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Cottage inspired living rooms


Cottage ideas for a living room: cottage lounge inspiration |

(Image credit: Stefani Stein)

Cottage living rooms are loved for being cozy spaces full of character and rustic charm. When it comes to decorating yours, first look to what you have – historic cottage living rooms are awash with beautiful original features from rustic beams, timber weatherboarding or exposed stone – so build a scheme around these living room ideas and features to really make them shine. 

Secondly, take inspiration from nature. Cottages are often surrounded by idyllic countryside, so cottage decorating ideas should naturally include earthy and muted colors inspired by the landscape. These are a brilliant foundation to build upon, alongside neutrals to keep spaces calm and bright. Furnishing with natural materials and finishing with flora and fauna prints, or classic checks and stripes, will also ensure timeless charm. 

Cottage living room ideas 

'If it’s not cozy, then it’s not a cottage!' says LA based interior designer Stefani Stein . 'Start with comfortable seating, incorporate a variety of textures and then layer in a patterned throw pillow or two... for a great cozy-yet-calm vibe, I like to include earthy hues, dusty palettes and a hint of leather.'

Read on to discover more cottage living room ideas and inspiration for creating the perfect country retreat. 

1. Embrace architectural features

(Image credit: Future/Brent Darby)

Cottages are loved for their original features, from their rustic wooden ceiling beams and stone flagstones, to inglenook fireplaces. If you're lucky enough to have a property with beautiful architectural features, then it's a good idea to use them as the starting point for your interior design, creating a scheme around them that complements their aged patina. 

Taking center stage in this grey living room, these exposed Cotswold stone walls really sing when set against greyish blue tones.

2. Furnish with natural materials and textures

(Image credit: Future)

Intertwined with the landscapes which surrounded them, historic vernacular cottages are often built with the very stone they sit on or wood sourced locally, so what better way to pay homage to their origins than to furnish them than with earthy natural materials? 

Lay a textural sisal or seagrass rug and choose handcrafted furniture made from FSC timber, or cane and rattan, with seating upholstered in natural fabrics such as wool, cotton and linen.  

3. Choose an uplifting color palette

(Image credit: Vanessa Arbuthnott)

As spaces to relax and unwind in, it's important that a cottage living room has a calming, uplifting living room color scheme. Fabric designer Vanessa Arbuthnott explains how blue and yellow make a great pairing for cottage living rooms. 

'Lemon yellow and soft smoke blue complement each other so perfectly. The tone of each of these colors is gentle which draws you into a room. This shade of yellow (above), which I call Hay, is so fresh, making you feel happy, full of hope and sunshine. On the other hand blue if often seen as peaceful and secure.'

4. Create a cozy feel with a woodburning stone 

(Image credit: Future / Kasia Fiszer)

If there's one thing a cottage living room can't be without it's a living room fireplace. The cozy heart of the room which everyone gravitates towards, the fire is the perfect place to kick your boots off, put your feet up and relax by after those long country walks.  

5. Choose comfortable, traditional sofas 

(Image credit: Future / Johnathan Gooch)

A sofa is a big purchase – it's where we unwind after long days and is the centerpiece of the living room, so getting the balance of comfort and style just right is important. 

To create a classic, cozy cottage feel consider a traditional Howard-style design with a soft curves and a dropped, scroll arms. Choosing loose feather-wrapped foam cushions will give that comfortable sink-in feel and relaxed look without the constant need to fluff up. 

6. Mix up modern and vintage furniture for an eclectic look

(Image credit: Stefani Stein)

Cottage living rooms are places to relax and unwind but also to socialize and entertain, so factoring in an array of versatile seating options to accommodate guests is a good idea. 

Mixing up styles and materials is a great way to achieve a layered, homely look, as interior designer Stefani Stein explains. 

'I prefer a space that has a bit of the unexpected and that means you can mix a shelter arm piece, a channel tufted item, a button tufted element and some great vintage finds. And, don’t be afraid of allowing the space to be eclectic – it's perfect if a pattern or color doesn’t quite match with the rest. 

