Cottage home design ideas
21 Best Cottage Decor Ideas
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You'll never want to leave.
By Erin Cavoto
DAVID TSAY
Whether you own a cottage or just want to be inspired by some quaint decorating tips, you'll want to check out these best cottage decor ideas to create a slice of paradise right in your home. These styling ideas are perfect for maximizing space if you live in a tiny house, or even just adding simple touches that will make the space feel more like home. Each room is covered in these tips, including ideas for designing a peaceful patio, sprucing up your mudroom, or fitting in a home office. You'll be on the way to the kitchen of your dreams with sweet breakfast nook ideas, as well as tips for making the most-used room in the house a little more country-chic.
You might also want to look to some inspiration for your living room, whether you'd like to add some white living room ideas or opt for some rustic touches. Of course, there are several tips for creating an adorable cottage bedroom, including accent walls, bright colors, and comfy bedding. No matter what style you're trying to achieve in your home, whether it's a modern look or you prefer farmhouse décor ideas, there are cottage decor tricks for any type of home.
KIM CORNELISON
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Attic Bedroom
Many cottages have bedrooms with sloped ceilings. This use of an accent wall is a great idea, because it adds dimension to the room without making it feel crowded.
SHOP PLAID BEDDING
DAVID TSAY
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White Living Room
An all-white living room is complemented with wooden furniture for a cozy, welcoming look.
SHOP THROW PILLOWS
LAUREY W. GLENN
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Eclectic Cabinetry
These cabinets use metal ventilation inserts for the cabinet doors that create a rustic, whimsical look perfect for a cottage kitchen.
SHOP NICKEL CABINET KNOBS
ANNIE SCHLECHTER
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Corner Office
You don't need a dedicated room for a home office, just a cozy corner to tuck an upcycled desk, chair, and cabinet into.
SHOP DESK SUPPLIES
DAVID TSAY
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Tiny Cottage Kitchen
A cheery palette and narrow fridge turn make this kitchen feel open and airy rather than tight and cramped.
SHOP BACKSPLASHES
Lucas Allen
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Sweet Schoolhouse
Max Kim-Bee
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Quaint Sitting Area
Planks from Habitat for Humanity's ReStore line the sitting-room ceiling in this renovated Texas cottage. The homeowner was inspired to turn cow-feed sifters found at the Round Top Antiques Fair into artful sconces with burlap fringe.
Dana Gallagher
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Sunny Breakfast Nook
This New York cottage's beadboard-panelled breakfast nook features Eames chairs bought at a Brooklyn stoop sale and a farm table the owner made with salvaged wood.
RELATED: 16 Insanely Adorable Dining Nooks
Mark Lohman
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Peaceful Patio
On the patio of a Victorian cottage in Arkansas, the wicker patio set was a hand-me-down from the homeowner's friend. Another pal sewed the love seat's cushion and pillow from fabric the homeowner scored at a Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Store.
Mark Lohman
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Victorian Dining Room
The rooms of this Arkansas home were stuffed with mismatched furniture covered in musty 1980s linens, but the homeowner spotted enough gems in the mix to buy the place fully furnished. She saved only the pieces with potential or items that were stunning as is, like the sage cupboard and the chippy dining table.
Lucas Allen
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Vibrant Bedroom
In the master bedroom of this Catskills home, sunny-yellow paint and an exuberant green-and-white print enlivens the small space. The low-pitched roof created a seemingly unusable three-foot-high gap on each side of the room.
A carpenter was contracted to fill one side with bookshelves, and the other with cabinets and storage drawers.
Mark Lohman
12 of 21
Stylish Bedroom
The homeowner of this restored Arkansas home upgraded the fixtures with chandeliers, and the Jenny Lind-style bed is one of the few furnishings she kept in the bedroom. The shams and duvet cover are West Elm; the coverlet is Garnet Hill.
Steven Randazzo
13 of 21
Country Kitchen
You'd never guess that most of this 1900 Texas cottage was recently built. To add this kitchen, plus a living room, porch, and bathroom, the homeowners scoured the Texas countryside for materials others might overlook—from rusted pressed tin for the ceilings to salvaged windows, doors, and cabinets.
