Modern minimalism - Holiday home decor guide

Modern minimalism - Holiday home decor guide

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Pick up any furniture brochure or interior design magazine and you’ll find monochrome colour schemes and minimalist décor gracing every glossy page.

Aspirational living rooms and fresh, uncluttered bedrooms have you wishing you could leap right into the magazine and relax on that beautiful charcoal-cushioned chaise-longue. Bear this in mind when decorating your holiday home and this feeling of ‘I want to be there’ will help convert potential guests into paying customers.

Functional and relaxing, the modern minimalist style is here to stay and here’s how you can achieve it.


Pick a colour and stick to it

White is the new magnolia. It’s fresh, clean and brightens up even the darkest of rooms. It’s easy to touch up inevitable bumps and scrapes, and its timelessness means it will never look out of date.

white minimalist holiday home room

Choose a subtle complementary colour for furniture and accessories and don’t stray from it. One of our top minimalist design tips, if you’re starting from a blank canvas, with each item you purchase for your property, ask yourself the question ‘does this fit with my colour scheme?’ and be strict with yourself if the answer is no.

Complementary colour combinations – white and…

  • Charcoal – use sparingly for maximum effect. A single charcoal sofa, a set of shelves or a television stand breaks up an otherwise light coloured room.
  • Muted green – subtly introduce this colour with house plants which will also breathe life into your fresh new room.
  • Taupe – very ‘in Vogue’, this soft colour works well with white to create a homely and welcoming feel.
  • Oak – the warmth of oak furniture lends a cosy atmosphere to any white room.

Carefully selected accessories

Studies have shown that clutter can trigger a stress response, so minimalism design is the ideal tonic. By limiting the number of items on show, you’ll find it easier to create the refreshing, orderly look which is so pleasing to the eye. Besides its aesthetic qualities, a minimalist room is also easier to maintain and clean, saving you or your caretaker valuable time on changeover days.

Minimal room with a house plant

House plants

Bringing nature indoors can help give your rooms more character and house plants are wonderful accessories for adding a muted splash of colour here and there. Just remember that someone will have to water them, so it’s best to choose varieties such as succulents which can be left for relatively long periods without attention.

Mirrors

Square, circular, metal-framed or wood, a well-positioned mirror will not only make a statement in your room, but can also help a smaller room appear more airy and bright.

Art

A cursory glance at interior inspiration websites such as Pinterest will reveal that a wall of juxtaposed frames of different sizes is the perfect focal point for a minimalist room. As for what to put in the frames, mix neutral photos with interesting artworks, carefully selected to coordinate with your chosen colours.

Minimal decor

Furniture

Who says that a functional piece of furniture can’t also serve as an accessory? Unique or vintage pieces add character to minimalism décor and make your marketing photos stand out from competitors.

Lighting

Show off your newly decorated minimalism interior in the best light (literally). Think about lighting before you start, as this will give you the opportunity to install wall lights, move switches, or add lighting where there was none before. Minimalist lighting comes in all shapes and sizes, but a favoured choice is industrial-style exposed bulbs which provide a feature for any room.


Lines and curves

The key to achieving the perfect minimalist décor is finding an aesthetic balance of straight lines and curves. Geometric shapes (think terrariums, designer shelving and Aztec inspired cushions) are very ‘on trend’ but straight lines can be softened by the introduction of a circular mirror here or a spherical footstool there.

Minimalist room with geometric accents

Patterns in minimalist interior design such as hexagons and other tessellating shapes can be reflected in the wall art, light fittings and even shelving to bring the whole room together. The key here is to not go too over the top when it comes to matching items by shape so as not to look overpowering.


Play with texture

Creating a minimalistic interior that feels warm, cosy and homely requires the addition of texture. And there are so many ways to incorporate texture to add visual interest as well as comfort – think of it as layering up an outfit.

Minimalist home with cosy accents

Adding soft rugs to the floor, and knitted throws and cushions to chairs and sofas are key to making sure your guests feel relaxed from the moment they walk through the door. Add wooden accents like picture frames, console tables and trays, and don’t be afraid to mix and match textures – providing you keep the colour palette muted to complete the look.


Flooring

Think floorboards and rugs. Easy to clean in the event of spillages and ideal for high traffic areas, laminate flooring comes in varieties to suit all styles and budgets. Opt for white or grey oak to lend your room a beach house flavour, or choose slightly darker wood to complement your colour scheme.

Minimalist wooden floor


Make it count

Once your holiday home makeover is complete, you’ll want your marketing photos to show it at its very best. Make sure that photos are well lit, high resolution and showing the room from an optimised angle. Stage the room as if it were lived in (but not messy!) to help people picture themselves relaxing there. 

Photographing minimalistic interior

Browse examples online to get inspiration and enlist the help of professionals such as our Property Managers here at holidaycottages.co.uk to ensure that your hard work is rewarded with high booking levels.


Looking to start holiday letting?

We’re always on the search for new owners to let their properties, whatever the style and appeal.

With an exceptional team who are dedicated to showcasing your property to help maximise its true potential, you get a simple, stress-free and successful letting experience that delivers you a healthy return.

If you are considering letting your holiday home, then we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch and let us help you on your journey. Call 01237 459991 or send us a message.

You can also download a free letting guide.

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