Cosy terrace and garden décor ideas
June 2026
Holiday rental landlords often spend so much time thinking about interior design that they forget about outdoor space. Your holiday rental’s garden is a big part of its appeal. Discover how to make the most of it with these handy tips.
The basic space: terrace and garden décor
First of all, take a look at your outdoor space. This will be different for every holiday rental. You may have a full garden, a paved patio, or just a couple of balconies. Whatever you have, you’ll need to make the most of it.
If you have a garden, take the time to plan out how to use the space. A paved terrace or patio is always welcome, as it can act as an extension of your guests’ living space. The rest of the garden can be thoughtfully landscaped. Consider flower beds or rockeries.
When it comes to plants and flowers, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Consider hardy plants that don’t need daily attention. You may have a gardener on hand, or you might be doing it yourself. Either way, you won’t be able to maintain the garden every day when your guests are staying.
- Is your rental pet-friendly? Then carefully check that all your plants and flowers are, too. Many plants that are harmless to humans are deadly toxic to dogs.
- Avoid artificial grass. Yes, it’s easy to take care of, but it’s also controversial and unpopular with many guests. What’s more, it can remove value from your property and create serious drainage issues.
- Steer clear of prickly or thorny plants if you can. This is particularly important if you are running a family-friendly rental, as children often want to run barefoot through the garden.
Transforming the garden into a space for fun
Will your guests be spending a lot of time outdoors? For example, if your holiday rental is a villa with its own swimming pool, you can expect them to want to spend hours in the garden. Make it more appealing by providing some sports equipment — a tetherball pole, for example, or a net for them to play badminton.
If you have a family-friendly holiday rental, then adding some play equipment to the garden is a great idea. You don’t need to splash out on a full playground, but landlords who want to rent out their holiday home to families should consider adding a tyre swing, slide or sandpit.
How to furnish a terrace
The question of how to decorate the terrace is an important one for landlords to answer. Furnished terraces with nice décor can make or break a holiday rental. If you have limited space indoors, a charming outdoor space will make it much easier to advertise your holiday home. Here are some things to consider:
Durable furniture
Your terrace décor and furniture must be able to withstand the elements. Buying pieces that you have to replace every year is a false economy, so look for sturdy, durable furniture made from weather-resistant material.
Think about the climate of your area. Will your furniture need to cope with heavy rain, extreme heat, snow and ice, or all of the above? This will help you decide what kind of furniture is right for you.
Soft furnishings for a furnished terrace
Pieces of furniture alone can look cold and unwelcoming; it’s the little touches that make a house a home, and that’s equally true outdoors.
Decorate your terrace furniture with throws and cushions, and consider placing a rug or two in the centre of the patio. Again, you should think about durability when you select these. Weatherproof fabrics don’t have to be boring — they are available in a number of different colours and prints, with something to suit every style of holiday rental.
Outdoor lighting
Want your guests to spend long, leisurely summer evenings relaxing on the terrace? Then you need to provide some lighting. Outdoor lighting should never be harsh, but it should be clear enough to eat by. You don’t need to light the entire garden, but you will need to provide lighting for the patio — and the pool area, if you have one.
Lights that turn on automatically with motion detectors are a good idea for safety reasons, but you should also provide some kind of outdoor lamp that guests can operate manually. Motion detector lights have a tendency to turn themselves off when your guests are sitting quietly in their chairs.
Statement pieces
One of the best ways to decorate the terrace of your holiday rental is to go for a bold, dramatic item that will attract guests. Some ideas include:
- A swinging seat or hanging egg chair,
- A barbecue pit,
- A wood-fired pizza oven,
- A hot tub.
Chosen with care, this can become the centrepiece of your outdoor area. Decide on your statement piece first, then decorate the rest of your furnished terrace around it.
How to decorate an uncovered terrace
If your furnished terrace has a roof over it, then that’s great. Guests will be able to use it in all weather conditions. Spaces without a roof are a lot trickier. In particular, a roofed terrace can provide a pleasant alternative to indoor dining for a small holiday rental. A terrace without a roof cannot, as you can’t guarantee good weather.
One crucial factor for decorating an uncovered terrace is to provide some kind of covering. That will probably be in the form of large sun umbrellas, big enough to shade your tables and chairs. With these, guests can sit outside and enjoy lunch al fresco without worrying about sunburn.
You’ll need to pay particular attention to durability when decorating and furnishing an uncovered patio. Provide a large storage box with a sturdy lid for guests, where they can put throws and cushions inside in the event of extremely strong weather.
Don’t place a hot tub on an uncovered terrace. Not only is it a lot harder to keep clean, but it can also become a major safety hazard in stormy weather.
Make the most of outdoor space when you advertise holiday homes
It’s important to emphasise your outdoor space in photos on holiday rental portals. Take those photos at the right time of year. In summer, dead brown grass will not make your garden look appealing. You may want to provide photos of your patio by both day and night on your holiday rental website, particularly if you have atmospheric lighting solutions like strands of twinkling fairy lights.
If you want people to rent your holiday flat, decorate the balcony along the same lines as a patio and include photos in your online listings. A balcony with pleasant furniture, where guests can sit and enjoy the view, is a definite bonus in an urban rental.