There comes a point in everyone’s life when you are so completely ready to get away from it all. You start daydreaming about secluded cottages during work and spending your weekends trolling Airbnb when you should be cleaning. Well, imagine coming home to a cottage every day. Doesn’t that sound lovely?
There are certain things that most cottages have which you can easily add to your own home’s exterior. Take a look at these 10 tips for making your home look like the cottage everyone else daydreams about.
20 Easy Ways to Make Your Home Feel Like a Cottage
1. Front Door
Believe it or not, the front door you choose is important when you’re going for that cottage vibe. If you want your home to seem open and airy and welcoming, you’ll definitely want a front door with a large window. (via Our Town Plans)
2. Screen Door
Yes, we’re still talking about your front door because screen doors are the second piece to the puzzle. All cozy cottages have one. It lets the fresh air and birdsong inside while letting the smell of a delicious dinner and the sound of family laughter drift out. Bonus points if someone in your home plays the piano. (via On Sutton Place)
3. Porch Plants
While most English cottages leave off a front porch, many American cottages have them. Yay for more decorating space! Putting some greenery on your front porch is an easy styling addition and adds a homey feel. I recommend Boston ferns if your porch is shady. (via BHG)
4. Porch Seating
Doesn’t that look like just the place you want to curl up on Saturday afternoons? You can have that on your porch too with a wicker chair, some pillows, and a blanket. It will make the perfect place for a good book or a chat with a friend over two lemonade glasses. (via The Cottage Market)
5. Painted Trim
You’ll notice that so many cottages have their windows painted a complementing color besides white. Who knew that such a little bit of color would give a home so much charm and vintage feel. (via Mother Earth Living)
6. Shutters
Buy them. Build them. Whatever you do, put some shutters on that up and coming cottage of yours. It’s a simple way to add a lot of interest to your home’s exterior. (via House of Turquoise)
7. Window Boxes
You might think this is a different view of the picture above, but it’s not. Just goes to show that the most charming cottages have window boxes. You can plant flowers in front and herbs under your kitchen window. How’s that for a practical yet decorative tip? (via Kruse’s Workshop)
8. Climbing Plants
Ivy, roses, clematis, if it climbs, it will be good for the cottage feel of your home. It may take a year or two but the results are worth the wait. (via Country Living)
9. Stone Path
Stone is another important element in the cottage style. Most of our homes are not actually made of it, so we have to find other ways to incorporate it into our exterior decorating. A stone path serves for interest or even a stone edge to a flowerbed. (via BHG)
10. Flower Beds
Doesn’t that look like where you want to spend your vacation? Stone path, gorgeous flowers, cozy seating. Every cottage has a flower garden, big or small. So start cultivating your green thumb so you can make yours a garden to envy. (via Home On The Range)
11. Add Fairy Lights to Your Garden
The garden is so often neglected when thinking about changing the atmosphere of your home. Hanging a few strings of twinkling fairy lights over your patio or garden, as demonstrated by Gardening Etc, can create a cozy atmosphere for night-time outdoor gatherings. It will add more light to your garden, making it the perfect spot to enjoy a barbecue or a family dinner outside. It can also create a welcoming first impression for your home to make it have that approachable feel that’s typical of cottages.
12. Antique Knobs for Wall Hooks
Marc & Mandy shows us how to create this lovely project, which will add the perfect cottage-like touch to your entryway. Antique doorknobs can be added throughout your home, but they make a great wall hook for hanging coats and hats by your front door. Look for knobs that have floral or pastel patterns and colors, which you can then add to any dresser or room in your house. This is a simple way to spruce up your home décor without spending a fortune and can also bring new life to antiques that may otherwise be discarded.
13. A Breakfast Nook
Cottages make the most of every space they have, and a breakfast nook is an ideal way to recreate the feeling of being in a compact space. Hunker shows you how to make a DIY breakfast nook to fit in any space. To create the look and feel of a cottage, try to keep your colors light and bright, and maybe add some floral materials to the chairs. You don’t want the breakfast nook to be too bulky or dark, or it will detract from the overall aesthetic you are aiming for.
14. A Bright and Colorful Bedroom
Transform your bedroom into a fun and lively space by painting it bold and bright colors like this bedroom from Country Living. Even in the middle of winter, you’ll feel like it’s a lovely summer’s day, and it will boost your mood every morning when you wake up. The bright walls can be accompanied by a lively bedspread, which will add even more fun to your bedroom. If you don’t fancy using this design for your master bedroom, opt for a colorful guest bedroom instead.
15. Wooden Kitchen Decorations
As the heart of most homes, your kitchen should be a focal point when considering a cottage aesthetic. We love this wooden kitchen sign, which adds to the cozy atmosphere of your home. It will help to make even the most modern and large kitchens feel more homely, which is what a cottage is all about. You can create this project from The DIY Plan yourself or find a similar ready-made one to purchase online.
16. DIY Cottage Chic Desk
If you need to have a desk in your home for work, this DIY cottage chic desk from Marc & Mandy is both practical and beautiful. You won’t feel like adding a desk ruins the atmosphere you are trying to create, thanks to its small size and distressed look. Paint the desk any color you please to fit in with your home decor. We think this blue color looks fantastic on a small desk, and it can easily fit into any corner of your home or office.
17. Repurposed Window Photo Frame
I Am Momma Hear Me Roar shares the ideal DIY project for anyone looking to create a cottage-like feel in their home. These photo frames are made from old windows, so it’s a great project to recycle something that will otherwise be heading for the trash. These photo frames would look great in your living room or bedroom and will add a cozy feel to any corner of your home.
18. Add Beams to Your Home
Better Homes & Gardens shares this DIY idea for adding rustic wood beams into your home. They can make even the highest ceilings feel cozier and cottage-like. While this may seem like a huge undertaking, you’ll be surprised to learn the project is not as complex as you may think. You’ll use whitewood boards which are held together using nails and wood glue. After staining the wood, it will look just like reclaimed wood.
19. DIY Rope Baskets
While cottages often have a lot of ornaments and decorations, you’ll want somewhere to store books and magazines that may otherwise clutter up your home. We love these DIY rope baskets from Craftsy Hacks, which are so easy to make using a cardboard box. Alternatively, add baskets to your home, which can be used to store anything that’s cluttering up your space.
20. Decorative Seashell Bottles
When you think of cottages, the beach probably springs to mind. If you are looking to recreate that beachy and relaxed atmosphere in your home, why not add some decorative seashell bottles around your space. Crafts by Courtney shows us how to make this simple project that kids will love helping you with. All you’ll need to get started are some glass bottles of various shapes and sizes, sand, seashells, and a glue gun. These would look great on the windowsill in your living room or bedroom.
Conclusion
By following these ideas listed here today, you’ll be able to transform your home, so it feels like you are living in a cozy cottage. Regardless of the size and design of your current home, these little additions can be applied throughout your living room, kitchen, and bedrooms to create a warm and welcoming environment.
The cottage aesthetic can easily be created by recycling and reusing furniture, which can be painted or distressed to achieve your desired look and feel. When transforming your home into a cottage-like feel, don’t forget to add some simple touches to your garden. This often overlooked area of our home can create a welcoming first impression which will make your family feel like they are stepping into a cottage wherever you are in the world.
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