2013-07-12

Cottage Inspired home design

Soft, delicate and cozy. These are the key words to remember if you wish to bring a cottage-inspired look to your home.

Indeed, no matter how large your house is, you can very easily bring a rustic, cottage-like look to it, just by following a few simple steps.

Blend natural tones with pastels

The one distinct quality of a cottage is the amazing blend of natural hues with pastel colors. So, stay away from vivid and bold shades such as red, black, green and the likes. Instead, don’t hesitate to decorate your home in varying tones of pale pink, ecru, ivory, lavender, blue, yellow, brown and white.

Bear in mind that your choice of colors should give a soft, almost dreamy look to the house. If you want to combine several shades, go for a palette that will inspire calmness and tranquility. For instance, the blend of white and pink is a firm favorite among cottage owners.

However, to avoid a washed out look, try not to do the entire room in one single color. For instance, if the walls are white, you can go for blue curtains and an ecru or brown floor.

Delicate, romantic fabrics

Silk and other such fabrics don’t really have a place in a cottage-inspired home design. Instead, it’s best to go for soft and delicate ones such as Lace, Linen, Egyptian cotton, Tissue, Crepe, Brocade, Linen and Georgette.

It is actually recommended to use such fabrics, not only for your window treatments, but also for throws, pillow and cushion cases, upholstery, and the likes. Such accents will immediately add a fresh and romantic feel to your home.

Lighting and accents

Like the fabrics, your lighting should be quite soft. So, steer clear of fluorescent and halogen lights in favor of yellow-tinted ones. A rustic-looking chandelier, for example, would instantly take your living room décor to the next level.

Other lighting options include candle-shaped wall sconces, table lamps and pendant lights. And of course, a natural stone fireplace will also bring a cottage-like feel to your house.

As for the accents, don’t hesitate to splurge on some crystal and glass items such as vases, decorative ornaments and sculptures. If you’re on a tight budget, you can always embellish your cottage-inspired décor with some homemade items such as crochet throws.

Don’t forget that fresh, colorful bouquets of flowers are excellent additions to any home. For a more pronounced cottage look, place them in colored glass vases.

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