Cottage Style Interiors: The Beauty of Cottages
There’s something so comforting about stepping into an English country cottage. Originally built with simplicity in mind, cottages have an inherent charm that’s impossible to resist, as they invite us to slow down and savour the beauty of the everyday.
The best cottage style interiors make the most of their traditional features – think low-ceilings, exposed beams, stone flagged floors, sloping ceilings and small windows. When you embrace these imperfections, you can create a space that feels deeply personal and full of warmth. Nothing needs to match, and that’s exactly the point!
Our team at Vanessa Arbuthnott are passionate about creating beautiful interiors that celebrate the beloved English cottage style. In today’s blog, we share our top country cottage interior design ideas and fabric recommendations, so you can transform your cottage into a charming countryside haven.
Country cottage interior design ideas by room
Cosy cottage living rooms
At the heart of any cosy cottage interior is the living room. We love combining rustic stone walls and timber beams with soft, tactile furnishings, like an upcycled vintage armchair or a handmade patchwork cushion. A woven wool rug adds texture and softness to the floors, making for the cosiest addition beside the fireplace.
Our nature-inspired fabrics are perfect for bringing colour and freshness to your kitchen and living space. Patterns like Dainty Daisy or Cow Parsley work beautifully as made to measure curtains or blinds to frame those country garden views. For armchairs, we recommend a soft fabric like Sunflower, decorated with some colourful contrasting scatter cushions.
Warm and welcoming cottage kitchens
It’s true what they say; the kitchen really is the heart of the home. In a country cottage, a kitchen should feel light and lived-in. We recommend painting your beams, ceilings, and walls in white or off-white to make the space feel open – think Hollyhock by Little Greene or Lime White by Farrow & Ball.
We like to keep the walls neutral and then add pops of colour in the form of vibrant printed tablecloths, napkins, and seat pads. Made to measure blinds from our Wild Garden Collection will sit beautifully above your kitchen sink, with a simple frilled sink skirt to add a nostalgic, handmade touch.
Dreamy cottage bedrooms
Cottage bedrooms are all about comfort. Adding some vibrant patterned fabrics can help to bring in colour and define the space. A colourful headboard, handmade quilt, or vintage eiderdown with a scattering of cushions can transform even the smallest of rooms. Our Forest Collection is ideal for cottage style bedrooms – Wild Fern and Lattice Leaf are some of our favourites – while our Bohemian Collection adds a romantic touch – we love the organic yet stylised patterns in Gypsy Garland.
We suggest keeping the wooden flooring in your cottage bedroom, but topping it with a simple colourful woven jute rug. Include some wooden painted furniture such as a simple bench or vintage trunk at the foot of your bed, and the look is complete!
Light and lovely cottage bathrooms
With painted wooden floors and deep freestanding baths, country cottage bathrooms have a lovely light and airy feel. Soft pinks and blues like our Sunflower in Soft Raspberry and Lattice Leaf in Lily Pink add warmth and charm to any cottage bathroom. Sink skirts, Roman blinds, or even a touch of ruffle here and there can make the space feel well lived-in and loved.
A modern take on cottage style interiors
Do you prefer a more modern look? Darker painted walls paired with brighter accents can still feel right at home in a country cottage setting. Chinese Blue from Farrow & Ball and French Grey from Little Greene are both timeless shades that offer a contemporary take on traditional cottage style designs.
You could then introduce some contrast with vibrant accents. Our Wild Fern fabric is perfect for a statement headboard or reupholstered footstool, while our Sow and Scatter cushion fabric adds a hint of playfulness to your living space.
Light is so important in country cottages, so opt for some elegant curtains in fabrics such as our Leaf Dance in Saffron and Charcoal to counteract those bolder tones. You could also consider panelling in a coordinating tone to give depth and definition to otherwise plain walls. This creates the perfect blend of structure and softness for a modern country cottage style interior.
Bring the cottage look into your home
Feeling inspired to revamp your cottage’s interior? Our English cottage style fabrics are designed to bring extra comfort and cosiness into your home. Whether you’re looking for a new pair of made to measure curtains, or you wish to upholster your armchair with a vibrant floral pattern, we guarantee you’ll find the perfect fabric for your interior space at Vanessa Arbuthnott.
Browse our fabric collections today and get ready to uncover the true beauty of your cottage.
We sell fabrics exclusively designed by Vanessa Arbuthnott, along side small, bespoke collection of Made to Measure items which includes curtains, blinds, sofas, footstools, chairs, headboards, and quilts, all handmade specially for you by master crafts people.
