Cottage Style Decorating on a Budget!
By Kathy Wilson
Cottage decorating is meant for real living, which makes it perfect
for the budget decorator!
Cottage style is a relaxed and casual style, reminiscent of a small
vacation cottage in the woods, at the beach, or in the mountains.
There are no rules, except everything is usable, feet can be put up on
the furniture, and charming is the word of the day.
That being said, there are certain things a budget decorator can do to
bring the cottage style into ones home.
*Add white through the room. If you prefer color on your walls,
remember to add lots of white and light colored accessories to
brighten. White painted furniture, white plates on the wall and white
fabric would all be great contrasts. If you have white walls, add a
hint of color to them with a wash of the palest pastels, and color in
the fabric.
*Use lots of fabric in the room. Slipcovers, pillows, and tablecloths
are all hallmarks of a romantic vacation spot. Combine patterns. An
easy way to combine pattern in the cottage style is to look for
different patterns that all have a white background and similar color
schemes.
*Use mismatched furniture. A room should evolve over time for maximum
charm, just be sure that the furniture is all casual in nature, and
tie it together by painting it all white, or using the same fabric on
each piece.
*Keep clutter down to a minimum. Have a place for everyday items, and
keep your accessorizing to your favorite pieces. You can even change
them out with the seasons, just don't feel the need to display
everything you own at once.
*Creative use of everyday items are hallmarks of the cottage style. A
garden bench makes a great coffee table, a tin bucket is a perfect
magazine rack, and a yard sale pitcher makes a terrific vase. Look
around your house at what you already own, and see how you can
repurpose things with charm.
*Everything old is new again weathered finishes, faded florals, and
furnishings with history are ideal fits into the cottage decor. A
budget decorators trick to avoiding the high price of antique
furniture, garden accessories or architectural elements buy them new
at a discount or home improvement store, and age them yourself!
Lattice, decorative shelf brackets, or tin buckets can be painted and
sanded to look 100 years old, at a fraction of the price. Do a Google
search for faux antique finishes and you'll have all the info you
need to create a one of a kind vacation home cottage decor!
Kathy Wilson is an author, columnist, and editor of The Budget
Decorator and other popular websites. For hundreds of free budget
decorating ideas, visit her at
http://www.TheBudgetDecorator.com. Also
visit her other websites at
http://www.Women-on-the-Net.com and
http://www.StressLessJournal.com.