Whether you want to make your cottage feel more like home or renting out a vacation property, there are a few easy ways to add some unique charm. Being creative with your own personal touches, adding some cozy comforts, and using fun accents will help create a home-away-from-home that you’ll be tempted to live in year-round!
What theme do you like?
There are probably some specific activities your family enjoys doing while at the cottage. Use these as inspiration for a decorating theme. If fishing is a favourite pastime, you can feature used fishing rods and nets, hang pictures of fish, or display lovely coffee table books about angling. If boating is your passion, you can decorate with old paddles or put up beautiful photos of the lake.
What inspires you in nature?
Because a cottage is a place to escape modern life for the great outdoors, use natural elements to remind you why you’re there! Showcase the connection to the trees and woods with rustic wood feature walls, natural ceiling beams, and a pile of firewood for the fireplace. Enjoy the natural beauty of rocks with stone fireplaces and accents.
Can you showcase something local?
Your cottage is located in a very specific place, and you can use your location for inspiration to make your home even more unique. Create a callout in an outdoor sign or indoor piece of wall art, display handiwork by local craftspeople, hang maps of the local geography or lake, or feature something unique to the area. Show your local pride by paying homage to the people and places that make the area special to you.
Can you make everyone feel at home?
A few small touches can make a big difference in making people feel comfortable and at home at the cottage. At one cottage where pets were an important part of the family, the homeowners built a replica dog house to match the cottage! Another cottage owner transformed a small gazebo into a zen yoga retreat to create a quiet space for relaxation. What’s important to your family or friends? Use their interests to create something that makes them feel special and reminds them of home.
