Eight Ways to Bring Chic Country Cottage to Your Southern Home

Chic Country Cottage is a beautiful and inviting interior design style that combines the elegance of traditional country decor with the relaxed and cozy feel of shabby chic. It’s the southern take on the popular shabby chic trend, incorporating elements of southern charm and hospitality into the design aesthetic. With its focus on natural materials, soft pastel colors, and vintage-inspired accents, Chic country cottage creates a warm and inviting atmosphere that feels like a second home. Whether you’re looking to decorate your entire home or just add a touch of southern charm to a single room, chic country cottage is a versatile and timeless style that will bring beauty and comfort to any space.

Bringing a touch of southern charm to your home is easier than you think. With a few simple touches, you can create a space that’s both beautiful and welcoming, reflecting the warmth and hospitality of the South. Whether you live in the heart of Dixie or simply admire the style, these easy tips and tricks will help you add a touch of chic country cottage elements to your home.

So, get ready to infuse your space with some down-home charm and let’s get started:

Mix Patterns

Mixing and matching patterns is a timeless and effective way to add some life and character to any room. The use of classic patterns like gingham, stripes, florals, and solids can create a cozy and inviting atmosphere, making your home feel like a warm and welcoming retreat.

The use of these patterns dates back to the Victorian era, when they were used in homes to bring a sense of comfort and familiarity to the space. Today, they remain an essential part of the country cottage aesthetic, adding a charming and rustic feel to any home. When used in the right way, these patterns can create a stylish and cohesive look, making your space feel like a second home.

Decorating Tips

Here are some ways you can incorporate gingham, stripes, florals, and solids into your home to create a chic country cottage look:

Gingham: Use gingham in small doses, such as a gingham tablecloth or curtains, to add a pop of pattern to a room.
Stripes: Vertical stripes can be used to elongate a room, while horizontal stripes create a cozy and inviting atmosphere. Use them on pillows, curtains, or even a stripe accent wall.
Florals: Use florals on upholstery, bedding, or curtains to add a touch of femininity to your space. Choose vintage-inspired prints for a shabby chic look.
Solids: Use solids as a backdrop for your patterns, such as a solid color sofa paired with patterned throw pillows. You can also use solids to create a calm and serene atmosphere, such as pale blue walls or a yellow armchair.

When used in combination with other elements of shabby chic decor, gingham, stripes, florals, and solids can help create a cozy and charming country cottage look in your home.

Learn about the history of shabby chic decor in the south.

Distressed Furniture

Distressed furniture is the epitome of shabby chic decor, and it’s a staple of southern style. The concept of distressed furniture dates back to the 18th and 19th centuries, when pieces were intentionally “distressed” to give them an aged appearance. This was done as a way to mimic the look of well-loved, antique furniture that had been passed down for generations.

It adds texture and depth, making it feel warm, comfortable, and inviting. The imperfections in the furniture, such as chipped paint, dents, and scratches, give it character and personality, making each piece unique. Distressed furniture is also very versatile, as it can be paired with a variety of other styles, patterns, and colors.

Decorating Tips

Here are some examples of how you can incorporate distressed furniture into your home to create a chic country cottage look:

Use a distressed armchair or sofa as the focal point of your living room, pairing it with soft pastel throw pillows for a cozy and inviting feel.
Incorporate a distressed coffee table into your living room, using it to display vintage books, flowers, or other decorative accents.
Add a distressed dining table and chairs to your dining room, creating a warm and inviting space for family meals and entertaining.
Use a distressed bed frame as the centerpiece of your bedroom, pairing it with crisp white linens and soft pastel accents for a cozy and romantic feel.
Incorporate a distressed sideboard or console table into your entryway, using it to display fresh flowers, vintage accents, or family photos.
Use distressed accents like candle holders, vases, and picture frames to add a touch of rustic charm to any room in your home.
Incorporate distressed storage pieces like vintage suitcases, trunks, and baskets into your decor, using them to store and display items in a stylish and functional way.

By incorporating distressed furniture into your decor, you can create a chic country cottage look that is warm, inviting, and full of character. Whether you prefer vintage pieces or new pieces that have been distressed to look old, this style will bring a touch of southern charm to your home, making it a space that you’ll love coming home to.

Wreaths And Garlands

Bringing in southern charm to your home through decor is as easy as adding wreaths and garlands. The use of natural materials will create a rustic and romantic ambiance, reflecting the traditional southern style.

The use of natural materials, such as magnolia leaves and cotton bolls, in home decor dates back to the early days of southern living, where these materials were readily available and used to add a touch of nature to the home. These materials, combined with the timeless charm of wreaths and garlands, evoke a sense of history and tradition, reminding us of the warmth and hospitality of the southern way of life.

