35 Ideas For Decorating A Small English Cottage Living Room

Learn all about the best design ideas for styling a small English cottage living room filled with charm!

Timeless and cozy, the English cottage style home is always a favorite design style when wanting to create a warm, intimate space. From the perfect color scheme reminiscent of the English countryside, to table lamps, botanical prints, cottage decor, floral patterns and more, these are the top design tips for decorating a small English cottage living room filled with warmth and charm.

Why You’ll Love An English Living Room

When you think of a living space in your own home that embraces an inviting atmosphere, one of the first rooms to come to mind is most likely the living room. A gathering space to spend time with family and friends, yet less formal than the dining room, the living room has a welcoming feel that tends to be unmatched. And the living room is meant to be used– a perfect place to gather and laugh, a place to relax, a place to curl up with a good book and a cup of tea.

Well, the English style living room takes this up a notch! A mix of cozy living and a vintage feel, a room filled with comfortable furniture and natural textures, and a space that feels curated and collected.

People are drawn to the English cottage-style design for a living room because it prioritizes comfort, warmth, and a deep sense of history. The English countryside living room embraces a curated, lived-in look, where a plush sofa, layered textiles (many natural materials), and soft, patterned fabrics (especially florals and leaf prints) create a lovely and inviting space.

It feels as though a small English cottage living room has been lovingly collected over decades, incorporating antique furniture, vintage accessories, vintage books, family heirlooms, and a color palette that lends a nod to the colors of an English country garden. Essentially, an English cottage living room style offers a cozy, nostalgic feel that makes everyone feel immediately at home.

English Resting Room Home Tour

It’s always a delight to go to the annual Lake Forest Showhouse. This year, the showhouse took place at a breathtaking 1895 estate featuring 30 rooms, English walled gardens and timeless architecture by Henry Ives Cobb. Stunning is an understatement.

One of my favorite rooms in the home was the “English Resting Room” by North Shore Nest. From the moment you walk into the room, you are greeted with warmth and character. Your mind feels at peace, and yet your eyes are dancing with interest at every inch of design detail and charm.

In this post, you will get a snippet of the home tour and this fabulous English Resting Room. For a more thorough tour of the English Resting Room, including sources and how to get a similar look (on any budget!), check out the tour HERE!

English Cottage Living Room Ideas

Creating an authentic English cottage living room, especially in a small space, can be done on any budget, by adding vintage details and focusing on cozy elements. If you’re ready to have your own living room feel like it is straight out of the English countryside, here are the top tips on how to incorporate English cottage style design elements into your home!

