rough usage.
The Kitchen
There is nothing worse than arriving at a holiday home and finding that the kitchen is subpar in terms of appliances or equipment. Little things like a decent potato peeler and having a good can opener can make a big difference. Make sure pots and pans are clean and functional and that the kettle and toaster are in good nick. A microwave and dishwasher always make a holiday easier so make sure those two items are installed. An iron and ironing board are also essential items in a kitchen.
Make sure that there are cleaning products available – washing up liquid, Handy-Andy, cloths, mops, brooms etc.
Ample plug points are important in every room but especially the kitchen. Make sure that all of them are working.
Lounge
Comfortable sofas and chairs are a must in the lounge or living room. Make sure the fabric is durable, easy to clean and of a sensible colour or pattern – nothing that shows the dirt too easily!
A large colour TV with DSTV or Netflix is something that most holidaymakers expect.
Side tables with lamps add to the charm of a living room. Make the room feel inviting with throw pillows and blankets to snuggle up in while watching TV.
If the area is open plan, make sure that a dining table big enough to fit your maximum number of guests is suitably situated and that you have a full set of cutlery and crockery available.
For cosy winter nights nothing beats a working fireplace. Make sure that yours is kept in good order and that the chimney is swept at least once a year.
For rainy day fun, have a selection of books and games available.
Bathrooms
Bathrooms can be a huge turn on or a massive turn off! Let yours is the former! A clean and neat bathroom is essential. Make sure that the bath and shower are clean, and that the area around the plug has no build up of dirt. The toilet needs to be fully functional. If your bath, basin or toilet show any cracks, it is better to replace the item than leave it to potentially break and possibly causing injury. Make sure that there are spare toilet rolls in the storage cupboard as well as bathroom cleaning products.
A good thing to have stocked in a bathroom is a first-aid kit including Panado, plasters, antiseptic ointment, burn shield, tweezers, bandage and antihistamines.
A useful extra to have in a bathroom is a hairdryer.
Bedrooms
A comfortable bed is vital. No one wants to come to a holiday home and spend fitful nights trying to get comfortable in an old bed. Clean linen with a spare set in the cupboard as well as extra blankets and pillows is helpful.
Bedside tables and standing lamps make the bedroom feel more homely.
Make sure that there are hangers in the cupboards and that shelves are clean and dust free.
If your holiday home is in a warm climate, have a fan handy for hot evenings. A ceiling fan might also be a good idea to install.
Have available some insect repellent in case of mosquitos.
A nice accessory for a bedroom is a little vanity area with a small chair or bench and a mirror on the wall.
Outdoors
Who doesn’t like spending as much time outdoors as possible when on a holiday?
Equip your holiday house with adequate outdoor seating. An outdoor eating area is a great idea to have available.
If you have a built-in braai area, make sure that there is enough firewood stored away and that braai grids are clean and easily accessible. If you have a gas braai or Weber, ensure that it is safely stored away with adequate covering to protect it from the weather.
Wonderful extras to offer outdoors are a swimming pool or a hot tub and an outdoor shower (especially if your holiday house in near the beach).
Remember that you will need some lighting for outdoors. There are a lot of options for outdoor lighting but make sure firstly that the eating area and the braai area are well lit.
General
Put together a little Welcome Folder and include information like the wi-fi password, alarm code and emergency numbers.
You can also add a few leaflets and brochures with information about local attractions, hikes, restaurants etc.
Major Renovations
When you buy a holiday home it is unlikely that it is going to fulfil your needs or dreams immediately. It might be that a major renovation is needed. This can be dauting but if done correctly, can pay dividends in the end.
It is vitally important to get the right contractors involved. This is where Living Design can help you. Wendy Holmes is widely experienced in large-scale renovations and takes all the worry from off your shoulders by tackling the whole project from start to finish.
Give Wendy a call today to give you advice on your holiday home makeover!