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6 English cottage décor ideas you will want to try asap

June 26, 2022 by Catherine Leave a Comment

Collaborative post

The pandemic has made rural life more attractive for many people in the UK, but the urge to move to the country goes back a long way.

In the late Victorian period, the Industrial Revolution led many Britons to abandon cities in favour of quaint cottages situated amidst beautiful green scenery.

House & Garden insists that cottage-style interiors aren’t “restricted to cottages themselves though – anyone can bring a touch of this traditional design into their home”. Here are a few ways you can embrace English cottage décor in your own home.

muddy wellies

Add a mudroom

English cottages are often located on working farms or out in the countryside. As a result, many people who live in these cottages need somewhere to deposit grit and grime as well as leave boots, gloves and hats when entering the house. 

Better Homes & Gardens shows how a mudroom at your home could be fitted out, adding: “This durable, rugged slate and long, trough-style sink look just as handsome indoors as they do outside.”

English cottage décor - flowers in an enamel vase

Decorate a kitchen as though it’s a patio

For this English cottage décor hack, simply display items intended for the patio in your kitchen instead.

For example, a weathered set of table and chairs could serve as the centrepiece, while fresh flowers and even a crystal chandelier can provide eye-catching flourishes.

English cottage décor - living room with white wooden bookcase

Resist painting over scraped surfaces

The aesthetic imperfections of cottages are key to their charm. So, if your home currently has a few painted fittings and other pieces that are less than perfect, you don’t necessarily need to panic. 

As well as helping you to embrace the English cottage vibe, a less showy home can also come across as a more welcoming one, and make visitors feel more at ease.

English cottage décor - window shutters

Use shutters instead of curtains

Window shutters are another easy way to add a touch of English cottage décor to your home. Traditionally, shutters have been used to control sunlight as well as protect interiors from harsh weather. Shutters are also a good choice for rooms that could benefit from extra privacy. 

You can even install shutters in a relatively compact room. John Banta, a senior test project leader at Consumer Reports, claims that a brushless drill like a Makita Combi Drill Brushless would enable you to get into such spaces without compromising on drill power.

flowers in a vase on a wooden stool

Add cottage-style storage containers

Good examples of these would include jars, bowls and bins – none of which have to look perfect or all match exactly. These storage options would be especially well-suited to craft rooms and sewing spaces.

There are many different places you could shop for cottage-style accessories. Flea markets and thrift shops are great options to get you started.

blue sofa with side table

Place slipcovers over mismatched furniture to unify them

Not only are slipcovers in keeping with the cottage style, they are also wonderfully convenient for making sure a range of disparate furniture pieces work well together.

When time is especially tight, slipcovers can also be used to conceal worn or stained upholstery. Using slipcovers is an easy way to protect heirloom pieces from incurring damage too.

Have you embraced English cottage décor in your home?

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Love English cottage décor, but not sure how to embrace it in your home?  Here are a few simple ways to get that cottage vibe.
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Filed Under: Interior Design Tips Tagged With: cottage, Home, home accessories, Interior Design, Interior trends, Interiors

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Hi, I’m Catherine. Welcome to Growing Family, a top UK home & garden blog sharing ideas, inspiration and tips for making the most of busy family life, indoors and out.
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