With many of us spending more and more time at home, it’s unsurprising that our interior design mindset is reminiscent of the days of yore, and beautiful English countryside cottages. The beauty of the cottagecore look is that you actually don’t need to have a period property. Every home, even a new build, can embrace elements of this enchanting, charming cottage look. Echoing classic and traditional home elements and creating cosy, homely spaces, we take a look at how you can add country cottage inspiration to your home.
1. Embrace earthy tones
Given the intrinsic rural setting of English country cottages, a great way to emulate the look is by using natural, earthy tones. Think russet browns, wheat yellows and gorgeous natural greens. Or even use greige stone tones as your neutral base. Decorating with earthy colours in the home not only fills us with a sense of ease and calm, but will also create a feeling of homely contentment. Worried you’ll get bogged down with these rich colours? Opt for lighter shades and add pops of colour to layer and brighten the space.
Brindle double wardrobe | @edwardian_home_renovation
2. Mix and match wood furniture
There’s certainly nothing pristine or overly coordinated about the cottage core look. It’s all about mixing and matching! In the same way that it centres on pattern-mingling maximalism, the cottage-inspired look relies on blending different styles of wood furniture. Opt for painted pieces and combine with natural oak accents. It’s likely that many of us who have collected different pieces over the years, have already welcomed the joy of mixing and matching furniture. So you’re already on the way to embracing variety! The cohesion you might be looking for comes into place with the rest of your decor. We love this painted furniture look, mixed with natural pieces and vintage accents.
Shay large dresser | Shay small sideboard | @ourlittlehome2017
3. Indulge in farmhouse silhouettes
Reflect the charm of the farmhouse with gorgeous, classic silhouettes. From traditional hallway units for the boot room, to beautiful country cottage kitchen dressers, weave the cottage vibe in your home through the shape and form of your furniture.
Shay large dresser | @shropshire_home
If you’re not looking to buy new pieces, think about how you can repurpose your existing furniture to create the look you want. Why not mock up your own ‘dresser’ using a beautiful sideboard and floating shelves? Fill with chintzy, floral crockery for the full cottage feel.
Canterbury large sideboard | @jessicacarmichaeljones
4. Live in full bloom
Perhaps the easiest element of the cottage look that we can all take inspiration from is the use of fresh flowers. As if freshly picked from the surrounding meadows, country cottage homes greet you with gorgeous floral delights in every corner. Fill your home with fresh, seasonal flowers across your main living spaces – particularly your kitchen, dining and living room areas.
Evie loveseat | @barn_owls_and_butterflies
If flowers aren’t your thing, you can reflect the botanical world through the use of house plants. Cottagecore and country-living is all about the feel-good atmosphere it creates. What better way to do that than create an indoor oasis? Whether hanging greenery, a window sill herb garden, or a huge potted plant, bring nature indoors for your cottage-inspired look.
St. Ives dining set | St. Ives 7-drawer chest | @our_life_at_number22
5. Be bold with botanical prints
Flowers don’t stop with bouquets in country cottage interiors. Wallpaper, art work, fabrics… cottage styling espouses chintzy looks and botanical prints. Go bold with beautifully bright floral wallpaper, and tone down with elegant, neutral painted furniture.
Brindle chest of drawers | @prettlylittlethingstomakeathome
If big and bold isn’t your thing, simply add flowery accents to your home through cushions, throws and paintings. We love the natural feel these blooms add to this classically styled living room.
6. Go wild with wood panelling
Panelling has certainly taken off over the past few years in the world of interiors. It’s a really easy way to update your home decor without breaking the bank. It’s also perfect for renters who want to revamp their rental styling, as it’s simple to take off of the walls when you come to move house. You can even do it yourself!
While it seems like a new trend, panelling has been around for centuries. A blend between country cottage and manor house, panelling takes us back to the 17th century. There are so many different styles to choose from – particularly with their new modern twists. We love this beautiful Georgian-style panelling in this cottage-inspired bedroom.
Shay bedside table | @athome_withwinston
You should now be ready to live the country cottage dream! We love to see how you style this look in your homes, so make sure to tag us on Instagram and use #OakFurnitureland.
