22 Cottage Decorating Ideas to Add Cozy Character to Any Room

Cottage style is a classic, relaxed choice that will stand the test of time and be welcoming and comfortable.

cottage style bedroom checked bedspread
Photo: Brian McWeeney

Embrace casual comforts and simple charms with cottage decorating ideas. Infuse your home with the quaint character with these cottage decorating ideas. Soft colors, natural textures, and cozy accents make any space feel like a homey cottage. Use these examples to get suggestions for displaying treasured collections, piling on pillows and throw blankets, and adding flea-market artwork and other vintage decor. Install wainscoting or beaded board for cottage-style texture on walls, painted white to contrast with color-infused walls, whether traditional pastels or brighter hues, which adds a contemporary twist to cottage design.

Cottage decorating ideas aim to make a space welcoming and easy-going for an atmosphere where family and friends always feel right at home.

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Cottage Living Room

Sofa and chairs around table in living room
Adam Albright

Incorporate cottage decorating ideas that combine comfort with practicality. In this living room, slipcovers reflect the easy-living attitude crucial to cottage style. Sewn from affordable cotton or canvas, most slipcovers are easy to put on and take off to wash.

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Collected Cottage Decor

bedroom butterfly portrait pillows
Joyelle West

Mix patterns, textures, and colors to create a collected look. In this cottage bedroom, a pile of pillows in various prints and fabrics feels cohesive, thanks to a consistent color palette. The neutral hues and hints of red and green are pulled from the butterfly art above the bed.

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Cottage Antiques

cottage dining room by windows
John Bessler

Antique finds blend easily with cottage decorating ideas. Outfitted with flea-market chairs and a weathered wood table, this breakfast nook boasts old-fashioned charm. Seat cushions and pillows introduce subtle patterns and extra comfort to the cozy dining area.

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Cottage Color Schemes

bright red living room
Joyelle West

Cottages are often filled with soft neutrals and pastels, but bolder hues can also have a place in cottage decorating ideas and color schemes. Bright red walls and trim bring unexpected color to this casual living room. Collected artwork, slipcovered furniture, and a textured woven rug reinforce the cottage charm.

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Beaded Board Walls

black white farmhouse bedroom buffalo check wall panels
Christina Schmidhofer

Beaded board is a popular element in cottage-style homes. The grooved wall treatment instantly cozies up bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, and more. Look for faux beaded board at local home improvement stores for a low-cost, easy-to-install option.

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Cottage Kitchen Ideas

kitchen with white cabinets with wood top
Brie Williams

A variety of textures bring visual interest to simple cottage decorating ideas. In this cottage kitchen, shiplap, beaded board, and tile add dimension to the walls, while wood floors and butcherblock countertops introduce a natural element. Open shelves provide display space for antique finds and everyday dishware.

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Cottage-Style Furniture

vintage painted light pink dresser dormer bedroom snake plant
John Bessler

Furniture with worn, chipping paint is a classic cottage decorating idea that adds a feeling of age and history. Search antique stores and flea markets for pieces with patina. Or paint furniture and rough it up with sandpaper for a time-worn finish.

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Cottage Sunroom

four seasons room tile floor
Amy Mazzenga

Simple furnishings and cozy accessories make this cottage sunroom an inviting spot to relax. Two cushioned armchairs and a slipcovered sofa cozy up to a coffee table crafted from an old washboard. Rugged brick walls and slate tiles in a herringbone pattern are cottage decorating ideas that add a sense of history to a space.

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Cottage-Style Patterns

cottage style bedroom checked bedspread
Brian McWeeney

Select fabrics in pretty patterns for a quaint cottage decorating idea. Buffalo check, florals, stripes, plaids, and dotted prints all suit cottage homes. This bedroom layers several patterns over a foundation of shiplap walls and knotty wood floors for an effect filled with character.

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Cottage Bathroom Ideas

bathroom wall with stenciled art
Kim Cornelison

Install wainscoting to wrap a cottage-style bathroom with charm. Here, a bright white board-and-batten treatment provides a restful counterpoint to the colorful pattern on the upper walls. Try painting the millwork in a vibrant hue pulled from wallpaper for a more daring look.

