Want to achieve that effortless cottage look? Let us help.

Decorating trends come and go, but cottage style is here to stay. After all, it’s more than a look – it’s a lifestyle. It’s about being carefree and comfortable, and enjoying the people around you in soothing surroundings where nothing is too precious. It’s about being you. That’s why there are so many ways to make cottage style your own, whether you home is in the country or the city. Below, we're highlighting three styles—refined, romantic and rustic —and sharing tips for mastering each look.

Refined cottage style

Low-key yet sophisticated, with soothing hues, dainty prints, polished natural accents and a hint of rustic patina, this elegant look – which brings together the best of formal and casual – is all about restraint. 

Image: Ashley Capp

Get the look:

1 Upward SW 6239 paint, sherwin-williams.com.

2 Kerry Joyce Textiles Caravan linen 1036-02 fabric in Alsace Blue, primavera.ca. 

3 Mulberry Home linen blend Meadow Linen fabric in Soft Blue, kravet.com.

4 Thom Filicia linen Griffith fabric in Sky, kravet.com.

5 Lee Jofa Raoul Dufy Christopher Farr Cloth linen fabric in Pale Blue, kravet.com. 

6 Soleil  Bleu embroidered linen Romancier fabric in 090, primavera.ca. 

7 Beauti-Tone White Lightning D4-7-0187-0 paint, homehardware.ca. 

8 Brunschwig & Fils linen Talavera Linen fabric in Birch, kravet.com.

9 Kravet Couture embroidered linen Spot On fabric in Blanc, kravet.com.

Flax, linen, lilac and grey: The cool muted tones of this palette have the power to elevate any cottage style room to elegant.

Get the look:

1 Upward SW 6239, sherwin-williams.com.

2 Premier Soft Green PR16R24, canadiantire.ca.

3 Spectral 410A, para.com.

4 Behr High Style Beige N270-1, homedepot.ca.

5 Beauti-Tone Hydrangea Blue A28-4-1473-0, homehardware.ca.

Image: Michael Graydon

Image: Robin Stubbert

Achieve a refined cottage look with these simple items:

• Driftwood
• Seashells
• Small clay dishes
• Vintage postcards
• Antique suitcases
• Linen and silk details
• Milk glass pieces
• Silver and wooden picture frames
• Mantel clocks
• Glass cloches
• Smooth pebbles

Image: Janis Nicolay

A polished setting calls for traditional blooms in complementary combinations. Petite blossoms deliver a dainty and delicate  look, while a cool monochrome colourway supports a room’s ambience without taking over. 

Editor's tip: Plant an array of flirty fragrant flowers that will keep your garden in bloom from spring to fall – and bring  those blossoms indoors! Harvesting them regularly will encourage your plants to produce more. For a rustic touch, accent your bouquet with wild berry sprigs and branches. 

Images (from left to right): Alamy; istock photo; Proven Winners

Get the look:

1 Giant Chincherinchee

2 Sweet pas

3 Bigleaf hydrangea 

 

Romantic cottage style

Ruffles and ribbons, florals and fringes, lustreware and lace: This feminine style serves up pretty patinas and soft splashes of pink while embracing imperfection in the most beautiful ways. 

Image: Ashley Capp

Get the look:

1 Barbara Barry linen Water Tint fabric in Heather, kravet.com.

2 Viscose blend Wispy Woven fabric in Meringue, robertallendesign.com.

3 Embroidered linen Park Slope Embroidery fabric in White, thibautdesign.com. 

4 Middleton Pink 245 paint, farrow-ball.com. 

5 Beacon Hill embroidered linen Ribbon Lattice fabric in White, robertallendesign.com.

6 Lee Jofa Suzanne Kasler linen blend Ritz fabric in Pebble, kravet.com.

7 Barbara Barry cotton Edelweiss Lace fabric in Snow, kravet.com.

8 Lee Jofa cotton Elton Handblock fabric in Haze, kravet.com. 

9 Kerry Joyce Textiles linen Stems 1034-02 fabric in Gray/Pink, primavera.ca. 

10 Suave Mauve 10RR 53/087 paint, dulux.ca.

Soft off-white shades like beige and taupe bring a timeworn mystique to a blush  palette. Use multiple hues for a layered look. 

