How to Select Accessories for Your Cottage Style Home
Cottage-style decor embraces a relaxed, unpretentious ambience. Choose accessories that underscore the look.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- Area Rugs
- Baskets
- Collectibles
- Curtain Rods
- Curtains
- Cut Flowers
- Lamps
- Planting Containers
- Throw Pillows
- Crocheted Lace Doilies
- Vintage-style Tablecloths
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Showcase collectibles such as vintage dishes, linens, vases and straw hats. Hang plates and hats on walls and set other dishes and vases on shelves and tabletops. Use linens in layers - such as crocheted doilies over a 1940s tablecloth - to anchor tabletop arrangements.
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2
Stash dried flowers, office supplies, keys and other clutter in baskets that can be painted or left natural. Put plastic planters in baskets, too, or switch to simple terra-cotta pots.
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3
Set casually styled pillows (perhaps gingham, calico, floral or vintage quilting or chenille) on seats.
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4
Slipcover furnishings with quilts, canvas and other homey textiles.
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5
Use folk art (carved figures of animals or people, whimsical paintings) liberally. Framed advertising art promoting soaps, cosmetics, seeds, cereals, candy, baking ingredients and so forth also works well.
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6
Arrange flowers casually in clever containers such as collectible drinking glasses, milk pitchers, watering cans and the like.
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7
Dress windows with vintage-style fabrics (florals, checks, pillow-tick stripes) sewn into simple curtains and hung on simple rods - wooden poles or basic white rods hidden in channels at the tops of curtains. Ruffles are fine for these curtains but swags, tassels and bullion fringe are all too formal.
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8
Search for area rugs that are casual in tone. Examples include chenille, rag, dhurrie, sisal and hand-hooked styles.
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9
Seek table lamps that are modest and plain. Fabric shades - possibly checked or floral - work well. Bases may include vintage ceramic, terra-cotta, milk glass or candlestick styles.
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Tips & Warnings
Keep the overall look light and airy. Although cottage-style rooms are usually highly accessorized, don't go overboard or the clutter will prove distracting.
