Elements of a country cozy fall home
Design: Mark Gilette
We live in a quirky century old home located in a quaint village along the shore or as some would say, we live in the country. I love to start thinking about cozying up our home now that summer is coming to a close. You don’t need to live in the country to bring that country cozy look into your own home. Your home definitely doesn’t need to big or small, new or old to incorporate that country cozy vibe.
The country cozy vibe is a state of mind, not a place.
It’s an atmosphere, an air. In this post, I’m going to break down exactly what that state of mind is and some of the ways you can evoke it in your own home, whatever kind of home it may be or wherever you may live.
Comfort and warm welcome
A country cozy home is, above all, comfortable. At least it is nowadays. Even older century homes like I live in has the modern conveniences of a newer home. As a visitor to my home, you can expect to step into a world of roaring fires, deep armchairs and impossibly soft beds.
Lamps, lamps and more lamps: soft lighting is everything to a comfortable atmosphere, and table lamps are the easiest and simplest way to achieve that. Make sure you have one by every seat in your living room, not to mention including them in hallways and kitchens. Candlestick or vase-shaped lamps in brass, bronze, wood or ceramic are the most classic choice.
Log baskets and blankets: any country home knows that a cold snap or stormy night is never far away- especially during winter in Nova Scotia where I live, and so being prepared is important. A generously large log basket and little piles of blankets everywhere (for ultimate coziness, these should be wool or patchwork quilts) will convey a reassuring sense of warmth being always at hand.
A drinks tray: country homes are convivial places, often hosting friends and maybe even out of town guests for a weekend, so make sure your home feels welcoming to visitors is a big part of a country home’s state of mind. As a guest in someone’s home, feeling able to help yourself to a drink is very comfortable, and also means that you can play the host without having to leave your guests alone while you make tea/coffee in the kitchen.
Connection with the outdoors
Country folk love the outdoors and their homes embrace the outside, nature and yes, even the mud!
Fresh flowers and potted plants: even if you don’t have a garden, you can still make that link between indoors and out with cut flowers or potted plants. Favour vessels like antique porcelain picked up at a market and weathered terracotta.
Hunter boots and blundstones: and outdoorsy paraphernalia in general. Country homes practically make a feature of these, with rows of hunter boots or blundstones lined up in hallways. Think of these things as another element of decoration, and combine them with attractive storage like wicker baskets and built in cabinetry.
An unselfconscious, easy-going attitude
Nothing should be too matchy matchy, too fussy. Think of these grand century old homes that were built over generations, a mish mash of styles, eras and personal tastes. In my own home, you will see antiques handed down to me from my grandparents, second hand thrift store finds and brand new more modern pieces all taking up space in the same room. This can give off the feeling of not taking oneself too seriously.
Pattern: mix and match to your heart’s content. The more patterns, the better. Settle on a rough colour scheme for sure, but then combine florals, stripes, plaids and ikats. This gives the sense of eccentricity. A favorite combination is a pretty floral linen alongside a ticking stripe and a wool check.
Collections: stoneware, wicker baskets, antique vessels. Collections are a perfect way to convey that sense of personality so essential to the cozy country home aesthetic.
Books: Books are something most of us acquire over our lives, and there’s no better reflection of the people who live in a home than their choice of reading material. Be laidback with how you display books; some on shelves, others piled onto tables, chairs, even the floor.
Photographs, invitations, postcards: the mantlepieces of many country homes were invariably layered with family photos, invitations, letters and postcards. This stuff of life, mixed in amongst brass candlesticks and antique pieces of furniture instantly cuts through any sense of stuffiness and formality.
What do you think? Are you ready to cozy up your home for the fall season?
