Cottage decorating is really quite a bit of fun. Cottages are more ?fun? than homes, and they are usually used as second dwellings or cute little rental properties and thus automatically lend themselves to more creative design features. Naturally, when decorating a cottage, the natural ambiance that surrounds the cottage can be taken into account. A cottage by the beach, for example, can often reflect the natural surrounding with driftwood accents, palm trees, and lots of bright and airy colors.

When decorating a cottage, one basic rule of thumb reigns true. The more simplistic the decorating, the better. Cottages are smaller, usually with smaller rooms than a house, with lower ceilings, and smaller yards. This is generally speaking of course and there is always the exception. By keeping the interior of each room open and as specious as possible, the cottage can seem larger and roomier than one would imagine. The use of bright colors also helps to open up the space. Filling a cottage with too much furniture and other little trinkets gives it a cluttered appearance.

For the smallest rooms, it is recommended to start at the middle where there is ample open space and make it sacred. From there, you can build outward to maintain the spaces that are vital to movement, as well as spaces that maintain a feel of openness. If the room is too small for the fabulous sofa that you love, you're not going to love that fabulous sofa every time you have to run sideways to walk through to the next room.

Cottages naturally tend to lend themselves to bright and airy window dressings, often dolled with classic lace. At the same time, bamboo shades work well with a cottage motif. Cottages are a chance to get more creative, to try things you want to try at home with a lower expense.

Cottages can be very stylish for those who don't wish to go the ?fun? route. Simple and basic antiques, strong and sturdy dark wood pieces, and little treasures like chests and window boxes create simple yet potentially beautiful accents that are classic in design.

When going more upscale in cottage decorating, the ultimate goal is to leave not only open functional spaces on the floor design, but open spaces along the walls, on table tops, and elsewhere throughout the cottage. Upscale decorating often tends to be more bare bones with just a few solid and beautiful accents, rather than a multitude of various pieces. Upscale is not about price, but about style. Spending a fortune on something doesn't make it tasteful. While there are tasteful items that are pricey, upscale and decadent finds can be had in the little shops, the antique stores, and the online stores that really make a strong statement.

Cottage decorating should reflect the owners? respective personalities no matter how different they may be. Most cottages are owned by long term relationship couples, and obviously their differences have worked well for them thus far. Creating complimentary differences throughout a cottage can be a fun challenge with a phenomenal result.