Cottage style has emerged from our desire to return to a simpler lifestyle and is a major trend in decorating. The soft look is created with natural baskets, faded paint and over stuffed furniture--casual, cozy and inviting --perfect for our need to relax and slow down. Aged finishes (original or faux) add texture and soften the edges of wooden furniture. The furniture and accessories visually flow together and create a sense of calm. Cottage-style interiors include furniture with smooth clean lines, weathered finishes plus lots of cream and white with touches of bright flowers and throw pillows. Here are some ways to add cottage style to your favorite rooms :
Color Schemes
Work with pale colors such as light green, lavender, peach, buttery yellows and creams--they create a distinctive, inviting look that is elegant yet relaxing.
Furniture
- Drape upholstered furniture with canvas drop cloths (available at paint and home improvement stores). The solid off-white color on the furniture automatically adds continuity to your room.
- To give a padded dining chair a soft, new look, slipcover chairs with sheets and sheer curtains. First drape a neutral-colored sheet over the chair and secure in place with tack nails. Then hang a sheer panel over the covered chair, gather the excess in back, and secure it with an extra strip of sheer fabric.
- Refinish furniture (new and old tables, desk, chair, etc.) in similar colors and textures. Creams, pale yellows and tans are great colors for a cottage style interior . Our flaky faux finish is a good choice for the cottage look.
Windows
- Replace existing draperies with white or pastel sheers that fall to the floor.
- Use tassels and corded tiebacks in gold or tan to add elegance and softness. If you want more texture, add stick or bamboo blinds underneath the sheers.
- Accent sheers with tendrils of artificial ivy draped across the top of the curtain or wind them through the drape tiebacks.
Accessories
- Scatter baskets throughout the room. They add texture and color plus you can use them to store magazines, yarn or books.
- Incorporate an inexpensive round table with screw-on legs to hold favorite accessories . Fashion a table skirt from a piece of fabric or a sheet; tuck it under to create a hem and cover the edges with decorative trim.
- Top a table with a collection of favorite photos--new or antique. Lay the photos flat on the table then, cover them with a glass tabletop. Loosely knot a length of decorative cording and drape it around the sides of the skirt. Secure the cording with a few stitches or a tacking gun.
- Add a bit of nature to your decor. Slice and dry apples, then string them into a garland to hang above the hearth. Fill wooden bowls with branches, pine needles and leaves to use as table decorations.
- A rocking chair with cane inserts not only visually complements cottage-style decor but the gentle movement of rocking back and forth is soothing to the soul.
- An old school bench is perfect for extra seating or a place to rest your feet .
- Place an indoor water fountain in the room to create calm, relaxing sounds.
- Spray-paint a junk store chandelier white, then hang crystals from it.
- Whitewash ornate gold frames and replace the pictures with mirrors.
- Show off a collection of floral trays on the stairwell wall, where they will resemble artwork.
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