Create A Casual Escape With Cottage Decorating
The cottage decorating style is very popular and it's no wonder as the
allure of the country cottage is strangely powerful to anyone caught in
the confines of the modern metropolis’ tightly squeezed
accommodations. When the oppressing city has even invaded your home who
hasn’t felt the urge to reach out to a life less complicated?
Since most of us are not quite prepared to sell their worldly
possessions and set off for the wild blue yonder, why not consider
creating a country hideaway on the high street with some simple cottage
decorating or, as it is often referred to, “shabby
chic”.
The first principle of cottage decorating is to create some space. Take
the position of the aesthete, gather up all unnecessary items and
defenestrate them! Throw them out the window! Reuse and recycle
anything that can be used as a serviceable container to hold those
items you need or cannot bear to part with. Use suitcases as drawers,
or breadbins as document storage. In my own home, I use my wastepaper
basket as a filing system for legal documents; although the
taxman’s increasingly hysterical missives are forcing me to
reconsider the wisdom of that particular decision.
You should consider repairing old furniture rather than replacing it.
Showing love to an older piece of furniture is at the heart of the
charm of cottage decorating. Consider simple, bold colors that are
consistent throughout your house. The simplest option would be the
simplest color of them all – white. Not only would an all
white
(or near-white) theme create the illusion of greater space in your
home, it acts as a solid base for the next step in your decoration
– the personal touches.
Floral patterns, simple embroidery and vibrant colors should be your
mainstay for throws, pillows and quilts. This is where you can really
unleash the creative side of your personality. Try looking around
flea-markets and car-boot sales for anything from window drapes to
towels. Art festivals and colleges often have beautiful works that can
be picked up for a pittance, and has the added advantage of being able
to boast to your friends “Of course, I liked his stuff better
before he was famous”.
Do not be afraid to scavenge, cottage decorating is not a theme that
can be purchased flat-pack from IKEA. Old portmanteaus, park benches,
coal scuttles can all be added to the shabby chic charm. Handmade or
renovated, you can be sure that your furniture will always be unique.
Finally, but most importantly to cottage decorating, bring the country
to you. Container gardening can be rewarding and fun in even the
smallest of apartments and there is a raft of literature on the
subject. Any windowsill can be transformed into an herb garden with a
little time and effort. I am fortunate enough to have a small roof
overhang outside my window in which I have an old rain-barrel that will
hopefully soon contain an abundance of lettuce.
Cottage decoration is the antithesis to eclectic decoration. Instead of
taking one piece of good, expensive furniture and replacing the rest as
and when you can afford to, keep and repair all your furniture. The
warm and cozy country cottage in the city will be your reward for the
love you have shown your home.
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