The secret to achieving a country cottage styled interior is to have as many natural furnishings and fixtures as possible! Quintessentially English country cottage styles have an abundance of floral materials, gingham checks which create a cosy, friendly atmosphere!
By rights to qualify as a cottage a home has to have a door in the front room behind which is the stairs to the bedrooms! Many people say they live in a cottage however, unless their home has this explicit feature it can only be called ‘cottage style’!
Floral curtains are perfect in country cottage styled homes
Ready made curtains with a floral theme are a must within a cottage style home, opt for styles which have coordinating tie-backs and cushions to bring cohesion and balance to the room. Curtains should be hung from wooden curtain poles with a traditional ball end finials. Soft pastel colours are perfect, combined with as many natural wood furnishings as fit comfortably within the room without overcrowding.
Wood flooring is also a good option, if you don’t have floor boards which can be stripped back and varnished, laminate flooring is a great alternative which can look equally at home within the cottage style of your interior. Always have fresh flowers displayed in pretty porcelain or china vases. Keep the flowers to those which grow naturally in a cottage garden if you want to really create a cottage feel within your home. Quirky objects such white enamel basin and jugs can be found inexpensively and can really add to the authenticity of a cottage style.
Display pretty patterned plates on pine dressers in the kitchen or dining room. Pine table and chairs with gingham fabric seat pads look right at home with this style. The latest trend of not having a completely fitted kitchen sits very well with the country cottage style. Use fabric to replace doors on floor standing cupboards and whilst this interior design style is not cluttered and overly fussy you have to get the balance right between having items or display which are in keeping with the theme and not ending up with a overcrowded jumbled mess!
Traditional cottages are not large houses, they are small and compact with the kitchen being the hub of the home. Today’s modern living may not suit wood stoves, ranges for cooking and open fires in the front room, but the look can still be achieved successfully in modern homes if you remember, floral ready made curtains, chintz cushions, natural wood such as pine curtain poles and pretty items on display!
