The appeal of a coastal cottage is more significant than the presence of the most beautifull views that the cottage might enjoy. A person feels the appeal of such a cottage when they stand in the cottage and look at the pale walls in which the sunlight play, when they breathe the salt air that clings to the cottage’s objects, and when they enter the cottage and feel that the cottage slows down time for the person who enters its threshold. Whether the cottage is located in the windswept hills of New England or in the sandy keys of Florida, the correct decor for a coastal cottage will transform that structure into a sanctuary for the person who live in the cottage.
Such a sanctuary is one that has been collected over the generations of the family that lives in the cottage, rather than one that was assembled over the course of a single weekend’s decorating spree. Thus, the decor of a coastal cottage should feature a balance between elements of comfort and restraint; too much comfort can transform the cottage into a kitschy space typical of a theme park. In order to decorate a coastal cottage appropriately, a person will need to acquire a small amount of knowledge regarding the type of cottage decor that will best feature in a cottage whose overall design is meant to feature a balance between comfort and restraint.
Too many nautical decor items will transform the cottage into a souvenir shop. Too little visual texture will create a feeling of flatness within the cottage. Each of the ideas that will be described will have stood the test of time within real coastal cottages for many decades.
Each of these ideas takes into account both the features of the landscape surrounding the cottage, as well as the features of the cottage’s inhabitants. Follow these ideas in order, and a person will successfully decorate there cottage.
Timeless Decor Ideas For Your Coastal Cottage
1. Weathered Wood Furnishings
One of the first decor items that a person should purchase and feature in their cottage is furnishings made of weathered wood.
Floors or walls finished in driftwood tones or pale oak will immediately create a coastal mood within the cottage. Painting the ceiling in a pale cloud gray will allow the cottage to feature beams of light that appear to continue upward into the cottage into the sky. This type of decor will create the foundation for the cottage, and will be an essential element in creating a relaxing retreat.
2. Natural Fiber Rugs
Following the foundation of weathered wood is the addition of rugs made of natural fibers. Jute, sisal or sea grass rugs will naturally provide a connection to the outdoors for the cottage. Additionally, these types of rugs are able to stand up to the wear that the cottage’s floors will recieve from the inhabitants with sandy feet and swimsuits.
For these reasons, it is recommended that the rugs feature a low pile such that both the inhabitants’ chairs will be able to move within the cottage, as well as to avoid the crumbs that may otherwise dissapears into the rug. These rugs will help to ensure that the cottage features the visual balance between comfort and restraint.
3. Worn Natural Textiles
In addition to rugs, textiles made of natural fabrics that have already been worn will add another layer of authenticity to the cottage.
For example, slipcovers made of linen for the sofas, curtains made of cotton that have been exposed to the outdoors, and quilts of faded blues and greens will all be comfortable for the inhabitants and will feature the natural look of worn textiles. One of the benefits of these textiles is that they will fade over time due to the sun’s exposure. Thus, after many years of use within the cottage, the textiles will appear with fade patterns that no store will be able to replicate.
Additionally, using textiles of different weights will allow, for example, a chunky knit throw to be placed on a smooth linen couch. This type of contrast will ensure that the cottage features a natural look rather than appearing staged and forcefully.
4. Sea Glass and Shell Collections
Another decor element that may be featured within the cottage are collections of sea glass or shells.
However, these items should be arranged in the cottage as sculpture items rather than as decorative clutter within the cottage. For example, a large clear glass cylinder may be filled with sea beach stones that the cottage’s owners collected while visiting the beach, and which may then be placed onto an end table within the cottage for others to admire the colors of the stones. An oversized conch shell may be featured on a mantle within the cottage rather than twenty small shells that is scattered throughout the cottage.
By using these items with restraint, the cottage will not become a decorative marine museum. Additionally, each of these items can be associated with stories from the cottage’s inhabitants by using them as decoration.
5. Muted Color Painted Furniture
Addition of furnishings painted in muted colors will provide additional personality to the cottage.
