Simple ways to refresh your holiday let without big spend

Why subtle refreshes make a big difference

If your guests walked into your property today, what would they notice first? Could it feel tired, dated, or in need of attention? A refreshed environment not only delights them, it also shows up in your photos, listings, reviews and bookings. A few strategic changes can help your holiday rental look new again without eating into your profits.

In fact, many of the most effective adjustments don’t cost much, they just require a bit of planning, creativity and consistency.

Where to start: mood, palette and consistency

Before diving in, take a moment to step back and imagine how you want guests to feel. Your guiding principle should be to create a space that feels warm, cared for, polished but welcoming. Stick with a coherent colour palette and avoid too many competing styles.

Once you have that vision, the rest falls into place. The right cushions, lighting, layout or plant can then amplify your chosen aesthetic.

Soft furnishings: swap, layer, refresh

Soft furnishings are among the fastest tools in your kit. Replacing cushions, throws or slipcovers is a relatively low cost but high-impact move.

You might:

• Choose a handful of cushions in updated colours or textures
  
  

• Use covers instead of whole cushions, so you can swap them seasonally
  
  

• Add a throw or bed runner that picks up an accent hue
  
  

• Keep the palette restrained so nothing feels mismatched
  
  

These touches subtly shift the feeling of a room. Guests immediately sense thoughtfulness and comfort.

Paint and accent walls: fresh and forgiving

Walls take a lot of wear and tear. A fresh coat of paint can go a long way in refreshing your space. You do not need to repaint every room, focusing on high-use spaces such as the living room, hallway or master bedroom can yield major returns.

If a full repaint is not in the budget, consider:

• Painting an accent wall with a muted complementary tone
  
  

• Repainting skirting boards, doors and frames in the same colour to freshen edges
  
  

• Refreshing existing wall colour if it’s faded or stained
  
  

Even a “same colour refresh” can make scuffs disappear and make your property feel maintained and cared for.

Greenery and nature: inside meets outside

Plants and natural elements bring life into a space. They soften hard lines, introduce seasonal colour, and communicate that the host cares about the ambience.

Ideas to try:

• A few low-maintenance houseplants such as snake plant or pothos
  
  

• Potted herbs in kitchen windows
  
  

• Quality faux plants if upkeep is a concern
  
  

• Matching pots or baskets to tie plants into your style
  
  

Guests often mention plants in reviews, they add life to interiors in a way that pictures tend to appreciate.

Light, mirrors and atmosphere

Even the best furnishings can fall flat under poor lighting. Upgrading your lighting scheme radically alters how rooms feel.

Consider:

• Replacing old bulbs with warm LED (2700–3000 K)
  
  

• Adding lamps, wall lights or uplighters to layer illumination
  
  

• Positioning mirrors to reflect natural light
  
  

• Ensuring all fixtures, shades and globes are clean and dust-free
  
  

A well lit room feels more spacious, welcoming and professional.

Rearranging space: get creative with what you have

Sometimes the biggest transformation is spatial, not structural. Move your furniture around. Shift a sofa to face a view. Swap chairs between rooms. Remove bulky or underused pieces.

This exercise helps you see the home as a fresh layout instead of a fixed shell. Decluttering and editing accessories such as vases, trinkets and frames along the way will reinforce the sense of space.

Refresh imagery to match your updates

Your listing photos are the first way guests meet your property. After making updates, invest time in a new photo shoot reflecting the refreshed space.

Tips:

• Shoot in soft daylight and tidy all surfaces
  
  

• Stage small vignettes such as a plant, a book or a throw
  
  

• Capture rooms from multiple angles to show flow
  
  

• Highlight new features such as artwork, cushions or better lighting
  
  

When your listing images reflect your refresh, travellers respond more positively. Your click-throughs and bookings tend to rise.

With Travelnest, your dedicated Property Expert can help you pick the best images and suggest which rooms to prioritise, thanks to their listing optimisation expertise.

Seasonal tweaks that keep things fresh

Refreshing doesn’t need to be a one-off. Rotate small details to reflect the seasons or special events. In summer, lighten the tones and introduce fresh florals; in winter, deepen colours, add cosy throws and ambient lighting. Even changing one or two cushions or accessories per season can make returning guests feel like they are discovering something new.

Over time, these incremental updates allow you to chronicle the life of your property, always evolving and always cared for.

Travelnest tools to amplify your refresh efforts

Once your space is refreshed, the next challenge is getting it in front of the right people. That’s where Travelnest steps in:

• We distribute your property to over 30 top booking platforms such as Airbnb, Booking.com and Expedia with just one upload. See Why Travelnest is more than your average channel manager.
  
  

• Our listing optimisation expertise helps you make the most of your photos, descriptions and amenities for better listing performance.
  
  

• With Travelnest Direct you can accept bookings via your own website, bypassing channel commissions with just a 5 % Travelnest fee, and your reviews are automatically shown to build trust.
  
  

• You manage all your channels, calendars and pricing in one dashboard, reducing admin time and avoiding double bookings.
  
  

In short, once your space looks refreshed, we help it get seen, booked and managed efficiently.

Final thoughts

You do not need to spend heavily to give your holiday let a fresh, delightful appeal. A few well chosen adjustments such as cushions, paint, lighting, plants and layout, along with strong listing presentation, can make your property feel new again. Then let Travelnest help it reach more guests, convert with better visuals, and simplify your hosting life.