Love the idea of bringing warm, cozy English cottage style home, but don’t want to break the bank to do it? While you may dream of splurging on a claw-foot bathtub and roll-arm sofa, thankfully (for your wallet) that’s really not necessary. English cottage style is more about creating a mood than about checking off a list of must-have furniture. Here are 15 ways to revamp and refresh your home’s interiors with paint, vintage finds and creativity.
1. Change the mood with paint. Muted, drab tones like mouse’s back, wheat and duck-egg green are ideally suited to English cottage style. Try painting your kitchen cupboards and trim to match, and paint the walls one shade lighter.
2. Swap hardware for sturdy bin pulls and wooden knobs. Changing out the hardware on kitchen cupboards or a dining room built-in can make it feel like you have new cupboards. Channel an English country cottage with classic bin pulls or smooth wooden knobs.
3. Embrace workhorse textiles. Every fabric shop carries a wide assortment of solid fabrics in airy voile and gauze (perfect for floaty window treatments), checkered and ticking stripe cotton, and sturdy canvas at a low price per yard. If you don’t sew, you can use iron-on hem tape to make quick no-sew curtains and tablecloths; if you do sew, it’s not too hard to turn out your own pillowcases and duvet covers. Get creative with other easy-to-find, cheap fabrics as well — burlap can cover bulletin boards, and muslin, typically used in pattern making, can be used for curtains and for pillow covers primed for embellishing.
4. Roll out a rag rug. Rag rugs came about as a creative way to reuse scraps of fabric too small to sew into garments, and to put old, worn-out clothes and home textiles to work again. Today rag rugs are widely available and are quite inexpensive. But if you really want to save, try looking up a tutorial online for a DIY rag rug and craft your own using soft old T-shirts.
5. Use a rich color on walls and trim. Vibrant yet slightly grayed hues, like this lovely spring green, call to mind old and well-loved cottages tucked into the British countryside. Paint the trim, walls and cabinetry the same hue for a seamless look.
6. Try colorful trim. White walls and floors create a freshly scrubbed setting, allowing the pale duck-egg green trim to take center stage in this serene bedroom. A simple wooden bed, a pitcher of wildflowers and a white crocheted bedspread enhance the country cottage charm. Pale spring green, butter yellow or lavender would also work well.
7. Paint the floors. A floor painted a solid color adds style and freshness to a room for less than the cost of a new rug. Try painting the floors of a guest room, study or sunporch a cheerful spring green or pale sky blue.
8. Trace on a checkerboard pattern. Painting older, worn wooden floor can be a cost-effective way to create a new look. A checkerboard pattern is fairly straightforward to accomplish and looks right at home in a kitchen, sunroom or child’s bedroom. Black and white, blue and white, and yellow and white are foolproof combos to try. Don’t want to paint your floors? Try out the pattern on a basic natural-fiber rug instead.
9. Cover plumbing with a café curtain. Not so fond of your lower cabinets? Replace a few of the doors with cute café curtains. They are not expensive, but if you can whip them up yourself, so much the better!
10. Bring in small treasures from nature. A bird’s nest, a pile of pretty stones, shells from the seaside — reminders of the natural world are an essential ingredient in any cozy cottage home. See what you can find in the natural areas near your own home … treasure hunting should be part of the fun.
11. Set up a table on the porch. On a pleasant day, it can be so lovely to bring your breakfast or lunch out to a covered porch. Any old table and chairs will do. Cover the table with a homespun cloth like a ticking stripe or feed sack material, set out a vase of cut flowers or interesting foliage, and use any mismatched china you like.
12. Hang simple barn lights. Barn-style lights can be found at every price point, and they work just about anywhere. Try them on a covered porch and in the kitchen, bathroom and mudroom, for starters.
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13. Create windowsill vignettes. Sometimes the tiniest details can make a huge difference in the way a room looks and feels. In the bathroom try swapping out your standard washcloth for a hand-knit version, plunk a garden rose in a water glass and display pretty little vases or bottles where they can catch the light. Line up seashells in a kitchen window; prop a tiny painting and a jelly jar of flowers in a study window.
14. Keep bedding simple. A neat, well-tucked bed with white sheets and wool blankets is refreshingly simple. Include just a hint of romance with crochet-edged pillowcases and a posy of roses on the nightstand.
15. Embrace cottage garden romance. Fragrant plants like roses, lavender, jasmine and honeysuckle will lift your spirits every time you come home … even if they are in pots on your patio and not running free in a vast English garden. The mood is the important thing.