Max Kim-Bee
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Rustic Living Room
While this Connecticut cottage's living room's upholstered furniture is white, the sofa and chairs are also purposefully deconstructed, with tufted fronts and exposed burlap-and-wood backs.
A settee and two armchairs by Restoration Hardware cozy up to a Zentique coffee table. The boat propeller and oil paintings are secondhand scores.
Lisa Romerein
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Chic Kitchen
In this Los Angeles home, orange mohair revives a vintage maple stool in the kitchen, where Carrara marble upgrades Ikea cabinets. Task lighting comes in the form of suspended Edison bulbs, covered with Victorian wire shades. The cast-aluminum fox wine cooler was designed by Arthur Court.
Bright idea: Matching wood frames transform food-themed ephemera (labels, grocery ads, and menus) into a polished collection.
Victoria Pearson
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Simple Mudroom
This California cottage's mudroom boasts a 1930s factory stool, which retains its original green paint, while the iron hooks on the coatrack swivel from side to side.
Stacey Brandford
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Colorful Guest Suite
The truth about this room's walls? The paneling didn't match the rest of the house, so instead of whitewashing the wood, Sarah Richardson, interior designer and host of HGTV's Sarah's House, camouflaged it with an opaque paint, The Plaza by Glidden—a compromise that comes off as intentional.
Roger Davies
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Elegant Dining Area
Casual eclecticism rules in this Chicago cottage's dining nook, furnished with a reclaimed-oak table, a Belgian sofa from the early 1900s, reproduction caned chairs, and a vintage footstool upholstered with an antique carpet.
Lisa Romerein
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Unique Laundry Room
In the laundry room of this California cottage, photo-realistic wallpaper from Anthropologie fools the eye into thinking that books have been stacked floor to ceiling. A jute basket from World Market, filled with colorful quilts, sits beneath a reclaimed-oak table.
Max Kim-Bee
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Numbered Stairs
The family of this renovated Texas cottage stenciled numbers on plywood, which they nailed to their stair risers (painted Black Suede by Behr).
Victoria Pearson
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Small Space Decorating Ideas
A cheap curtain wire kit—not brackets and drapery rods—supports these panels in the den of this California home.
Pretty Accent Wall Ideas to Brighten Up a Room
Erin Cavoto Erin Cavoto is the Editorial Assistant at ThePioneerWoman.com, covering food, holidays, home decor, and more.
13 cottage decorating ideas: cottage decor and design ideas
(Image credit: Neptune)
Are you looking to decorate a cottage? Or do you simply love cottage decor ideas and style and adore swooning over chocolate box homes? If so we've got plenty of inspiration for creating this cosy look in your home, however large your space.
From stylish wall colors and finishes to pretty but practical flooring and window treatments to characterful decor schemes to copy, these cottage decorating ideas are the perfect place to start planning your scheme.
See: Cottage kitchen ideas – design inspiration for homely spaces
What is cottage style?
Cottage style is all about showcasing and preserving prized original features as well as creating cozy, homely spaces.
Small but beautiful, cottages are awash with historic stone and timber floors, rustic ceiling beams and quirky angles, and its these elements which give cottage interiors their unique character.
Prized features of the rural landscape, chocolate-box cottages are entwined with geology and the landscape, so taking decorating inspiration from the natural surroundings is a fitting place to start thinking about a scheme. Think colors inspired by the nature, botanical prints and an eclectic mix of handmade and antique wooden furniture.
1. Decorate in earthy, natural tones
(Image credit: Vanessa Arbuthnott)
Cottages are inextricably linked with their rural setting and brimming with natural materials with soft weathered textures so what better palette to decorate in than with the gentle colors of the countryside?
Here, Little Greene’s greenish neutral – North Brink Grey 291 – sets a relaxed mood and a calm foundation for furniture in a mix of Vanessa Arbuthnott's nature-inspired fabrics including a vintage german sofa in Fruit Garden Straw, Pigeon, Charcoal and armchairs in her May Blossom Pigeon/Charcoal.
