Creating Country Cottage Charm

The feeling of security, warmth and belonging is what most people sense when they enter a home that has been designed to reflect Country Cottage charm.

Whether it is remembering our own childhood days with grandparents, time spent on a farm or even the old Hollywood movies of the 1950's that bring back these feelings, it would seem that Country Cottage is never really out of style - it only gets better with time.

Bringing together the natural timbers, richness of colour and the practical use of everyday items for decoration as well as their intended practicality, Country Cottage interior designers can have the best of all worlds with their choice of colour, texture and design.

The thing to remember with Country Cottage design is that you start with a natural/neutral platform and layer until you get the effect you are after.

Ornaments and feature pieces of furniture such as wooden rocking chairs, chests of drawers, rug throws, books and even chunky wooden chopping boards in a kitchen can really bring together this look.

The most successful designers choose a single item colour for example the wall colour, carpet colour or main furniture piece in the room and ensure that it is reflected in other items within the room. Balancing bold wall colours with white trims is a trademark of Country Cottage.

Whilst layering plays an important part with this overall look - there is a world of difference between layering and cluttering. Almost every item in a room must have a purpose other than to look good - if you remember this then you can avoid the temptation to put things in a room just because you can and thus create clutter.

Go for quality pieces of furniture - generally naturally stained and from material such as pine. Pine is well known for its use in Country Cottage furniture because of the light grained texture and it is a dream for master craftsman to use. It is durable, and can be accessorised with frosted or clear glass, chrome, nickel, stainless steel, cotton, wool, tapestries or silks very successfully.

Lighting can take many different forms in a Country Cottage design because of the many wonderful accessories that can be found within the room. Fireplaces, lamps, filtered curtains and of course spot lighting are just a few suggestions you can use to create the ambience you are after.

Where ever possible, try and remain faithful to the design theme - do not be tempted to put in modern pieces such as a rock burning room warmer where a traditional look fire place is better served.

Fill the rooms with lots of flowers, prints, throw rugs, cushions and colour and your Country Cottage look and feel will provide you with the 'feel good' emotions of yesteryear when everything was simple and good.