Keep furniture rules simple from the start
Decide where your dog will rest before bags and coats fill the room, and follow the cottage's actual furniture rules.
Ask what a cover does and does not allow
Some hosts permit dogs on furniture with a suitable cover; others do not permit it at all. Read the wording and ask if it is unclear. Bringing a throw does not create permission. If access to a sofa or bed is central to your dog's normal routine, consider that before booking rather than hoping the owner will make an exception once you have arrived.
When covers are allowed, bring something suitable and familiar rather than borrowing a decorative blanket from the cottage. Check that it protects the intended area without creating a loose bundle in a walkway. If the host provides pet covers, use them as instructed and keep ordinary household linen separate. There is no need to buy new accessories when something you already use will do the job.
Give the floor space some thought
Put the dog's bed where people will not repeatedly step over it. Beside an armchair may work; in front of the kitchen door probably will not. Explain the arrangement to the whole group so that one person is not inviting the dog onto a chair while another tries to follow a different rule. Consistency is easier when the resting place is comfortable and visible from where everyone sits.
Keep bags, food and wet coats off the dog's bed. In a small cottage, every spare surface tends to become storage, but repeatedly removing the bed to make room defeats its purpose. A compact bag for dog equipment helps preserve the corner you have chosen.
Think about the view from the dog's resting place as well. A corner beside people may be more appealing than bedding tucked out of sight behind luggage. You can usually improve the arrangement by moving your own bags rather than the cottage's chairs. Give the chosen space a fair chance before repeatedly relocating it in search of a neater appearance.
Leave the room as you found it
Check beneath the bed and around nearby chair legs when packing. Remove hair with the host's suitable cleaning equipment and follow any instructions for used covers. Report damage honestly rather than attempting a repair with an unfamiliar product. A clear furniture arrangement is mostly a matter of choosing suitable accommodation, bringing the right bedding and ensuring everyone in the house understands the same rules.