Give Your Home A Cottage Makeover

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As modern day life becomes more hectic, we all long for a peaceful country escape. It’s not possible for all of us to pack up our things and move out to the country, but it is possible to bring quaint country cottage charm to your home.

Giving your home a cottage makeover is a great way to boost the curb appeal and value of your property. Plus, think of the joy you’ll get every time you arrive home from a long day at work! Take a look at our seven top tips to make your home look more like a cottage.

1 – Freshen up Your Exterior Paint Job

A fresh coat of paint is an excellent way to rejuvenate the exterior of your home. Choosing a soft pastel color, such as a gentle sky blue or a muted lemon yellow, can instantly make you feel like you’ve been transported to a quiet country town. Re-painting your home doesn’t just make it look better, it can also help improve the lifespan of your siding and provide additional protection from harsh weather.

2 – Install Shutters

There are many advantages to installing shutters to the exterior of your house. They can provide additional protection from extreme weather conditions such as storms, and also give you much-desired privacy.  Above all, installing shutters adds curb appeal and the ultimate nod to country living. When you chose your shutters, take time to choose quality stainless steel shutter hardware and consider the range of pintle and strap options to add the perfect finishing touches to your home. We would recommend choosing angle straps for an authentic look.

3- Window Boxes

You can enjoy a beautifully planted window box from the inside or outside of your home. From the outside, the bright flowers can add a pop of color to your home. When inside your home, you can open your window and enjoy the fragrance as it gently wafts in on a warm, breezy day. Make sure you plant flowers for all seasons so you can enjoy it year-round.

4 – Install a Porch

If you’re not already lucky enough to have a porch, consider installing one. It is a significant investment in your home, but it is entirely worth it. Not only does it add cottage curb-appeal to your property but it also creates more usable space for you to enjoy time with your family. Protection from the sun (or rain!) means you can sit outside at any time of the year and enjoy the fresh air.

5 – Install a Screen Door

Screen doors are a quintessential feature of a cozy cottage home. Typical countryside nuisances such as fallen leaves and creepy crawlies are kept out while allowing fresh air inside to ventilate your home.

Make sure that in addition to choosing a quality door, that you also select quality screen door hardware. Quality screen door hardware will last far longer than cheaper, poorer quality, alternatives. In the long-run, opting for a cheaper option may cost you more as you spend your time and money maintaining and replacing your screen door hardware to keep it functional.

6 – Plant a Flower Garden

We’ve all seen those quaint picture-perfect cottages surrounded by beautiful flower beds and felt a pang of envy. Luckily, planting flower beds is a cheap way to dramatically change the appearance of the exterior of your home. It does require putting your back into preparing the ground, but the reward of a stunning garden will make all the hard work worth it. Consider flowers such as roses for blooms year-after-year and mix in some annual flowers to maximize color and variety.

7 – Add a contrasting color

When you repaint the exterior of your home, consider adding a contrasting trim color. Using a different color for you window trim really makes your windows and shutters “pop”, highlighting the cottage-vibe you’re trying to create. We recommend simple white, or a darker shade of the pastel color you’ve chosen to paint your home in.