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Cottage Living Room Decorating
Cottage living room decorating ideas to help you create a casual and comfy space for watching the latest movie, reading the Sunday paper or entertaining your friends. Cottage living room decorating posts include Color Boards, Inspiration Boards, Get the Look, Rooms to Love and Design Tips all focused on cottage style living rooms and family rooms. All of the posts include sorting tags to focus on specific colors or a cottage decorating style. For additional help or to discuss your decorating challenges please feel free to contact our designers.
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Cottage Living Room Decorating
Cottage living room decorating ideas to help you create a casual and comfy space for watching the latest movie, reading the Sunday paper or entertaining your friends. Cottage living room decorating posts include Color Boards, Inspiration Boards, Get the Look, Rooms to Love and Design Tips all focused on cottage style living rooms and family rooms. All of the posts include sorting tags to focus on specific colors or a cottage decorating style. For additional help or to discuss your decorating challenges please feel free to contact our designers.
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				For the writer, it’s the tyranny of the blank page.  For the artist, it’s the white canvas.  And for the home decorator … it’s the empty room.  Where do I start?  How do I make all those creative ideas a reality?  And, what if I make a mistake?

Don’t worry, you are not alone.  Getting started is always the hardest part of any creative endeavor – whether it’s a poem, a painting, or an interior décor.

While everyone has their own way of working, here are some suggestions that may well help you make your interior cottage style decorating projects easier – and more fun.  It’s based on our years of experience helping our customers design rooms that work.



First and foremost – start by providing a structure.  Before you even think about colors and fabrics and all those nice touches, you need to lay the foundation.

	
Begin with careful room measurements.  It might sound obvious, but start with the overall dimensions of the room.  Be sure to include window and door locations, windowsill heights, stairs, fireplace, unusual wall locations or anything else that will affect furniture placement and flow.  Good measurements are the first and most important step to plan your room and avoid costly mistakes.


	
Take pictures.   Keep a record of every room for future reference.  Bring them along with you when you start to shop. Be sure to include any pieces of furniture you may want to keep.  Before and after photos can serve as a valuable reference for future decorating projects.


	
Design a rough layout.  You can do this on the computer, as we do.  There are many computer programs available that enable you to create a layout, ‘drag and drop’ actual photos of furniture and move things around with the click of a mouse.  You can access our software program here. Or, if you prefer, you can use graph paper to hand-draw your layout.  Use the grid lines to make a layout to scale.  The rule of thumb is one box on the grid equals one foot of space.  Sketch in where you want to place furniture for each room including the dimensions.

  

	
Take an inventory.  Not everyone starts with an empty room or house.  There may well be pieces of furniture you want to keep and some you wish to discard.  Take a good hard look and decide which ones are the ‘keepers’.  Can a sofa be reupholstered or recovered with slipcovers?  Can a table or chest be refinished or painted?  Is this really something that you want to keep?  Is it worth keeping?  Oftentimes, unless you plan on reworking a piece yourself, the cost of refurbishing an existing piece can be almost as much as purchasing a new item.  Once you have decided what to keep and what to replace, draw up a furniture inventory of items you will need for each room.  Include dimensions – even though these may be just ‘guess-timates’ in this phase.


	
Think about your personal style.  Are you the country cottage type, traditional or sleek modern?  Don’t forget you can mix and match styles in today’s eclectic design.  Look at the architecture of your home – and its surroundings to create a natural fit with your environment.  And don’t forget to consider your lifestyle.  Is it casual and easy-care or is it more formal?  Are there kids and pets to consider?  Start to envision your ‘dream house’ – a house that works for everyone involved.


	
Scheme about color.  Now is the time to start thinking about your color scheme. Get creative. Scour websites and magazines for ideas.  What colors do you love – and which ones do you avoid?  Pick a color combination that works best for your environment – and fits with items you may already own.  Create harmony. Think about the flow of color from one room to the next.  Start with an important item that will be the focal point of your room – a sofa, a rug or a piece of art.


	
Consider your budget & timeline.  This is the hard part.  Take a good look at your finances and try to come up with a rough figure for what you plan to spend.  Look at prices – particularly for ‘big ticket’ items -- and decide where you may want to splurge and where you can economize.  In addition, not every piece has to be purchased at the same time. Once you have a plan, you can always “fill in” a room when your finances permit. Consider investing in, and waiting for, high quality furniture a decision that will serve you well into the future.


