The Best (and Cheapest) Ways to Add a Little Cottagecore Style to Your Home
Simple, charming and romantic, cottage style is a design aesthetic that embraces country living on a sustainable scale. Proponents of the style argue that it is not just a style, but a way of life. Embracing handcrafted decor and paying homage to a traditional look, cottage style interior design lends itself easily to DIY projects due to its whimsical, vintage feel. Here are a few ways you can add a little rustic appeal to your space without breaking the bank.
Change your equipment
Changing hardware on cabinets and furniture can add just the right touch if you’re going for style, and a cottage is no exception. Adding new handles with enamel or porcelain details, floral or natural elements , or a traditional metal design can give you a rustic feel without spending more than $10 on a drawer or cabinet door. Be sure to measure the size of your existing drawer handles before choosing new ones to ensure you don’t have to drill new holes for the new handles.
Change the lamps
Lighting fixtures can also update the look of your room without spending a ton of money on renovations. Since most lighting fixtures are easy to install yourself, you can also save on installation costs. Replacing the fixture with one made from natural materials , a simple traditional motif or pattern , or one with a natural or botanical shape can add simple, traditional charm for about $40. If you’re inspired to take on a more challenging DIY light fixture project , you can also refinish an old chandelier to give it a brass or wrought iron look; paint or replace the shades on an existing light fixture to give it a more rustic look without having to replace the entire light fixture. The update to an existing light fixture is in keeping with the cottage style and includes handcrafted and DIY items.
Change the plumbing
You may not realize it, but the fixtures in your sink, bathtub, or shower can make a big difference in the overall feel of the room. Choose a faucet with cross handles , ceramic elements , or a polished antique metal finish to add a cozy feel to your room, for around $60. It’s much less expensive than replacing your sinks and bathtubs entirely, but still adds a little rustic charm. You can install most fixtures yourself using simple tools and materials, so this upgrade will also help you save on labor costs. Before choosing a fixture, make sure you know what hardware will fit your current sink to ensure everything will fit.
Repair wood products
If you want to add charm to your space, you can also refinish your woodwork and furniture. If you’re refinishing woodwork on furniture or cabinets, whitewash or natural stain can give you a simple, elegant cottage design look for anywhere from $8 to $40, depending on the size of your project. You can also varnish old, chipped paint to maintain the distressed appearance of the surface. Do not do this with wood products that may contain lead, as lead removal should be done by a professional.
Add natural wall color
Adding natural tones to your paint colors is another good way to incorporate a cottage-style aesthetic into your design style. Using soft greens , muted pinks , and earthy reds in paint colors can help evoke the feeling of simple calm that cottagecore strives for—at about $16 a gallon. Many cottage spaces also feature wallpaper, so choosing wallpaper with a botanical theme , a raised traditional pattern , or a monochrome nature-inspired motif can help you add a bit of rustic, antique-style charm to your space. You can find wallpaper for anywhere from $10 to $40 per roll, making it a good choice for a major budget upgrade.