Images of cottage 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.
Cottage living rooms: 11 rustic decorating ideas
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(Image credit: Mark Watts/Unique Home Stays)
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Whether you’re looking for ideas for your cottage living room or just love cottage accessories, it's easy to bring a pretty, rustic touch to your home with this traditional look. Need inspiration? Browse the pretty real cottage living rooms below. And don't miss our expert advice to gather all the elements you need to achieve the perfect scheme. So, pour yourself a cup of tea, settle into your sofa and take a look through our favourite ultra-cosy cottage living rooms.
If you are after more living room ideas, make sure you check out our ultimate gallery too.
1. CHOOSE A PLUSH, CLASSIC SOFA for your cottage living room
Whether you love robust Chesterfields or dream of a high-backed armchair next to the fireplace, it's all about picking furniture with a classic curvaceous design in upholstery that suits country cottage style. So, look for traditional seating designs, teamed with soft and comforting materials – soft tweeds, warm wools, classic checks, linens and tickings are all good options to create a rustic cottage living room.
A traditional style sofa bed is a good buy for a cottage with few bedrooms. Find the best in our pick. And don't miss our guide to choosing upholstery for useful advice on picking armchairs and sofas.
Inspired by the antique Howard models, this Alwinton sofa from Sofas & Stuff is both elegant and relaxed. Explore more of this charming Wiltshire thatch
(Image credit: Jody Stewart)
2. Layer up on cosy BLANKETS, CUSHIONS AND THROWS
To make a cottage living room feel like a welcoming, comfortable sanctuary, you need to pile on the layers. Tartans, checks and rich-toned fabrics are the perfect materials for cushions, while a thick knitted or woollen blanket and a faux fur throw work excellently together to add a warmth and rich character. Love cosy? Browse our cosy Scandi living room design ideas for more inspiration.
Cushions in fabrics from the Chilli collection at ILIV
(Image credit: ILIV)
3.
PICK A warm-toned rug to soften hard floorsThis rich red rug perfectly complements the details in the red cushions while also being warm underfoot
(Image credit: Brent Darby)
Usually stone, slate or aged wood, cottage living room flooring is not known for its warmth, meaning that a rug is vital. Choose one with rich, comforting tones and detailed patterns, as it will not only add texture to the room, but will also better withstand the wear and tear of daily life. Opting for rug will also prevent any heavy furniture causing damage to the original floors. Get some inspiration with our highlights of the best living room rugs. And if your original flooring needs restoration, see our guides:
- How to repair stone floors
- How to choose a real stone floor
- How to repair wooden floorboards
- How to choose the best wooden flooring
4. Display over-sized artwork for impact
You might be tempted to pick small pictures to display on your walls, but doing so can make a small cottage living room feel fussy and cluttered.
Hanging larger works of art will create impact, add colour to make the room feel cosy, and allow you to keep walls an easy to maintain, light-enhancing white. To find out more about how to display pictures and photos, see our guide.
Behind the sofa in this pretty Grade II-listed cottage, is a section of an antique screen that owner Hana bought from a local auction. Complemented by the bright antique rug in the living room this creates a cosy sitting space round the Hamstone fireplace and stove
(Image credit: Colin Poole)
5. Choose a pale colour scheme to brighten a dark cottage living room
Cream, seashell, and ivory are all perfect shades when it comes to painting your cottage living room walls. Light, neutral walls and ceilings help to capture and bounce around the light and help make the small cottage dimensions feel larger. Team pale walls with exposed architectural features such as brick fireplaces, stone walls or wooden beams to mark them as a focal point in the room, emphasising the rustic feel of the room.
Use our guide to find out more ways to make a small room feel bigger – and don't miss our feature on how to design a north-facing room; you can apply all the tips within it to make a dark cottage living room feel brighter. For more advice and inspiration, check out our guide on how to choose paint to decorate a period home.
(Image credit: Jody Stewart)
6. Add interest with texture and pattern
Muted tones also create the perfect base for the room, meaning you can introduce a whole range of textures and patterns through fabrics and furnishings to curate an elegant yet cosy effect. If you know that your cottage living room has beautiful stone walls beneath a layer of damaged plaster, it will be worth considering exposing it to bring the beauty of the stone into the room, too.
(Image credit: Polly Eltes)
7. Pick FLORAL TEXTILES TO CREATE A HOMELY COTTAGE living room
The red and cream furnishings bring out the details in this Forsythia Rosehip wallpaper costs £40 from Laura Ashley
(Image credit: Laura Ashely)
Wildflowers, rosehips and cornflowers are all synonymous with the countryside.
