The Power of Sensory Design: Five Moves Luxury Villas Use to Win Bookings

What guests really pay for

Your guests book the photo, but they return for the feeling. When you align all five senses and your property stops competing on price and starts leading on value.

The five sensory levers (with do-now actions)

• Sight: Use biophilic design by adding plants to your interiors. Choose color palettes that get enhanced natural light. We’ve said it before and we will keep on saying it—stay away from “safe” and “bleh” beige. It can be dingy, dull, and shows dirt very easily.

  Implement at least one statement art piece per guest zone—these include your living room, dining room, and bedrooms.

  Hide visual clutter like cords and cables. Nobody wants to see what I call a snake nest in their guest suite. (They can also be an unnecessary danger.)
  

• Scent: Light, natural signature scents from your location.

  In the country, use citrus or rosemary. Seaside? Try sea lavender which grows in the sea sides naturally in Greece. In the mountains? Use cedar and pine. Get discreet diffusers; never overpower.

• Sound: Add rugs and curtains to soften echo; preload morning, day, evening playlists; place speakers strategically, install surround sound, get portable bluetooth or WiFi speakers.
  

• Touch: Upgrade bed layers and towels; add tactile throws; make sure to change out the bedspreads for the season—light pique “waffle” blankets in spring and summer, heavier duvet inserts for the winter.

• Taste: Add a welcome ritual—estate extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), local wine, known coffee brands. Taste is often the closing note guests post about.

Why it works

• Stronger photos → more clicks
  

• Better stays → more 5-star reviews
  

• Memory cues → repeat bookings + pricing power

Starter checklist (save this)

Pick 3 colors • Add one diffuser per social space • One statement work of art per zone • One rug per seating area • One tactile throw per bed/sofa

So, how do I know this all works? I’ve implemented this formula into over 20 short term rentals that now have waiting lists for high season because their staff kept implementing Sensory Design.

Want to level up your holiday villa, guest suites, or short term rental apartment? Read my FREE Guide to Sensory Design.

Ready to take action and want my help transforming, renovating, or getting a ready-from-day-one turnkey property?

Request a meeting with me directly for a design audit and we can identify opportunities for you and your investment property.

How Interior Design Lifts Occupancy & Nightly Rates

Why it matters

Guests don’t book furniture; they book a feeling. When your space photographs beautifully and delivers comfort in real life, you convert views into bookings and justify premium rates.

The three forces that move the numbers

• Sight (first impression): Palette + lighting + a clear focal point create scroll-stopping listing photos.

• Comfort (drives reviews): Layered lighting, acoustics, quality mattresses, and tactile textiles reduce “nice but cold” feedback.

• Memory (loyalty): Signature details—art, scent, and welcome rituals—turn a stay into a story guests share on social media and relay to friends and family.

  Quick wins you can deploy right away

• Use color that books: Choose a 3-tone palette that flatters your environment, think Athens Riviera daylight and dusk, bold yet classic neoclassical influences from Plaka, or Art Deco chic found in Kypseli. Don’t be afraid of interiors that stand out—don’t let any one convince you that “safe” sells. Beige is “bleh” and when used in interior design, it is boring. If you want more bookings, implement colors from nature or pops of color that pack a bunch.

• A lighting plan: Overhead + wall + table; add dimmers; warm Kelvin temps (2700–3000K). Have art? Add lighting to it. Invest in kitchen worktop lighting under your cabinets. Add table lamps that are also chargers.
  

• Texture stack: Linen, boucle, stone, wood finishes—it all reads premium in photos, it’s irresistible in person. Extra tip, invest in soft throws even in summer. They are a cozy and affordable luxury that guests love.
  

• Hero image: One “money shot” per room (bed + sconces; sofa + art; terrace + horizon). When you was the last time you did a photoshoot? If your images are not current, it may be a good time to think about getting essential, new shots, done with a professional photographer. PRO HOSTING TIP: Did you know that Airbnb offers professional photography services? Check it out by clicking here. 

  Studio de la Serna also offers interior design clients professional photography services. Our photographer specializes in hotel, yachting and real estate photos.
  

• Listing refresh: Rewrite the first paragraph of your listing to sell the experience, not square meters. Reorder images by lifestyle moments (morning coffee spot, sunset lounge). Do this at least every 3 months to refresh your algorithm.

Micro-case study (typical outcome)

I can hear you asking “Isn’t design just an unnecessary expense?”

It feels that way until you look at the numbers. In Greece, short-term rentals (STRs) generated €3.25 billion in 2024, representing 5.4% of GDP, and the best-performing properties aren’t the cheapest furnished—they’re the most memorable. According to AirDNA, STRs with design-forward interiors average 30–40% higher nightly rates than generic listings in the same neighborhood.

What if I told you that most of our clients make back the investment in the first month of renting their Airbnb and Booking property?

