ROMA (ITALPRESS) – Italians only take 10 seconds to evaluate a possible holiday home: if something does not convince, they pass even more quickly than they would do on a dating app. Booking.com’s new data reveal details that trigger an immediate “yes” and dècor choices that immediately close the card, from hairy water cover to taxidermy to ceiling mirrors. Holiday homes and apartments continue to be a very popular choice by Italians, and the latest search for Booking.com highlights how those first seconds ahead of an announcement are decisive. In addition to the initial reaction, travelers tend to reward facilities that transmit care and comfort: visible order (48%), rain showers (43%), high quality linen (39%) and details thought of as high-end coffee machines (44%), atmosphere lighting (35%) and easily accessible power outlets (33%). However, almost a fifth (19%) of the Italians admits that it would not subjugate in an unstable structure: hairy water cover (46%), taxidermy (38%) and dated curtains (36%) are among the main elements that remove guests. They follow trashed kitchens (45%) and ceiling mirrors (30%) – too striking or out of fashion details that discourage reservations. This year 2 Italians out of 10 are more likely to book a holiday home already decorated for Christmas, and the data Booking.com show the Italian destinations that catch the most attention for stays between 23 December 2025 and 7 January 2026: Rome, Naples, Madonna di Campiglio, Livigno, Florence, Palermo, Andalo, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Canazei, Milan. Between more than 8.6 million accommodation – houses, apartments and other unique accommodation worldwide on Booking.com – the bedroom emerges as the most important space for travelers (25%), with dolls and plushs in sight (39%), synthetic linen (36%) and dècor too kitsch (33%) among the absolute “no”. Although travellers’ preferences are well defined, many potential hosts continue to feel unsure about their style. More than half (54%) has never taken into account the idea of renting your house because it does not consider it “rent-ready” and deprived of that “wow” factor that favors reservations (27%). In addition, almost a fifth (18%) fears that its dwelling appears dated or not fashionable. At this point the interior designer Amy Durn, who has collaborated with Booking.com to offer expert advice to those who want to rent their home: from smart styling tricks, to simple but with great impact. Amy Durn, partner of Booking.com for interior design, says: “No complete renovation is required to transform a house into a desirable holiday accommodation. Some targeted design choices, the right color palette, well layered textures and studied lighting can completely change the perception of a space and the way it appears in the photo. Guests make an idea in seconds, and small style interventions often have a greater impact than larger and expensive changes. The goal is to present a house where it is easy to imagine staying.” These some tips “top” to turn the house into a holiday home:1. Refresh the linen for a first impression from the hotel – Fresh white linen, textured plaid and two matching pillows immediately make it look like the most sophisticated room, regardless of size or age of the bed. Guests often judge their stay from the quality of sleep: comfortable mattress, soft cushions, breathable cotton sheets and well layered bed make the difference.2. Care, do not clutter – A holiday home should not seem empty, but studied. Deletes the “visual mood” and reintroduces few larger and more significant objects: a design lamp instead of five small, a framed print large instead of scattered paintings, an oversize pillow instead of a pile of small ones. Less objects, more impact. This approach makes rooms quieter live and cleaner in photos, increasing confidence in booking.3. A detail as a signature – The most memorable houses always have a distinctive element: a headboard of the decorated bed, a bold work of art, a colorful bathroom, a cozy fireplace corner, a wall with local maps. You don’t need to overwhelm the whole house, just a detail that remains imprinted. In a sea of neutral rents, memorabilia is a competitive advantage.4. Let the spaces breathe with simple layout changes – Reorganizing furniture is one of the easiest ways to enhance an environment. A room immediately seems larger if the steps are free, the seats arranged with logic and the furniture not crushed against the walls. Try to angle an armchair towards the window, move the sofa to define the living area or remove a furniture that stops the flow. A good layout makes the house calm, practical and ready for guests – and costs only a little time and attention.5. Give guests what really matters – Travelers give less weight to the trends of the moment and much more to clarity, comfort and quality of sleep. Translated with Google Translate: blackout curtains, good pillows, surfaces where to rest your things, hooks for jackets or towels, easily accessible sockets, layered lighting and space to unpack. When guests have everything they might need, they feel considered – and guests who feel valued leave better reviews, which generate additional bookings. A good design does not serve to impress, but to anticipate needs. This is the top 10 of the bedroom elements that remove potential guests: dolls, plush or figurines in sight; synthetic linen; too kitsch; ceiling mirrors; overload shelves of objects, candles and coats; fake flowers or topiaries on the bedside tables; velvet headboards; neon above the bed; pillows with sequins or strass; Round bed.
– Booking.com press office photos –– News in collaboration with Booking.com –
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