Today I have a fun, favorite subject to share with you! How to add that cozy, charming English country cottage style to your home on a budget. Let’s cover twelve different ideas ranging from simple ideas to more involved projects, and in cost from inexpensive to more of an investment. Hopefully, this will provide some home decor ideas for everyone that can be added to your homes today!
Stacked Baskets:
Yep, no surprise, I’m starting with baskets. This is a category I’ve touched on before, but it bears revisiting, plus I have a new idea (at least new to me) on a creative, useful way to use them. When scrolling through Amanda Marie’s blog post on her favorite baskets she shared a fresh idea of buying oversized baskets with lids and stacking them. Not only do these larger baskets provide extra storage for pillows, throw blankets, and games, etc. But the baskets themselves can be used as end tables in your living room.
Floral drapes:
Recently Matt & I completed phase one of our living room makeover, which means that I’ve been looking at a lot of inspirational photos of English country style living room. In these spaces I’ve noticed that nearly every room has thick, luxurious floral drapes. I love this look! It gives the room softness, substance, and coziness as a background layer. I’ve been looking at drapes on Wallpaperdirect.com. For our space I’m looking at drapes with a medium blue (possibly a plaid), so we’ll see.
Faux beams:
One quintessential element of English cottage decor is actually architectural wooden beams. While most of us don’t live in true cottages we can add this decor element with faux beams. I’ve included two sources for you from a couple YouTubers. To create a faux wood beam you will enjoy Sarah’s tutorial from her channel Sarah’s October Home. For using real, reclaimed wood beams take a look at Andrea’s channel channel Pine & Prospect Home. She has a video and blog post on how to install wooden beams.
Books:
Books are another staple for getting that English cottage look in your home. To bring out the full potential of vintage or antique books, look for the leather, or linen hard-cover books with gold embossed lettering. When displaying these books consider limiting the color palette. I’m loving this display by Marion Parsons on her blog Miss Mustard Seed. The post is called “built-in shelf styling“. In the past I’ve used all our old books as a rich backdrop for our living room, and now I’m wanting to give this cleaner, more sophisticated look a go.
Antique clocks:
Another inspiring moment from Miss Mustard Seed is from the same room where she added an antique wall clock to her space. The dark wood finish against the lighter wall just added such a charming contrast with story to her living room. Her post is called Styling Living Room Shelves. I have been keeping an eye out for a similar clock in the antique shops and on Marketplace… because I’ve already got the perfect spot picked out for it!
Tongue and groove paneling: Rita Konig
This English cottage decor idea is one of those additions to your home that will be more of an investment. Tongue and groove is similar to ship lap and bead board that we’ve all heard so much about for the last ten years, but (to me) tongue and groove has a more substantial higher-end look to it. You can find tongue and groove at your local hardware store. This type of paneling is great for areas that typically take a beating, such as a boot room, entry way, or bathroom. Hilary from Old World Home has a tutorial on her channel sharing how she used V-Groove for a $50 backsplash in her kitchen. I love this idea and am saving it for a possible option for our kitchen makeover.
Fresh Flowers & House Plants
Another decor element I’m seeing in every cottage photograph is fresh flowers, or living house plants. The British love to bring the outdoors in and this results in a homey, comfy feeling that someone is tending the home, someone cares. Someone has to water the ivy, change the water on the bouquet. Just imagine how welcome you’d feel as a guest if you found a fresh bouquet of flowers on your bedside table? Or the feeling of life a simple ivy can bring to a bathroom. This seemingly simple item can have such a big impact.
Art
It probably doesn’t come as a suprise to you that I would include art as one of the classic elements for creating a charming cottage feeling. I wouldn’t be surprised if you were to see art in every room in a cottage ~ every the loo! The two larger pieces were thrifted for about $5 – $8 apiece. The largest one is an original watercolor from 1941 and the glass is wavy (which I love!). The print on the lower right has a vintage frame and a gold velvet mat. The small Asian looking piece is a hand-painted crane at sunset on silk with an antique frame. This unique piece was about $18.
Vintage or Antique Plates:
Using vintage or antique plates as decor is another form of artwork, but deserves it’s own section. There is so much variety in shape, color, and pattern that you will be able to find what ever you are looking for no matter what you your style or color palette is!
I’ve loved lining up decorative plates along the top of my kitchen cabinets to reflect the season, in pairs of three in the living room. currently, I’m considering arranging a trio over a window in our hall bath.
Umbrella stand:
This gorgeous and practical decor element is relatively new to me. I first started noticing these when studying my favorite English design books. I then looked them up online where I saw lovely varieties, but not the prices I wanted to pay. So I waited… Last summer at a flea market I found this one for $15! I’m really loving how the entry is coming together with all the layers. Now to find a few vintage walking sticks, canes, and umbrellas…
Throw pillows:
Comfort is king in a cottage so throw pillows are a natural fit. These three are a small part of my growing collection from the thrift store. The two large pillows are feather filled and were about $5 each. Again, there are so many shape, color, and pattern options that you can find the perfect style and color for your home. Or, you can buy the pillow for the feather insert and sew your own custom cover ~ I’ve done this as well.
Lamps:
And finally lamps. I now have a thing for lamps and every time I’m out shopping second-hand I tour the lamp aisle. It is amazing how many lamps a house can consume! In this corner of our kitchen I have thoroughly enjoyed having a warm glow to set the mood when cooking, or when the kitchen is closed. It makes me feel at home.
In Your Home:
I hope you have picked up an inspiring idea, or two, that you can use to add those cozy cottage layers to your home ~ today!
Thanks for dropping by and have a lovely day.
Warmly,
Rachel
Wonderful tips. I recently added a small lamp to my kitchen and am still amazed at the difference it makes. I love doing my nightly kitchen in the soft, warm, light. Again, thank you for all the great advice and examples!
How fun, Miss Lisa!
The same thing happened to me when I added a lamp to our kitchen. The warm glow is cozy and relaxing. I’m so glad to know you are enjoying yours! Thanks for sharing.