10 Ways to Get the Modern Cottage Look (2024)

Add interest without chaos. Varied widths of wall boards and two-tone paint add interest to this open and airy kitchen. Rather than breaking up the flow with a tile or stainless backsplash, a clear shield covers the wood behind the stove to protect it. Open shelves over the windows and simple pendant lights keep the space bright.

Keep it humble. Wood ceilings and rafters are the perfect backdrop for the vintage sink and stove in this kitchen. It’s not uncommon to see open upper cabinets, yet in this home, the owners left the doors off a lower unit and topped it with wood. It feels like they picked it up along the way and slipped it into place.

Let function and design work together. For storage needs, opt for collected pieces of furniture with history and character rather than using newer built-ins. To stay true to the look, transfer lotions and soaps into glass jars for display and use. Use woven wood hampers and wastebaskets.

A wonderful way to add personality to your bathroom is to a bring in a beautifully framed mirror to hang above the sink. No need to match the other items in the room, but do make sure the scale is right — typically, it shouldn't extend beyond the width of the vanity.

Re-create the past. Most often, beadboard is hung vertically, but see how running it horizontally pulls you right into this cottage bath?

The continuation of the wood right onto the ceiling creates the feel of an old cedar closet. If you’ve got the space to let the tub stand alone, by all means do it. Without the need for a curtain, you can show off that antique tub.

Give it a twist. Large runs of reclaimed wood railings and beams make this room feel like the offspring of a farmhouse and a cottage. For those who love cottages but prefer a less dainty atmsophere, try using 4- to 6-inch-wide boards on the walls. Go with larger pieces of furniture with iron accents, steering clear of the fragile look of scalloped trimmings, lace and granny rocking chairs.

Create a mood with lighting. I can almost smell this room through the picture: a blend of old, scuffed floorboards, lake water and fireplace embers. Are you with me?

The golden stain on the walls grows richer with the amber lighting, creating a soft glow. Lighting sets the mood in a room, so whenever possible, choose lamps and sconces that will keep it interesting.

Layer the whites. Keep layering on the whites in your beach cottage, using different shades for depth. Tiny sample cans of paint are perfect for experimenting to find just the right ones. After the paint is up, work in white window treatments and furniture for yet another layer. Then have some fun with the accents.

Accent with color. Use those white walls as your canvas to bring in bright splashes of color. I happen to like any shade of blue with white. But also consider a bright orange or lime green. If you’ve got an old dresser, paint it a wild color and find some big glass knobs and you’ll have an entirely new piece for your room.

Go beyond white. There’s definitely a theme here: white walls. But this room has something a little more rustic going on with the different shades of wood in the room.

It blends a weathered, lighter wood behind the rafters, a golden stain on the window and varying shades on the wide-plank floor. Don't be afraid to introduce a variety of woods and stains into your rustic cottage.

Soften the exterior. Use as little hardscaping as possible when establishing your outdoor areas. Edges of a cottage yard should be soft, or better yet punctuated with huge hydrangeas. Create unpaved driveways and walkways defined with sand, mulch and pebbles.