Cottage Style—Home Sweet Home

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Whether it's in the big city or the small town, we all need to slow down and relax a bit after a hard day's work. Cottage style brings that cozy, comfy feeling to your home and makes that moment to unwind even more inviting. Cottage style décor says casual and inviting. There isn't any real true décor to this style; most anything goes. Just follow the color scheme: a palette of pale colors, light greens, lavenders, peach, soft yellows and creams reminiscent of the beach. Here are a few more suggestions.

Furniture and accessories should create a sense of calm when entering a room. Weathered and aged finishes add texture to wood furniture and creams, whites, and touches of bright florals in accessories create that inviting, yet relaxing atmosphere. Look for recycled, flea market, garage sale pieces; nothing needs to match, but maintain your overall effect of charm and comfort.

Pieces can be painted or reupholstered to fit into the scheme you desire. Use vintage pieces that can be adapted to other uses. For instance, a piece of an iron fence could serve as a headboard or an old window frame with an outdoor print behind it can bring a bit of the country inside. The look here is old and loved. Use a "collected" look by choosing a coordinated variety of prints like florals, stripes, and plaids in upholstery, pillows, and even table cloths and table skirts. Slip covered furniture and throws are very popular in the cottage style and aids that relaxed, snuggle up feeling.

Floors in cottage style homes can be informal; bare wood is a good choice. Use vintage braided throw rugs, not wall-to-wall carpeting. If wall-to-wall is already installed and you don't want to or can't remove it, make the throw rugs the eye catcher.

Window treatments are informal here, too, with a look of light and airy. Use lace or sheers instead of heavy drapery or opaque panels. Valances can carry pattern schemes, and delicate florals or swags of lace over lace can give a soft look to your windows. For a sense of privacy, sheets can be incorporated as a drape, with sheers and sheets falling to the floor.

Lighting fixtures can be transformed when adapting collectibles into lamp parts. Turn a vase or a vintage tin into a one-of-a-kind table lamp. Kits can be purchased for this purpose and are easy to assemble. Visit that vintage shop in town and find a treasure trove of possibilities for a lamp base or shade transformation. Keep lighting soft, especially in the evenings when the need to unwind is the greatest.

Whatever the style of house you may have, you can bring in the cottage style to any room. Cottage style is easy to obtain, easy to live with and, though a bit on the frilly side. Simple touches that speak your personality will create that inviting, come home and relax feeling. Home Sweet Home.

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