Top 11 Cottages Decorating Ideas You Should Try

A relaxing country vibe is an essential element of cottage style. If you are redesigning an old cottage, you should keep things simple and natural. Rustic style, texture, and natural elements are key to achieve cozy, cottage style décor and create a perfect place for your romantic getaways.

Here are some cottages decorating ideas which you can use for inspiration.

Before We Start

Let’s go briefly through several elements that give each interior design a cottage character.

Here are structural and architectural elements that are both functional and stylish for any cottage or cottage-inspired room look.

Smart Use of Space

Because cottages are usually smaller, there is a need to use the space smartly and come up with helpful built-ins around the cabin.

For example, the space under the stairs serves as a built-in wine rack or kitchen cabinet. Also, think about window-seats with storage space, built-in bookcases, and bunk beds. These are excellent for making a space more functional and adding a cozy and vintage effect.

Planked Walls

Nothing says cottage more than planked walls. You can pick the way you will introduce the planked wall to your interior style.

For example, planked walls from side to side are better for narrow rooms. That way, horizontal strips will trick the eye and make the room look like it has even sides.

On the other hand, vertical stripes can do the opposite and make the space airier and visually lift the ceiling. You can put the wooden boards from floor to ceiling, or just half the way up.

Picking thicker wooden planked boards and flat rail on half of the wall can act as a shelf around the bathroom or in the kitchen.

Floors

Floors and walls have a large effect on the complete interior design of the room. For authentic cottage style, you will need wooden floors.

However, the fun doesn’t end here.

There are ways to play with the floor. For example, if you want to visually extend your planked walls, paint the floor in the same color as panels. Pick lighter shades, such as off-white, mint-green or some beige, brownish shades to add more texture.

On the other hand, you can add a pattern to your floor in some bright color, such as yellow or orange.

It Is All in the Details

Picking vintage details such as vases or pillow, lightweight fabrics for curtains, or anything that has the spirit of the past times will work great in your cottage.

The ideas are endless, just have to pay attention to the materials keeping the natural vibe, and choose light shades.

Open shelves in the kitchen, indoor wooden shutters, vintage sinks, and many other simple details will lift the spirit in your adorable new cottage.

You can visit old antique shops for charming décor pieces, or garage sales. Also, you don’t have to buy everything at once, take your time and choose carefully.

Top 9 Creative Cottage Decoration Ideas for Living Room, Bedroom & Kitchen

Here are some of the easiest ways you can accomplish a simple cottage style.

Watch the Before&After video of this lovely cottage, and you will get an inspiration to start a similar project yourself:

Cottage Décor Dining

The bench is a practical piece of furniture, and often found in vintage-style interior design.

To make your cottage dining corner, make sure to pick a solid wood table and a bench. If you want more comfort, you can always add pillows and blankets on the bench.

Half-planked walls in deep green work perfectly with soft and warm wood. Start with dining set and work your way out from it with some details such as plants, rugs, vintage mugs, and clock wall for better effect.

Wake up With a View

Usually, cottages have smaller bedrooms, but there are still ways how to make the best out of it.

Instead of making a window seat, make a window bed. That way, you will save space and wake up every morning with a stunning view.

Planked walls and large windows are a great combo. The light will bounce around and make wooden panels softer and lighter.

As for the lighting system inside the cottage, you can find vintage light bulbs and install them on a few corners to add soft light.

Lovely Place for the Big Family

White and the authentic wood color are the choice number one for cottage decorations.

Keep the walls planked, as well as the ceiling. But, pick lighter color for the ceiling. That way, the room will look brighter, despite the dark wood.

White furniture and retro cabinets offer plenty of storage space. Throw a fringed blanket on the sofa, add a colorful pillow, and different style chairs to make a subtle rustic atmosphere.

Wooden Shelves Instead of Planked Walls

If you are not into planked walls, custom wooden shelves on the white walls are perfect for you.

Maybe, you can even make them yourself with the help of Youtube videos and DIY tutorials.

If you are not that skilled, hire a professional, who can make custom shelves all around the room.

You don’t have to put too many things on the shelves at a time. Decorate with photo frames, family souvenirs, kids’ artwork to add a personal touch to the room.

Again, don’t forget the ceiling.

The custom wooden shelves are a match with the exposed wooden beams. If your place is already finished, you can add faux wooden beams.

Choose the same wood for each element, the stairs, the window, the beams, and the shelves to keep your place harmonic and spice it up with the personal details.

All Tucked-In

Design a comfortable corner or place where you can read, relax and cuddle. You can put the sofa in front of the window to use natural light as much as you can.

Add curtains and colorful pillows for even cozier effect. Red tartan is your go-to pattern when it comes to cottage style. If you keep every other shade in the room muted, a bright, red sofa will become a central piece and your favorite one.

Get more inspiration for your room in the video. I prefer the stairs/shelves DIY project, but there is much more to get excited about in the video!