Bring these gorgeous flowers into your home with floral textiles, wallpapers and fabrics. Since large floral patterns can be overwhelming opt for delicate designs, such as this wallpaper (above), which brings out the warm tones in the room.
In the room below, curtains that match the wallpaper heighten the effect. Find more floral room design ideas in our guide.
(Image credit: Laura Ashley)
8. TURN UP THE HEAT WITH A ROARING FIRE
While the idea of snuggling up next to a open fire is the country cottage living room dream, in reality, 90 per of the heat gets lost up the chimney. Instead, a classic cast iron stove not only fits perfectly into any traditional fireplace, but also radiates a lot more heat into the room, meaning that you can be cosy while watching the roaring flames dance. For more inspiration check out the best 10 traditional fireplace designs. For practical advice, see our essential guide to choosing a stove, and don't miss our selection of the best stoves: woodburning and multi-fuel.
(Image credit: Colin Poole)
9. CHOOSE Solid wood FURNITURE FOR A COTTAGE LIVING ROOM
Cottage living room design is all about getting back to basics and embracing natural materials, so add texture and character by opting for solid wood furniture. Pick authentic pieces that match the period of the cottage, and choose wood with rich tones that add a warmth and depth to the room, helping to create a comforting hub of the house. Use our guide to how to choose the best living room furniture to ensure you find quality pieces.
(Image credit: Jeremy Phillips)
10. BRING NATURE INSIDE WITH WOODLAND PRINTS
Whether you live in the middle of the countryside or in the heart of the city, celebrate the beauty of nature with woodland-inspired prints. Add cushions in a forest print fabric, like Pinecones in Briarwood & Cream , £49 from Sanderson (below), to subtly introduce the theme.
(Image credit: Sanderson)
For a bolder statement, go all out with forest fir curtains (above: Owlswick , £59, Sanderson) or upholster an armchair with a woodland animal print fabric (below: Squirrel & Hedgehog in Walnut/Linen , £59, Sanderson).
(Image credit: Sanderson)
11. FINISH your cottage living room WITH VINTAGE STORAGE SOLUTIONS
Storage is always a vital component of any room. Selecting an open Welsh dresser or display cabinet creates a focal point in the room on which you can display all manner of trinkets, from antique books to decorative plates. If you don't know where to start, take a look at how to display collections in your home for some design inspiration.
Cottage living room by Susie Watson Designs
(Image credit: Susie Watson)
MORE COTTAGE INSPIRATION:
- 17th-century thatched cottage renovation
- Welsh long house extended and updated for modern living
- Explore thatched cottage with an intriguing past
- 14 charming cottages
Holly is Sub-editor and Features Writer for Period Living. She is busy putting her stamp on a pre-furnished flat by making cushions and upcycling second-hand finds.
40 photos and beautiful design ideas
Design features of a country living room?
Read also
7 ideas on how to equip a barn in the country (photo inside)
The design of the living room in the country is primarily different in that it is not a place of permanent residence.
That is, you can afford unusual solutions and be sure: during your vacation or weekend visits, the non-standard interior of the living room in the country house will not get bored with you.
The second point is also connected with your frequent absence: dampness, cold, dust negatively affect the condition of the finish, so you should choose high-quality materials for it, which will last for more than one year even in harsh conditions.
The third nuance depends on the heating and time of use of the country house. Do you use it only in summer or do you also come in winter? In the first case, the walls and ceiling should calmly survive the frost, in the second, keep in mind that natural materials will narrow and expand due to temperature changes, which can adversely affect their appearance.
Rustic elements in the photo: lace, oven, flowers
What to consider when finishing?
Decorating a living room in a country house begins with the dismantling of the old finishes and the selection of new finishing materials.
They must meet the requirements:
-
Read also
How to decorate the interior of the bedroom and kitchen in the country?
Environmental friendliness. Some types of board materials, wallpaper and plastic emit harmful substances into the air, which is unacceptable for living rooms. - Water resistance. Under conditions of climate change, condensation can form, which will harm unprotected coatings.
- Durability. It is unlikely that you want to do repairs every 2-4 years. Therefore, it should last at least 6-7 years.
- Profitability. Still, a country house is a temporary shelter, so it is not advisable to invest as much money in its repair as in an apartment.
In the photo, wooden walls and furniture in the country house
Start decorating from the very top. The most budgetary way to ennoble the ceiling is to whitewash or paint it with waterproof paint. Often in the design of a living room in a country house, a tree is used: lining, false timber, barn board.
Wooden beams are suitable to decorate and complete the composition. A wooden ceiling looks especially good in chalet, country (natural shades), Provence, shabby chic (painted white) styles.
