5 Decorating Ideas to Create a Cozy Canadian Cottage Feel
In Canada, we have to make the most of our short (but spectacular) summers. A lot of the best summer memories are made during weekends at the cabin and long evenings around the fire with the people you love. There is something special about the feeling of a Canadian cottage: cozy, relaxed, and perfectly imperfect.
Whether you're decorating your place at the lake, renovating a family cabin, or bringing a little cottage charm into your Calgary home, mindful interior design choices can help capture that laid-back lake house feeling in a modern, elevated way. Let's take a look at 5 design ideas that will create a warm Canadian cottage feeling:
1. Practice Natural Materials
The easiest step that you can take is to use natural materials wherever you can. Wood, stone, leather, jute, linen and wicker create warmth and texture for a lived-in feel using natural materials. They don’t go out of style quickly and often look even better as they age.
When you have the option, choose:
· A woven wicker basket instead of a plastic storage bin
· Solid wood furniture instead of particle board or laminate
· A natural stone fireplace or stone accents
· Linen, cotton, and wool textiles
· Jute or wool rugs with natural texture
2. Layer Cozy Blankets and Throws
Every cottage seems to have a favourite blanket. The one someone grabs for early morning coffee, cool evenings around the fire, or one last hour on the dock before heading inside.
It's easy to keep blankets available as a great way to create a casual and inviting atmosphere, simply hang them up on a couch or place them in a woven basket. They also provide softness and texture without the formal and over-styled appearance in a room.
3. Personal touch – Reminders of Summer
The cottage is all about living in the moment, whatever that might be, if it's by the lake or in the mountains. But even more than the location, they're about spending time with the people you love.
The cottages people remember most are rarely the fanciest. They're the ones filled with little reminders of summers spent there.
There are countless ways of showcasing your story through family photos, children's artwork, vintage paddles saved over the years, favorite books, finds you made along the way, or heirlooms.
4. Choose Comfortable Furniture
Cottages should not be squeaky-clean. Use furniture that is comfortable, robust, and practical for everyday use so that family and friends can make themselves at home, put their feet up, and stay longer.
Oversized sectionals, deep lounge chairs, and sturdy wood tables naturally become gathering places after a day on the lake. They're where board games come out, stories get told, and everyone congregates at the end of the evening. A comfortable home is one people actually want to spend time in.
5. Don't Forget Outside: Decorate Your Outdoor Spaces
When decorating, don't stop at your back door. A lot of the best time spent at the cottage is outside: coffee on the deck, watching the sunset, barbecuing something really tasty after a good day on the lake.
Think of your outdoor spaces, like your deck or porch, like any other room of the house. Don't skip out on layering outdoor cushions and blankets, add comfortable seating, pot some planters, and hang string lights. Really nice outdoor spaces make people want to spend more time outside.
Need help making your space feel more like a getaway?
The best cabins aren't the ones with the most square footage or the fancy lakeside address. The best ones are spaces where people feel comfortable, relaxed, slow down, and being present.
At Rochelle Cote Interior Design (RCID), we help create timeless spaces that are beautiful, functional, and personal to you. As a Calgary residential interior design firm, we specialize in custom homes and renovations, helping clients through interior selections, custom millwork design, and detailed interior finishing packages.
Whether you're renovating a family cabin or designing your forever home, we'd love to help you create a space you'll enjoy for years to come.