Rocking Chair and Tree Trunks Wall

Tree trunks wall is an ultimate cottage style décor. Luckily, today you don’t have to cut entire wood to accomplish this look.

You can get wall décor in tree trunks pattern, or just play with tree barks.

Add a few genuine trunks as a divider between rooms sections and leave the beams exposed.

In this cozy, cottage-style look a vintage rocking chair contributes to the entire look. Even if the paint chips from the chair, it can still look like it belongs there.

If you make the walls from tree trunks, keep the curtains and windows simple. Tree trunks are massive, so keep the rest of the room décor almost minimalistic.

Watch the video for more creative ideas to use tree logs as a room décor for your cottage:

Red Bricks in the Kitchen

To complement wooden kitchen cabinets in a spacious kitchen, make an exposed red brick wall. You can mix open shelves with glass tall kitchen cabinets, or use the pans as décor.

When designing a kitchen for your cottage, keep in mind that functionality is highly important in this room.

If you have a smaller kitchen, use a vintage kitchen island as a working surface. You can even find them with caster wheels, for improved mobility. Antique brass handles on cabinets are always a plus and improve the whole interior look.

Don’t Forget the Fireplace

Can you imagine a cozy cottage without a fireplace?

The fireplace is a central element in rustic living room, and you can use an electric or gas fireplace as well.

Combine natural elements such as wood and stone for an ultimate rustic effect.

Don’t forget the décor above the fireplace. Add details, maybe a vintage wall clock, photo frame, and dried flowers.

Cottage Style in a Skyscraper

If you have always wanted a rustic place and cozy home, you can still accomplish a cottage interior, even if you live in the skyscraper. The view from the window won’t be the same, but the feeling can be.

Pick light shades for furniture and floor. A brick wall is a great detail to add structure and rustic effect.

As for furniture, pick comfortable pieces in off-white and made of natural materials. Rattan is a great choice and doesn’t have to be only for garden furniture. Rattan table with glass surface will fit into the cottage-like interior style.

Avoid Laminate Flooring, vinyl, linoleum, porcelain, or ceramic tiles. Instead, you can use natural stone tile floorings. Add a vintage carpet, tall plants, and shelves in the same style.

Cottage Bathroom Ideas

Decorating a cottage bathroom can be challenging. Check the next ideas and keep the bathroom rustic, but practical.

Modern Bathroom With a Rustic Twist

Many people avoid wood as a main element in the bathroom because it can deteriorate over time due to humidity. You don’t have to go all-wood in this room to make it cottage-style.

Keep it white with a few details and vintage elements.

Vintage sink, as well as the faucet, are not hard to find but can make a difference.

Wooden shelves, rattan boxes, and retro mirror with half-wall ceramic tiles can be an excellent choice for a modern bathroom with a rustic twist.

Authentic Cottage Bathroom

Going all authentic for the bathroom may involve planked walls and old-style tub. If you decide on the authentic cottage bathroom, don’t be afraid to use color and decorative ceramic tiles.

As mentioned before, green is a great color for planked walls. In this case, a tub should be built-in, using the same panels. For everything else, white is your go-to color.

More About Cottage Decorations Style

There are a few things you should pay attention to, if you want to master the cottage decoration style.

What Is a Cottage Decorating Style?

Cottage decorating style features painted furniture with a weathered finish, natural elements, colorful fringed rugs, wooden shelves, and other rustic elements.

Baskets, built-ins storage spaces, beadboard walls are also common in cottage style.

How Do You Decorate a Cottage House?

Use white color for walls, planked walls, or red brick. Add flowers and vintage details. Embrace a simplistic style with natural materials, such as wood and stone.

Add baskets with cozy blankets and comfortable pillows.

What Are the Cottage Colors?

White is the ultimate color for any cottage. However, mix it with deep green and dark brown as wood color, for a cottage in the forests. For a beach cottage, use of-white, sunny yellow and bright blue shades.

What Is the English Cottage Style?

Antique elements, worn-out furniture as well as muted shades of color sheme and overall rustic atmosphere are key elements of English cottage-style look.

How Do I Find My Decorating Style?

To find your decorating style, look at your house architectural style.

If it leans towards contemporary, go in that direction. If it is classy, pick the elegant and timeless décor.

Check your wardrobe. Do you follow current trends or go pick unique pieces? Your home should represent you, and therefore, your fashion style can be a starting point.

Look at interior design pictures for inspiration. Explore styles and discuss with your family about possible solutions.

Pick a few central pieces that you love and choose details to match the style.

Conclusion

Cottage style is rustic and cozy, and isn’t very complicated. However, you should follow a few guidelines.

Focus on clear lines and simple pieces, and use white, brown, and green color scheme. It will add to the rustic effect.

Combine the large structural pieces with smaller vintage details, colorful pillows, and rugs, keep shelves open and use lightweight fabrics for curtains.

What is your favorite part of the cottage style? I prefer colorful blankets and pillows, and a stone fireplace.

What kind of details would you pick for your cottage in the woods?

Share your thoughts with me!