Don't miss our cottage lighting ideas for pretty, practical solutions.
2. Mix and match wooden furniture
(Image credit: Susie Watson Designs)
Embracing natural materials is the perfect complement to the rustic features of a cottage, as Susie Watson, founder of Susie Watson Designs , explains.
‘Using natural wood furniture, connects a space to its surroundings and adds character,’ she says. ‘Antique furniture can blend well with newly bought furniture, don’t worry about matching the color of the wood just make sure the era of the pieces feels coherent.’
3. Choose warm, earthy colors
(Image credit: Future / Brent Darby )
Cottage style is all about creating that warm welcome and homely feel. Choosing warm shades based on natural earth pigments is an easy way to enhance the mood of a space; try creams, and earthy stone and honeyed yellow shades through to warm plaster pinks and rich terracottas for instant coziness.
When decorating an old cottage with original plaster it is advised to use a breathable formula made such as Edward Bulmer's Natural Paint , for similar shade to the above try Brick.
For cottage kitchen ideas, don't miss our inspiring image gallery.
4. Choose a Shaker-style kitchen
(Image credit: Devol)
Based on the Shaker principles of simplicity, utility, and craftsmanship, the elegant proportions and fuss-free, linear design of Shaker kitchen cabinetry make it perfect for a humble cottage, mixed in with reclaimed unfitted pieces for a relaxed feel.
If low ceilings are an issue, limiting storage mainly to base cabinetry is a good way to keep a cottage feeling bright and open, while also allowing beautiful stone walls to stand out, as this beautiful deVOL kitchen proves.
(Image credit: Devol)
Cottages are loved for their warm and welcoming feel, and key to creating this is including a rustic farmhouse table and chairs for social gathering, as Helen Parker, creative director at deVOL explains.
'The charm of a cottage kitchen is often the quirky and eclectic mix of old and new that gives the feeling of a cosy and welcoming space. A vintage kitchen table and chairs is a must, all cottages need a spot for chatting and drinking tea and the ubiquitous jug of wild flowers.'
6. Fill your home with garden flowers
(Image credit: Future / Brent Darby / Styling Pippa Blenkinsop)
When it comes to cottage style 'fresh garden or hedge row flowers are a must and can mark the difference between urban and country living,' reveals Vanessa Arbuthnott.
For a pretty floral centerpiece on your kitchen table, gather a selection of vessels in different materials and sizes such as apothercary vases, chippy enamel just, jam jars and stoneware pots and fill with your fresh pickings. Don't worry about stems being different lengths or about colors clashing, this variety of blooms jostling for attention is key to the quaint cottage look.
See: Cottage garden ideas – pretty ways to embrace rustic style outdoors
7.
Decorate with heritage prints(Image credit: Future / Kasia Fiszer)
Pay homage to the beautiful rural setting of your cottage by decorating with papers and fabrics that capture the charm of the countryside. William Morris – artist, designer, poet, socialist and ‘Godfather of the Arts and Crafts Movement’ – created hundreds of designs that celebrate the beauty of nature.
Mostly created around the late 19th-century, his stylized flora and fauna prints are still available to buy today, in original and refreshed colorways, and are the perfect way to bring the beauty of nature into the bedroom.
8. Add in upcycled vintage furniture
(Image credit: Future / Kasia Fiszer / Styling Pippa Blenkinsop)
The great thing about creating a cottage look is that it can be created on a shoestring using vintage pieces and a bit of imagination. Easy to come by at specialist furniture shops and flea markets, dated brown furniture can easily be refreshed with some chalk furniture paint into original and rustic pieces, as this pretty desk proves.
Don't worry about the finish or the wood color, instead look for beautiful shapes that will shine once painted. When you have spotted the perfect piece, simply sand down, coat with Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint and sand again once dry to create this weathered French look.
9. Choose a traditional, curvaceous sofa
(Image credit: Susie Watson Designs)
With elegant curves and a Howard-style silhouette, this small Classic sofa from Susie Watson Designs is a great choice for zoning a snug kitchen-cum-living room, and is layered with paisley, ticking and statement floral cushions, plus a wool throw, for a cozy cottage feel.
