Fresh Natural Cottage-Style Decoration

Cottage decorating is simple, fresh, and fascinating. Decorating with the concept of natural freshness. Add cottage-style coziness throughout your home with these fresh and simple decorating ideas from top designers…

Fresh Cottage-Style Kitchen

A vintage, three-tiered wire cupcake stand now holds fruit, tea and other kitchen supplies. Extra space to waste; two open shelves were added to the small side wall to display milky-white, vintage dishware for additional cottage-style appeal.

Pine Boards as Natural Elements

One of the most charming aspects of cottage living is its natural, simplistic and bare-boned style. Rather than cover the small guesthouse walls in artwork, designer Sarah Richardson wanted to showcase the architectural beauty of the salvaged pine boards on their own. The little imperfections and discolorations of the boards create an earthy, distressed look that provides the perfect backdrop to the crisp, white headboard and nightstand.

If It’s Not Cozy, It’s Not Cottage

As soon as you walk into a cottage-style home, you should feel right at home. The neutral color palette and natural materials should instantly rejuvenate your senses. The space should look and feel comfortable, easy and livable. Throw a cozy slipcover on the sofa and add plenty of throw pillows for comfort. Favorite materials include linen, burlap and wool. Image courtesy of Melaine Thompson

The Power of a Sanding Block

One of the key elements to cottage-style decor is distressed and weathered furnishings. Although scouring flea markets, yard sales, thrift stores, estate sales and auctions to find a stunning piece of furniture for an amazing price may be exciting, don’t look over a piece you may already have right in front of you. The power of a sanding block can work wonders if you just want to rough up the edges a little and add some character and style. For a generations-old look, you’ll need a few more materials and a little more time, but the finished product is well worth the effort. Image courtesy of Layla Palmer

Cottage Dining Room: Opposites (Always) Attract

Everyone knows the saying: opposites attract. The same is true in decor, too. You should always achieve some sort of balance by marrying opposites, whether it’s glossy and muted or contemporary and antique. Designer Sarah Richardson wanted to interrupt the mix of traditional and well-dressed dishware, fixtures and furnishings in this country-cottage dining room by surrounding the table with ultra-casual, rustic wicker chairs. The space feels how a cottage space should — perfectly at ease but always beautiful.

White Cottage-Style Living

A mix of oyster shell, taupe and gray make for the perfect color palette for cottage-style living. When combined, these hues are fresh, natural and beautifully vibrant. Designer Brooke Giannetti added wood-beamed vaulted ceilings to further expand her already spacious master bedroom retreat. By sweeping a soft, white coat of paint across the walls and ceilings, the room appears open and refreshed.

Colorful Debut

When that white-on-white color palette needs a shot of color, just add something small — nothing permanent or expensive. In this stunning bathroom mix of marble, mosaic tiling in various shades of white and gray, beadboard and porcelain, designer Sarah Richardson simply added a rustic grass-green chair in the corner. It adds a playful splash of color and breaks up the hard material elements.

Live by the Sea

Cottage Freestanding Bathtub

If your cottage is by the sea or if you just want to bring the sea to you, integrate beach elements into your home. Starfish, coral, seashells and sand all pull in the soft, neutral hues associated with tranquil cottage living. Design by Anissa Swanzy