So Your Style Is: Cottage

Cheerful, laid back and welcoming, cottage style feels like a giant hug. Find out how to make this appealing look work its magic

Lisa Frederick
Fresh out of journalism school, I fell into decorating media and immediately discovered a new passion. An Atlanta native, I spent several years as an editor for Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles magazine before making the leap to national publications such as Better Homes and Gardens and Southern Accents. I live in Birmingham, Alabama, with my husband and son, who’ve gotten used to coming home and finding the furniture rearranged. When I'm not dragging case goods across the floor, I enjoy good food and wine, college football, music of all kinds, and traveling.
Fresh out of journalism school, I fell into decorating media and immediately... More »
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What it is: In some ways, cottage style is as much a frame of mind as it is an approach to decorating. There's an everyday ease in the way it celebrates imperfections, ordinary treasures and blended families of furniture. Cottages tend to be humble, unpretentious and full of heart — traits most of us would be proud to claim.

Why it works: Comfy, casual and personal, cottage style is perfect for the way we really live. Fabrics are forgiving; furnishings invite us to flop down and prop up our feet. There's a lot of leeway for the individual expression that anchors the way we think about decorating these days.

You'll love it if... You rock the straw-hat look. Shiny surfaces leave you cold. You bought slipcovers way before they were trendy. You'd take a pitcher full of hydrangeas over a bouquet of long-stemmed roses. You're on a first-name basis with local flea market vendors.

More 'So Your Style Is':
Traditional | Arts & Crafts | Art Deco | Hollywood Regency | Rustic | Old World | French Country
Transitional | Contemporary | Midcentury Modern | Industrial | Eclectic | Coastal | Preppy
Style Secret: Gentle Patina

Not so long ago, cottage was practically synonymous with shabby chic. Although that term feels stale now, the elements that made it so popular — light colors, floaty fabrics, mismatched furnishings — are still mainstays of cottage décor. Faded prints, rumpled fabrics and peeling paint contribute to the vintage charm that underlies this style.

Hot tip: There's a fine line between pleasantly distressed and plain beat up. To avoid crossing it, balance aggressively weathered pieces with newer ones and keep color schemes soft and simple. The gracefully aged furniture in this space appears more striking against clean, updated walls, trim and window treatments.
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Style Secret: Airy Palettes

Cottage colors feel as soft and clean as a cotton sheet fresh from a clothesline. No jewel tones or shocking brights here — think white mixed with ivory mixed with cream. Layer in pale pinks, blues, greens and other washed-out hues. Don't combine too many pastels; stick with one or two shades instead.

Hot tip: If you can't resist a bit of bold color, go right ahead. But limit it to a handful of smaller furnishings or accessories, and keep it tone on tone. One turquoise pillow in a tumble of pale blue ones might look fresh and appropriate, but if you also throw down a chartreuse rug and paint the ceiling lemon yellow, the look veers in a different direction.
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Style Secret: Beadboard

If there's one thing that shouts "cottage," it's beadboard. This classic grooved paneling is a perennial favorite, and for good reason: Not only is it easy to install, but it's a no-brainer for adding warmth and character to a bare wall, a blank ceiling or bland cabinetry. You can't go wrong by painting it creamy white, but it's also fun to add a hint of subtle color and distress it ever so slightly.

Hot tip: Beadboard can be a strong addition to a room, so a little goes a long way. The paneling in this bathroom pops because of its texture, despite being in the background.
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Style Secret: Feminine Fabrics

As much as any other element, fabrics define cottage style: delicate florals, ticking stripes, gingham, eyelet. Natural, textured materials, such as cotton, linen and burlap, fall right in step with the look. Vintage fabrics, from hankies and dishcloths to flour sacks and aprons, pop up on pillows, quilts, chair seats and more. Curtains are usually simple, sheer and breezy.

Hot tip: Keep a light touch with the floral prints. It's fine to mix and match a few, but too many can feel overly sweet, especially if they're all small scale. Ditto for lace — you don't want your house to look like a bridal shop.
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Style Secret: Slipcovers

Slipcovers and cottage style were made for each other. What's more laid back than tossing a sheet over an old sofa and calling it a day? OK, so it's not quite that simple, but the right slipcover does lend a low-maintenance charm — and hides a multitude of upholstery sins.