Get the look:

1 Valspar Baby Blush 1008-2C, lowes.ca.

2 Portland Gray 2109-60, benjaminmoore.ca.

3 Middleton Pink 245, farrow-ball.com.

4 Suave Mauve 10RR 53/087, dulux.ca.

5 Beauti-Tone White Lightning D4-7-0187-0, homehardware.ca.

Image: Janis Nicolay

Images: Donna Griffith

Achieve a romantic cottage look with these fabulous finds:

• Vintage tins
• Costume jewellery
• Sheet music
• Perfume bottles
• Lustreware
• Antique mirrors
• Patinated silver flatware
• Pieces of old ribbon and lace
• Vintage photographs
• Bud vases
• Remnants of eyelet and chenille fabrics 

Image: Leslie Shewring

Nothing says love and romance better than roses, with their blousy blooms and oh-so-sweet scents. Display them solo in a series of small vessels for a soft feminine pastoral look and consider adding a sprig of baby’s breath for a little more body.

Editor's tip: Achieve romantic cottage style on your home’s exterior, too. Think of roses climbing up a whitewashed trellis and winding their way up a pretty pergola and thick bushes planted alongside dainty perennials in complementary colours. Remember to choose disease-resistant roses and plant them in a full sun location in rich soil for the best blooms. 

Images (left to right): Alamy; istockphoto; Alamy

Get the look:

1 'De Montarville' explorer series rose

2 Baby's breath

3 David Austin 'Mortimer Sackler' climbing rose‘

 

Rustic cottage style

Distressed paint, tarnished metal and reclaimed wood; collected antiques, heirlooms and flea market finds: This style is a reflection of  a well-loved space with a story  to tell that gets richer over time. 

Image: Ashley Capp

Get the look:

1 Premier Castle Blue PR16W35 paint, canadiantire.ca.

2 Barclay Butera linen Vastu fabric in Celadon, kravet.com.

3 Candice Olson embroidered  rayon blend Braiden 34189 fabric, kravet.com.

4 Kravet Couture raffia/vinyl blend Gilded Raffia wallpaper in Raffia, kravet.com.

5 Cotton Sailor Lines fabric in Delft, robertallendesign.com.

6 Beacon Hill linen Linseed Plaid fabric in Mint, robertallendesign.com.

7 Foliage 30GY 50/195 paint, dulux.ca.

8 Kravet Couture polyester Tie the Knot fabric in White Gold, kravet.com.

9 Rogers & Goffigon linen Montana 910017-07 fabric in Jean, primavera.ca.

10 Linen Ceren fabric in Indigo, kravet.com.

From forest to sea, Mother Nature offers up a rich palette of green and blue hues perfect for a rustic look that’s inspired by the outdoors.

Get the look:

1 Spruce Green 2035-50, benjaminmoore.ca.

2 Crewelwork Ivory 30YY 74/121, cil.ca.

3 Premier Castle  Blue PR16W35, canadiantire.ca.

4 Foliage 30GY 50/195, dulux.ca.

5 Porch Ceiling SW 9063, sherwin-williams.com.

Image: Barry Calhoun

Images: Donna Griffith

Achieve a rustic cottage look with these items:

• Tins and trinket boxes
• Lengths of worn rope and string
• Pinecones
• Old birds’ nests
• Retro tea towels
• Botanical prints and posters
• Jadeite pieces
• Antique thread spools
• Vintage books
• Found birchbark  
• Chunky beads 

Image: Leslie Shewring

Natural plants that look plucked fresh from a field are the perfect accent for rustic cottage style. Keep the arrangement loose and the heights varied, and opt for  herbs, grasses and wildflowers. 

Editor's tip: How versatile! Not only can you use fresh herbs from the garden (or kitchen windowsill) to elevate each and  every meal, but you can also use them to make herbal teas and add a zippy scent to your floral bouquets. 

Images (from left to right): iStock photo' Alamy

Get the look:

1 Dill

2 Basil

3 'Mount Everest' white allium