7. Use mirrors to maximize light in a cottage living room

(Image credit: Future / Brent Darby)

Hanging a series of mirrors is a great way to maximize natural light in small spaces, and can make for a stylish feature wall, too. For classic elegance, try white frames on blue walls – you can't go wrong with this timeless color combination. 

Don't miss our cottage lighting ideas for pretty, practical solutions for brightening dark spaces.

8. Create a cozy window seat

(Image credit: Vanessa Arbuthnott)

Cottages are all about feeling relaxed and cozy, and what could be better than curling up on a window seat with a nice cup of tea while you take in views of surrounding countryside?

'Window seats are super useful in a small cottage sitting room for extra places to be. The perfect place to sit to watch the outside world from and read a book,' says fabric designer Vanessa Arbuthnott.  

'Make sure you make a really good thick window seat and add lots of cushions to so that the space is really comfortable. Either dress the window with a blind or have curtains that draw back past the recess do they don’t interfere with the window seat.'

9. Layer neutral shades to keep spaces bright yet interesting 

(Image credit: Kate Lester / Lauren Pressey)

Cottage living rooms can be small and lack light due to small windows – opting for white or off white walls throughout is an easy way to maximize any natural light. However, it can leave a room feeling cold and empty. 

To counter this, ensure you furnish with lots of texture and neutral shades. Try wooden pieces in a washed, light grey finish with armchairs upholstered in an oaty, textural linen ticking fabric as pictured in this space.

For cottage kitchen ideas, don't miss our inspiring image gallery.

10. Bring a cheerful color pop with vibrant floral prints

(Image credit: Future / Kasia Fiszer)

Keeping cottage living rooms neutral is a great way of making them feel bigger, but it doesn't mean you can't introduce some bold prints. Try adding in floral prints through curtains and cushions to bring color and pattern to your space – they can be easily changed with the seasons and if tastes change.

11. Fit floor to ceiling bookshelves 

(Image credit: Future / Jody Stewart)

Fitting floor to ceiling book shelves are not only great for storage in small spaces, but will give cottage living rooms a snug, homely feel, too. While we love them, the irregular angles and lack of straight lines in old cottages can cause difficulties when furnishing, so getting a carpenter to build in bespoke shelving is a brilliant solution. You could even paint them to make a feature of them as pictured here. 

12. Add color, pattern and comfort with curtains

(Image credit: Future / Brent Darby)

Though they can be overlooked, cottage curtain ideas are an important finishing touch of any scheme – they control light, privacy and add a layer of insulation to cottage living rooms that can suffer from cold drafts.  

To make cottages cozy, homely spaces, curtains or fabric blinds – or both – are one of the best options; their soft pleats lend a relaxed feel to a space. 

What’s more, there are infinite prints to choose from, whether it be country checks or bold botanical prints. If you’re looking. to create a feeling of quintessential country charm you can’t go wrong with a faded floral linen such as this Roses design from Kate Forman .

13. Choose elegant and timeless sofas

(Image credit: Vanrenen GW Designs)

The key to mastering cottage style is about creating a relaxed, cosy atmosphere that will endure across the years, so be sure to invest in good quality, timeless pieces of furniture. Choosing traditional, Howard-style sofas with elegant curves and loose, sink-in cushions, is guaranteed to bring comfort, but are also perfect for creating a laid-back look.  

'These practical classic ‘go to’ sofa styles can be used in modern and traditional interiors,' says Sarah Vanrenen, co-founder of Vanrenen GW Designs. 'A fixed back is less messy and easier to maintain and the small arms also take up much less room and give more sitting space.'

'We chose the light blue for the walls as the room needed a pale, soft colour to bring in more light and this works really well, it’s brighter, soft and gentle,' she adds.

14. Embrace dark colors

(Image credit: Morris & Co)

Cottage living rooms can often be on the smaller side, and as a result we often lean to decorating with lighter colors, however, dark living rooms can look brilliant in cottages, helping to create a wonderful cosy and cocooning atmosphere. When decorating with deeper tones, be sure to introduce plenty of texture as well as some accessories in bright accent colors to lift the space suggests Andrea Childs, editor of Country Homes & Interiors magazine.

'Don't be afraid to use a deep color in a small cottage living room with low ceilings. This rich green shade – Wooded Dell by Morris & Co – is reminiscent of sitting beneath a cool, shady canopy of trees,' says Andrea Childs.

'To lighten the atmosphere for your interiors scheme, think about how the woodland floor contains texture and touches of bright color from wildflowers and ground-cover plants. This yellow cabinet and complementary cushions hit the spot to create a comfortable cottage living room inspired by the shades of nature.'

15. Decorate with antiques

(Image credit: Rikki Snyder)

Decorating with antiques is a lovely way to bring character to a cottage living room. Featuring distressed patinas and imbued with fascinating history, antiques can be beautifully decorative and help interiors to tell a story. In this neutral Southampton, New York home designed by Becca Interiors, antique fixtures, furniture and objects have been used throughout to bring texture and interest to the space. 

'We restored the living room space to its original layout, with the fireplace serving as the heart of the room. Although we could not reconstruct the original fireplace, we sourced an antique pine mantle, paired with hand picked vintage brick to frame the firebox and add an antique affect,' says Becca Casey, founder of Becca Interiors .

'A mixture of found vintage accessories are staged throughout, mostly sourced from vintage stores and markets in Connecticut and New York.'

16. Factor in plenty of ambient lighting

(Image credit: Kasia Fiszer)

Cottage style is all about creating a cosy, relaxed atmosphere, so be sure to factor in plenty of mood lighting in the form of living room wall lighting and table lamps.

'In my view lighting is key to the atmosphere of a room,' says interior designer Penny Morrison . 'I always light rooms with lamps only, except where there are very dark corners where I will put small down lights in the corners of the room on dimmer switches which can be used to gently enhance the illusion of daylight on a really dark day.' 

Many cottage have beautiful original walls, so when it comes choosing cottage lighting ideas for a living room, table lamps may be a preferable option over wall lights as they can be easily plugged in to create instant atmosphere without impacting the fabric of the building.

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.

15 Homey Country Cottage Decorating Ideas for Living Rooms

Whenever we are in the midst of a renovation crisis, we usually end up creating a homier space than we intended to do. Usually resulting to a more comfy place we can stay in and invite our family and friends over. Country life is pretty much the coveted life any person wants, especially when they feel so strained from too much city life and tons of work.

So, today, we will be helping you in checking out a few photos we have collected for you; these are about 15 Homey Country Cottage Decorating Ideas for Living Rooms. These are mere samples of how the clients wanted to recreate a space they may have had in their minds way back when lives were simpler and when life seemed to be more slow-paced than it is now. With that, take a look at the photos we have prepared below.

Adobe Ranch

D.D. Ford Construction

The beautiful antique lighting is from Santa Barbara Lights which makes the entire space light up and be prettier than it already is.

SC Plantation Home Renovation

Cheatham Fletcher Scott Architects

The garage’s second floor is a large guest suite complete with a kitchenette and wood-burning fireplace. But looking at this beautiful living room, with all the earth tones that were used, we can say that the color palette for this space is stunning.

Mendham Cottage

Interior Decisions

Pictures of spaces like this remind us of the homes our Grandparents used to live. Pretty neutral colors were used which is illuminated with a lovely chandelier.

Montreal Cozy Cottage

Melyssa Robert Designs

The cozy colors used for this Montreal cottage is pretty inviting. The wood and bricks used complement well with the plaid seating and antique furniture and furnishings.

New Home Build

M|A|Peterson

Don’t you just the fireplace of this traditional living room? It wide and pretty and the combination of the different rock sizes is somehow interesting.

Pennsylvania Farm House

Dewson Construction Company

This farm house is pretty in white. Although country cottage home designs are associated with whites and mostly browns, we can say that this space is really homey and somewhat contemporary.

Vintage Bay View

Periwinkle Designs for Living

This home is super adorable and really comfy-looking. The reds complement the white walls and ceiling. Note the pretty coffee tables scattered around the room.

Walnut Creek Farmhouse

Adeeni Design Group

The placement of the furniture in this living room in San Francisco is quite inviting. White sofa, and single seating chairs in rattan is accented with the antique trunk as the coffee table.

Braxton Home

RMB Building & Design, LLC

Don’t you just love the color scheme for his Raleigh home? The colors are pretty bright but not painful to eye which is always a good thing. The green-yellow combo is just perfect.

Lily Pad

Cottage Company

Lily Pad seems really clean and bright. This space makes us feel like it’s always summer or spring time. The cute throw pillows complement well with the neutral-colored sofa.

New Country French Cottage

Barnes Vanze Architects

Transition on ceiling rips the boards down on the sides to look like they are inset. Note the color scheme used for this Mediterranean home.

New York Country Home

Crisp Architects

If you prefer your logs a bit more hidden, create a niche between the hearth and the floor. The floor underneath should be stone; we like it when it’s the same stone used on the hearth.

Alpharetta Residence

Regas Interiors, LLC

Bringing the attention down. High windows can make a space feel cavernous. Adding detailing in a contrasting fabric that relates to the lower part of the room can help bring the focus down and make things cozier.

Jack Marchant Homes

Dana Green | Lafayette’s Best

We like the fireplace and the cabinet. And of course the vaulted ceiling with tongue and groove. Don’t forget those cool shutters on the inside of the house. But it is a bit frilly. Needs some more rustic touches.

Writers’ Cottage

Crisp Architects

When we envision a place for rest and comfort, we can slightly imagine a fireplace and those stand lamps near a side table with your cookies and your tea. If this space had more windows, it would be more perfect!

There you have it, the 15 Homey Country Cottage Decorating Ideas for Living Rooms which pretty much sums up what our retirement homes would look and feel like. Honestly speaking, if retirement homes looked more like that than hospitals, our old folks might even volunteer in living there. But more than that, we think that the homes we have shown above are great samples of how spaces can be made cozier and comfortable than how we imagine it. For more inspiration, check out the 15 Warm Craftsman Living Room Designs. Happy reading!

private house renovation ideas, beautiful interiors

The living room in the cottage is not just the center of the house, but also a source of pride, as well as a favorite resting place for the owners. Private ownership outside the city opens up endless possibilities for the realization of any design ideas, so decorating a guest room promises to be an exciting creative activity. The stylish interior resulting from the repair will delight the household, their relatives and friends for many years.

Interior styles

The design of a hall in a private house depends on several important factors: the general style of the building, the materials used in its construction, the layout and, of course, the preferences of the owners. Among the numerous design options for country buildings, ethnic motifs, Provence, country, chalets are the best fit. All these areas are united by the maximum proximity to nature, environmental friendliness and naturalness. The discreet classic style never loses its relevance, while lovers of novelty can experiment with youth eclecticism or create a dynamic fusion.

Classic living room

Living room in a classic style - the embodiment of respectability, nobility and loyalty to tradition. It can be decorated in white-gold or chocolate-beige tones, with columns, stucco, luxurious chandeliers. The materials used are expensive and of high quality - natural wood covered with dark lacquer or ivory enamel, leather upholstery of sofas and armchairs, curtains made of satin, brocade, jacquard, gilded frames, exquisite decor.

Provence style living room

Spring tenderness and romance of the French hinterland is reflected in pastel shades of olive green, blue, lavender, beige. Upholstered furniture and floral print textiles, photographs in openwork frames, cute hand-made decor (crocheted napkins, interior dolls, jewelry boxes and much more) will decorate the Provence-style living room.

Country style living room

The democratic atmosphere of the American ranch is perfectly perceived in the hall of a country house. Roughly processed wood, stone, simple cotton and woolen fabrics with a checkered pattern, firewood crackling in the fireplace create a relaxed atmosphere where peace and comfort always reign.

Chalet style living room

The abundance of wood and raw stone in the interior style of the chalet is very similar to the country, but it has a hunting spirit. Suede or velor can be used for upholstery of upholstered furniture, instead of checkered blankets - fluffy animal skins, on the walls - weapons, deer antlers, images of wild animals.

Living room in ethnic style

In each region there are certain traditions in the design of village houses, which can be applied in the design of modern cottages. As a rule, they include the most accessible materials for a particular locality, handicrafts with characteristic ornaments, decor based on ancient beliefs and customs. Inspiration can be found in local history museums, fairs, colorful tourist sites.

Color combinations

The palette of shades in the guest rooms of country estates seems to have been borrowed from nature itself. As a rule, it is dominated by natural tones of wood, stones, lime, leather and fur. There are no acidic, neon, glossy colors here, from which residents of megacities get so tired - only soft halftones and beautiful matte textures. In such an environment, rest is always pleasant, because organic materials have their own positive energy, which calms and heals.

Neutral combinations

If in urban apartments neutral colors evoke associations with the office with their severity, then in the private sector they look much softer due to smooth lines and more space. Black, white, gray, beige shades are the perfect backdrop for brighter details. By themselves, these colors do not evoke emotions, allowing you to focus on relaxation. And yet, when combining achromatic tones in the interior of the hall, it is worth abandoning sharp black and white contrasts in favor of smoother cream, gray-brown, silver tones.

Cold combinations

Cool shades of blue, light gray, mint green, pale pink, lilac are mainly characteristic of French Provence, shabby chic and Scandinavian style. Bleached paints fill the living room with light, and therefore are ideal for small rooms with small windows.

Warm combinations

Any paint with a yellow undertone looks great surrounded by natural wood (except, perhaps, bleached). The whole brown palette, from coffee to beige, cheerful orange, noble red, light green, golden is the best fit for decorating a spacious guest room in a country house. However, it is better to leave the most saturated and bright colors for small textile elements and decor, and use calmer colors for the background.

Living room decoration

The choice of materials for decoration is one of the most important stages in the design of the living room. Not only the appearance of the room, but also the durability of the repair depends on their quality and aesthetics. Considering that real estate outside the city is purchased, first of all, in order to be closer to nature, it is also worth abandoning synthetics and plastic in the design, preferring natural coatings.

Ceiling

Compared to high-rise buildings, private houses usually boast higher rooms. This provides ample opportunities for ceiling design - you can make several levels of drywall, stretch a film or a special elastic fabric (if desired, even with photo printing), decorate the surface with gypsum stucco or painting.

But the most popular option for finishing the space above the head are wooden beams - real or decorative. They fit perfectly into the country style, echoing in color and texture with the rest of the interior elements. For small living rooms, simple staining or whitewashing is optimal. In order to avoid cracks, the base for painting can be covered with fiberglass-cobwebs.

Walls

The decoration of the walls of the living room in the cottage is simple and unassuming. Paper and vinyl wallpapers are almost never used here - their function is performed by wooden lining, whitewashing, textured plaster.

A fairly common cladding option is decorative stone. It can be either natural chipped rock, or porcelain stoneware, artificial tiles. Of the exotic materials, it is worth noting bamboo panels, reed wallpapers, cork, flexible stone - they can be used to decorate individual sections of the walls or, for example, the area around the TV.

Floor

Since the living room in a country house is often located on the ground floor, it is worth taking care of floor insulation. In no case should it be concrete; ceramic tiles are also undesirable. The ideal option is wooden parquet (preferably matte so that it does not leave marks and stains). You can replace wood with a laminate, cork, epoxy self-leveling coating. In winter, you can not do without carpet, fluffy or woven carpets.

Furniture and decor

The comfort of staying in the living room not least depends on the beauty and convenience of the furniture, which in a private house, given its size, can be quite large. A roomy sofa, soft armchairs, a coffee table and, possibly, a chest of drawers for books - these items are quite enough for a cozy interior.

But, of course, the hall of the manor outside the city is impossible to imagine without a fireplace, around which the closest people gather on cold evenings. Ideally, this is a real functioning hearth with blazing firewood, but there are also decorative electric models. The fireplace portal serves as the main decoration of the guest room: it can be finished with stone, tiled mosaics, gypsum moldings with mini-columns, there are also structures made of brick, drywall or carved solid wood. All kinds of figurines, candles, vases, framed photographs, etc. are usually placed on the mantelpiece.

In the design of modern living rooms, much attention is paid to the TV wall. It can be a special niche made of drywall or wood, a furniture wall, a cabinet or several separate shelves. As a rule, this zone is accented. It is distinguished with the help of textured finishes, staining in a contrasting color, special lighting.

Interior of a small living room in a private house

Compared to spacious halls, small living rooms have a whole list of advantages. So, a small room is easier to heat, the atmosphere in it is more chamber and cozy, much less materials are required for repairs, and cleaning can be done in just a few minutes.

When decorating a compact living room, you should give preference to discreet, light shades and the most simple geometric shapes. You can not overload the interior with multi-level structures on the ceiling, colorful drawings on the walls and bright multi-colored spots. Everything should be sustained in the same style and harmoniously combined with each other.

The best backdrop for a small living room would be a monochromatic wall decoration, a light one-level ceiling, and a low-key texture of the flooring. In textiles and decor, you can add bright colors, prints, decorations. These can be sofa cushions, curtains, paintings or photographs, indoor plants.

Living room design in a country house - photo

You will find even more interesting ideas for decorating a living room in a country house in the photo gallery on our website. The collection contains the best design solutions for both spacious halls in elite cottages and small living rooms in rural estates. Choose the option to your liking, and let your living room become the most comfortable with the new renovation, causing general delight and contributing to a good rest in the circle of your loved ones.

Video: Living room in a private house - Interior ideas

Living room interior in a cottage: 17 design ideas

Living room

Hours

The presence of a cottage testifies to the solvency of its owner, to a certain status. In addition, a private house is an opportunity to design it at your own discretion, giving the living rooms a certain place in the house, and carefully consider their design.

If we are talking about the living room, then this room is available to the public, because it is here that guests are welcomed, friends meet, and the family gets together in the evenings and weekends.

There are several tasks before the premises: to be cozy in a family way, interesting for guests and correspond to the overall design of the cottage, the lifestyle of its inhabitants. We offer an overview of the most successful and interesting design solutions in the design of the living room. And unwritten rules will be useful when choosing and organizing a room.

Basic principles of organization

This room represents the family. It creates an impression of the owner. Therefore, the choice of a room should be taken seriously, and the interior of the living room in the cottage should be thought out and designed to the smallest detail.

In fact, it is possible to make a living room cozy for everyone present in it both on an area of ​​50 m 2 , and on a modest 20-25 m 2 .

Cottage projects are different: http://www.mycottege.ru/catalog/

Details that should not be neglected

There are no trifles in interior design.

A fireplace is a piece of furniture that can and should be built in a cottage. And already build a different environment around it.

As the hero of the film “Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears” said: “The main decoration of the apartment is the TV”. Therefore, a panel on the wall or a home theater can also become the center of the living room. And around it, arrange upholstered furniture, a coffee or coffee table.

To give guests something else to do sometimes, the TV can be decorated in a variety of ways.

An aquarium, a rose garden or just a corner with indoor flowers can also become a decoration of the living room.

Pictures on the wall or a photo gallery can entertain guests for a while. And the pictures can be both acquired and painted by the owners, and even embroidered.

The living room needs space for a dining table with chairs. If the dining area in the apartment is mobile, that is, the table is set as needed, then in the cottage the living room often serves as a dining room. Therefore, a dining set should be allocated a permanent place.

If the room is very spacious, it is worth considering the interior in such a way that, depending on the circumstances, allocate only one or several zones. Then guests, regardless of their number, will always be comfortable.

The selection of zones is possible in various ways:

Living room design options

Consider the interior design of a living room in a cottage with a few examples.

White furniture looks noble. And bright accents in the form of sofa cushions make the interior interesting.

The combination of wooden beams and bricks in the decoration is natural for a loft-style living room.

Light colors, air and space are the hallmarks of a Scandinavian style living room.

A living room in gray tones will not be boring if you add other interior items.

Oriental style a priori makes the living room soft and cozy.

The area of ​​the living room made it possible to move the dining group into a separate area.

Minimalism with high-tech elements for a living room in an ultra-modern cottage.

The classic style is reflected in furniture upholstery, moldings, symmetrical arrangement of furniture. However, such an interior looks interesting in a modern way.

Another example of a classic living room. Other colors are chosen and the perception of the situation immediately changes.

Use neutral tones in the finish. Then it will be possible to fit into it any interior from modern to Empire style. And the upholstery of furniture, textiles, decor items is always easier to change than to re-do cosmetic repairs.

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