	
Browse online or in stores.  Okay, now you are ready to start looking around.  The possibilities are endless.  Look at catalogues, magazines and websites.  Browse through local stores.  Ask for opinions – get design assistance.  Bring along all the elements you have put together as part of your foundation – dimensions, photos, layouts, product inventory and color schemes.  If you have any fabric swatches, bring those along too.
 

You are now ready to shop!  In the months ahead, we will take you on a room-by-room tour to help you design your own distinctive home.

Brought to you by Cottage Home - specializing in cottage furniture & farmhouse tables		
                    [post_title] => Interior Decorating Ideas: Starting A Project
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				While everyone has their own way of working, here are some suggestions that may well help you make your interior cottage style decorating projects easier – and more fun.		
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				Fall is officially here and we are feeling inspired by the orange hues we see all around us - turning leaves, plump pumpkins, early sunsets & late-night campfires!
Flagstaff Bench customizations: 60"L x 25"D x 38"H, one color painted, tangerine, medium rub & distressing $725  |  Cottage Single Pedestal Desk & Hutch customizations: 48"W x 24"D x 65"H, standard leg, right side two drawers, keyboard pull-out tray, beadboard side panels, beadboard hutch, painted, squash, shaker knobs $1,545  |  Orange Recycled Glass Fluted Urn Lamp 25"H $230  |  Marina Slipcovered Accent Chair 34"W x 35"D x 37"H $980  |  Carolina Two Door Bookcase customizations: 55"W x 14"D x 84"H, straight base, arched top, fluted stiles, carolina basket weave doors, wood knobs, two tone painted, snow with jambalaya back $3,095  |  Paprika Labyrinth Hand Tufted Rug 4'6" x 6'6" $795  |  Lanier End Table customizations: 16"W x 16"D x 24"H, two color rub, tangerine over butter, medium distressing $600  |  East Lake Pedestal Table customizations: 48"R x 30"H, custom stain top, painted base, tangerine, medium distressing $1,920  |  Orange Oval Glass Lamp 27"H $230  |  Chatham Slipcovered Sofa $1,585  |  Carolina Four Drawer Kitchen Island customizations: 60"W x 25"D x 35"H, butcher block top, painted base, sunset $3,010
Brought to you by Cottage Home - specializing in cottage furniture & farmhouse tables		
                    [post_title] => Inspiration Board: Autumn Oranges
                    [post_excerpt] => 
				Cottage style inspiration board inspired by Autumn Oranges. #inspirationboards #decoratingwithorange #cottagestyle #slipcoveredsofas #paintedfurniture https://www.cottagehomefurniture.com		
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				A staple of the country or cottage home, today’s braided rug is reminiscent of earlier days evoking memories of hearth and home.  With sophisticated colors and patterns, braided rugs are now ‘at home’ in any setting from county cabin to urban contemporary.  These are not your Grandma’s braided rugs!

The braided rug carries memories of a simpler time when families gathered around the hearth at the end of a busy day.  This traditional American craft actually originated in England and traveled to North America with the Pilgrims.  Simple and sturdy, these rugs were used to warm the cold wooden floorboards in Colonial New England.  The braided rug soon made its way West with the pioneers, and quickly spread throughout the country.

Women gathered in the evenings, braiding rugs from old scraps of fabric, worn coats, and discarded pieces of clothing – the ultimate in recycling.  They passed the skill along to their daughters, working together while the men repaired harnesses and tools.  In its earliest form, there was little attention paid to design or color.  Most braided rugs had a strand of black fabric running through the entire rug, since black was the most readily available fabric culled from old black coats, pants and jackets.  The black strand was braided with whatever other colors were on hand at the time.  This was commonly referred to as the ‘hit-or-miss’ pattern.

A typical braided rug is made from three strands of fiber.  Just like braiding hair, the right strand is wrapped over the center strand and then the left strand is wrapped over the center strand, in a continuous cycle of repetition.  When it reaches the desired length, the braid is then sewn together into various shapes and sizes – round or oval being the simplest and originially most popular.  Eventually, square and rectangular rugs were made, some even reversible. 

When New England emerged as a center for wool-making in the 1800’s, braided rugs became more sophisticated and complex.  Skeins of wool became available, replacing the old discarded fabrics and remnants.  As designs became more intricate, some women even developed their own recognizable style, much like a signature.  There were borders and variations of patterns using color and shading.  The humble braided rug came into its own as a treasure of American Folk Art.