An Airbnb rental / property investor in Kalamata tried DIY for her STR, spending €10K on furniture and essentials. She filled her calendar—but at low nightly rates, with reviews that read “functional but basic.” We redesigned the same property turnkey—we brought in local art, upgraded mattresses, gave it a contemporary vibe, layered lighting, redesigned the layout and created an outdoor lounge area, the average nightly rate jumped from €110 to €260 in season, occupancy rose beyond season, and the Airbnb and Booking new rental rates quickly paid back the interior design investment.

What did we change? Layout and flow, lighting plans, lighting colors, added functional storage, mattress and linen quality, upgraded amenities and we swapped out generic decor for items that told the story of the region and connected guests with the place.

There are so many subpar properties out there that it’s easy to stand out and extend season with the right design. With tighter STR regulations, more inspections, more tourism, and more educated travelers out there, don’t risk your investment and end up at the bottom of the search list, or worse, get passed over.

Upgrade your interiors, be bold, and market to premium guests.

PS: Want to level up your holiday villa, guest suites, or short term rental apartment? Read my FREE Guide to Sensory Design.

Ready to take action and want my help transforming, renovating, or getting a ready-from-day-one turnkey property?

Request a meeting with me directly for a design audit and we can identify opportunities for you and your investment property.

Renovating in Greece: Add Value Without Losing Your Mind

Renovate and Redesign with Confidence

Before (above) and after of a kitchen redesign in the Peloponnese.

This heritage family villa sleeps 12 people. With a tight budget of €80,000, the job was to redesign, repair, repaint, refresh, and furnish all 400+ sq m of living space, including 6 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and 4 verandas.

To keep in budget, we recycled as much existing material as possible.

This kitchen redesign included a new color palette, additional storage, cabinet expansion, backsplash installation, custom white concrete countertops, a custom two-tier sink, upgraded copper hardware , improved air circulation with cross positioned wall fans, plus a breakfast bar for four. The kitchen measures a total area of 35 sq meters.

Where Greek renovations go wrong

Scope creep (extra tasks and revisions without an adjustment to original budget or timeline), vague quotes, missed timelines, inconsistent finishes, exposed wiring, improper material implementation, cut corners, the list goes on. Without proper project management and a interior designer on the ground, renovations in Athens and beyond can be a major headache.

Upgrades that add value

Greece is an expats dreamland. We have incredible locations, Athens is full of life and the islands are irresistible. Over the years, the influx of expats has lead Greece to become a renovation nation. Properties are old—really old, we are talking stone houses that go back 100 years or more—and apartment buildings in Athens that were built very quickly in the 1950s–1980s.

While prices for these properties are affordable, many modern renovations are missing. You are going to run into necessary upgrades. These are most often going to be related to electrical, and main space renovations and redesigns.

In properties that have been renovated by the seller, you’ll often find that contractor grade (read cheap) materials have been used, or maybe the colors and styles do not suit your taste. Oftentimes, these upgrades are just not functional and miss the mark. Trust us that you will find an overabundance of beige, taupe and grey tiles and kitchens, waterfall showers with misplaced drains and no slant for water control, bathtubs placed too high for safe entry or exit, exposed piping and more…

With all this in mind, below is a list of common renovations you will need to do in Greece, and the fixtures, finishes and equipment that will add value and modern comfort to your new home.

• Kitchens/Baths: You will want stone, marble, quartz, wood or concrete counters, integrated lighting, matte fixtures, new cabinetry, smart storage integrations, and A+ or more rated electrical appliances.

• Lighting & Power: Dimmers, wall lights, concealed LEDs, and smart electrical planning—meaning outlets where you need them, modern USB Type-C plugs in the walls, and most likely a new electrical box and certificate (required by law).

• Built-ins: New wardrobes, pantries, and outdoor benches to increase perceived space. If you are American, Canadian or Australian expats, let me tell you that storage is the biggest challenge you will have since are accustomed to so much space to keep our stuff! You will very likely want to change the layout of the wardrobes in place now, or you may have to add them altogether in much older properties.

• Outdoor living: Shade, dining, and night lighting—extend usable square meters.
  With our fabulous weather all over Greece, you want to make most of the outdoors. You can also extend your living spaces by having verandas and covered patios that work for all weather. Outdoor fireplaces, dining areas and kitchens are all wonderful ways to enjoy Greece’s famous “2 springs” and long summers.

  If you have bought a new home or investment property in Greece, here is my design-first renovation method you will want to keep in mind when getting ready to talk about a project with professionals.

  • Get clarity: Measured drawings, mood boards, material specifications.

  • Control and monitor the process: ask for line-item budgets; change-order protocol; milestone approvals.

  • Ensure quality: Licensed contractors; site checks; installation inspections, trusted material sourcing and procurement, known vendors.

  • Clear Timelines: Phased schedules; critical path tracking; milestone updates and video calls. If someone tells you “avrio” (tomorrow)— run.

Want to avoid headaches, design debt, and work with a team that understands your needs? As expats, we understand the difficulties and challenges of working in this country.

Arrive to a finished home—without wasting weekends in furniture showrooms or headaches with contractors.