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Cottage Light Fixtures

white farmhouse dining wood candelabra plate display
Nathan Schroder

Chandeliers add a romantic focal point to cottage-style rooms. This wooden candelabra fixture ties in with the rustic feel of this dining room, which boasts an antique table and mismatched chairs. Opt for a fixture with delicate crystals or strands of wood beads for a daintier look.

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Classic Cottage Floors

bedroom fur rug blue bedspread
Edmund Barr

Hardwood floors provide a versatile foundation for cottage decorating ideas. This easy-care surface offers warm wood tones that pair well with soft fabrics and subdued color schemes. Leave the floors bare in warmer weather and layer on rugs when the temperatures dip.

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Cottage Bedroom Decor

metal bed with blue bedspread
Keller and Keller Photography

Introduce cottage character to any home with style-appropriate furniture. Here, a classic wrought-iron bed frame and an antique nightstand add a sense of age to this bedroom. Lots of pillows and a textured coverlet dress the bed with cottage style.

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Modern Cottage Style

white a frame living room
Edmund Barr

Put a fresh twist on cottage decorating ideas with modern furniture and pared-down decor. Layered area rugs, pillows in various patterns, and collected accessories establish a cottage feel in this living room, but the vaulted ceilings and streamlined furniture freshen the look. The striped area rug repeats the straight lines of the wall paneling and ceiling beams for eye-pleasing continuity.

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Cottage-Style Collections

vintage dinnerware plates
Courtney Apple

Collections are a key element of cottage style. For a curated display, sort treasures by type, size, or color, and arrange like items together. Here, antique dishes and silver serveware are carefully arranged in glass-front cabinets, which both showcase and protect the impressive collection.

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Cottage Storage Ideas

Wooden bench wicker baskets pillows
Jason Donnelly

Baskets can introduce casual style and cottage-inspired storage to any room. Use baskets to corral shoes, hats, scarves, and other accessories near the door in an entryway. Choose a variety of baskets woven from different materials for added texture and interest.

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Cottage Furniture Arrangements

white living room wood beams
Edmund Barr

Cottage decorating ideas make rooms inviting so you settle in and stay awhile. Emphasize that mood with furniture arrangements that encourage relaxation and conversation. In this seating area, four slip-covered chairs surround a small coffee table, creating a comfy spot to chat with family members or guests.

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Relaxing Cottage Bathroom

Curtain over bathtub in bathroom
Adam Albright

Claw-foot tubs offer instant cottage style in the bathroom. Here, beaded-board ceilings and penny tile floors complement this vintage bathtub. Scour salvage and antique stores in your area to find an old-fashioned tub.

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Wicker Furniture

living room with wicker chairs red white blue decor
Dana Gallagher

Wicker furniture isn't just for the outdoors. Bring the feel of the porch inside with woven rattan chairs, accent tables, and more. Leave the wicker unpainted to let the natural texture shine, or cover the piece with spray paint for a colorful twist.

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Salvaged Cottage Decor

white bedroom with canopy
Kim Cornelison 

Architectural fragments, such as old mantels, windows, corbels, brackets, and molding, bring aged cottage elements into a new home. Look for vintage pieces at flea markets and antique shops, and consider creative ways to display your finds. In this bedroom, a salvaged half-arch window is mounted as art above the nightstand.

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Cottage-Style Wallpaper

blue buffalo check wallpaper
Werner Straube

Establish a homey feel with wallpaper in soft colors and charming patterns. Light blue buffalo-check wallpaper wraps this living room in cottage-style character. Outfitted with vintage wall art and an antique rug, the room feels fresh, not stuffy, thanks to a subdued color palette.

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Cottage Furniture Refresh

plate display vintage cabinet
Gordon Beall

Dress up a simple piece of furniture with this cottage decorating idea. Adding cut-glass knobs freshened this dated sideboard. Look for new or vintage knobs at flea markets and garage sales, or consider painting the piece's existing hardware for a quick refresh.

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