Like its cousin – the antique hand-sewn quilt – heirloom braided rugs are difficult to find today and usually fetch high prices.  Their age and fragility often makes them better suited for wall art than for a floor covering.
Hand-braided rugs are still made today by crafters and artisans following the time-honored tradition of the early colonial settlers.  As cottage or country style furnishings have come into vogue, the braided rug is fast becoming a focal point of the new ‘old’ décor.  Few are still hand-crafted, while most are machine made, making them more affordable.  Today’s rugs come in a variety of materials, including wool, cotton, nylon, chenille cotton and even polypropylene for outdoor use.
Unlike their humble ancestors, contemporary braided rugs offer endless choices – round, square, oval, rectangular in standard or custom dimensions to fit any setting.  Patterns and colors range from bold stripes to subtle hues.  Some braided rugs replicate the traditional patterns that date back to the 1800’s when braiding was in its heyday.  Others set out in a striking, creative new direction to impart a contemporary interpretation to the traditional braided rug with vertical, concentric and cross-sewn braids.  Some rugs are even made using ‘micro-braids’ for enhanced color variation.  Reversible rugs enable the homeowner to change the décor with the changing seasons.  No wonder the simple braided rug is experiencing a renaissance – finding its place in homes from the seashore to the mountains, lakes, and prairies.  Quite simply – the braided rug is as American as apple pie! 

   
Brought to you by Cottage Home - specializing in cottage furniture & farmhouse tables		
                    [post_title] => The Braided Rug: A Tradition Old & New
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				A staple of the country or cottage home, today’s braided rug is reminiscent of earlier days evoking memories of hearth and home.  With sophisticated colors and patterns, braided rugs are now ‘at home’ in any setting from county cabin to urban contemporary.  These are not your Grandma’s braided rugs!		
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"My favorite color palette uses soft blues and whites, especially for homes along the Maine coast.  I love cotton and linen fabrics as they lend themselves to a comfortable and airy feel.  I chose the driftwood finish for the chair to bring in the natural element of the beach to my coastal living room.  The rug adds another pattern that ties the room together and pairs beautifully with the upholstery."
- Jennifer R.





Jennifer's Choices: Monterey Exposed Leg Roll Arm 3 Seat Sofa slipcovered with Glynn Blanc and Glynn Chambray contrast welt and Paloma Mocha throw pillows, Oceano Giclée Canvas, Blue Mercury Crackle Lamp, Isle of Palms Rug, Santa Ana Accent Chair & Ottoman upholstered in Latika Indigo and Driftwood frame

Brought to you by Cottage Home - specializing in cottage furniture & farmhouse tables		
                    [post_title] => Staff Picks: Jennifer's Living Room
                    [post_excerpt] => 
				Living room choices from one of our designers including a sofa, chairs, rug, lamp and artwork, inspired by coastal cottage design. #coastallivingroom #beachhousedecor #slipcoveredsofas #cottagefurniture https://www.cottagehomefurniture.com		
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				When decorating a living room consider first, how often do you use your living room?  Is it reserved for company or does it get everyday use?  If you do a lot of formal entertaining, you’ll approach the design of your living room differently than if it is the center of your family life.

Whatever style you want to employ, every living room needs comfortable seating, sufficient lighting, and tables to hold cocktails or magazines.  What’s the focal point?  Does the room invite you in?  Most importantly, do the furnishings and décor reflect the ambiance you want to create in your home?





Brought to you by Cottage Home - specializing in cottage furniture & farmhouse tables		
                    [post_title] => Living & Family Rooms
                    [post_excerpt] => 
				When decorating a living room consider first, how often do you use your living room?  Is it reserved for company or does it get everyday use?  If you do a lot of formal entertaining, you’ll approach the design of your living room differently than if it is the center of your family life.		
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				When decorating with green, it is often used like a neutral color to balance a room since certain shades of green, such as soft sage, can go with almost any other color.  How can you overlook Mother Nature's use of color as a source of inspiration?  Green has also said to have meditative qualities.
Click on any item in the board to learn more about it!

