From elegant wall colors and finishes to charming yet functional flooring and furniture—these cottage decorating ideas are the perfect starting point for planning your look.
Are you thinking about decorating a cottage? Or maybe you’re just in love with cottage decor and can’t get enough of charming, storybook-style homes?
Either way, I’ve got loads of inspiration to help you bring that comforting cottage vibe into your space, no matter the how big your room is.
1) Make Your Own Cozy Reading Nook
Credit: @what_a_view_cottage
There’s a lot of talks these days about living clutter-free, but when it comes to cottage interiors, a little clutter adds charm.
Stacks of books can make a home feel warm and lived-in.
Filling your living room with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves not only keeps your collection organized but also makes it easy to grab a book and have some time for yourself.
2) Romantic Botanical Wallpapers for a Dreamy Touch
Credit: @the.elm.house
Nature-inspired prints are a staple in classic cottage interiors.
Botanical wallpapers, known for their timeless appeal, bring the beauty of a lush garden indoors, featuring designs inspired by plants, birds, and butterflies.
Whether they’re featuring trees and leaves in a realistic or abstract style, botanical wallpapers always capture the relaxing essence of nature and can complement any room.
3) Adorn Your Space with Timeless Heritage Prints
Credit: @elle_the_home_bird
Celebrate your cottage’s lovely rural setting by using decor that reflects the charm of the countryside.
For instance, William Morris, a ancient artist often entitled the ‘Godfather of the Arts and Crafts Movement,’ designed hundreds of prints that give homage to nature’s beauty.
His iconic floral and fauna designs from the late 19th century are still available in both original and updated color schemes, making them a perfect choice for bringing a touch of nature’s beauty into your bedroom, or any room of your choice!
4) Make a Welcoming, Social Area with a Vintage Kitchen Table and Chairs
Credit: @malthousecottage
Cottages are cherished for their cozy, inviting nature, and a big part of that is having a rustic farmhouse table and chairs for gathering with friends and family.
The charm of a cottage kitchen often comes from its mix of old and new, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
A vintage kitchen table and chairs are essential. They provide the perfect spot for chatting over tea and displaying a vase of fresh wildflowers.
5) Go for Mild, Earthy Tones
Credit: @chalkwhitearrow
Cottage decorating ideas all share one common goal: making a space feel warm and inviting. To boost that cozy vibe, opt for mild shades inspired by natural earth pigments. Think creams, earthy stones, honeyed yellows, warm plaster pinks, and rich terracottas.
If you’re decorating an older cottage with original plaster, it’s a good idea to use a breathable paint formula to keep your walls in top shape.
6) Brighten Up Your Home with Garden Flowers
Credit: @arteperpiacere
For that quintessential cottage style, fresh garden or hedgerow flowers are a must and really set country living apart from urban life.
Create a charming floral centerpiece for your kitchen table by mixing and matching vessels of various materials and sizes—think apothecary jars, chippy enamel pots, jam jars, and stoneware containers.
Fill them with your fresh blooms, and don’t stress about mismatched stem lengths or clashing colors.
The delightful jumble of flowers is what gives the classic cottage look its unique, natural appeal.
7) Combine Different Wooden Furniture Pieces
Credit: @lenas_vintage_home
Using natural wood furniture is a great way to complement the rustic charm of a cottage.
It connects the space to its surroundings and adds character.
Mixing antique pieces with newer furniture works beautifully—don’t stress about matching wood colors; just focus on making sure the overall era of the pieces feels cohesive.
8) Consider a Shaker-Style Kitchen
Credit: @homebytheloch
Inspired by Shaker principles of simplicity, functionality, and craftsmanship, Shaker-style kitchen cabinetry is a great fit for a cozy cottage.
Its clean lines and elegant proportions blend seamlessly with reclaimed, unfitted pieces for a relaxed vibe.
If your cottage has low ceilings, sticking mostly to base cabinetry can help keep the space feeling bright and open.
This also lets beautiful stone walls take center stage.