10. Get retro with your textile treatments
(Image credit: Vanessa Arbuthnott)
Thought that the curtain pelmet and sink skirt were things of the past? Think again if you're looking for cottage bathroom ideas. Vanessa Arbuthnott shows how these vintage-style designs can look fresh and stylish in this bathroom using her pretty mix and match fabrics.
To stop the look feeling too cutesy, embrace contemporary color combinations, such as the the Dark Hay/ Charcoal colorways of these French Ticking, Herbaceous Border and Dainty Daisy fabrics.
- See: Cottage curtain ideas – inspiration for a pretty, cozy home
‘The yellow and grey botanical fabrics bring the countryside in and the pretty striped frill around the sink softens and warms up the space too.’ says Vanessa. ‘The bathroom is given a light and airy feel, with its painted wooden floor, and free standing bath.’
11. Paper with romantic botanical wallpapers
(Image credit: Colefax and Fowler)
Prints inspired by nature are a mainstay of quintessential cottage interiors. A master of timeless style, Colefax & Fowler is the go-to brand for romantic botanical prints. New from its Jardine Florals collection, Greenacre features distinctive fan-like gingko leaves with dancing blossoms to produce a contemporary foliage design, and is available across wallpaper.
For a vintage botanical bedroom try using this Leaf Green colorway wall to wall, as well as on a quilt, chair and valance.
12. Use a neutral palette to highlight rustic features
(Image credit: Neptune)
There’s something truly magical about sleeping up in the rafters. Let original oak beams stand out against a palette of simple neutrals or pastels. Complement the rustic patina of aged wood with a natural seagrass carpet, then try delicate patterns, such as Neptune’s Emma linen in Sage for upholstery and cushions.
'As spring is on the way, natural colours like pinks and greens, complement the light and contrast harmoniously against darker greys,' says Amber, home designer at Neptune . 'Alternatively, an all-white look can go a long way in lifting the room to create a lighter space, and our Grace scatter cushions are perfect for adding a little texture.'
13. Create a cozy reading spot
(Image credit: Future / Jody Stewart)
There's lots of Marie Kondo-inspired talk about living clutter-free these days, but when it comes to cottage interiors, a little clutter is a good thing.
Shelves of books make homes look cozy and lived in. Having bookshelves floor to ceiling in the living room will keep books organised and will mean they're close at hand when you want to curl up with one by the fire.
This feature was created by H&G's sister brand, Period Living magazine
Subscribe to Period Living for more inspiration
Period Living is the UK's best-selling period homes magazine. A subscription provides you with all you need to know about caring for and improving a traditional house and garden.
Pippa is Content Editor on Homes & Gardens online contributing to Period Living and Country Homes & Interiors print issues. A graduate of Art History and formerly Style Editor at Period Living, she is passionate about architecture, creating decorating content, interior styling and writing about craft and historic homes.
She enjoys searching out beautiful images and the latest trends to share with the Homes & Gardens audience. A keen gardener, when she’s not writing you’ll find her growing flowers on her village allotment for styling projects.
Interior of a cottage or a country house: 70 photos, design ideas
The interior of the cottage should be as comfortable and cozy as possible so that its residents can really relax and take a break from the noise and everyday life outside the city. The possibility of arranging a large area, the presence of high ceilings, as well as proximity to natural beauties - all this contributes to the use of a creative approach to creating a truly ergonomic space. To decorate the interior of a cottage or a country house, you need to follow a number of recommendations, which we will discuss below.
What designers advise
If the interiors of apartments in the city do not always depend on the features of the building, then the design of private houses will depend directly on the design of the building.
For example, an Art Nouveau design is unlikely to look harmonious inside a wooden frame with traditional elements. In other words, the first recommendation is to maintain harmony between the interior and exterior of a country house.
As for the interior design of the room, we can say about the following nuances:
- Choose a single style for interior design;
- Provide the required color scheme;
- Choose high-quality modern finishing materials;
- Choose pieces of furniture that match the style;
- Make good use of decorative elements and artificial lighting.
All these factors must be taken into account in order to create a beautiful cottage interior.