Sonoma Wicker Wingback Chair 33″W x 25″D x 45″H, khaki green $735  |  Mystic I Canvas Giclee 54" x 26" $290  |  Carolina Large Console Buffet & Hutch customizations: 68″W x 20″D x 86″H, flush drawers, wood knobs, two tone painted, ivory with palm back $4,415  |  Green Fern Needlepoint Pillow 18"W x 14"H $165  |  Round Side Table 20"R x 27"H, turquoise $395  |  Pawley's Island Console Table 60″L x 16″D x 30″H, lime zinger $1,495  |  Haven Hand Loomed Rug 4' x 6' $680  |  Stilwell Honeydew Fabric |  Carolina Wide Cupboard customizations: 42″W x 20″D x 70″H, straight base, bermuda shutter doors, wood knobs, one color painted, palm $4,645  |  Boston Map 1775 25.875"Sq $310  |  Shoreline Slipcovered Loveseat Corner Sectional $3,320


Brought to you by Cottage Home - specializing in cottage furniture & farmhouse tables		
                    [post_title] => Inspiration Board: Shades of Green
                    [post_excerpt] => 
				Green is often used like a neutral color to balance a room since certain shades of green, such as soft sage, can go with almost any other color. How can you overlook Mother Nature's use of color as a source of inspiration? Green has also said to have meditative qualities. #cottagefurniture #decoratingwithgreen #inspirationboards #cottagestyle https://www.cottagehomefurniture.com		
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				Every sitting spot needs a focal point.  If your living room has a natural architectural focus, such as a fireplace, built-in bookcases, or a great view, group seating around it.

If not, create your own!  Arrange seating to focus on your favorite painting, a grouping of prints, a decorative mirror - whatever you choose.

Source: BHG New Decorating Book
 
photo: countryliving.com
 
Brought to you by Cottage Home - specializing in cottage furniture & farmhouse tables

 
		
                    [post_title] => Design Tip: Choose Your Focus
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				Every sitting spot needs a focal point.  If your living room has a natural architectural focus, such as a fireplace, built-in bookcases, or a great view, group seating around it.		
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				For the writer, it’s the tyranny of the blank page.  For the artist, it’s the white canvas.  And for the home decorator … it’s the empty room.  Where do I start?  How do I make all those creative ideas a reality?  And, what if I make a mistake?

Don’t worry, you are not alone.  Getting started is always the hardest part of any creative endeavor – whether it’s a poem, a painting, or an interior décor.

While everyone has their own way of working, here are some suggestions that may well help you make your interior cottage style decorating projects easier – and more fun.  It’s based on our years of experience helping our customers design rooms that work.



First and foremost – start by providing a structure.  Before you even think about colors and fabrics and all those nice touches, you need to lay the foundation.

	
Begin with careful room measurements.  It might sound obvious, but start with the overall dimensions of the room.  Be sure to include window and door locations, windowsill heights, stairs, fireplace, unusual wall locations or anything else that will affect furniture placement and flow.  Good measurements are the first and most important step to plan your room and avoid costly mistakes.


	
Take pictures.   Keep a record of every room for future reference.  Bring them along with you when you start to shop. Be sure to include any pieces of furniture you may want to keep.  Before and after photos can serve as a valuable reference for future decorating projects.


	
Design a rough layout.  You can do this on the computer, as we do.  There are many computer programs available that enable you to create a layout, ‘drag and drop’ actual photos of furniture and move things around with the click of a mouse.  You can access our software program here. Or, if you prefer, you can use graph paper to hand-draw your layout.  Use the grid lines to make a layout to scale.  The rule of thumb is one box on the grid equals one foot of space.  Sketch in where you want to place furniture for each room including the dimensions.

  

	
Take an inventory.  Not everyone starts with an empty room or house.  There may well be pieces of furniture you want to keep and some you wish to discard.  Take a good hard look and decide which ones are the ‘keepers’.  Can a sofa be reupholstered or recovered with slipcovers?  Can a table or chest be refinished or painted?  Is this really something that you want to keep?  Is it worth keeping?  Oftentimes, unless you plan on reworking a piece yourself, the cost of refurbishing an existing piece can be almost as much as purchasing a new item.  Once you have decided what to keep and what to replace, draw up a furniture inventory of items you will need for each room.  Include dimensions – even though these may be just ‘guess-timates’ in this phase.


	
Think about your personal style.  Are you the country cottage type, traditional or sleek modern?  Don’t forget you can mix and match styles in today’s eclectic design.  Look at the architecture of your home – and its surroundings to create a natural fit with your environment.  And don’t forget to consider your lifestyle.  Is it casual and easy-care or is it more formal?  Are there kids and pets to consider?  Start to envision your ‘dream house’ – a house that works for everyone involved.