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FAQs
Add in faded floral patterns or tartan fabrics
Mix in some tartan fabrics or stripes for a traditional country look for balance and keep the colours soft, neutral or pastel. Avoid any bright or garish colours – this is all about relaxed simplicity that's easy on the eye.
How to make a house look like a cottage in the UK? ›
Add in faded floral patterns or tartan fabrics
Mix in some tartan fabrics or stripes for a traditional country look for balance and keep the colours soft, neutral or pastel. Avoid any bright or garish colours – this is all about relaxed simplicity that's easy on the eye.
What is the English cottage style? ›
The English cottage look uses antique furniture and exposed architecture to emulate centuries of history, while features like wallpapered walls, ornately upholstered furnishings, and rooms oriented around traditional fireplaces lend to the feeling of cottage-living.
What is a typical English country cottage? ›
An English cottage is a traditional countryside dwelling, often with a cozy floor plan. You'll find charming details that look like they've been plucked right out of storybook and traditional building materials, like thatched roofs, stone, brick, and wood. There's often a chimney that is the centerpiece of the home.
How do you get a modern cottage look? ›
Typically a modern cottage home will have a very light and neutral color palette perhaps with a few minimal pops of color and a lot of patterns. The use of pattern helps emphasize more natural colors while the main base of your furnishings and decor should be neutral.
What is the difference between English cottage and farmhouse style? ›
Cottage-core and Farmhouse styles have become increasingly popular in recent years, each boasting unique characteristics. Cottage-core emphasizes quaint and cozy vibes, while Farmhouse utilizes elements like chipped paint, distressed furniture, and exposed beams.
What is the difference between French and English cottage style? ›
English Country house styles are very similar to French Country styles, but don't have the rafter tail kick that French designs feature. Another distinguishing difference is that English Country homes feature more squared off windows, diamond shaped window panes and squared off openings.
What is English Cottage garden style? ›
The cottage garden is a distinct style that uses informal design, traditional materials, dense plantings, and a mixture of ornamental and edible plants. English in origin, it depends on grace and charm rather than grandeur and formal structure.
What is a typical UK cottage? ›
They typically feature one to two storeys, making them quaint and cosy. Roof and Chimney: A classic cottage often has a steep, gabled roof, sometimes thatched, adding to its rustic appeal. The presence of a prominent chimney, often made of brick or stone, is another hallmark.
How to decorate like the English? ›
The English are unafraid of color. Their rooms are often pastel or floral, but strong colors are used as well: grass green and teal, crimson, burgundy red and dark hunter green, deep blues, and gold. Pattern is embraced, with different designs used on wallpaper, rugs, and upholstery in the same room.
British. : a cottage or house owned by an employer (such as a farmer) and reserved for occupancy by an employee.
What is a traditional English farmhouse? ›
Architecture plays a pivotal role in defining the classic English farmhouse. Characterised by steep-pitched roofs, timber framing, and often adorned with climbing roses, vines or ivy, these homes exude a quaint and picturesque allure.
What is the new cottage style? ›
Modern cottage takes inspiration from the cozy charm of traditional cottages while infusing it with modern sophistication. Expect to see plenty of stacked stone accents, mixed cabinetry styles (including some more ornate options), warm paint palettes, and luxurious materials like velvet and linen.
How to decorate cottage style? ›
For starters, cottage living includes plenty of soft landing places. This look is all about the warm, the comfortable, the hygge. In cottage style decorating, you'll see pillows piled up on sofas, throw blankets tossed over the loveseat or stashed in a basket, and soft curtains with gentle patterns gracing the windows.
What is cottage chic style? ›
Cottage design is a culmination of French vintage, shabby chic and rustic, though how much of each style influences your preferred cottage ambiance is up to you. Whether you lean traditional or rustic, it's about creating a natural, vintage-y space — but in the lightest, airiest way possible.
How do you turn a normal house into a cottage? ›
How to Make Your Home Feel Like a Cottage
- Look for natural materials to incorporate into your home. ...
- Decorate with nature-inspired art. ...
- Stick to a pastel color palette. ...
- Try using wallpaper. ...
- Fill your space with nature. ...
- Get cottagecore-inspired light fixtures. ...
- Bring coziness to your living spaces with comforting textiles.
In British English the term now denotes a small, cosy dwelling of traditional build, although it can also be applied to modern construction designed to resemble traditional houses ("mock cottages"). Cottages may be detached houses, or terraced, such as those built to house workers in mining villages.
How to create an English country house look? ›
Natural Materials: English country homes often feature natural materials such as wood, stone, and brick. These materials add warmth and authenticity to the space. Antique Furniture: Traditional, antique furniture pieces with a slightly worn or distressed look are commonly found in English country homes.
