When it comes to holiday rentals, guests book with their eyes. A listing has only a few seconds to stop someone mid-scroll, and the interior is often the make-or-break moment.
Mismatched pieces, uncomfortable seating, poorly planned layout or inadequate lighting don’t just look uninviting – they affect the overall guest experience and can directly impact bookings, nightly rates and reviews.
In this guide, we highlight 9 common mistakes owners make when furnishing their holiday home – and how to fix them so your property looks cohesive, feels comfortable and stands out online.
1. Furnishing “bit by bit” with mismatched pieces
The mistake: Many homes are filled over time with whatever was on sale or “good enough at the time.” The result is a space that feels more share-house than styled escape.
The fix: Choose one clear design direction, such as Coastal, Contemporary or Retro – and repeat it throughout the home.
Cohesion is what makes a property feel intentional, elevated, and “Guest-Instagram-ready.”
2. Beautiful – but uncomfortable – furniture
The mistake: Pieces are chosen for looks alone, only for guests to discover they can’t relax on the sofa, sit through a meal or work comfortably. Stylish but impractical furniture quickly becomes a review point – guests always notice.
The fix: Prioritise comfort and durability across every piece. In holiday homes, furniture works overtime: the sofa becomes the hangout spot, the dining table turns into a workspace, and chairs are used throughout the day.
Comfortable, supportive furniture creates a better guest experience and fewer complaints.
3. A sleep space that doesn’t deliver
The mistake: A beautifully styled bedroom can still fall short if the core comforts aren’t there. Poor-quality bedding is the first thing guests feel: squeaky frames, sagging or too-firm mattresses, lumpy pillows, thin duvets and linen that traps heat rather than letting the body breathe all lead to restless nights and honest reviews.
And when the space is missing bedside lamps or anywhere to charge a phone, it chips away at the overall experience even more.
The fix: Start with comfort. Invest in sturdy bed bases, supportive mattresses, plush yet durable pillows, breathable duvets and hotel-grade linen that stays cool and comfortable.
Then complete the sleep space with bedside tables, warm lighting and accessible charging points.
A restful, well-considered setup is one of the most impactful upgrades you can offer guests.
4. Furniture and appliances that won’t survive turnover
The mistake: Flat-pack items, lightweight joinery, easily stained fabrics, and budget appliances simply aren’t built for the wear-and-tear of a high-turnover holiday home. Wobbly chairs, peeling tables, short-lived kettles, and fragile toasters lead to constant replacements – and frustrated guests.
The fix: Choose furniture with solid construction, commercial-grade fabrics and wipe-clean finishes. Opt for reliable mid-range appliances designed for regular use.
Your pieces don’t just need to look good – they need to last.
5. Oversized furniture in small spaces
The mistake: What looks beautiful in a showroom often overwhelms a compact room. Oversized furniture block walkways and make rooms and apartments feel smaller than they are.
The fix: Scaled furniture. Think modular or 2.5-seater sofas, round dining tables that soften corners and slimline consoles.
The right proportions create flow and make your photos feel spacious.
6. Not enough seating for the number of guests you host
The mistake: A home that sleeps six but only seats four – whether in the living room, at the dining table, or outside – instantly feels impractical. Guests want to gather for meals, movies, games and long conversations, and nothing highlights a lack of planning more than people hovering or sitting on the floor.
It also shows up clearly in photos: sparse or undersized seating makes the home look less comfortable and less suited to groups.
The fix: Make sure every social space matches your maximum occupancy. The dining table, lounge area and outdoor setting should all comfortably seat the number of guests your listing allows.
When everyone has a place to sit – inside and out – the home feels more generous, more functional and far more enjoyable to live in.
7. Lighting that’s too harsh, too dim or doesn’t work at all
The mistake: Lighting is one of the fastest ways to ruin the mood of a beautifully styled room. Cold, blue globes make spaces feel clinical, while dim lighting leaves rooms looking flat and lifeless in photos. Inconsistent lighting – warm globes in one room, cool in another – creates a disjointed feel. And guests absolutely notice blown bulbs, lamps that don’t turn on, or lamps that look lovely in photos but can’t actually be used because there’s no power point or extension lead. These small details make the home feel unfinished and poorly maintained.
The fix: Use warm LED globes consistently throughout the entire home and check every light between turnovers. Layer your lighting with a mix of overheads, lamps and accent pieces – and make sure every lamp is functional, plugged in and easy for guests to use.
Warm, consistent, working lighting photographs beautifully and makes each space feel intentional and inviting.
8. Skipping rugs, art and finishing touches
The mistake: Owners prioritise the big pieces and forget the details. The result is a room that feels bare, flat and underwhelming in photos.
The fix: Layer the space. Rugs anchor zones, lamps add warmth, greenery breathes life into corners and framed art brings personality.
These touches cost little and transform a room instantly.
9. Forgetting outdoor furniture
The mistake: The indoors gets all the love, while balconies and verandahs are left empty – yet outdoor living is one of the biggest guest drawcards, especially in coastal areas.
The fix: Add an outdoor dining or lounging setup that suits the scale of the space. It elevates your listing photos and extends the usable living area. ________________________________________
So, how do we solve all of this?
At Kahuana, we design spaces with both beauty and performance in mind. The essentials:
• One clear style direction — Coastal, Contemporary, or Classic.
• Scaled layouts tailored precisely to your floor plan.
• Durable, turnover-proof furniture designed for real holiday-rental use.
• Photography-ready styling: rugs, lamps, greenery, throws – all included.
Thoughtful furniture choices don’t just make your home look better – they make it book better, review better and perform better.
If you’d like help creating a space guests fall in love with at first glance, we’re here to make it effortless.