9) Incorporate Upcycled Vintage Furniture
Credit: @home_at_oldlands_drive
One of the best things about cottage decorating ideas is that it can be done on a budget using vintage finds and a touch of creativity.
You can often find dated brown furniture at specialty shops and flea markets that can be given new life with a coat of chalk paint, turning it into unique rustic pieces.
Don’t stress about the finish or wood color. Instead, focus on finding beautiful shapes that will really stand-out once painted.
When you find the right piece, just sand it down, apply some chalk paint, and sand again once it’s dry to get that charming weathered French look.
10) Add a Retro Twist to Your Textile Treatments
Credit: @rignellranch
Thought curtain pelmets and sink skirts were old news? You can totally give these cottage decorating ideas a retro twist.
While it’s great to pull some colors from your antique textiles into the room, you don’t have to match everything perfectly.
It’s more about creating an aesthetic overall look rather than making sure every detail matches. As long as the colors get along and complement each other, you should not worry.
Remember, it’s most important that it looks appealing to you. Don’t be afraid to play around and experiment with unique colors and patterns—there’s no one right way to do it!
11) Choose a Neutral Palette to Highlight Rustic Features
Credit: @what_a_view_cottage
There is a certain quality about sleeping in the rafters. When choosing a color scheme, stick to muted pastels or simple neutrals to highlight the original oak beams.
You can choose to add some subtle patterns and a natural seagrass mat to accentuate the rustic appeal of old wood.
Natural colors like pinks and greens work beautifully with light tones and provide a nice contrast against darker grays. If you prefer a brighter look, an all-white scheme is the way to go- Your space will feel airy and light.
12) Repurposed Cottage Decor
Credit: @my1925cottage
Architectural fragments like old mantels, windows, corbels, brackets, and molding add a touch of timeless charm to any home.
Search for these vintage pieces at flea markets and antique shops, and get creative with how you display them to bring some cottage character into your space.
13) Charming Cottage-Style Collections
Credit: @honeycreekfarm1896
Another of the top cottage decorating ideas is to display your collections in every available corner or open space in your home.
Sort your finds by kind, size, or color, and place similar pieces together to create a beautifully curated display.
For instance, well-arranged antique plates and silver serveware are simply eye-catching, especially when displayed in glass-front cabinets. – Which also is a great way to protect them!
14) Timeless Cottage Flooring
Credit: @reclaimmag
Hardwood floors are perfect for cottage decor.
They provide a warm, versatile base that works well with soft fabrics and muted color tones.
In warmer weather, keep the floors bare for a clean look, and add rugs when it gets colder to make the room feel more cozy.
15) Classic Cottage Patterns
Credit: @janesarah1_home_and_family_
To achieve the cottage look effortlessly, try selecting fabrics with charming patterns.
Buffalo check, florals, stripes, plaids, and dotted prints are all great options you can go with.
They really add a nostalgic grandmother-home aesthetic that will remind you of how inviting your own home can feel too!
16) Cozy Cottage Kitchen Ideas
Credit: @mrsh_at_bears_cottage
To achieve a cottage-looking kitchen, try combining different textures to make it more interesting!
Wood floors and butcher block worktops bring in natural features, while shiplap, beaded board, and tile can give your walls dimension.
Everyday dishware and vintage treasures look also great displayed on open shelves.
17) Experiment with Cottage Color Schemes
Credit: @charlotteclarkhome
Cottage decor typically consists of pastels and gentle neutrals, but stronger colors can also work well.
For example, adding lovely green to your walls can give a casual living room an unexpected pop.
Plus, you get to still embrace the cottage style by incorporating touches of greenery and nature.
18) Light Fixtures in Cottage Style
Credit: @fishtailcottage
In cottage-style rooms, chandeliers create a lovely centerpiece.
They bring romance and charm to any room they adorn!
For a more delicate look, choose a chandelier with tiny crystals or strings of wood beads.
Cottage decorating ideas are all about creating a warm and invinting space, where family and friends always feel at home.
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