Cottage Inspired Interior Design

Cottage Design Basics

Cottage inspired interior design is a multi-hued, comfy look typified by painted furnishings with graceful shapes, texture-rich essentials (like baskets, beadboard, and natural fiber rugs), worn finishes, and colors inspired by the garden. The cottage approach allows you to revive your home easily with furniture slipcovers and comfy throw pillows. This can be a versatile approach for a spring or summer look.

Colors for cottage décor:

• From nature and botanicals
• Warm wood tones from light to dark
• White
• Light orange
• Pale coral
• Mauve
• Dusty pink
• Green, all shades
• Accents of fuchsia and deep yellow
• Blue and white combos
• Darker tones with patina

Furnishings for cottage décor:

• Overstuffed sofas and chairs
• Iron and wicker furniture pieces
• Cushions in floral fabrics
• Secondhand wooden pieces
• Painted wood finishes
• Pine is popular material for flooring and furnishings
• Surfaces show slight weathering
• Shiny with dull, like decorative glazed ceramics next to worn metal objects
• Brushed nickel and oil rubbed bronze metals
• Garden/patio furniture and objects

Fabrics for cottage décor:

• Soft, floral patterns are abundant
• Stripes, checks, and solids mixed in
• Trim and fringe accents
• Sheers on windows
• Woven fibers
• Leather
• Corduroy

Cottage in Detail

Cottage inspired interior design makes for a light, airy, serene, charming, and laid-back space. No longer just for vacation homes, this cozy style is now commonly selected for all-season decorating. Cottages often bring to mind getaways at the seashore or bungalows hidden in the forest.

Early on, cottage style was very utilitarian given that craftsmen instead of architects were the designers and builders. The walls were often open to the studs with boards in between for shelves. Ceilings were typically open up to the support beams.

Because of these humble beginnings, open shelving and exposed beams or woodwork is still a major cottage design element. Keeping it simple is the guiding principle. Unadorned, flat panel doors and bead board wall panels are a great fit. Kitchens are open to other rooms and feature cabinetry that is uncomplicated with little detail. Exposed beams and wood are often painted in white to lighten up a cottage room. Other essential ingredients of cottage inspired interior design are balconies and window seats that allow guests to enjoy the garden views.

Cottage décor extras:

• Fresh flowers in plain ceramic pitchers or vases
• Baskets, painted white
• Shutters for window treatments
• Wallpaper in floral, ticking stripes, and petite geometrics
• Nautical accents
• Braided rugs

Cottage Resources

Cottage Living Magazine - From the publishers of Southern Living. Discover comfortable style, informal decorating ideas, and stress-free entertaining.

Cottage Life Magazine - Offers advice and ideas for cottage dwellers or dreamers.

HGTV’s Cottage Style - Over 80 room projects featuring cottage inspired interior design.