I really like it in the kitchen or informal dining room for a cheery touch. But as far as decor goes, you definitely should aim to find/make some cheerful bunting to throw into the mix! :) It's quintessential for the true British look, and can be used in practically any room of the house.

I would rather invest money into adding in some of these features (even if they're not hundreds of years old) to get that sense of built-in character, rather than spend a fortune on furnishings.And once the foundation is there, just look for bits and bobs that are well-loved and mesh together over time to furnish the space.Ĭottage style is all about the inherent charm of functional, well-built things ('pretty' is good, but 'practical' is a must), rather than prissy trim, fussy or overly delicate fabrics (silk, etc) and upholstery skirting, etc anyways. Without those fundamental structural elements 'lining' or 'framing' the room, the English appeal of it always seems lacking, at least in my opinion. In my opinion, decor items themselves only goes so far with this style and something will still be lacking - Quirky, character-filled architecture and woodworking in the rooms themselves really makes or breaks the setting for whatever cottage-y furnishings you want to put in the rooms. I like to read proper British decor mags and blogs featuring 17th or 18th century rustic cottages, with exposed oldie-worldie beams and wood paneling, low and cozy ceilings with smaller, snug-like spaces for an intimate appeal, and ALWAYS wood burning (or wood-look) stoves set in beautiful fireplace surrounds, etc. Love Love Love English Country Cottage style (which is quite different from English Cottage Style, in larger manor homes).

B ut if you really want to save, try looking up a tutorial online for a DIY rag rug and craft your own using soft old T-shirts. Today rag rugs are widely available and are quite inexpensive. Rag rugs came about as a creative way to reuse scraps of fabric too small to sew into garments, and to put old, worn-out clothes and home textiles to work again. Get creative with other easy-to-find, cheap fabrics as well - burlap can cover bulletin boards, and muslin, typically used in pattern making, can be used for curtains and for pillow covers primed for embellishing.Ĥ. If you don’t sew, you can use iron-on hem tape to make quick no-sew curtains and tablecloths if you do sew, it’s not too hard to turn out your own pillowcases and duvet covers. Every fabric shop carries a wide assortment of solid fabrics in airy voile and gauze (perfect for floaty window treatments), checkered and ticking stripe cotton, and sturdy canvas at a low price per yard.

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