Decorating Tips

Here are some examples of how you can incorporate wreaths and garlands into your home to create a chic country cottage look:

Use a fresh or artificial magnolia wreath on your front door to welcome guests in style.
Incorporate a garland of fresh cotton bolls or artificial cotton stems into your mantle or bookshelf, creating a warm and inviting display.
Hang a wreath of dried flowers or herbs in your kitchen, adding a touch of color and fragrance to the space.
Use a garland of fresh eucalyptus leaves or artificial greenery to decorate a dining table or buffet, creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere.
Incorporate a wreath of dried wheat or other natural materials into your decor, creating a rustic and charming display.
Use garlands of dried flowers or greenery to decorate a staircase or banister, adding a touch of color and texture to the space.
Incorporate a wreath of magnolia leaves or other natural materials into your bathroom, creating a spa-like atmosphere.

By incorporating wreaths and garlands into your decor, you can add color, fragrance, and life to any room in your home, creating a chic country cottage look that is warm, inviting, and full of character. Whether you prefer fresh or artificial materials, this style will bring a touch of southern charm to your home, making it a space that you’ll love coming home to.

Pastel Colors

Soft pastel colors like pale pink, blue, and yellow evoke a classic southern vibe. Paint a piece of furniture or add some pastel accents to a room to bring in a touch of charm.

In the South, these colors were often used in traditional antebellum homes, where they were seen as delicate, feminine, and sophisticated. Soft pastels added a gentle touch of color to the otherwise neutral palette of the home, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. The gentle hues of soft pastels also serve to contrast with the worn, weathered appearance of distressed furniture, adding a touch of delicacy and charm to the space.

Decorating Tips

Here are some examples of how you can incorporate pastel colors into your home to create a chic country cottage look:

Paint your walls in a soft pastel hue, such as pale pink, blue, or yellow. This will create a warm and inviting atmosphere and provide a backdrop for your decor.
Incorporate pastel-colored throw pillows and blankets into your living room, adding pops of color and texture to the space.
Use pastel-colored dishes, glasses, and linens in your dining room, creating a cohesive and charming look.
Incorporate pastel-colored curtains into your windows, adding a touch of color and softness to the space.
Use pastel-colored tablecloths and runners on your dining table, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Add pastel-colored accents, such as vases, picture frames, and candle holders, to your bookshelves, mantel, or coffee table, adding pops of color and texture to the space.
Incorporate pastel-colored rugs into your living room, bedroom, or bathroom, adding a touch of color and texture to the floor.

By incorporating pastel colors into your home, you can create a chic country cottage look that is soft, inviting, and full of character. Whether you prefer a single pastel hue or a mix of pastel colors, this style will bring a touch of southern charm to your home, making it a space that you’ll love coming home to.

Floral Arrangements

In addition to bringing color, fragrance, and life to a room, flowers also play a crucial role in creating the chic country cottage look. Flowers in shabby chic and southern decor are often used to evoke a sense of nature and simplicity, creating a peaceful and relaxed atmosphere. Whether they are freshly picked from the garden or arranged in artificial bouquets, flowers bring a touch of beauty and grace to any space.

In a chic country cottage style, flowers are typically arranged in simple, rustic containers such as vases, baskets, or Mason jars. The choice of container is important, as it helps to reinforce the organic and natural feel of the space. Using a mix of different types and colors of flowers can add depth and texture, creating a visually stunning display that is both charming and inviting.

Decorating Tips

Here are our recommendations for using flowers to create a chic country cottage style in your home:

Centerpieces: Arrange fresh or artificial flowers in a vase, basket, or Mason jar for a charming display on a dining table, coffee table, or windowsill.
Wreaths: Create a wreath from fresh or dried flowers to hang on a wall or on a front door for a touch of rustic charm.
Wall arrangements: Hang flower arrangements in vintage frames on the wall to create a romantic, shabby chic look.
Bouquets: Place a bouquet of fresh or artificial flowers in a pitcher or vase on a kitchen counter, mantel, or side table.
Window boxes: Fill window boxes with flowering plants to bring a touch of nature into your home and create a charming, country cottage look.

When used in combination with other elements of shabby chic decor, flowers can help bring color, fragrance, and life to any room and enhance the overall chic country cottage style in your home.

Weathered Wood

Weathered wood is not only a staple of southern style, but it is also an important part of the chic country cottage aesthetic. This style of decor emerged in the 1980s and 1990s, when designers and homeowners began to embrace the beauty of patina, chipping paint, and natural aging in their interiors. Weathered wood is the epitome of this look, capturing the essence of time-worn charm and simple elegance.

