How to Create a Cottage Chic Look and Still Style on a Budget

Everybody’s style is unique – no two homes should be identical. I’m sure you’ve noted the stark differences between your parents’ home, your friends’ homes, and maybe the celebrity home photos splashed across the pages of every People magazine. Whether someone leans more toward traditional, modern, transitional, contemporary, or farmhouse, everyone has their own style.  

In my case, one of the styles that reflects my personality is cottage style decor. I love the soft, feminine, and cozy features of the cottage chic style. Plus, the rustic farmhouse notes naturally bring a nice masculine balance. It’s always been a favorite of mine, and when bringing it into my home, I’ve found ways to make it my own. However, the cottage chic style often gives off an upscale feel that makes my clients think it’s too pricey. While the upscale look is part of the appeal of cottage chic style done right, know that no matter your budget, you can bring cottage chic to life in your own home.  

Cottage style decor doesn’t have to break the bank. In this blog, I’ll show you how stylish bedroom wall décor ideas and budget friendly designs gave me precisely what I was looking for, all within a price range that I didn’t need to be Oprah Winfrey to afford. I’ll also share my favorite items with you so you can start your cottage chic styling today!  

How to Create a Cottage Chic Look 

No style is off-limits when reflecting who you are inside your home. Yes, there are million-dollar cottage looking houses that might be tricky to recreate without getting too pricey (unless you’re willing to use replicated pieces, that is). But if you want to put your own spin on cottage chic, you can be more creative in the home décor cottage style pieces you choose. Stick to budget-friendly pieces to make it happen! 

Here are some ways I did that in my own home, along with home projects for inspiration and associated links to the exact products I used to help you cut down on your search time. Get your renovations going! 

Patterned Wallpaper 

Patterned wallpaper is a great way to create a cottage chic look. As stylish bedroom wall décor ideas go, this one gives you many options that fit your aesthetic while serving your budget.  

To stay within the cottage look, pick a patterned wallpaper that includes florals, botanicals, and small patterns. Using these types of prints is a great way to add dimension to the room and give it an entirely new look. If wallpapering an entire room is out of your budget, you can keep cost low by doing just the ceiling or adding wallpaper to a smaller space like a closet of even the back of a bookshelf.

Color 

Paint is the best budget friendly design tool. Be sure to use the right colors to get a unique look that makes your design stand out. This will also separate your aesthetic from other design styles like a farmhouse look – which is based on neutral colors. Using blues and greens is a great way to start experimenting with a cottage chic color palette for your space. 

For one of my guest rooms, while I didn’t go with the blues and greens (although I did experiment with them), I went with a dirty pick color that gave an upscale feel to the room. I highly recommend using Sulking Room Pink by Farrow and Ball when trying to achieve this look! It beautifully complemented the florals and decor styles throughout the rest of the home. This is why it’s essential to play with the colors and find your fit. You never know which color will surprise you!  For 2023 we are also looking at richer hues like reds and browns which I cannot wait to work with!

Trimwork 

If you take nothing else from this blog, promise to remember this at least: trimwork is one of the main ways to get a high-end look. The best part? It’s cottage style decor you can DIY. And because you can DIY, it opens up many different home décor cottage styles you can use to make it your own.

Think vertical paneling like shiplap, beadboard, chair rails, crown molding, and more. The sky’s the limit. You can even layer different types of trimwork to get a custom look. Still not sure what I mean? Take a look at how I got creative with trimwork to create the cottage style on a budget throughout my home:  

• DIY reeded moulding in my bedroom 
• DIY wainscotting and crown moulding in my son’s nursery 
• DIY box moulding and beadboard in the guest room 
• DIY double raise panel feature in my dining room 

Warm Wood Tones 

Moving away from ashy and grey-toned woods instantly warms up a space and gives it a cozy cottage vibe. Think antique furniture, walnut tones, and deep rich woods to layer in with more modern pieces.  

Whether you’re in my nursery or dining room, you’ll see how I mixed in some warm wood tones to accomplish this feel. 

Texture 

My final suggestion for creating a cottage chic look on a budget is adding textures with throw pillows and blankets. A simple throw pillow, whether busy or subtle, can make all the difference in transforming a space and adding texture and layers to any given area. Look at how a blanket and throw pillows added that cottage chic feel to my guest room. They’re the perfect balance of visual appeal and functional pieces that both you and your family can actually use. 

Loving this look? Shop for your favorite beds, blankets, and throw pillows from my home as you add cottage style decor to your space.  

Achieve Your Look Without Breaking the Bank 

Cottage chic can certainly look like stylish décor that’s only reserved for Architectural Digest, but I hope that this blog has helped you see that you can achieve your desired look without going over budget. Your wallet will thank you. 

By being strategic with the wallpaper and colors you choose, you can easily achieve this European inspired style! With easy DIY trimwork, warm wood tones, and a few bed pillows and throw blankets mixed in, you can give your home a high-end feel without having to fork over the high-end prices.  

For more inspiration on achieving this look in your home, save yourself the hunt and click here to start shopping cottage inspiredpieces from my own home!