Cottage decor has the ability to turn any space into a place of escape. Even if the space is located in a busy suburban neighborhood or the city’s downtown area, cottage decor can help to create the feeling of a quiet escape. The style incorporate ideas from the different generations of the simple country lifestyle while also updating those ideas for today’s lifestyle.
Instead of incorporating element such as dried flowers or overly complicated floral patterns into the décor, a person can choose decorative elements that have a sense of having been collected over time. The reason that cottage décor continues to evolve with time is because of this idea of incorporating these collected elements. These elements keeps the décor of a cottage home feeling authentic and rooted in its original design.
Modern cottage homes can exist in any location. A person can make a variety of smart choices regarding the décor that will transform a space into an inviting area for a person to unwind. These ideas will have a large impact on a space with minimal guesswork regarding there implementation into a home.
Ways To Create A Modern Cottage Home
1. Soft Neutral Color Palette
One of the first choices that a person can make for their home is to choose a soft neutral color palette. Colors such as warm whites, oatmeals, and taupes are some of the best choices for a modern cottage home. These colors will allow for other décor elements to stand out from the rest of the space without the décor elements competing with the neutral color palette of the home.
For instance, if a person chooses to paint the walls of a modern cottage in a cream color with a hint of gray, the existing trim on the walls will stand out. By providing a calm area within the décor, a person allows for the other décor in the house to take the spotlight. Another idea for modern cottage décor is to use a variety of textures within the space.
2. Variety of Textures
For instance, a person can use linen slipcovers for a deep sofa or loveseat, use a knit throw for an armchair, and use a jute rug to cover the hardwood floor. Additionally, using rattan baskets for decorative or storage purposes will add another organic element to the décor that does not force the décor to include elements such as a beach theme. By using various texture, a space will avoid looking too much like the same texture throughout the home while still maintaining that look of cohesion among the décor.
The combination of textures will provide a sense of comfort to the inhabitants of the home while still allowing the space to maintain its authentic look. Another décor idea for a modern cottage home is to incorporate vintage wooden décor items with clean, simple lines into the home. An example might be a farmhouse table or a hutch that dates back to the 1940s. These types of vintage items will add a sense of historical presence to the décor rather than the heaviness that comes with antique wooden furnishings.
3. Vintage Wooden Decor Items
By sanding down some of the more aged portions of these vintage furnishings, a person can introduce character to the items that new furniture will never provide. These vintage items can become the centerpiece of a décor arrangement in a room. In contrast, a more modern cottage home décor that features intricate and ornate Victorian carvings will compete with other decorative elements in the space.
An idea that a person can employ in the décor of a modern cottage home is to include an abundance of greenery and floral décor items in the home. Some of the best flowers to include in modern cottage décor are roses, hydrangeas, and eucalyptus. These flowers can be displayed in a variety of containers such as vintage pitchers or stoneware crocks.
4. Abundance of Greenery and Floral Decor
Additionally, plants of various heights will not only add life to the modern cottage décor but also will positively impact the feeling of the décor throughout a gray afternoon. Another topic to discuss in the décor of a modern cottage home is that of the lighting in the space. A person can replace any builder-grade lighting choices with a variety of lighting options.
5. Layered Lighting Options
Table lamps, sconces, and chandeliers of a variety of shapes and designs can all be implemented into a modern cottage décor. The various shades of light will create areas of intimacy throughout the décor that are perfect for spending time with others or alone. Dimmers on each of the lighting fixtures is another choice for modern cottage décor because cottage décor is about the mood of the space as well as the items in the area.
Another idea for modern cottage décor is to incorporate textiles that have some pattern to them into the décor. For instance, a person can use pillows with ticking stripe patterns on a sofa, use a floral roman shade in the kitchen, or use a geometric rug in the mudroom. The trick in using these textiles with patterns is to use a variety of textiles so that no two patterns compete with one another with there placement in the décor.
6. Patterned Textiles
Additionally, each of these textiles can include the same soft color that is used in the color palette of the modern cottage to allow the eye to recognize a sense of harmony within the space rather than the chaos that might be created with contrasting colors. Open shelving in the kitchen or dining area is another décor idea that can be employed in the modern cottage. A person can use simple white ironstone shelves, a few pieces of colored Depression glass, and handmade pottery on the shelves for the kitchen area.
7. Open Shelving
Placing these pieces of décor into the kitchen will transform the mundane tasks of cooking into small pleasures. To ensure that the shelving area does not appear overcrowded, a person must make certain that the items on the shelves is curated to include only the best items. Including negative space in the area will prevent the area from looking kitschy.
Architectural salvage can be another idea that is included in modern cottage décor. An old wooden door could be transformed into a coffee table. The corbels on the walls could be used to create shelf brackets for items on a shelf.
8. Architectural Salvage
Additionally, a section of the beadboard on the wall could be placed behind the vanity in the bathroom. These architectural items will provide depth to the home décor while also adding to the historical nature of a modern cottage. Additionally, these items should be used sparingly so that they appear to be special rather than numerous items that decorate the same area.
A few well-placed items will transform the décor of an entire area of the home. In terms of furnishings, a person should choose comfortable seating in a modern cottage décor to encourage people to converse with each other in the space. For example, a pair of club chairs and a low table placed between the two chairs will encourage people to linger in a space.
9. Comfortable Seating
The chairs should have deep seats that allow for people to feel relaxed with the back of the seat allowing for proper relaxation of the body. Additionally, slipcovers in fabrics that can handle everyday use will ensure that a person will feel comfortable within their home. Modern cottage décor can feature linen curtains that puddle on the floor or panels that only cover the lower portion of the window in the space.
Wooden blinds and woven shades can be used to provide privacy to those who need it in the décor. However, these blinds or shades can be completely rolled up on the sides to maintain the connection of the décor to the outside view of the modern cottage. These choices for window treatments should avoid the use of heavy drapes with elaborate valances.
Art for modern cottage homes features the inclusion of original art pieces that the residents of the home have collected throughout time. Some of the items can include oil paintings of landscapes and botanical art as well as the childrens art that has been created in the years. Alternatively, one large abstract painting can be used in the décor of a modern cottage home.
10. Original Art Pieces
Each of the art pieces should be hung at eye level in the areas where the individuals actually spend most of their time in the house. Each of these pieces of art should have a story behind them when asked of the individual who owns the décor of there modern cottage. Some of the small objects that can be incorporated into the décor of a modern cottage include a wooden cutting board, books on a table, and a pitcher that contains wooden spoons.
These objects may seem small but they contribute to the décor of the home as a whole. Each object has a purpose and a story behind its creation so that the entire décor of the cottage appears authentic rather than being artificially decorated. This sense of authenticity in the décor of the cottage is what makes the modern cottage décor style so enduring over time.
A person can begin with any portion of the home that bothers a person the most. For instance, a person can change a harsh overhead light for a lamp fixture or use a linen throw on a chair. Even such small changes will lead to big changes in the décor of an entire home.
Eventually, a person will notice the changes that have taken place in the home. For instance, a person may notice how the light in the living room appears to change throughout the hours of the day. Additionally, a person may feel as if they have carved out a gentle refuge for themselves and there family in their home regardless of where the modern cottage style is located.
This feeling of a gentle refuge within the home is the real magic behind the modern cottage décor style.