The next step is the walls. Experts recommend sweeping aside paper wallpapers, drywall (not water resistant) at the stage of choosing materials for the living room. Valid options for wall decoration:
Among these examples, you need to choose 1-3 of those that will fully match the style of your future living room in a country house. The most popular due to the low price and "warmth" was the lining: it is installed vertically (makes the walls higher), horizontally (expands the space), combined with wallpaper, paint, stone, brick, tile.
Important! Before installing a wooden lining, treat the walls and the tree itself with a compound that prevents the appearance of mold and fungus.
The floor is laid last. Wood, tile is suitable as a floor covering. It is better to refuse laminate and linoleum in conditions of high humidity - the laminate will swell, and a fungus will form under the linoleum.
From wooden, choose a grooved or parquet board.
Pictured is a modern cottage with a fireplace
How to furnish a living room?
See also
How to restore old furniture?
Many are accustomed to transporting furniture to the dacha, which is already tired in the apartment. In general, this is a good option to save money and reduce garbage, but make sure that the interior looks stylish, and not an eclectic bunch of miscellaneous items.
Very old cabinet furniture (tables, shelving, cabinets, chests of drawers) can be restored: proper care will make it look better and last for many more years. It is permissible to paint a piece that does not need repair: for example, if it does not fit into the overall composition in color or you want to make a bright or dark accent.
On the photo is a living-dining room
Read also
9 ideas on how to easily and inexpensively update the cottage
The sofa is considered the main subject of any room, a country house is no exception.
Very old models can be dragged on their own or turn to professionals. With the help of upholstery, you will not only extend the life of upholstered furniture, but also be able to adjust it to the style you need.
If your living room in the country often becomes a meeting place, complement the sofa with armchairs, poufs, chairs to your taste.
Another obligatory attribute of a place to relax is a coffee table. According to the rules of ergonomics, it should be 5-10 cm below the seat. The size is chosen based on the sofa: a tiny table will get lost near a huge corner structure, and a massive one will look ridiculous next to a two-seat sofa.
Important! Furniture for a country interior can be made independently: from pallets, vegetable boxes and other unnecessary containers, even from plastic bottles.
See the video for an example of a pouffe.
Read also
How to equip a barbecue area in the country?
A fireplace in the living room is optional, but highly desirable: it will give additional comfort and warmth, warm you up on a cold autumn evening, and set the right mood.
A real fireplace requires a chimney: it is laid during the construction phase. Make a corner around it, in which you will be happy to come to relax after a hard day. If there is none, put an artificial one: electric or candle.
The living room in a country estate often also acts as a dining room: a table and chairs are placed between the seating area and the kitchen, it is a kind of buffer. In addition, with such a layout, it is convenient to set the table - you do not have to ply with plates or cups across the entire hall.
On the photo is a dacha in the style of a hunting lodge
How to decorate a living room: choosing decor and textiles
To be truly comfortable in the hall, do not forget about decorations. First of all, textiles: in the form of blankets and pillows on the sofa, a warm carpet on the floor, cute transparent curtains or thick curtains on the windows, a beautiful festive tablecloth on the table. All these seeming little things make your interior different from others: homely, comfortable, stylish.
Important! Choose textiles according to the style of the room: Provence - a pattern with small flowers, country and chalet - a cage and fur, Scandi - a plain or geometric print.
The photo shows the design of the hall in a log house
The decor is also chosen depending on the style direction of the cottage:
- Chalet. Artificial or real heads and skins of animals, wooden figurines, paintings with scenes of hunting or landscapes.
- Provence. Vases with flowers, cages, watering cans, scrapbooking decorations, openwork lampshades, beautiful dishes.
- Scandi. Living plants and dead wood, wicker, textile baskets, abstract paintings, posters with flowers, macrame.
- Shabby chic. Vases and bottles, porcelain, stucco, antique decor.
What style can I decorate?
Read also
Modern country interior design options: photos, styles and ideas
The style of the interior of the living room in the country house is the starting point of the entire project.
It is he who determines the choice of materials for decoration, the appearance of furniture, layout, decor.
A rustic-style living room in a country house can be found most often. At the same time, one should distinguish the country style with its rough but warm wood, muted tones, checkered tablecloths from the Russian traditional direction (lace, embroidery, white textiles, painted wood look harmonious).
The photo shows a variant of the English style
Living rooms in the country house in light colors can be made in the Scandinavian style (preferably white, beige, gray), Provence, shabby chic (white and pastel light shades). The first is more modern, the second is rustic, the third is an amazing tandem of luxury, practicality, rural style.
The photo shows shabby chic decoration, furniture and decor
Practical solutions for a small room
The arrangement of a small living room in a country house involves a minimal set of furniture and decor, mostly light shades, an abundance of natural light, artificial lighting.
