Cottages are a whole different kind of aesthetic when it comes to houses. They look chic, a little old school, and a breath of fresh air all at the same time. A packed and cozy cottage style home gives you a much-needed break from your busy, hectic lifestyle. These countryside homes are simple in themselves and serve to relax and energize you throughout.
While earlier cottages used to strictly be made in the countryside, beside a river or around mountains, nowadays that’s not the case. Cottages have become this distinct style of decor that you can recreate even in your simple home in the city. The key elements to remember here are the aesthetic and effect, and we at Housefrey are here to help you with that.
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Different Types of Cottage Style Homes
Let’s dive straight away into the different kinds of cottage style homes. While all of these different types of cottage style homes are different from each other, they all share the same essence of a relaxing and rejuvenating space. Each of these could inspire you, so be sure to pick elements of what you like and don’t as we go.
Vintage Style Cottages
While these are your typical retro-themed cottages, they speak antique and are mostly a work of art. These are mostly for artsy people who love to surround themselves with anything collected and vintage. Every element in such cottages is very fine and can date years back in history and prevalence. If this is what you like, you must pay extra attention to the kind of art, furniture, and architecture of the cottage to make it seem like when anyone enters the cottage; they have entered an entirely different era altogether. The rooms must be spacious, the walls must have a certain amount of detailing and design, and the lighting must be exquisite.
Southern Style Cottages
The main highlight of this type of cottage style homes is its porch. While they let out a more comforting and low-maintenance vibe, they are minimalistic and simple. They remind you of the cliché white-porched beautiful countryside cottages with those big swings. They are spacious, charming homes and party hubs for large gatherings.
Coastal Style Cottages
Some of the other water bodies often inspire these cottages and are preferably located near one too. If you don’t have the budget to buy a home near a private pond or beside a flowing lake, you can still take loads of inspiration from these cottages. They are breezy, blue, and just beautiful. You can add details that remind you of lakeside places and keep the palette very blue-green-violet.
English Style Cottages
These are mostly found surrounded by stone paths, flowers, and greenery. English cottages are remarkably known for their thatched roofs and vertically growing cottage gardens against the building. These cottages are smaller in size (in case you are planning for a traditional building), and they generally have an open area on the ground floor with rooms on the upper floor.
Country Style Cottages
Country-style homes generally have a homey, warm feel to themselves. While the color palette seems basic and simple, including white, cream, light gray, and pastel shades, these cottages are rather minimalistic. The choice of textile for the accessories is also rather cozy and simple such as cotton and linens, and the furniture is also naturally worn out or distressed. The spaces are often designed to get the maximum sunlight and are open enough to entertain many people.
French Style Cottages
Anything French immediately feels elegant, exquisite, and luxurious right off the back. And rightly so too. Even when it comes to cottages, French cottages stand out as the most luxurious and elegant ones of them all. These cottages are hard to forget, with muted color interiors, unique furniture, and expansive chandeliers. The whole experience in such cottages reminds you of what French luxury represents.
Elements of Cottage Style Decor
Now that we have a certain cottage style in mind, let’s move on to all the other decor elements to keep in mind. No matter what cottage style you might’ve chosen, various key elements of cottage style decor cannot be missed. Here are a few such things to keep in mind when it comes to decor for your cottage style homes;
Wood furniture: Wood furniture is one of the key elements to include in your cottage home decor. It’s classic, timeless, and very versatile. Wooden pieces are preferred in cottages due to how cozy they make a space feel, and so by including them, you are ensuring that your space is warmer and more welcoming. You can invest in vintage pieces, or you can even go for upcycled furniture.
Light, muted colors: Be it the walls or the accessories, try to stick with simpler and lighter shades of colors. Not only that they make the space look bigger and airy, but they are also easier to pair with and accessorize too. Pastel shades will be your best friend if you want a subtle pop of color here and there around the home without hampering the whole theme.
Softer finishes: Although shiny, glossier finishes are beautiful, you must avoid them in case of a cottage theme. Softer matte or natural wooden finishes are considered best since they have a more subtle effect.
Neutral and floral prints: This one is for all the decor elements such as curtains, sofas, throw pillows, or even bedsheets. Neutral and softer prints can be easily used around cottage style homes. They transform any space and make it more homely and graceful without making you have to make too much effort.
Antique accessories and furniture: Art and accessories play a major role in your cottage’s appearance, so pick them carefully. If you’re going for a rather vintage look, then artwork can easily become the highlight of your space.
Woodwork: Wood elements will be the best and most easily incorporated into the cottage interior. What is most important here is to use wood in its most natural form and natural and avoid synthetic materials. Depending on your budget, you can use wood planks on your walls or even add wood flooring. Wood will not only make the space cozier, but it will also make it feel more welcoming and warmer too.
Earthy tones: Overall, the motive with most cottages is to create a warm effect, so what is better than earthy tones for the interior? They work excellently with wooden furniture, they can be very toned down, and you can immediately feel more welcome. Centering the whole decor around such tones gives you much scope for inspiration and exploration.
