With a cult following of its own, the English Cottage Style has long transcended its geographic boundaries, becoming a favorite style of decorating for legions of design lovers worldwide. Yours truly included. Smaller in size and cozier that any other style of house, cottages can live large in the way we decorate them. Smart planning and making the best out of limited space are key. If you count yourself among the many fans of the English Cottage Style and would love to create a similar look in your home, below are ten design elements that I believe can help you do just that.
EMBRACE COLOR AND PATTERN
While cottages may vary in size and style, traditional English Cottages display color and pattern in abundance. Reds, pinks, yellows, blues and greens, florals, checks and paisleys are part of the decorating vocabulary and are often mixed and matched to charming results… Culture and climate have a great affect on the use of color palettes in decorating and having cheerful, brightly hued interiors is no doubt a good antidote to England’s notoriously gray skies.
However, even if you reside someplace where rainy days and cloudy skies are less frequent, or you simply prefer lighter color schemes, you can still achieve an English Cottage look by keeping an overall neutral base and adding color and pattern through accessories (art, pillows, blankets, window treatments, flowers). Experimenting with different schemes can be very satisfying and can lead to great results if done right.
COMFORTABLE SEATING
When we think about an English Cottage, most of us have visions of a roaring fire, deep, soft cushions and ample sofas for lounging, reading and relaxing. Therefore, an important thing to keep in mind when decorating with an English Cottage bend is to have plenty of comfortable seating available – chairs, sofas, ottomans.
SLIPCOVERS
Apart from being an English Cottage classic, slipcovers prolong the life of upholstery and are great for switching up the look of your home or for decorating seasonally. Cool, crisp cotton slipcovers feel fresh during the warmer months, while soft woven ones work great year round and are even better during the cold season.
ART
You’d be pressed to find an English Cottage that does not have art displayed copiously throughout. Regardless of a piece’s intrinsic value, what matters most in the English Cottage Style home is the mood and connection you have with the subject matter, so don’t worry if you don’t have a limitless budget to spring on Old Masters… English cottages are notorious for mixing high with low when it comes to art and displaying it either salon style or in grids. Oil portraits and Victorian silhouettes, landscapes, etchings, old maps, botanical and animal subjects… anything goes.
BOOKS
There is no easier or better way to add layers of English Cottage Stye to your existing décor than by piling up some of your favorite books conspicuously where you can see and page through them as often as you wish.
LOG BASKETS
If you are blessed with a functional fireplace, think about bringing in some beautifully worn pieces of firewood. Something about the warmth of natural elements, of wood and wicker combined, make log baskets instant “cozifiers”.
WALLPAPER
For many a thing of the past, wallpaper is in fact a great way to add instant charm to a room. The right pattern in the right scale and color scheme can visually open up a space making smaller rooms feel more expansive. While good papers are somewhat of a financial commitment, when used in the right dosage (small hallways, powder rooms, bedrooms), they can be a dramatic element in your English Cottage bag of tricks. Just something to keep in mind…
ANTIQUES AND BROWN FURNITURE
Incorporating family heirlooms, old furniture and antiques is essential to bringing character and warmth into your home. Pieces with patina create a sense of history that no big box store purchase can replicate.
AN UNCOORDINATED LOOK
One of the great things about decorating in the English cottage style is that rooms never look finished or “decorated” bur rather like they’ve evolved over time, along with their occupants. While the overall effect is still harmonious and extremely pleasant (hence the style’s appeal), nothing feels contrived or artificial. The different elements – textiles, furniture, paint colors, art and other accessories – go well together without being color-matched and coordinated to perfection. And sometimes, just like the pinch of salt that makes the sweet be even sweeter, there’s even room for something “ugly”…
A WELCOMING MOOD
In the end, decorating is all about telling a story, the story of who we are, of who we’d like to be, and mood is essential in getting our personal narratives across. In the English Cottage Style home the story we are telling is one of nostalgia and appreciation for the past, for the “simple things” in life, for color and art, for entertaining family and friends. Cottage living is all about creating cheerful and welcoming spaces where we can be happy, comfortable and authentic.
There are so many other elements that I’ve left out, elements that are unique to each and every one of us and how we home, so by no means is this an exhaustive list but rather a starting point in a decorating journey that will bring comfort and good times to many. Happy English Cottage decorating!
