How to Decorate the Interior of a Cape Cod Cottage
Cape Cod homes originated in the 17th century on the New England coast. The architecture was often simple in nature and reflected elements of the surrounding natural landscape. It is fairly easy to re-create a quintessential Cape Cod cottage decor by incorporating sea-inspired elements into a modern-day home for a timeless interior design with sea-themed visual appeal. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Interior paint in sea-inspired hue
- Paint can opener
- Paintbrushes
- Paint roller
- Paint roller pan
- Painter's tape
- Light-colored wooden flooring
- Sisal area rugs
- White lace curtain panels
- Lightweight fabric valances
- Natural wood blinds
- Light wood furniture
- Painted armoire
- Painted shelving unit
- White wicker furniture
- Large ocean painting
- Hammer
- Nail
- Seashells
- Starfish-motif pillows
- Three seaglass-colored candles
- Decorative plate
Instructions
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Paint the walls a sea-inspired hue. To serve as an ocean-themed backdrop for the entire interior design of the Cape Cod home, apply paint colors such as seaglass green, sky blue or sand tan to the walls. Choose light-color shades to create an expansive look for Cape Cod interiors, which are often small in terms of square footage. This color palette evokes hues from the sea.
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Use wooden flooring and natural fiber rugs. Cape Cod cottage decor often incorporates wooden floors into the design. Choose woods, ranging from distressed pine to weathered oak, that are light in color to create a casual beach appearance to the decor. In addition, anchor conversational areas with natural fiber rugs in sisal materials to finish the flooring with relaxed Cape Cod design.
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Hang simple window treatments. Sea-inspired, Cape Cod decor is often inherently simple in design. Further this aesthetic by adding uncomplicated window treatments, including white lace panels, lightweight fabric valances or natural wood blinds, to further the seaside decorating scheme of the Cape Cod home.
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Add cottage-style furniture. Amplify the Cape Cod cottage decor by adding furniture pieces in light woods, such as oak, pine or birch, to make the room designs appear beach-inspired and casual. Include a few painted furniture elements, such as an armoire or shelving unit, to add visual interest to the cottage decor. Finish the design with a piece or two of white wicker furniture to complete the Cape Cod decor with cottage style.
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Accessorize with sea-themed itemsfor a final layer of design. Hang a large ocean landscape painting above a fireplace to emphasize the focal point of the room. Showcase a seashell collection on a shelving unit. Arrange starfish-motif pillows on a couch or chair for an element of Cape Cod design. Lastly, finish the decor with a trio of seaglass-colored candles placed on a decorative plate on a coffee table to create a soft glow for the entire design.
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Tips & Warnings
Punctuate the painted walls with white moldings, doors and fireplace surround for an authentic Cape Cod cottage appearance.
Watch lit candles at all times to guard against a fire hazard.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Polka Dot/Getty Images