Art: Bring in art that feels historic, aged, or art that tells a story. Think boats at sea, the rolling hills of the English countryside, a quaint village, landscapes, an English garden oil painting, or classic floral paintings. While vintage art pieces are fantastic, there are some beautiful cottage style floral prints available on Etsy that are very budget-friendly.
Art Displays and Gallery Wall: You’ll notice that English cottage style rooms typically display art in numerous spaces throughout the room. A reading nook might have a painting nearby with a picture light above it. A small painting might be displayed on the fireplace mantle. Bookshelves will display artwork as “breaks” between the book displays. And typically, the wall behind the sofa is filled with a curated gallery wall filled with mismatched picture frames of aged gold or rich wood tones placed closely together. This adds instant history, personality, and a sense of having “collected” art over time, which is the ultimate goal of the English cottage aesthetic.
Picture Rails: Consider installing a simple brass rail (as seen above) or wooden rail near the ceiling for hanging artwork, which allows you to easily rotate artwork displays without damaging the wall, and adds that cottage style character.
Mismatched Antique Furniture: An English countryside living room almost always has a piece (or more) of antique furniture! Incorporate pieces that look collected over time, such as a worn wooden chest or coffee table, a vintage trunk, or a petite antique bureau. Or consider a small secretary desk, a bookcase, a drop-leaf table, or a side table. These furniture pieces add history and character to a room heavy on both. (Facebook marketplace can be your best friend here if you’re on a budget!)
Chintz and Floral Upholstery: The English cottage is all about florals! Use soft, floral or botanical patterns on an armchair or sofa, curtains, chair cushions and pillows (Patterns with English roses or trailing vines look especially lovely!)
Layered Textiles: Use multiple throws draped over an armchair or sofa, and mix various textured pillows.
Small-Scale Prints: Use smaller, quieter patterns (like tiny checks, stripes, or small-scale florals) on curtains and wallpaper.
Cozy Seating: Comfortable seating is a must! Use deep, comfortable sofas and chairs with soft filling (rather than sleek, modern lines), for that welcoming and relaxing vibe. Consider a loveseat or small sofa, an English roll arm chair for reading, a floral ottoman, and maybe a few woven chairs with floral seat cushions for a small game table. Remember, we’re all about cozy comfort in an English cottage!
Window Seats and Reading Nooks: If possible, install a built-in window seat with storage underneath and cover it with patterned cushions for an extra cozy seating space. Or add an upholstered bench or armchair near a window for a cozy reading nook!
Exposed Beams: Common architectural elements of an English cottage embrace a bit of a rustic style, like old wooden plank doors, or low ceilings with exposed beams. If possible, install wooden beams (or rough-hewn faux beams) to the ceiling for a touch of rustic charm.
Woven Rugs: Choose Persian, Oriental, or patterned hooked rugs placed over a jute or sisal rug on a wooden floor to add layers, warmth and a touch of color. (This is my favorite budget-friendly sisal rug for layering! It’s perfect on its own or under a patterned rug!). (Note: vintage rugs can even be found on places like Etsy if you’re looking for a unique piece).
Book Collection: Create a cozy, yet sophisticated feel by filling shelving (built ins or freestanding bookcases) with books, especially vintage books or classics.
Shelving and Gallery Rails: Add charming open shelves to display small collections of plates, teacups, or framed artwork. Add gorgeous brass gallery rails to wall shelving or bookshelves, and consider displaying artwork, florals in a small vase, books, small vintage collectibles, or antique china displayed behind the chair rail.
Wood-Burning Fireplace: Nothing says cozy (by the fire) than a wood-burning fireplace! Even if it’s non-functional, use a fireplace as a focal point, decorated with stacked logs, seasonal arrangements or potted ferns.
Pops of Brass and Copper: Display antique items like brass candlesticks, or small picture frames made of aged gold or brass tones on shelves or the fireplace mantle.
Floral Arrangements: Incorporating garden flowers is such a great way to bring a little bit of the garden inside (it’s all about those romantic details!). Plus, flowers brighten any living area, especially a small living room. Always keep fresh flowers out, or simple potted plants (like herbs or ferns), in earthenware, terracotta pots or ceramic vases. These can be displayed on a side table, bookshelf, wood game table, coffee table, or on a shelf behind a gallery rail.
A Mix of Light Fixtures: Consider using brass sconces, and table lamps with floral patterned shades for soft, diffused lighting with a touch of cottage whimsy.
Beadboard Paneling: If you want to add some character to the walls, apply beadboard halfway up the walls (wainscoting) and paint it a muted, creamy color, or a muted shade of green.
Muted, Earthy Color Palette: Use soft greens (sage, moss), creamy whites, soft beiges, muted blues, and even dusty pinks as the primary wall and trim colors.
Gilt or Ornate Mirrors: Use a decorative mirror with a slightly aged or ornate gold frame.
Painted or Distressed Wood: Choose furniture and trim that shows signs of age or has a subtly distressed painted finish. A historic rich wood tone is ideal for furniture pieces if you can find an antique!
Found Objects and Vintage Pieces: Display vintage finds or decorative objects (check out thrift stores, estate sales, or flea markets) on open shelving or in curio cabinets to show the collected, personal history of the home. This is a great way to incorporate your favorite pieces and smaller items you’d like to showcase. Vintage pieces always take center stage in historic homes or in an old cottage- it adds a personal touch and a sense of history. (Note: Just because vintage pieces are favorites doesn’t mean you can’t add modern elements! A mix of home accessories gives a personal touch and a way to express your own design style. A mix of old and new can look fabulous!)
A “Skirted” Table: Use a small, round table (perhaps tucked into a corner) and cover it entirely with a patterned cloth that drapes to the floor, known as a dust ruffle or skirt. This is a classic cottage design element (that we’ve seen a lot of lately!) that adds softness, introduces a hidden layer of pattern, and instantly provides discreet storage underneath. A skirted table can be used as a lovely game table too- such a cute way to embrace that English cottagecore aesthetic.
Add a Touch of Tassels or Fringe: Look for these details on lighting, cushions, and curtains. A simple, creamy-white lampshade can be elevated with a delicate fringe along the bottom edge, or cushions can be trimmed with tassels. An armchair or decorative footstool with tassels is a favorite cottage style detail.
Natural Elements, Details and Textures: Adding natural elements, details and textures plays a significant role in getting that true cozy cottage vibe! Here are a few interior design ideas: adding natural woven shades to a large window, a wicker chair near a small side table, large woven baskets near the back of a sofa to hold extra blankets, or a combination of florals in a small vase or in decor (from soft furnishings like pillows, curtains, or blankets, to artwork and more!).

