Modern cottage delivers the best of both worlds – a relaxed, comfortable feel coupled with plenty of personality and style. It’s the ideal balance of timeless and trendy that feels refreshingly original yet utterly inhabitable. Ready to get the modern cottage look? Here are the essential elements:
Floral Wallpaper
Floral wallpaper used sparingly delivers just the right dose of pattern and femininity, especially when balanced by all the rustic, natural wood and stonework. Try an accent wall or powder room clad in a muted floral print for a romantic, maximalist touch.
Fresh Greenery
Whether sculptural trailing branches, lush verdant topiaries or simple fresh-cut bouquets gracing side tables, living greenery is key for infusing life and energy into these comfortable yet undeniably stylish spaces. Let leafy greens in interesting vessels bring the outdoors inside.
Handcrafted Pottery
Those one-of-a-kind artisan ceramics? They’re an absolute must for injecting soul and uniqueness. Scour local makers for handmade vases, bowls, planters and catchalls to integrate that custom, crafted touch around your space. Varying shapes, sizes and glazes only add to the appealing eclectic quality.
Imperfect Antiques
Nothing enhances that easy, well-loved feel quite like incorporating antique or vintage pieces with beautiful imperfections. An artfully chippy dresser, a cracked ceramic stool or a butter-soft leather chair bearing its well-earned patina – these are the pieces that make a space feel grounded and timeless.
Minimal Yet Warm
The look eschews fussy clutter while still cultivating a warm, inviting spirit through the masterful layering of textures, tones and organic accents. Spare furnishings are offset by plush textiles, sculptural ceramics and the strategic use of personality pieces.
Mixed Metals
While uniformity can read as stark, the ideal modern cottage look balances warm brass or antique gold accents against matte black iron, burnished steel or pewter pieces. Think a round brass mirror above an ebony metal four-poster bed. Or just mixing gold decor with matte black fixtures. This curated mix of finishes lends just the right balance of glam and grit.
Natural Stonework
The grounding texture of natural stone like stacked limestone, slate or nubby adobe instantly imparts a sense of patina and rusticity. Incorporate it through kitchen hoods, fireplace surrounds, bathroom floors or even statement fireplace walls.
Natural Textures
Amp up the organic feel by layering in chunky woven fabrics like nubbly linen, wool boucle or sturdy jute along with rich, buttery leathers. A low-slung leather ottoman situated on a shaggy wool rug is quintessential modern cottage. The various tactile textiles create a sense of understated coziness.
Neutral Palette
While pops of color can be introduced through pillows or artwork, the core palette should be soft, tonal and natural. Build from a muted backdrop of creamy ivory, warm tans, charcoal grays and off-whites, pulling in occasional earth tones like sage or clay. This provides the ideal canvas to showcase all those gorgeous textures.
Repurposed Pieces
Scored a gorgeous flea market find, be it a hand-carved side table or wrought iron architectural fragment? Such upcycled vintage pieces perfectly capture modern cottage’s soulful, handcrafted spirit. With a bit of elbow grease, they become one-of-a-kind showpieces to cherish.
Slipcovered Sofas & Chairs
The true heart of this aesthetic – plush, sink-right-in sofas and armchairs upholstered in casual slipcovers. Picture an overstuffed sofa draped in a nubbly linen slipcover, just begging you to laze away the afternoon. Denim and crisp white cotton coverings also epitomize the laidback-yet-refined vibe.
Solid Wood Furniture
Salvaged wood elements impart unrivaled warmth, character and texture. Incorporate them through statement farmhouse tables hewn from rough-hewn oak beams, distressed wood beams lining the ceiling, or a reclaimed wood accent wall. The more natural nicks and grooves, the better.
Subtle Patterns
While modern cottage skews more minimal overall, a hint of pattern adds visual interest and prevents things from looking too sterile. We’re talking small doses of ticking stripes, petite florals, buffalo checks or classic plaids brought in through pillows, throws or even wallpaper. Just don’t go overboard.
Vintage Art & Heirlooms
Antique artwork, framed tapestries adorned with age-worn aesthetics, or even sentimental family heirlooms instantly enhance the cozy, collected, personal touch that’s central to the modern cottage aesthetic. Seek out pieces with history and meaning.
Vintage Rugs
There’s nothing more authentic than a distressed, faded vintage rug grounding the space – the older and more worn the better. Persian kazaks, sun-bleached Oushaks and earthy kilim prints all work beautifully in this aesthetic. Just picture those muted, timeworn hues enriching the room.
