Renters Guide to Style: Cottage

Cottage style for renters is effortless if you are leasing a beach-side cottage. But if you crave the cottage look in a standard apartment, you might need to learn a few tricks of the trade. Here are several ways to steal that salt-and-sand feel for your rental, even if it’s in the city or suburbs.

Keep it simple, clean and bright

The bathroom above is a great example of the simple, clean and bright elements of cottage style. Glass containers filled with sand and seashells bring in a beachy feel. But keep things simple; less clutter makes a small space seem larger. Let in as much daylight as you can or use bright, daylight-mimicking lightbulbs to create a similar effect.

Add beadboard

Beadboard is one of the quickest ways to recreate the cottage style. Tacking on a few beadboard panels (also called wainscoting) to cabinet fronts won’t create a massive mess to undo (just keep your electric sander handy). If that’s not an option, incorporate it in other ways, such as removable shelves, tables or cabinets, like in the photo above. Of course, it’s best to have modifications approved by your landlord and put in writing. Hopefully they will consider it an upgrade and welcome the work.

Create cozy nooks

Don’t let small spaces, like a mudroom or screened-in porch, go to waste. A quick cottage-style makeover creates a cozy, useable nook. Use a neutral color palette and mix of textures, such as the hanging wreath and linen throw pillows on top of woven chairs in the image above, to create cottage comfort. All of the pieces are easily reusable in different spaces—perfect for another cozy nook in the next rental.

Incorporate a bit of country

Cottage brings a little bit of country with it—a nod to a simpler way of living. The flowers, distressed wood island and pottery shown here bring a touch of country to this cottage kitchen. The vintage side chair and copper cookware make sure the cottage theme is front-and-center.

Bring in a touch of romance

This simple color palette is brought to life with the textures of romance. Ruffles, ruffles and more ruffles adorn the bed linens while unfussy curtains trim the windows. A vintage green chair is also ever-so-worn to invite lounging. Cottage style is always welcoming and calming with a touch of genteel elegance — never stuffy or overdone.

Embrace ocean blues

Ocean blues are the perfect companion to sand tones and sun-bleached whites. Bring sea and sky indoors with various shades of blue in the form of accent decor. Layer in different textures to mimic nature as well, like with sheer light blue curtains and crisp white bed linens. The above look is simple and easily achievable for renters.

Use driftwood and distressed wood

Distressed or sun-bleached wood and driftwood are ideal for a cottage home. Pieces can be large, such as a dining or sofa table, or small, like a driftwood sculpture. Picture frames, side tables, desks, chairs and even lamps can be made from this weathered wood to add to the cottage look.