Color Tips

26.) If You Prefer Light Neutrals: Use creamy whites, pale ivories, and soft biscuit tones on the walls and trim. These reflect light and give the room an airy feel (while not feeling too “bright”), while still providing a classic backdrop to display vintage artwork and antique furniture.
27.) If You Prefer Muted Greens and Blues: Bring in the tones of the English garden with muted sages, moss greens, and dusty soft blues. While rich dark greens and shades of navy are also sometimes used, the soft colors or muted colors mentioned are great for small spaces that might not want to embrace a darker look. Use these as accent colors in cushions, throws, and decor to add depth without being overpowering. Or consider using these colors on builtins and mantles.
28.) Anchor with Deep Wood Tones: Use dark, polished wood (like mahogany or aged oak) for furniture pieces (a small chest, a bookshelf, etc) to provide a traditional touch and an “anchored” feel amidst the soft fabrics of the room.
29.) Layer Pattern, Not Just Color: The cottage style uses lots of patterns (florals, checks, stripes, tartan plaids), but keep them related by using colors from the same muted family (or colors that complement each other). For instance, pair a sage floral curtain with a cushion or pillow that has a sage check.
30.) Paint Built-ins: If you have built-in shelving or beadboard, consider painting it the same color as the trim (such as a taupe) to help it visually recede, or, on the contrary, consider painting it a different color to stand out- like the beautiful muted green seen in this English living room.

Favorite Paint Colors For An English Cottage Living Room

Lighting Tips

31.) Mix of Lighting: Rely on a mix of light sources rather than one large overhead fixture. This creates pockets of warmth and minimizes harsh overhead lighting. (Think table lamps, sconces, floor lamps, picture lights above wall art, etc)
32.) Use Table Lamps: Position small ceramic or brass table lamps on side tables and consoles. Consider using soft, fabric lampshades (maybe a delicate floral pattern or pleat) to diffuse the light into a warm glow- perfect for the intimate space of a living room!
33.) Wall Sconces: Install a pair of elegant wall sconces (traditional brass sconces are lovely!) flanking a window or artwork, or even in a cozy reading nook. (Note: If you don’t want expensive electrical work done, a budget-friendly option is to use a wall sconce with remote controlled or battery-operated light bulbs).
34.) Floor Lamps: Incorporate a traditional floor lamp beside a reading chair for the coziest reading corner.
35.) Warm Light Bulbs: Opt for soft white or warm-toned light bulbs to embrace that cozy, intimate feel of the living room.

If you’re embracing the Cotswolds, and love English Cottage design elements for your own home, be sure to check out this post!: Timeless English Cottage Home Decor