Colors
When decorating any interior, including a country house, it is important to choose the right color solutions. The wrong palette can make you feel bad and reduce productivity. Of course, it all depends on individual preferences, but there are general patterns.
Furnishing a private house involves the use of several basic (more than four) shades of those colors that seem most attractive to the owner.
But only one color should prevail for decorating the walls. It is recommended to give preference to neutral calm tones, while colorful shades should be used as accents. Remember that in a cozy cottage there is no need for excessive variegation, but it all depends on the style you choose, so there may be various color options.
One way to create an original interior is to combine smooth and embossed surfaces with different textures. In such a situation, even a monochromatic design looks contrasting and attractive.
Keep in mind that even just one textured detail can significantly enliven the space. For example, in a Scandinavian-style house, you can combine discreet curtains made of plain fabric and the same furniture upholstery with wicker chairs, large-knit covers, etc.
Furniture
In cottages or country houses it is better not to clutter up the space with a lot of furniture. Moreover, modern trends dictate the fashion for minimalism. This is especially true for small houses, where it is best to pick up multifunctional pieces of furniture, possibly folding ones.
In spacious country houses, large-sized furniture looks better.
It must be remembered that the combination of large objects and small details will look the most harmonious. If you place exceptionally large structures in rooms, they will not be perceived expressively. But too many small elements will sooner or later begin to annoy the residents and guests of the house.
Lighting
Luminaires are selected based on their appearance. It is important that during the day they fit into the overall style. Depending on the background, chandeliers, floor lamps or sconces are selected, they can be dark, light, golden - the main thing is that the atmosphere of a country house is stylistically coherent.
It is important to choose a lampshade wisely, so decide in advance which style you prefer - country, classic or minimalist. In large rooms, it is recommended to install large chandeliers, and for small rooms, compact lamps are more suitable.
Country house interior style
In country cottages, you can embody any design delights.
However, in addition to fashion trends, be sure to take into account the individual preferences of the owners of the house. Consider the main characteristics of the most popular styles for interior design of cottages: country, provence, chalet, as well as Scandinavian and modern style.
Country cottage
This style will suit lovers of rustic romance and family traditions. Country is the best option for owners of wooden houses.
Modern materials such as metal, glass or plastic are unacceptable in such interiors. For decoration, they often use wallpaper with floral motifs or stripes, decorative plaster or stone, imitation of a wooden beam.
Color solutions should be as natural as possible. For the living room, the main focus can be a fireplace, it is recommended to choose furniture that is not high. In the kitchen, put an old sideboard with shelves, a massive wooden table, linen or chintz curtains, and painted dishes.
Provence style cottage
This style is considered the ideal solution for creating a cozy countryside atmosphere.
Mandatory attributes of the Provence style are considered to be the use of natural materials and floral motifs.
This fashionable French trend assumes an important role for furniture and decorative elements. Choose solid furniture, perhaps vintage or aged. It is best if it is in light shades.
As for decor, wicker elements, vases with lavender, porcelain and baskets look good in Provence style interiors. All this brings a unique atmosphere to the house and makes staying in it comfortable, which is very important for cottages or suburban buildings.
Chalet-style cottage
For wooden cottages, the chalet style is also suitable, which will create a fabulous cozy interior with minimal decoration. As a rule, the floor and ceiling in such buildings are wooden, and the ceiling beams remain visible.
The main characteristics of the style are conciseness, the use of natural materials with a minimum of processing, as well as environmental friendliness.
A mandatory detail is the fireplace, which occupies a central place in the living room.
The decor includes the use of wool, leather and fur skins. Household appliances in the kitchen are hidden behind cabinets so that the atmosphere of antiquity is preserved in the house. As a chandelier, plafonds made in the shape of a candle are ideal.
Scandinavian style cottage
This direction is distinguished by restraint, minimal inclusion of decor and the use of high-quality natural materials. If you do not want to spend a lot of money on home improvement, but prefer modern trends and want to create a spacious, bright interior, pay attention to the Scandinavian style.
It is enough to level the walls in the house and choose a neutral background - most often it is just white paint. Wood is used as decoration. If necessary, the interior can be bright accents.
