The modern cottage interior design style has come to stay and with good reason! The cozy and nostalgic, yet updated and clean cottage look is to die for.
Say the word “cottage” and you have my attention. Then combine the word “cottage” and “modern” and you’ve got me hooked. I absolutely LOVE the modern cottage interior design style. I actually love it so much, I have dedicated almost my entire Pinterest account to it.
This post is all about modern cottage interior design.
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What Characterizes the Modern Cottage Interior Design Style?
The modern cottage style has become wildly popular in recent years, and we keep hearing about it in the interior design world. But what is it really? Modern Cottage combines rustic cottage charm with elevated and sophisticated design. Think vintage English cottage with touches of modern, yet timeless luxury. If you like the sound of hardwood floors, brass details, natural stone, and muted paint colors you are going to adore this style.
This YouTube video by Ashley Childers explains it really well:
Modern Cottage Interior Design Elements
Let’s dive into the 7 modern cottage interior design ideas you can recreate in your own home.
1. Wide Plank Hardwood Floors
Wide plank hardwood floors fit right into the modern cottage interior design style. They add so much warmth to a space and they are beautiful to look at. Perfection is not the goal when designing in the modern cottage style. Therefore, a few scratches here and there are fine. The very first thing we did before moving into our 1800s home was to sand down the old hardwood floors, stain them, and seal them with oil. Beautiful floors are the perfect base for modern cottage home decor.
2. Brass Details
The brass kitchen faucet in this image makes such a statement on its own. Consider adding brass details when designing your modern cottage. Whether it be in lamps, faucets, hardware, or picture frames, I promise brass will add to that countryside cottage look. Against natural stone such as marble and soapstone, brass looks absolutely stunning.
3. Muted and Soft Paint Colors
You are going to want to choose muted and soft paint colors when designing your modern cottage. Consider natural paint colors that remind us of nature, like sage greens, muted blues, and browns. Warm, neutral colors like greige and cream also fit this style perfectly. To make your space look more modern, use charcoal black as a contrasting color on window trims, furniture, etc.
*The image above is AI-generated*
4. Mixing Vintage and Modern When Decorating
The decorating is the fun part! The key here is to balance modern and vintage perfectly. You don’t want too many antique pieces, but you also don’t want it to look too shiny and new! When decorating, try putting one vintage item and one modern item together. An example is adding a vintage vase on top of a more sleek, modern coffee table.
Thrift stores are a great place to find vintage and unique-looking pieces.
5. Natural Materials for Your Modern Cottage
Think about adding natural materials wherever you can—wooden ceiling beams, natural stone kitchen countertops (such as marble or soapstone), wooden furniture, and so on. Bringing natural elements inside gives us a sense of peace and comfort. It also adds to the cottage feeling we are trying to create. Having plants around the house is also a key. Consider dried flowers in vintage vases, a statement olive tree, or pretty branches as decor.
6. Built-in Shelves and Nooks
Modern cottage interior design is all about creating a cozy space that reminds us of old English country cottages. Therefore, we want to do everything we can to make our home feel inviting and cozy. Adding custom-built bookshelves and benches is a great way to add some cozy corners to the home. I recently wrote a post about reading nook ideas for adults, so if you’re interested in that, check out this blog post.
7. A Wood-burning fireplace
I love this built-in fireplace. The basket and sheepskin rug add extra cozy vibes to the space. When designing your modern cottage, consider installing a fireplace or wood-burning stove. If that is not an option for you, having candles around your home can add a lot of magic!
This blog post was all about modern cottage interior design. I hope you found some inspiration! Check out my other blog posts about cottage decor here.
If you’re a visual person who loves to see images of interior design examples (like me!), check out my Pinterest board all about cozy cottage interiors: