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Cozy english cottage decor


English Cottage Décor and Design Ideas

The décor trend that is sweeping social media, cozy English cottage-style design, will make your home feel rustic and closer to nature than ever before. "English cottages are defined by their coziness and usage of local and traditional materials both inside and outside," says Ana Perez, owner, and designer of Spinks Nest Cottage.

Warm, comfortable, and inviting, this design style is characterized by extensive gardens, thatched roofs, and rustic interiors full of wood and character-filled antique furniture.

Ready to add some "cottagecore" style to your own home? Read on for everything you need to know.

The Danish Blonde

There are many ways to implement this design style into your home, even if your home doesn’t classify as a cottage. Here’s how to incorporate elements of English cottage design into your home’s décor and create your coziest space for the wintertime—or anytime.

Anya G. Rowe

Characteristic of classic English cottages is the focus on a green and growing exterior. Plant bushes, trees, and other greenery native to your area, as well as creeping plants like ivy that will make your home look like it is emerging from nature.

Anya G. Rowe

Beige brick, step aside: English cottage exteriors embrace the colorful and whimsical with color selection. Pops of pink, yellow, and blue are often seen in cottage-style design, as the small homes are unafraid to play with color. 

My Little Country Life

Brick has a way of looking effortlessly classic, and it truly withstands the test of time—which is perfect for a vintage English cottage home. This home embraces a primarily brick exterior, and its shabbiness makes it all the more chic. 

According to Perez, this style is characteristic of a classic English home. "Soft red bricks and flints are very English."

At Home In Somerset

There are ways to incorporate small touches of cottage style on the exterior of your home as well, with rustic elements like wood or an antique latch door that looks like it's straight from the English countryside. As Perez notes, "Fitted wooden pieces make everything feel so special—designed for that space and that space only."

Cherry Vintage Home

This quaint bedroom embraces several elements of cottage style: rustic wood, antique art, and the incredibly plush and comfortable bedding that feels vintage, yet modern. Layering textiles will add warmth and English charm to your space.

Cherry Vintage Home

A great way to add a touch of history to a space is to incorporate reclaimed wooden elements, which add character to any ceiling or floor. This space not only features exposed wooden beams but a wooden side table that adds personality and charm to the space.

"Making beautiful wooden furniture and fittings for a small space afforded by a cottage is really very important," Perez notes. "All English cottages need some elegant, yet practical bespoke joinery to elevate them."

Cottage On The Green

Add some architectural interest to your space with a cottage-style window, like this arched kitchen beauty that allows the sun to stream into the space.  

Het Franse Huis

A lovely aspect of English cottage décor is making the old new again and incorporating vintage pieces in the home. Think reclaimed furniture, antique trinkets and ceramics, and traditional lighting like ornate chandeliers, as pictured here.

Our Little Home

If your home features some angular, tight spaces, don’t be afraid to turn them into cozy and livable rooms. Features that are seemingly difficult to navigate are easily given purpose with English cottage style.

Tales of Oliver's Cottage

An easy way to give your home English cottage character is to incorporate traditional design elements, like beadboard, as featured in this countryside mudroom. The sage green color feels close to nature and appropriate to the trend while giving a touch of class to the walls.

Perez notes that this is an essential piece of English cottage design. "Beadboard is something we strongly associate with an English cottage, and in Spinks Nest, we have lots of varied-width beadboard in every room, painted in different finishes: some mid-brown, some dark brown, and [some] rich greens—all with a narrow bead," Perez says.

Our Little Home

Another characteristic of English cottage style is a muted color palette, often featuring earthy neutrals and pastels. As showcased in this bedroom, you can feature one of these neutrals as the primary color of a space to have room to feature vintage art and other pieces.

Spinks Nest Cottage

As cottage-style living is often in tight quarters, embrace the overflow of ceramics in your kitchen with open shelving and lots of decorative dishes to display. Diverting from the trendy minimalist style, cottage design embraces the clutter and lived-in look of a space, from kitchens to bedrooms.

Perez says that vintage pieces were key in designing Spinks Nest. "We love things that have character—and so many older pieces of furniture and vintage kitchenwares have so much style and just good design," she says. "All of these reclaimed and vintage objects brought so much design elegance for almost no money, and they brought their wonderful history and patina. "

How to Get the English Countryside Décor Look

19 English Cottage Decor Ideas For The Coziest Cottage Home

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Ready to sit down and relax like the Jane Austen you know you are? 

Whether you’re still mourning the end of the PBS TV series Downton Abbey or you’ve been craving a home interior makeover that turns your comfortable abode into a charming English cottage worthy of a Jane Austen novel, you don’t need a pricey decorator to do the job. 

The label “cottage,” originally known as “cotter,” was once used to describe a peasant living in a small home with a small lawn and now is used to describe a small building or small home that resides in the countryside — or at least looks the part. 

Now more than ever this quaint style of living has captured the heart of the world whether living in an urban apartment or off the grid.

So if you are interested in learning how to make your home as quaint and fabulous and as romantic as a romance novel (without tapping into your 401K plan to underwrite the job),  the following 19 brilliant ideas on how to style an English Cottage home will help!

They are also budget-friendly!

 

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19 Quaint Ways To Style Your Home Like A Cozy English Cottage

1.

Make some floor magic.

Once upon a time, Britain’s textile mills churned out lavish rugs, but only estate owners could afford them.

You need ideas calling for more ingenuity than cash and rag rugs are ideal for adding character to a room while warming up cottage floors.

Websites like Alibaba sell all sorts of affordable rag rugs in the colors you seek, but if you’re looking for a DIY project, make your own rag rug using the t-shirts you’ve been hoarding and these instructions.

 

2. It’s about the little things.

Switch out ceiling fan paddles and pulls; fill bookshelves with hard-cover books (you needn’t have read them).

Display collections like porcelain pigs, pottery jars from English creameries, or antique dolls. Hide your big screen TV within the confines of a distressed cabinet so you don’t ruin the cottage vibe.

This all goes without saying that all the little nitty and gritty things (those others would stow away), the cottage style loves to embrace those things!

 

3.

Go bold with your wallpaper & paint.

Image source / wallpaperfromthe70s

Being the methodical sort, you know that every home decorating makeover begins by recruiting friends, ordering pizza, and turning them loose with paintbrushes. That is if you can’t wallpaper your place.

If you can afford the pricey costs of wallpaper, designers all suggest thinking of paisley and colorful wallpaper patterns that look “busy” but still “pleasant” to the eye. 

Moreover, using wallpaper will single handily showcase the English-style vibe that you are going for. 

Otherwise, “paint is one of the cheapest ways to get a new look”, says Brit Emma Sims-Hilditch, whose job it is to transform manor homes located in the Cotswolds.

“Contrast in decorating is like the mascara on a face—it completely brings it to life,” Brit says, urging decorators to use dramatic shades of green, burgundy, and brown and pairing them with lighter hues to make the walls of the home pop and come to life.

OR you can reverse it with white walls and dark trim like the photo above.

The main thing is as long as you bring a dramatic bold/feel to compliment the unique decor that you will place in front of it, it will bring you the English cottage home that you are striving for. 

 

4. If you are really hands-on, go dutch when it comes to your entryway.

 

Dutch doors also called double-hung doors or half doors, are divided in half horizontally so the bottom half can remain shut while the top half opens.

Even though this entails quite a lot of work or money, it without a doubt will add that much-needed charm you’re going for. 

 

5. Prioritize comfort above all else.

Image by François Halard

If your rooms don’t look snug after you finish your home styling mission, you’ve missed the point.

Patterned, upholstered seating—particularly oversized chairs (think plush!) with matching footstools–are staples when injecting the essence of English cottages into your furniture mix.

Gain inspiration via this ArchitecturalDigest.com layout so when you troll resale shops, antique emporiums, and estate sales for frugal cottage ideas you’re able to pick out bargains with confidence.

 

6. Say it Stripes, Florals, Plaids, Burlap, & Canvas.

 

Forget everything your mum told you about clashing patterns.

If you don’t find at least a couple of different ones within the confines of an English cottage home, it’s likely the place was decorated by a Swede.

What patterns add the most character to a cottage interior? Stripes. Florals. Plaids. Burlap. Canvas. Especially quintessential toile paisley.

Lavish upholstery and cushions with these patterned textiles evoke a Yorkshire home.

 

7. Think Paisley when adding extra details.

Image source / Pinterest

Without a befuddled armchair or draperies covered in toile or paisley, no English cottage is complete.

Bonus if you hang up lots of paisley decor details to really nail (no pun intended) the English cottage vibe!

 

8.

Old rustic woods will always bring old English charm.

 

Few items emanate more than misplaced seats, pulled up at a long wooden farm table, from the old country lake home.   

Old long tables are the perfect place to play host to all types of friends and family gatherings, added with lively floral wallpaper or bricks for added texture and you got yourself an English charm of your own.

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9. Choose furnishings that always tell a story.

Image source / wallpaperfromthe70s

Troll resale shops, lawn sales, and estate sales to sharpen your home styling acumen. Be discriminating. Pick up affordable items that scream “antique,” even if they’re not.

That goes for odds and ends that add a classic English cottage vibe: Paintings of pastoral landscapes, portraits of folks dressed in 18th-century garb, butter churns, glass pieces, and ephemera harkening back to country life.

Add a lap dog portrait to the mix and make it an English spaniel.

 

10. Consider a British kitchen with patterned wallpaper paired with curtain coverings.

Image source / Sims Hilditch

When it comes to English cottage home styling there’s no need to replace the bathroom or kitchen cabinets when you can achieve “the look” by trolling yard sales and flea markets for vintage bin pulls, knobs, and porcelain hardware.

If you hate your cabinets, follow the lead of Brits who hide ugly cabinets behind patterned curtains that have been shortened.

Popular: How to Stop Being Messy – 10 Habits for a Cleaner Abode!

 

11. Bring the English garden indoors.

Image via Pinterest

 If your yard barely accommodates a bench and you can’t tell the difference between lilac and lavender, you can still pay tribute to the quintessential English garden by planting seeds in window boxes.

Plants peeking from windows are as English as tea.

Image via Pinterest

 Have a black thumb? Plant silk flowers in boxes, fill vases with mixed bouquets and acquire a diffuser that disburses lavender essential oil fragrances throughout the home. You can even place flowers in unique old porcelain vases and of course, add all the indoor hanging plants you can find.

 

12. Patterned & whimsical curtains are a must in an English cottage home.

Image via Peony and Sage

English cottages are known for cheery red-checked and patterned curtains and valances that frame tranquil views. Are you handy with a needle?

Make valances in contrasting patterns and consider replacing your boring closet door with a patterned curtain stitched of fabric-like options on this site.

When you’re ready to sew, find cheaper per-yard prices at a favorite discounter.

 

13. Ask Mother Nature for even more help with your home makeover with seashells and dried flowers.

Imagine yourself wandering English landscapes. What comes to mind? Seashells on the Dover shore? Discarded bird’s nests in Sherwood Forest?

Maybe you envision fields of dried wildflowers or old jelly jars filled with rocks.

As you can see, even small all-natural touches make statements throughout your home that inject all manner of English cottage aesthetics and definitely belong in your home makeover.

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14. Light up your world with accent lighting that is deemed to be the perfect cozy light.

Image source // Wayfair

Pattern lamp bases will always be the perfect touch for the quintessential English cottage-style home.

You can also kick it up a notch and string affordable lights everywhere you like for an atmosphere when you’d prefer not to turn on your floor or table lamps.

Light strings can even be strung in the bathroom to turn a long tub soak into a heavenly English charm environment.  

 

15. Sprinkle in some handmade TLC.

How about making a lamp? Lamp-making kits come with simple instructions and come at various price points. You should check out these DIY lamps. Pick the design that calls your name and go for it!

 

16. When it comes to creating a cozy English cottage-style kitchen — where you place your table matters.

 

No cottage home is complete without the table being placed in the center of the kitchen (granted if you have space!). If you can’t do that, then creating a tiny little nook, tucked cozily in the corner of a room, will work wonders too. 

 

 

17. Add signature touches & acquire “something ugly” to really give your home that English cottage feels.

Whether your idea of quaint is a bistro table and chairs tucked into a corner of your yard or the acquisition of crocheted tea cozies, with each home styling touch you show off your decorating acumen and passion for country styling.

English cottage home tastemaker Nancy Lancaster urges you to acquire “something a bit ugly” for each room to finish your home makeover properly.

How to achieve ugly? By mixing and matching touches you wouldn’t have dreamed of until you realized that frugal cottage ideas are more than just fantasies. They’re easily within your reach.

 

18. Idea theft is totally okay when it comes to English Cottage home decor.

Soak up enough inspiration to decorate your home English cottage by scanning 425 hot ideas on Pinterest!

Feast your eyes on frugal cottage ideas that are ready-made for stealing. Browse this Better Homes & Gardens article if you want more inspiration.

If you don’t conjure up images of the characters in “Little Women,” perhaps you need to re-read that book so you’re properly motivated before you begin your home makeover.

After all, it’s such a unique way to design a home, that no two English cottages will ever be alike. 

 

19. Add a taste of homemade for the finishing touch.

 

There is nothing cozier than a wood fire crackling next to some delicious home-baked goods lingering in the air.

If you don’t have a cozy fire, then bake scones when you are expecting company over to add to your home’s English cottage ambiance.

 

Whatever you decide to do, just know that the English cottage-style look can be easily achieved. All you have to do is have an open imagination. Now get designing!

 

See Also:

Check out, 14 Secrets to Style a Bohemian Abode, next!

 

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Author: Rebecca

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Cozy English house where you want to spend New Year's holidays all the time

An ideal house to celebrate the New Year!

Completely relax, take your time and forget about important things - this is the state you want to achieve during the New Year holidays. The fastest way to achieve the desired will be in a calm and comfortable environment. We could not pass by the interior of one colorful English house, it is so cozy, warm and atmospheric. Perfect for New Year's Eve!


Exterior


The house looks like a lighthouse.

When you first glance at the photo of this house, it seems that this is an old lighthouse, lost somewhere in the blue expanses of the sea. But no! The building is located in Cornwall, in the southwest of England. It is made in the traditional English style, distinguished by its color and solidity. The current owners have removed the stucco cladding, deliberately exposing the beautiful stonework. Looking at such a house, you do not want to pass by. It makes you want to visit and take a look at its interior decoration.

Entrance hall


Cozy entrance hall.

At the entrance to the house, the first thing that catches your eye is a potbelly stove. It is located here for practical purposes, the house does not have central heating. But this is not just a device for improving living conditions, but the heart of the whole composition. The owners of the house managed to deftly beat an ordinary household item and breathed new life into it. Green decor, a stylized luminous Christmas tree, firewood, and cozy handmade wicker rugs were placed here. If it were just a potbelly stove, bored on the sidelines, such a cozy effect would not have been achieved.

Living room


Living room where it is always warm and comfortable.

The living room is simple yet luxurious. Three styles met here at once, to which the owners of the house are not indifferent - pop art, industrial and traditional rustic. The first manifests itself in the selection of furniture colors, the second in the shades of the walls and the design of individual interior items, and the third in warm wood textures, a fireplace with colorful lining, and shaggy pillows. There is nothing superfluous here, the style is visible in the details. Balanced eclecticism suits this interior.

Stylish eclecticism.


Kitchen


Interior of a kitchen in a rural English house.

This home has a truly vintage kitchen, crafted with fine esto. Painted concrete floors, stainless steel countertops, a massive island made of textured wood, rhythmically selected details, down to honey pots.

Dining area


Dining area where every item has a story.

The owners of this old English house are avid collectors. No, they do not collect stamps, figurines, or retro car models. Their hobby is much more interesting - to find in flea markets (and in other places) unique things with a history that fit as concisely as possible into the interior of their home. For example, the furniture from the dining area was collected literally bit by bit in the old school and abandoned church. In this unusual house, everything breathes history and at the same time, outwardly, all objects have something in common with each other.

Bedroom


Bedroom with Moroccan accents.

The inspiration for creating the interior of the bedroom was the hot flavor of Morocco, where the owners of the house often go on vacation. The color scheme harmoniously echoes the one used in the living room. The same technique was applied to the fabrics used in the decor. Distinctive accents indicating the presence of a hot style are a carved headboard, traditional Moroccan dishes on the window and a colorful rug by the bed.

Child


Child for teenage boys.

The bedroom for two teenage boys has a very laconic design. Everything that men love - clean lines, a monochromatic range and a bright, appropriate accent, so as not to die of boredom.

Bathroom

Not cramped combined bathroom is strikingly different from the rest of the space. The only thing that connects it with other interiors in the house is the dark gray walls, this shade often appears in other rooms. So, the bathroom has a sufficient area (at least dance), everything here is quite simple and minimalistic, except for a large chic mirror. Very stylish and at the same time unusual design of a combined bathroom!

Stylish combined bathroom.

We have collected many more interesting ideas in the review "17 bathroom ideas to keep in mind for those planning a renovation."

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