The use of weathered wood in chic country cottage decor can be seen in a variety of ways, from accent walls and beams to furniture pieces like coffee tables and bookcases. When using weathered wood in your decor, the key is to embrace its imperfections and allow it to take center stage. You can also mix and match different shades of weathered wood to create a layered and textured look, or combine it with other natural materials such as stone, linen, and botanicals to reinforce the organic feel of the space. Regardless of how you choose to use it, weathered wood is an essential element of the chic country cottage aesthetic, offering a timeless and stylish touch to any southern home.

Decorating Tips

Here are a few examples of how you can use weathered wood to create a chic country cottage look in your home:

Accent walls: Create a statement wall in a living room, bedroom or kitchen by using reclaimed wood for a rustic and natural look.
Furniture: Use weathered wood for coffee tables, side tables, and bookcases for a warm and inviting feel.
Beams: Install exposed wooden beams in a living room, dining room or kitchen for a cozy and rustic look.
Headboards: Use reclaimed wood to create a stylish and chic headboard for your bed.
Shelves: Install weathered wood shelves to store books, plants, and decor items.

Incorporating weathered wood into your decor can add a touch of natural beauty and a sense of history to your home, while also complementing the chic country cottage aesthetic.

Iron Accents

The trend of incorporating iron into home decor began in the South, where it was used as a practical solution for lighting and as a way to bring a touch of vintage elegance to the home. Over time, iron accents became a staple of southern style, and today they are widely recognized as a symbol of rustic charm and timeless beauty.

Wrought iron pieces with a vintage look are especially effective in bringing the southern feel to your home. These pieces often feature intricate scrollwork, curlicues, and other decorative elements that lend a touch of old-world charm to the space. When incorporating iron accents into your decor, it’s best to choose pieces that are well-made and authentic, as these will bring a sense of history and longevity to the room. Iron accents add rustic charm to a home by providing a sense of weight and solidity. The natural, organic look of iron fits perfectly with the shabby chic aesthetic, which celebrates the beauty of patina and natural aging.

Decorating Tips

Here are some ways you can use iron accents to create a chic country cottage look in your home:

Chandeliers: Hang a vintage-inspired wrought iron chandelier over a dining table or in a living room for a touch of rustic charm.
Candle holders: Use iron candle holders on a mantel, coffee table or side table to add a cozy and romantic feel to a room.
Wall art: Incorporate iron wall art, such as wrought iron scrolls, into your decor for a touch of southern charm.
Plant hangers: Hang potted plants from wrought iron hangers for a chic and bohemian look.
Outdoor furniture: Use iron patio furniture, such as a wrought iron bistro set, to create a cozy and inviting outdoor space.

Iron accents can add a touch of rustic charm to your home, while also complementing the chic country cottage aesthetic. Choose vintage-inspired pieces for a timeless look that will never go out of style.

Rattan And Wicker

Rattan and wicker pieces, such as baskets, chairs, and lighting fixtures, have been a part of the chic country cottage style for decades. The use of natural materials like rattan and wicker dates back to the Victorian era, when they were used as a practical and stylish solution for furnishings and decor. Over time, these materials evolved into the bohemian chic look that we know today, offering a touch of texture and earthiness to any space.

When used in the right way, rattan and wicker can add a cozy, lived-in atmosphere to your home, making it feel like a warm and inviting retreat. These materials complement other elements of shabby chic decor, such as weathered wood, soft pastel colors, and vintage accents, by bringing a touch of natural beauty and organic texture to the space.

Decorating Tips

Here are some examples of using rattan and wicker to create a chic country cottage look in a southern home:

Wicker Baskets: Wicker baskets are a versatile and stylish way to bring in some natural texture to your home. You can use them as planters, storage baskets, or even as a display piece on a shelf.
Wicker Chairs: Wicker chairs are a classic country cottage element. They are perfect for outdoor spaces, a sunroom, or a living room corner. Pair them with some cozy cushions for ultimate comfort.
Wicker Pendant Light: A wicker pendant light is a beautiful way to add texture and warmth to a space. It can be used in a variety of settings, from a kitchen to a bedroom, and it’s a great way to add a bohemian touch to your home.
Rattan Mirrors: A rattan mirror can add a touch of natural charm to your home. You can use it in a bathroom, a living room, or even a bedroom to create a cozy and inviting space.
Wicker Lamp Shade: A wicker lamp shade can be a stylish and unique way to add some light to your home. It can be used on a table lamp, a floor lamp, or even a pendant light to create a chic country cottage feel.

These are just a few of the many ways to bring a touch of southern charm to your home. With a little creativity and a lot of love, you can create a space that’s not just beautiful, but one that truly feels like home.