Have you decided to enter the business of renting holiday properties? Maybe you are just looking to build your own little refuge on the shoreline, to have a nice peaceful place to go when you just need to unwind from everyday life? Good decision either way!
But one decision that many people starting out seem to really struggle with is – how exactly do you achieve that serene aesthetic? That is why we decided to go out and take a look at some of the Best Scottish Cottages, and came back with some nifty design ideas to help you finalize your little seaside paradise!
Be careful when curating your furniture
This is primarily aimed at those of you who are looking to set up a holiday cottage for your own use and enjoyment. Since this would be your home away from home, you may feel that pesky temptation to succumb to “storage decorating”.
Storage decorating is when you take the furnishings from home, which you really like but have no place to store, and just relocate them to the cottage. This includes furniture, ornaments, artwork, and everything in between.
Doing this will inevitably result in a look that is a mismatched, haphazardly gathered collection of random stuff, and so completely not stylish. You have to be strict on yourself. Come up with an overall theme for how you want your cottage to look – a color scheme, a specific feel you want it to have, and just the target style overall. Anything that does not fit that vision is not allowed in!
Check out this link for some awesome ideas on how to properly employ the characteristic “cottage style” to your interior design. Even if you decide to
Make sure each area has a point of focus
This way, there will not be a single dull or uninspired corner in your little getaway. Take a good, honest look at every single room, as well as your entryway, corridor, front and back yards or gardens, bathroom, kitchen, and any terraces you might also have.
Identify each area’s default focal point. In simple English, this is that one feature in every spot that naturally stand out the most: maybe a slanted ceiling, or a large window with lots of sunshine coming through.
If you are unable to find one, make one! Use contrasting color or dramatic wallpaper to make a feature wall. Play with curtains. Rearrange the furniture. Utilize a pleasing rug to liven up a bland floor.
Take care with selecting the artwork
When it comes to choosing artwork pieces to include in a holiday cottage (or any space really), many people make the mistake of treating it as just a way to fill up wall space. This is the wrong approach.
Every it of artwork you display – paintings, vases, carvings etc. – has to have a purpose. Use it to enhance the decor scheme of a given room. Utilize art as an agent of impact to create a focal point in a dull room.
When choosing pieces to hang, scale them to the size of the wall area: make them neither to small nor too large. Also, make the investment and get the, professionally framed! For some cool advice on how to choose appropriate art for your space, take a look at this web page: https://www.mydomaine.com/choosing-art-tips
Do not be afraid to add a splash of color
When it comes to cottage dwellings, either at the seaside or otherwise, there is a strong tendency to gravitate towards the neutral colors palettes. White, gray, beige, cream, and various woody browns are effectively an unwritten rule by now.
A neutral theme like this makes for a wonderfully soothing background, but color really ties it together and brings the whole place to life! If you are feeling bold or adventurous, try having a future wall. Give it a dramatic color (either paint it or just apply wallpaper). If you are feeling slightly less daring, though, accent color is the way to go. Pick one hue in several shades, and apply them to your rugs, curtains, throw pillows and the like.
Never neglect the finishing touches
It sounds like a tired old phrase, but finishing touches do really make all the difference in the design world. Some common wrap-ups include tying back the open curtains, neatly stacking up your crockery, fluffing all of your pillows, ironing the bedding, and neatly arranging any bookshelves you have.
If you really want to cover all of the details, consider coordinating the accessories throughout the cottage and yard. Choose matching colors, patterns, or shapes. If your cottage allows for a log fire, have the wood set up properly. Out any drinks, such as wine, into the fridge to chill off.
To read more on topics like this, check out the travel tips category.