For instance, the dining room table may be painted in faded sage green, the nightstands may be coral, or the bench in the cottage may be finished in chalky blue. Additionally, the edges of the painted furniture should be sanded smooth after application of the paint. By doing so, the furnishings will exhibit characteristics of aged furniture rather than looking finished and manufactured.
This type of detail will ensure that the furniture appears to be a part of the cottage and not have been added to it relatively recently.
6. Coastal Plants
Beyond furnishings made of wood, another type of decor that can be incorporated into the cottage are plants. Plants that thrive in salty air, such as sea thrift, dune grass or rosemary arranged into a topiary can be featured throughout the cottage.
Not only will the plants naturally add a life to the cottage that static decor items cannot provide, but the plants will also allow the cottage’s inhabitants to enjoy the shifting shadows that the plants cast onto the cottage’s pale walls when the sun shines upon them. These shadows will be among the most easily seen by the inhabitants of the cottage during the day.
7. Cozy Ambient Lighting
Another important decision to make in the cottage are the choices regarding the lighting within each room.
For instance, overhead lighting may be replaced with table lamps and sconces that allow for a more even lighting within the cottage’s spaces. Additionally, a person may select a pendant light for the dining room that features an LED bulb that mimics the light from a candle, but without the flame that would be placed near the linen textiles within the cottage. Additionally, a floor lamp may be added to the living room that allows the individuals in the cottage to direct the light to where it is most desired by the individuals.
These lighting choices will help the cottage feel cozy during the evenings when the sun has dropped below the horizon.
8. Linen and Bamboo Window Treatments
In addition to the lighting choice within the cottage, the types of window treatments may be another item that a person decides upon when decorating the cottage. For example, roman shades made of linen or bamboo will allow the cottage to feature the view of the outdoors during the daytime hours.
When it is time to sleep, the roman shades may drop to create a sense of enclosure within the cottage. Additionally, sheer curtains that are made of the same fabrics as the roman shades can be hung on each side of the window within the cottage. These sheer curtains will allow the cottage to be exposed to the breeze that comes into the cottage, and will work to soften any hard edges that the cottage’s windows may have.
9. Breathable Furniture Arrangements
Beyond the furnishings within the cottage, an additional important choice to make within the cottage are the arrangements of the furniture within each room of the cottage. For instance, the sofas can be pushed away from the walls within the cottage to create areas within the room for the individuals to gather and converse with one another. These club chairs can be arranged to face a fireplace or a window seat.
Additionally, pathways can be left clear to the doors that exit the cottage and allow the inhabitants to exit the cottage and visit the outdoors. These types of arrangements will allow the cottage to feel as though it breathes with the tides that flow into the ocean, and will allow the inhabitants to easily move about within the cottage.
10. Ruthless Decor Editing
Another decision that a person should make in the cottage once the furnishings have been purchased are to ruthlessly edit the decor that has been acquired for the cottage.
For instance, once each of the furniture items, rugs, textiles, sea glass items, plants, and painted furniture has been purchased for the cottage, a person should enter the cottage with fresh eyes. During this stage, any decor that may appear to be trying too hard to decorate the cottage will be removed. By removing, for instance, one fewer pillow or one fewer decorative item from each room in the cottage, the cottage will appear to function more efficiently.
This empty space is another part of the cottage’s decor, and allows the inhabitants’ eyes to travel to the horizon line that is visible from the cottage’s windows. Finally, if a person follows each of these ideas, the cottage will feature decor that ensures that the cottage continues to work its quiet magic for the individuals that live within the cottage. Each of the suggestions will ensure that a person feels the appeal of a coastal cottage the moment that they enter the threshold of the cottage.
By following these ideas, each person can successfully decorate their cottage. Thus, each person should follow these suggestions, modify them according to the features of the shorelines where their cottage is located, and allow the cottage to share its own story over time. The best coastal cottages will always share their own stories over time.