Hot tip: The sheet thing? Really, don't do it. Slipcovers should be tailored, closely contouring the piece beneath. There are loads of ready-made styles on the market, but if you're willing to invest a little more cash, you can have one custom-fitted for a crisper profile.
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traditional bedroom by Joel Snayd
by Joel Snayd
by Joel Snayd
Style Secret: The Power of Paint

Cottage decorating mavens have never met a wrought-iron bed or battered side table that they couldn't liven up with a paintbrush. Whether you want to rescue a ratty finish, brighten dark wood, or unify pieces that carry the mismatched look a little too far, paint is your friend. It's cheap, it's quick and it's fuss free.

Hot tip: Worried that a just-painted piece will look glaringly new? It's easy to get a worn look with a little strategic sanding or filing. Period (or period-look) drawer and cabinet pulls and other hardware also help.
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Style Secret: Old-Fashioned Flooring

Ever seen a classic cottage with wall-to-wall carpeting or slick vinyl? We haven't. You want more rustic materials that can take a few hard knocks. Wood (stained, painted, pickled, stenciled or simply left natural) is queen, but you can bring in brick or stone as well. Keep rug materials simple, such as sisal or braided cotton.

Hot tip: Although tile isn't the first material that comes to mind when you think about cottages, it can work as long as you choose a style that reads as vintage (for example, the small hexagonal tiles that often turn up in bathrooms).
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Style Secret: Collected Chic

Here's the key to making collections work: power in numbers. And that's especially true for the flea market finds and vintage castoffs that tend to populate cottage-style rooms. If they look too scattered, so will the space. Massed together, these glass bottles have a collective impact.

Hot tip: A room full of quirky displays, offbeat furnishings and cheeky accents can easily slide into eclectic territory. If that isn't the look you want, keep the foundation of the room true to cottage conventions.
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Style Secret: Open Shelving

Not so long ago, kitchens didn't have the banks of upper cabinetry that are standard now. What they had instead was shelving, home to stacks of plates and bowls, canisters of dry goods and baskets of edibles. And in cottage interiors, not much changes in the translation, although nowadays the look is as much decorative as it is utilitarian.

Hot tip: Open shelves are not for the chronically disorganized, so you'll have to keep clutter in check (and commit to a little extra dusting). Dishware that hews to a similar look and palette, such as ironstone, creamware or basic white porcelain, is ideal for cohesiveness.

What does cottage style mean for you? Tell us in the Comments section.

So Your Style Is:
Traditional | Contemporary | Eclectic | Transitional | Industrial | Coastal | Arts & Crafts | Hollywood Regency

Next: Cottage Bliss
9 Ways to Decorate With White
Adding Touches of Vintage Flair
20 Ways to Get the Cottage Garden Look
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Browse more living room photos »