To see more of the beautiful homes featured in today’s post, make sure to check out the following Café Design stories:
The Cape Cod Style Cottage – America’s Fairytale Home
That brown striped slipcover is great!
Author
Thanks, Chris! Me too… I believe it’s from an old issue of Martha Stewart Living but I’m not sure… xo, Eva
Estate sales are great places to source character pieces & original artwork for much less than you’d pay in antique shops or galleries. This post has inspired me to cozy-up my home as Fall settles in.
Author
Thanks, Cindy! I am so glad to hear this post inspired you! xo, Eva
I am new to your site, but so glad I found it. I love all your posts and look forward to all the inspiration your provide. Thanks so much!
Author
Thank you so much, Lindy! Welcome to Café Design! xo, Eva
All beautiful but I would be interested in photo credits.
Author
Hi, Jo Ann! Thanks so much, I do have some credits for the design work but not for the actual photography. If you can help me with some, please don’t hesitate to let me know. xoxo, Eva
I highly recommend Ros Byam Shaw’s books as well as her Instagram. She lives in a stunning home and posts simple but very beautiful photos her home and environs. I live in the UK half of the year (Wales actually) and have the pleasure of visiting stately homes privately owned by friends as well as those open to the public. The thing I always notice is they have a lovely random factor to their decor as opposed to the typical American interior design style of evenly placed lamps, tables et al. Just my personal taste and observation.
A very nice choice of photos in your post.
Author
Hi, Nancy! Thank you so much for stopping by, for your sweet comment and the RBS reference! I do have one of her books and follow her Instagram – she’s such an inspiration! Her country home is amazing too, isn’t it? And I’m with you on the overly styled pictures with symmetrically placed lamps, chairs etc. Every country has those and the reason I think this look is so popular is because it is also easier to create than the collected look, that takes a lot of practice and experience to get right…
xo, Eva
Loved this post, Eva, and loved every image you included — perfect overview and very inspiring.
Author
Thank you so much, Linda! Enjoy the weekend!
xo, Eva
The words that come to mind when I think about English cottage style are cozy and layered. The style leaves pretense at the door and allows for all the patterns, colors, and collections that I adore. Rita Konig is a master at this style, as evidenced by several photos you included of her spaces. Have you heard about her interior design class on Create Academy? I finished it this week and highly recommend!
Author
Hi, Hollie! Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting. I LOVE Rita Konig’s work and practically devoured her course! Isn’t she great? The videos were so well made and intuitive, glad you enjoyed it too! xo, Eva
Lovely post,Eva. I always gravitate toward this style as it is so warm and inviting. Thank you for sharing so many beautiful images!
Author
Thank you, Susan!! xo, Eva
I’m a huge fan of the English cottage style. This post is great. Thank you.
Karen
Author
Thanks so much, Karen! Glad you enjoyed this post!! xo, Eva
I would love to see a Part 2 of some of the other English cottage decorating elements you mentioned. Along with more wonderful photos. I enjoyed this very much!
Author
Hi, Barbara! Thanks so much, I’m so glad you enjoyed this post!! I’ll do my best to put together a second part to this post in the near future! xo, Eva
This is a great post. I love English design and especially the way it uses color and pattern. Nothing has to match but it all goes. So cozy.
Author
Hi, Maureen! Thank you! And yes to what you just said, you’ve captured the heart of it! xo, Eva
English country cottage style is what I live for. It’s the look I try to achieve in my own home, with mixed results. But, it’s good to know that I’m incorporating the right elements. I’m going to scroll up now and devour these photos all over again … oh, and Pin them too!!! xo
You made some excellent points, I feel, on what I find very different between how we decorate our homes here in the states and how we decorate in the UK. We’re an anglo-American couple who has lived in both. While I need more natural light than I had in our UK homes, I’ve incorporated more practical elements into our US home such as drip trays for wellies at the door; deeper window sills to display fresh flowers no matter the weather; a wooden plate rack in my kitchen for my daily (mixed) china to stand in; and—what is probably unheard of here—much smaller appliances that don’t overwhelm my homey kitchen! The best of both worlds. 😊 🇺🇸 🇬🇧