12 steps to cottage style

From prints and patina to romance and roses, cottage style is a look made up of very distinct ingredients. Cheap and cheerful, it comes out of a philosophy that unapol­ogetically makes the most out of what you already have, or what you can get for next to nothing—the more faded, distressed and worn, the better. Relaxed is a watchword, as are whitewashed, soft, and vintage. Here, we take these words to heart for our favourite look of the season.

Quilts equal comfort
Slipcovering is a hallmark of cottage style, and this living room takes it a step further by using the softest quilts as coverings for furniture.

Bringing the outside in
Bring the outside in or the inside out, as the case may be, is a mainstay of the look. A tattered umbrella shows its age, but lends a soft, Victorian feel to this patio. Bistro chairs unified with a coat of white paint are pulled up to the table for lingering over a morning coffee.

Haphazard piles of pink
Haphazard piles of pink and creamy coloured clothes make a pretty arrangement on a hand-hewn rustic shelf, which adds a layer of age to a crisp room. Throw pale braided rugs over a whitewashed planked floor for softness and colour.

Whitewashed effect
Cottage style simply resonates from the items in this room—the look needs no explanation other than a wrought-iron bed covered in crisp linens set against whitewashed walls.