	
Scheme about color.  Now is the time to start thinking about your color scheme. Get creative. Scour websites and magazines for ideas.  What colors do you love – and which ones do you avoid?  Pick a color combination that works best for your environment – and fits with items you may already own.  Create harmony. Think about the flow of color from one room to the next.  Start with an important item that will be the focal point of your room – a sofa, a rug or a piece of art.


	
Consider your budget & timeline.  This is the hard part.  Take a good look at your finances and try to come up with a rough figure for what you plan to spend.  Look at prices – particularly for ‘big ticket’ items -- and decide where you may want to splurge and where you can economize.  In addition, not every piece has to be purchased at the same time. Once you have a plan, you can always “fill in” a room when your finances permit. Consider investing in, and waiting for, high quality furniture a decision that will serve you well into the future.


	
Browse online or in stores.  Okay, now you are ready to start looking around.  The possibilities are endless.  Look at catalogues, magazines and websites.  Browse through local stores.  Ask for opinions – get design assistance.  Bring along all the elements you have put together as part of your foundation – dimensions, photos, layouts, product inventory and color schemes.  If you have any fabric swatches, bring those along too.
 

You are now ready to shop!  In the months ahead, we will take you on a room-by-room tour to help you design your own distinctive home.

Brought to you by Cottage Home - specializing in cottage furniture & farmhouse tables		
            [post_title] => Interior Decorating Ideas: Starting A Project
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Category: Living Rooms

Cottage Living Room Decorating

Cottage living room decorating ideas to help you create a casual and comfy space for watching the latest movie, reading the Sunday paper or entertaining your friends. Cottage living room decorating posts include Color Boards, Inspiration Boards, Get the Look, Rooms to Love and Design Tips all focused on cottage style living rooms and family rooms. All of the posts include sorting tags to focus on specific colors or a cottage decorating style. For additional help or to discuss your decorating challenges please feel free to contact our designers.

Interior Decorating Ideas: Starting A Project

October 16, 2012

2

Articles, Living Rooms, Lodge & Lake House

While everyone has their own way of working, here are some suggestions that may well help you make your interior cottage style decorating projects easier – and more fun.

Read more

Inspiration Board: Autumn Oranges

September 25, 2012

Cottage Style, Dining Rooms & Kitchens, Inspiration Boards, Living Rooms

Cottage style inspiration board inspired by Autumn Oranges. #inspirationboards #decoratingwithorange #cottagestyle #slipcoveredsofas #paintedfurniture https://www.cottagehomefurniture.com

Read more

The Braided Rug: A Tradition Old & New

September 21, 2012

Articles, Bedrooms, Coastal & Beach House, Cottage Style, Dining Rooms & Kitchens, Entryways, Farmhouse & Country, Living Rooms, Lodge & Lake House, Offices & Studies, Porches

A staple of the country or cottage home, today’s braided rug is reminiscent of earlier days evoking memories of hearth and home. With sophisticated colors and patterns, braided rugs are now ‘at home’ in any setting from county cabin to urban contemporary. These are not your Grandma’s braided rugs!

Read more

Staff Picks: Jennifer’s Living Room

September 11, 2012

Coastal & Beach House, Cottage Style, Inspiration Boards, Living Rooms

Living room choices from one of our designers including a sofa, chairs, rug, lamp and artwork, inspired by coastal cottage design. #coastallivingroom #beachhousedecor #slipcoveredsofas #cottagefurniture https://www.cottagehomefurniture.com

Read more

Living & Family Rooms

July 22, 2012

Living Rooms

When decorating a living room consider first, how often do you use your living room? Is it reserved for company or does it get everyday use? If you do a lot of formal entertaining, you’ll approach the design of your living room differently than if it is the center of your family life.

Read more

Inspiration Board: Shades of Green

July 22, 2012

2

Cottage Style, Inspiration Boards, Living Rooms

Green is often used like a neutral color to balance a room since certain shades of green, such as soft sage, can go with almost any other color. How can you overlook Mother Nature’s use of color as a source of inspiration? Green has also said to have meditative qualities. #cottagefurniture #decoratingwithgreen #inspirationboards #cottagestyle https://www.cottagehomefurniture.com

Read more

Design Tip: Choose Your Focus

July 12, 2012

Cottage Style, Design Tips, Living Rooms

Every sitting spot needs a focal point. If your living room has a natural architectural focus, such as a fireplace, built-in bookcases, or a great view, group seating around it.

Read more

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