10 Ways To: To create a Coastal Cottage style room

Cottage-style interiors have a happy informal vibe, they are airy and intimate at the same time.  From colorful weathered paint to warm stained wood, finishes are touchable rather than hands-off and only get better with age. 

 

Painted pieces, vintage accessories, and detailed trim with plenty of fresh white paint applied to walls, floors, furniture, and cabinetry. Classic details meet with modern silhouettes creating a lovely cottage feel. 

Along the way families deserted the living room at the front of the house in favor of conversational areas in and around the kitchen. More homeowners are looking for ways to turn their traditionally formal space into a more comfortable, inviting room. With these 10 design tips you can have a Coastal Cottage style of your own.

Laid back and comfy lightly striped chaises are inviting in this Cottage Living Room.

1. Mixing Furniture styles
 Mixing styles is one way to infuse cottage freshness into a room. By placing an old farmhouse table with modern pieces you are able to create a natural and collected cottage look.

2. Cottage Mirrors
Mirrors do much more than reproduce the view. They transfer the sparkle of sunlight to all corners of the room. In a small living room, expand the view and the light with a mirror that stretches from floor to ceiling. This Chic Coastal Cottage space has a beautiful soft tone to it with the white slipcover sofa, light grays, rustic woods and vintage mirrors.  

3. Cottage Cabinet Display

Display cabinets or shelves are a perfect way to show off your collections of white milk glass or bowls of sea glass. Gathering collections in a spare palette creates harmony which is key for a cottage vibe. In this sun room, a favorite china cabinet wears its original paint--white outside and sage green within. It's a soothing backdrop for a collection of white ironstone.

4. Cottage White with Textured Furnishings A palette of white-on-white for walls, woodwork, window shutters, and furniture ensures simplicity. Texture in the form of sisal rugs and wicker accents keeps the look interesting. 

 

5. Accent your personality

An assembly of home furnishings from different time periods will create an inviting, yet individual ambiance. Accent with old lamps, lanterns, clocks, or various beach finds on mantels and side tables to enhance your personal style.

 

6. Keep it Casual
Sun-faded slipcovers and worn plaid blankets give the room a "lived-in" look. 

7. Be an Individual

Mix and match dining chairs for an innovative and inexpensive way to gather around the table. A fun idea is for each family member to choose a chair that is his or her own style. They're sure to add character and whimsy to the room. 

 

8. Cottage Table Skirt The condition of the table doesn't matter when you skirt it to the floor with hardworking cotton canvas. In a small house, this trick makes room for storage as well. If the table is set only when company comes, turn it into a library table for day-to-day use.

 

 

9. Interior Cottage Garden Table Who says a garden table and chairs can't take up permanent residence inside? This vintage set looks relaxed and inviting in a small dining room. French faience and its English equivalent, ironstone, match the soft, off-white set.


10. Know Your Limits

Try to stick with a theme throughout the room. Start with shells you've collected on the beach or paint colors pulled from the ocean and incorporate them in furniture and accent pieces. 

Photo credits:

Cottage light blue and white Living Room

Cozy Cottage Living Room with new and old furnishings 

 Vintage mirrors over white slipcover sofa

 Cottage cabinet with white stoneware display

White on white Cottage Living Room with slipcover sofas and sisal area rug

White slipcover sofa with wicker and rattan accents

Casual Cottage Living Room with sun bleached slipcovers and blankets

Mixed chairs in Cottage Dining Room 

Cottage table skirt

Rattan bistro chairs and table in Cottage space

Blue and white color scheme design