What Is a Cottage-Style Home?
A cottage style home is cozy and small, with an emphasis on reused vintage items and a casual atmosphere. While cottage style used to be applied only to summer homes, now it is a staple of year-round interior design. Cottage style is very adaptable, whether the home is located in an urban center or a seaside setting. Does this Spark an idea?
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Furniture
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Cottages were originally meant to house all the discarded items from the larger house. The furniture of a cottage-style home should reflect this; pieces can be salvaged or bought from a flea market and do not need to match. The overall effect should prioritize comfort over fashion. One key element of cottage style is the conversion of furniture to another purpose. For example, a bench might become a coffee table or a kitchen table might become a desk.
Windows
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The windows of a cottage-style home should be light and airy. Avoid heavy drapes or opaque panels. Instead, choose lace or other gauzy materials. If privacy is not a consideration, consider removing the curtains entirely. The windows should look soft.
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Fabrics
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Because cottage-style homes often have a variety of patterns, consider creating a unified theme to avoid clashing or overwhelming designs. Even though there are multiple patterns, certain ones work well together, such as florals, stripes, checks or plaids. Furniture also tends to have slipcovers, which can be updated or changed easily.
Accessories
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Part of the charm of the cottage style is the cluttered, homey look achieved by the unique bric-a-brac scattered throughout each room. Any object can become a centerpiece or mantelpiece accent. Flea markets, antique stores and estate sales are all great places to find useful and decorative items.
Adaptations
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The cottage style is also useful for its versatility. There are a number of variations adaptable to different budgets and locations. Cottage beach style relies even more heavily on vintage items, often having a unified sandy beige and soft blue color scheme throughout the entire house. Urban cottage has bright artwork and neutral backgrounds, with perhaps brightly colored wicker furniture. Classic cottage chic creates an atmosphere of worn elegance and comfort, with its overstuffed upholstery, soft floral fabrics and painted woods.
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References
- Photo Credit finnish fireplace image by Adrian Hillman from Fotolia.com