Comments

Carol says:
Thanks for the cottage tour . . lovely!
3 months ago ·
"Cottage" style is a state of mind. It makes me think of the old, worn and re-purposed furnishings at the lake cottages we stayed on vacation. They could tell stories if you listened.
3 months ago ·
jenson says:
You make words sing!! Adore your writing style. Would love to see a Lisa Frederick-authored book. I'm hooked.
3 months ago ·
Carol, glad you enjoyed it. Homescaping, you put it beautifully - you captured the essence of cottage style in that last sentence. And Jenson - wow, thanks so much! I'm blushing. :-)
3 months ago ·
I couldn't agree more "Homescaping". Like the lake cottages my family stayed in during summers, I think of the most sentimental things when looking at these photos of cottages; painted furniture, screen doors that slammed and squeaked,running in and onto floral linoleum ( from the '40's ?) with wet feet and dropping damp towels anywhere! Reminiscent of warm summer evenings walking on the beach with my first summer love...and best of all, hearing the gentle waves lulling you to sleep at night...ahhh, cottages!
3 months ago ·
Everything about cottage style is charming - except shopping at flea markets.
3 months ago ·
Lisa-Thank you for all the wonderful examples of casual, comfortable cottage design. I absolutely love it but just can't seem to apply it to my own lakehouse. Maybe these ideas will get me more centered. Joyce
3 months ago ·
Ruth Hoyt says:
Love the narrative in this ideabook! I'm not too much of a chipped paint and slipcover person, but a neutral backdrop accented with soft tones (though not so far as to overdo pastels, like you said) and lots of natural textures... wonderful! "Cottage colors feel as soft and clean as a cotton sheet fresh from a clothesline." Wonderful imagery! I'm keeping this ideabook for reference!
3 months ago ·
Thank you all! Lanie, I have to admit - I'm not a flea market person either. Someone could do a thriving business as my personal flea market shopper.
3 months ago ·
Very nice!
3 months ago ·
I have been making the switch to cottage for the past few months and it's been fun! I just finished adding wide planks to our family room wall in an effort to create a cottage look. The white paint on the planks has really helped transform the room from traditional to cottage.
3 months ago ·
Sounds beautiful, Jessica! Would love to see a pic.
3 months ago ·
I love everything on this page. I think that means I need to move to a cottage!
3 months ago ·
All of these pics except the dark pink room look like they were taken at my beach cottage in NC Inner Banks near Oriental, NC on the Pamlico Sound..or my daughters. Paradise found and love the cottage and the cottage style of decor..so peaceful.
3 months ago ·
none says:
Reminds me of a coastal home. I don't care for "beat up" furniture aka antiques
YIKES!!! My style is somewhere between Primitive (not rustic) a bit of country and lots of Americana. Sounds weird; but it pulls together nicely.
Thanks for letting us post our comments.
3 months ago ·
I would have to live my everyday life with traditional, but, if I were lucky enough to have a summer home, preferably on water, it would be a cottage decorated exactly as the rooms depicted here, except I'd tone down the cutsey feministic room. Cottage makes me feel casual, happy and free as one does on vacation.
3 months ago ·
amyccoker says:
beautifully put together images
3 months ago ·
bsawyer61 says:
Cottage style is overcoming me, though I am in my seventies my taste over the years has constantly changed. Sentimental, romantic and casual, comfortable living with pale blues and greens though has been constant. These pictures just provide the inspiration to help me decorate my vintage home we just moved to on a lake in Florida.
3 months ago ·
Hi, I thought my style was ecclectic, but after looking at all the styles, I think I'm more of a "rustic/cottage" type. Still not sure though because I don't like any one style over-done???
3 months ago ·
I grew up on a farm and I love the older, rustic charm. However...we have hardwood floors in our current home and they are not child, dog friendly. Any suggestions that would be more durable, without the freezing cold idea of tile??!!
3 months ago ·
Amy - Personally, I like hardwoods with a little wear and tear in a cottage. But you could try a hardwood-look laminate if you want something more durable. Old-fashioned linoleum (real linoleum, not vinyl) is another option.
3 months ago ·
hbt312 says:
I love these cottage pics! They remin d me of my great-aunt's cottage at Fernandina Beach, FL in the 60's!!!!
3 months ago ·
jkaye731 says:
I like the cottage look with a bit of a twist, I know my husband would be comfortable with that style also.
3 months ago ·
Not sure about the "cottage" style. Being English,ours is a bit different. Nice enough though. I can explain the differences but it would take sooo long...
3 months ago ·
I love the casual look of 'Cottage' but what about 'Rustic'? I live in a log house and none of these styles can totally work so I have used a combination of styles incorporating the log walls, wood floors and open concept.
3 months ago ·
Neil, please do share! I'd be fascinated to hear. Lovestocook - we've got an ideabook on rustic style planned for the future. Keep your eyes peeled.
3 months ago ·
I love love love cottage style
3 months ago ·
Thank you Lisa for "typing" me! I live in a very rustic log cabin perched on top of a mountain and since the first day I moved in I have been trying find a way to transition my log home to feel more like a cottage instead of a barn.
3 months ago ·
Cindy, keep us posted on how it goes. It would be fun to see the way you transform it!
3 months ago ·
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