As for the furniture, it should be soft and comfortable, but the shape should be as simple as possible.
In the Scandinavian style, natural wood is welcome. You can dilute the strict atmosphere with the help of pleasant little things, for example, unusual curtains or plants in a flower pot.
Modern style cottage
Interiors decorated in a modern style often use furniture made of inexpensive materials - wood, glass, plastic. However, it is important to choose all items carefully so that they are reliable. In practice, the modern style is suitable for those who are used to changing the interior of a country house every few years.
Designers advise to avoid any decorative elements, then the space will remain light and airy, nothing will interfere with the residents and distract them. The ceiling is often left concrete, and the floor is made of neutral-colored sanded boards, laminate with a simple texture. Spotlights are installed in the rooms.
Cottage or country house interior - photo
No matter what style is chosen for the interior design of the cottage, comfort and a cozy atmosphere are the main elements.
For those who are engaged in arranging their own home from scratch, it can be difficult to decide on the choice of color palette, finishing materials, furniture and accessories. Therefore, we recommend that you look at how various country houses look in reality. Get inspired by our selection of photos and experiment!
10 original ideas for a country house - INMYROOM
Interior decor
Today we will tell you about some non-standard planning and decorative solutions that will help you turn an ordinary building into the perfect dream home
Modern country house has long since changed its status as a temporary summer haven to more significant - all-season residence. Now charming cottages on nature are perceived by the owners as equal counterparts of city apartments. Hence and changes in interior preferences: instead of ascetic country design, the owners want to see a stylish and functional design that is in no way inferior, but sometimes even superior to urban interiors.
So for for those who want to make their country house special, we have selected 10 unusual design options, most of which cannot be implemented in an apartment.
1. Concrete furniture
No matter how crazy this phrase sounds, concrete furniture is very popular in many countries. From concrete, you can create any, even the most bizarre designs that will satisfy all your ergonomic and functional needs. Concrete costs much less than high-quality wooden furniture, and there is no need to talk about its strength. In addition, recently it has become a real interior trend.
2. Multifunction ladder
your house has a staircase, feel free to use it to the fullest. AT depending on where exactly it is located, the staircase can perform the most various functional roles. For example, the space under the stairs in the hallway can serve as a guest bathroom or wardrobe. And at the base of the screw designs in the living room, a fireplace will look good.
3.
Open fireplace For those who do not is a supporter of traditional interiors, you will surely like the idea equip an open fireplace in the center of the living room. Don't be afraid - it's not only beautiful, but also safe.
4. Veranda with glass doors
Definitely many are familiar with the situation when pleasant gatherings on the open veranda unceremoniously interrupted by unexpectedly flowing bad weather, and even a roof or a canopy cannot save you and your guests from wind and slanting rain. Spare you from the need to constantly carry pillows, bedspreads and a favorite chair with verandas to the room, can sliding or folding glass doors. Thanks to them, you can quietly enjoy the views from your veranda in any weather. This approach can realize also in the gazebo or barbecue area.
Modern doors are airtight, easy to install and operate: just one movement - and in sunny during the day your veranda becomes part of the garden, and on a rainy or windy day it becomes cozy a corner in which it is so pleasant to hide from any vagaries of nature.
5. Roofed bedroom
Even in one-story house you can find a cozy and secluded corner for the bedroom, for example, right under the roof. Creating an extra level requires a lot less time and money than the extension of the second floor, and as a result you get additional secluded room.
6. Hanging furniture
Pamper your inner child by replacing standard sofas, chairs and beds swing. Of course, we are not talking about ordinary children's swings, but about hanging furniture. In a city apartment it is difficult to find enough space for such structures, but in a country house they will look very appropriate.
7. Pool on the ceiling
You are dreaming about his own pool, but the area adjacent to the house is too small for his arrangements? Do not worry, the pool can be equipped inside the house. If a approach this issue with imagination, it will turn out to kill two birds with one stone. Swimming pool with a transparent bottom, installed in the floor of the second floor, will become not only a place for a pleasant pastime, but also a spectacular interior element.