Wainscoting: Wainscoting is another element that can be included in your cottage style homes interior. While it is a pretty classic thing to add to the room, it also makes a ton of difference. Adding wainscoting makes it seem much more traditional and beautiful, no matter how big or small your room is. The next best thing with wainscoting is that it can easily be painted whatever color you wish to match your room’s interior.
Garden flowers and indoor plants: Plants are another great accessory that adds a lot of character to whatever space they are added to. When it comes to cottage style homes, they not only have a lot of greenery outside but also have small plants or homegrown garden flowers in every room. This keeps the warm and earthy feeling going and adds some life to every room.
Exterior Color Scheme For Cottage Style Homes
While most cottages are assumed to be wooden from the exterior, painting them adds a unique and personal element. While there are many options available for painting, we have come up with a few options to help you out. Deducing that you have already picked a theme for your home, choosing a color scheme would be much easier. So here are a few color schemes for you to choose from;
Plain White or White With Vibrant Color Trim Cottage
The white color scheme is a classic one that has been prevalent for very long. It is simple, elegant, and stands out in itself too. Now while you can let it remain classic and all-white as it is, you can also pair the white color with a unique color trim to make it seem bold. Colors such as blue, red, or black are often most vibrant and pair well with a completely white cottage-style home.
Beige or Earthy Tones Cottage
Cottages have many earthy elements inside them, so why not choose similar tones for the outside too? Cottages include a ton of wood elements, and so earthy warm tones such as taupe, terracotta, beige, and browns are your best pick here. You can paint the whole cottage a single color or go for multiple shades, all of the warm undertones. This will make your little cottage merge well with its nature-filled surroundings and seem like it is a part of those bunch of trees it is found between.
Yellow and White Trim Cottage
A light shade of yellow paired with a stark white trim is a foolproof color scheme for cottages. While the soft yellow shade instantly brightens the home, the white trim adds an exquisite and chic effect to the cottage. This pairing has been a classic one for many years, and people often add pops of other colors here and there to make it seem even more vibrant.
Washed Out Grey Cottage
Keeping the rich, warmer tones aside for some time, let’s look at one of the most loved neutral colors of all time; Grey. Grey is a timeless, versatile color that can be used indoors or outdoors in every part of your home. For cottages, you can play around with all shades of gray and get a luxurious-looking home.
If a coastal theme cottage is the one you picked, then a washed-out gray shade would be perfect for you. A darker shade of gray will easily blend with the natural surroundings around your home if that is your goal. You can also pick different shades of gray and create a monochromatic gray look, pairing darker and lighter shades of gray and adding a white trim.
Stained Wood or Plain Wood Cottage
Wood is one of the most natural options for cottage exteriors. Since we are discussing color schemes, this one differs from the others mentioned above. Adding stain to natural wood makes the exterior of your home seem more rustic and natural, as if it has seen many years standing there. The immediate vintage effect is not only beautiful but is worthwhile too. In the case of keeping the wood exterior for your cottage, you can experiment with dark-colored trims or even pair them with other shades of wood to add a contrasting element.
On an endnote…
We all hold our homes very close to our hearts. It is where we come back after long, tiring days, so comfort and warmth are non-negotiables. Cottages are still considered very popular even today, mostly as vacation homes. If they are not a separate property in the woods, their essence is often carried to the city, where people include cottage-like decor elements in their homes.
Speaking of coziness, whether you are planning to buy a new cottage or want to redo the interior of your existing home, a cottage theme is always a good idea. With the above list of elements, cottage themes, and exterior color schemes, we have helped you a little. As for the rest, redecorating a home is always supposed to be a fun experience. With trial and error, you will eventually reach the desired point. Decorating your home must include adding your personal experiences to a building and turning it into something you can call home.
FAQs
What size house is considered a cottage?
Cottages are known for how small, warm and cozy they seem. While there is no hardened fast rule for the size of cottages, they are as large as 1,000 to 1,200 square feet but not more than that. Roughly speaking, they are about half the size of the average American house, hence small.
What are the disadvantages of living in a cottage?
Because of how small and packed up cottages can be at times, they can only please some. Lack of space can be a major disadvantage regarding cottages; they aren’t the best pick for long-term residence. While they can be great for vacations and weekends off, they feel very cramped after a while. Also, people with larger families can enjoy less due to a lack of space.
What are the parts of a cottage house?
Cottages are very similar to our homes, just slightly smaller in size. You can find 1–3 small bedrooms, a small bathroom, a combined or open kitchen, a larger living area, and a fireplace. Every room may be smaller, and trees and many plants will generally surround the outdoor area.
Where are cottage homes most popular?
Cottage-style homes came from England, but even elsewhere, they are traditionally found in the countryside because of their vintage, earthy appeal. Also, they are mostly made with local materials easily procured from nearby villages, making it convenient to have them in the countryside.
Does a cottage have a basement?
Cottages generally do not have basements. Since they were often spontaneously made as hunting shacks or temporary hideouts, concepts like basements were never considered. They were made directly on the ground and had no idea of including anything underground.
