The importance of how we feel at home is at the fore of our thinking in 2023, feeding into current interior trends and furniture styles. With that in mind, many of us are incorporating wholesome country charm into our rooms. Here are our best tips to deliver that special cottage atmosphere - without compromising on a modern home style.
When picturing an English country cottage, an image springs to mind: a symmetrical house front, thatched roof, rose bushes, a green lawn and an overarching atmosphere of calm and serenity – which sounds just perfect for a new spring start. Here are our easy ideas to enjoy the benefits of an idyllic cottage retreat wherever you live and whatever your style.
Layers and Textures
What better way is there to soften a room and its atmosphere than with plenty of varied and textured textiles? For a homely look that works all year round, opt for rugs, throws and cushions in neutral pastels with occasional pops of colour. Take this thinking with you when you head out to enjoy the sunshine and layer our selection of comfy outdoor blankets, fabulous fringed parasols and classic stripey deckchairs for a charming, 1950s-inspired look.
Opt for muted shades, like pale pink and green
A soft white wall is the perfect backdrop for your natural accessories to keep the look uptodate - but pale pink works just as well. Baskets woven from natural materials such as rattan and jute can be used to connect to nature with muted tones. Large baskets are perfect for laundry or toys and smaller baskets can stow essentials like keys and stationary on shelves - a brilliant way to keep your home tidy while maintaining a rustic cottage aesthetic. Baskets such as our Round Rattan Indoor Planter comes with a watertight inner layer, making it ideal for displaying houseplants to add nature’s greeney to the palette.
Mix traditional with modern cottage interior design
Natural or reclaimed timber has a unique warmth - a finish perfect for creating the laid-back atmosphere ideally suited to cottage living since each piece will always be unique from the next. Our Camille Collection comes in a natural and a limewashed finish for a trusty country charm that will deliver a cosy cottage atmosphere. If you prefer cleaner, modern lines, go for rattan furniture and accessories because the simple, honest material works the same way as reclaimed material, promoting a laid-back tone central to a rustic, cottage look.
Decorate your home with fabric lampshades or decorative lamp bases
Country-style homes can go to town with pattern because of the neutral backdrop and calm natural material furnishings that comprise the majority of the scheme. For a modern country look, avoid chintzy floral style upholstery - and opt for geometric patterns like our Maroq table lamp base or country-inspired botanical designs to complement the country look. Denser patterns work, but always choose a neutral base design because that will help tie the pattern to your overall scheme.
Accessorise with cottage style décor, plates and ornaments
The base layer for a rustic room is soft and neutral, so when it comes to decoration, go for anything with surface quality for interest; add dark accents using accessories that have a textured surface like wood, leather, linen and stoneware. To achieve a characterful English cottage interior choose ornaments that focus on animals found in the English countryside such as our Hare Hook in Antique Bronze. Then carry this style through to your household greenery, and instead of displaying dried grasses in contemporary vases, accessories with faux flowers display stems in rustic stoneware vases and jugs that will conjure up a rustic, repurposed look.
Feeling the spring mood? Browse our new Spring Edit for a bright and breezy seasonal home.