The Ultimate Guide to Country-Cottage Style: Country Decorating Ideas
Learn the key elements of this easygoing and homey style.
(Shop this image: white decorative plates, white sofas, round white farmhouse coffee tables, and ivory and cream faux fur rugs.)
The country-cottage home design embodies the sweet simplicity of the American countryside. Despite its bygone influences, this quaint, unpretentious style is becoming more and more popular as a trendy decorating method. Cheery and down-to-earth, the style places function over form and comfort over modernity with an emphasis on well-loved furniture, vintage-inspired patterns, and upcycled items. In this guide, we'll help you familiarize yourself with country decorating ideas so you can make this style your own.
Tip!
Farmhouse style is a slightly more elegant take on country-cottage style. Learn more about farmhouse style and what sets it apart by reading The Ultimate Guide to Farmhouse Decorating Ideas.
Country-Cottage Decorating Basics
The Architecture of a Country-Cottage Home
Country-Cottage Color Palette
Classic Country-Cottage Patterns & Textiles
Country-Cottage Wood Accents
Country-Cottage Lighting
Iconic Country-Cottage Elements
Country-Cottage Decorating Basics
- Color palettes featuring white, cream, light gray, and a rainbow of pastels.
- Cozy and easygoing textiles, like flannel, cotton, and linen.
- Homey patterns, like gingham, florals, and ticking stripes.
- Distressed, worn, or painted furniture and fixtures.
- Sun-drenched, airy spaces that bring the outdoors in.
- Original or reclaimed wide-plank wood flooring.
- Upcycled or vintage-inspired decor that pays homage to farm life.
The Architecture of a Country-Cottage Home
Country cottages are historically small, cozy, and well-loved homes. These quaint spaces may not have cathedral ceilings, but they certainly have their own special charm. Though originally a cost-effective measure, exposed beams, mismatched large-plank wood flooring, and wood shiplap walls are now cottage-country essentials.
Country-cottage homes also tend to have an enclosed patio space or sunroom in the front or back of the house. Exceptionally bright and comfortable, these spaces are perfect for sitting and enjoying a cup of coffee or tea while you observe the world around you. They also make great gathering spaces for friends and family.
Another staple of a country-cottage home is a fireplace. Whether they're surrounded by painted wood paneling or exposed brick, these hearths characterize country-cottage living spaces.
(Shop this image: green striped throw pillows, jute area rugs, farmhouse coffee table sets, and metal storage baskets.)
One of the key characteristics of cottage style is airiness; despite their sturdy furniture and plush textiles, country-cottage rooms always look and feel bright and airy. Light neutrals (white, cream, and warm grays) reflect the bright natural light that streams into country-cottage spaces from their plentiful windows. White or cream walls create the perfect neutral backdrop in country-cottage spaces.
Pastel hues – mostly greens, pinks, yellows, and blues – maintain the room's lightness while adding just a splash of color. Color is most often found on accent decor rather than the main furniture. Concentrated colors, including sunflower yellow and cherry red, can be used sparingly on patterned decor or select pieces you'd like to highlight.
Classic Country-Cottage Patterns & Textiles
(Shop this image: country King Louis dining chairs, rectangular double-pedestal dining tables, ivory and cream linen curtains, and single pendant lighting.)
When choosing textiles for your country-cottage home, try to choose simple materials that have a decorative flair. You can never go wrong with cotton or linen fabrics for curtains, upholstery, or bedding.
Traditional patterns – such as gingham, ticking stripes, toile, florals, and plaids – add color and personality to country-cottage homes. When choosing patterns to decorate a country-cottage home, there's no need to avoid clashing; mismatched patterns can be combined endlessly to create a space that feels lived-in and loved. When combining patterns, try to vary the scale (size of the pattern) and maintain a relatively consistent color palette for easy mixing and matching.
When using simpler textiles without much color, look for subtle embellishments that will maintain your country-cottage home's quaintness. Think lacey edges, swooping stitching, embroidered eyelets, and ruffles.
Don't forget to use plenty of cozy quilts and throws!
Tip!
Looking for a foolproof pattern combination? Try a large-scale floral pattern and a smaller ticking stripe. We promise it'll do the trick!
Country-Cottage Wood Accents
(Shop this image: wood farmhouse dining sets, dome pendant lighting, clay and terracotta indoor planters, and ivory striped cloth napkins.)
Wood furniture and decor are a cornerstone of the country-cottage style, as they impart natural warmth into a space. You'll find warm, blonde-hued wood throughout country-cottage homes, whether in the large, family-sized farmhouse dining table or the salvaged pine floors.
In this style, wood is often stained to allow the natural grain to show through. Another popular treatment is painted and distressed wood, commonly found on accent tables, dining chairs, and dressers.
Country-Cottage Lighting
Dark metal pendant lights are fixtures of country-cottage dining areas. If you have a larger dining table, opt for two pendant lights or replace the pendant with a larger chandelier in the same material.
Throughout the rest of the home, try to keep light fixtures simple and task-oriented. For example, install a sconce or two beside the bathroom mirror, and keep a quaint lamp on your bedside table for reading. Candles are a must-have, especially on candlesticks. If you want to go all in with country-cottage authenticity, try to avoid installing any flush-mount or recessed lighting in your home. As with most country-cottage elements, look for vintage-inspired light fixtures that could have been installed in a country-cottage home decades ago.
(Shop this image: country wood rocking chairs, gray curtains, faux hydrangeas, and wildflower wall art.)
Wood Rocking Chair: There's nothing more quintessentially country-cottage than a wood rocking chair.
This classic piece exemplifies the easygoing, rock-your-days-away appeal of cottage-country style. A rocking chair will fit almost anywhere, from a welcoming front porch to the main living space to a cozy bedroom. Toss a blanket and some patterned throw pillows onto the chair for comfort, and set up an end table next to it for some sweet tea and a good read.
Display Hutch: When you think of a country-cottage dining space, you should also think of a display hutch proudly exhibiting all of your home's finest china. There's no better place for a slightly distressed china cabinet holding antique dinnerware than a country-cottage home.
Vintage-Inspired Decor: A country-cottage home isn't complete without a set of signature, vintage-inspired pieces of accent decor. Think farmstand signs hung on the walls, worn watering cans reused as flower vases, and wicker baskets, old metal buckets, and wooden crates used as storage containers. Decorating a country-cottage home provides you with the perfect opportunity to explore antique stores and thrift for well-loved elements you can give a new home.
