Fresh Interior Design Ideas to Upgrade a Cottage or Cabin
Fresh Interior Design Ideas to Upgrade a Cottage or Cabin
Small homes have gained enormous popularity as the tiny house movement started spreading over the last decade. More people are downsizing and moving from their huge homes into smaller homes and cabins; where they feel less burdened by the material side of life.
Going smaller allows homeowners to focus on details and opt for higher quality finishes; so it still feels like living the high life. The following tips reveal easy ways you can upgrade your small cottage into a stylish abode. Fresh interior design ideas to upgrade a cottage or cabin.
Pick one theme
For small homes such as cabins and cottages, it’s best to pick one theme and stick to it throughout the home. Otherwise, you may end up with an interior that looks too busy, messy and chaotic.
Many homeowners want to display all of their favourite possessions in one small space; all that creates is a sense of confusion. The best course of action; is to decide on the overall theme and vibe and only pick those items that go along with it. The result will be a balanced space that makes you feel relaxed and inspired.
Decide on quality
When doing the interior design of your home; regardless of its style; the best decision you can make is to always choose quality. Opt for furnishings and finishes that are durable and timeless. Cabin owners often go for popular materials that are trendy at that moment but will go out of style quickly.
Experts advise approaching your interior design thoughtfully, especially when choosing flooring, wall finishes and a home’s trim style. Your choice should be intentional so the result can be long-lasting and satisfactory.
Draw inspiration from nature
As cabins and cottages are typically set in natural surroundings; it only makes sense to draw from that environment when it comes to the colour palette. The idea is to work with the natural surroundings and become a part of them. This doesn’t necessarily mean you must use the exact colours you see outside; but rather complementary ones avoiding any sharp contrast.
Also, it’s best to use colours that will complement the outdoors during all seasonal changes. This requires the interior designers to study the area in all seasons and come up with a design that fits in with the surroundings. As a master’s degree in product and interior design teaches, design is all about reinventing life, understanding its complexity and learning the importance of commitment, adaptability and the art of change.
Focus on the walls
Choosing the right wall colour is one of the essential decisions to make for any cabin, be it small or large. Cabins and cottage are mostly covered in wood panelling and as warm as it may feel, it absorbs most of the light so the interior can seem quite dark.
Going with the white paint for plastered walls is a great way to reflect the light in the room and create much-needed balance. It’s also recommended you keep the wall finishes consistent throughout the entire home and only add pops of colour with details and accessories.
Layer the lights
Lighting is instrumental in setting the atmosphere and making you feel comfortable in your home. Most experts advise using a layered method when approaching lighting. It’s best to start with the ceiling lights especially in homes with lofted or vaulted ceilings as it will give ample illumination to such big spaces.
The next layer of light can come from ambient lights such as scones and then from a variety of lamps, cabinet lights and even in-floor lighting. It’s important to think things through in advance and plan the lighting scheme carefully as it’s quite difficult to change things once the building of the cottage has been completed. However, it’s very easy to make mistakes when it comes to lighting as it usually gets the smallest amount of the budget. People generally don’t realize that lighting demands a considerable investment to be done properly and it’s often the first thing that gets scratched off the list when the budget needs to be cut down due to rising costs.
Use details and accessories
One of the most important recommendations that expert interior designers always give is paying attention to detail as it’s the specific details that give character to a home and set it apart from the rest.
Accessories are also important and together with furnishings, they can carry the design by becoming primary colour accents. Especially if you’re working on a budget, a very easy and cost-effective way to change your home’s colour palette is with the use of accessories like rugs, curtains, lampshades, throws and pillows. It’s surprising how much can be done with just a few dollars spent!
Small cottage living has a strong appeal with its warmth, cosiness and simplicity. It might seem too constrained to some and this style could be interpreted as dull, one-dimensional and unadaptable, but using these practical interior design tips, you can create a rich and layered look that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
Featured photo: Pexels
