Summer Cottage Home Tour and Decorating Inspiration

Welcome to the blog! Are you loving the summer cottage vibe in home decor? Today, I’m sharing my summer cottage home tour and decorating inspiration. With ideas to give you that easy cottage decor feeling, you will see how fun it is to bring that laid back vibe to your own space.

Summer home tours

This week I am a part of a summer home tours blog hop. A big thanks to Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for organizing it. If you are coming from Pasha’s blog Pasha at Home, welcome! I am so happy you are here and hope that you will be inspired by my summer country cottage look.

I am the last stop on the tour this week, so if you haven’t yet, check out some of the fun posts that have been shared. Simply scroll down to the end of the blog, and click on any of the pictures to take you to the blog posts on the tour.

Our little lake cottage

One of my favorite things about summer is heading to our little lake cottage in Northern Michigan. When we first purchased the cottage over 20 years ago, I was definitely looking for the perfect place to relax during the summer months, while having a place to decorate with all my flea market finds. I had been collecting many items for a while.

When we closed escrow, we immediately began adding those summer vibes by having every inch of the interior knotty pine paneling bathed in white paint. Out went the carpet, up went the white walls, and down went the pine wood floors that could age and warp over time as they saw fit.

Next, I filled it with all my vintage finds. You know I am a big lover of flea markets, and vintage decor is the easy way to relaxed living. Nothing is too precious for sand and water, and each living space can be a place to use and enjoy with the whole family, after a wonderful day in the lake.

Our coastal cottage style is colorful and casual, and perfect for easy summer living. The best part is I don’t have to worry about anything with the kids all around. Cottage living is all about simple pleasures, and less worry is one of them!

summer cottage decor with nautical touches

How do I decorate for summer?

If you love the feel of a sunny summer day, and want to incorporate that into your space for that homey cottage feel, the best place to start is with simple ideas. Cottage living is all about making the space feel laid back, adding nothing too fussy, so lazy days can be enjoyed outside.

summer cottage decor with distressed furniture

Here are some easy summer decor ideas to give your space that cottage feel:

add flowers – whether fresh or faux flowers, embrace the summer sunshine feel inside and out.
mix patterns – a cottage feel is fun and fresh, and the perfect place to add plaids, stripes, checks, and florals.
embrace outdoor cooking and dining – summer has an aura of fun and endless days. Plan simple meals that will leave you time to play and dine al fresco with family and friends.
provide comfortable and flexible seating – arrange rooms for long conversations, group games, or late night movies.
get portable – have furniture items and accessories that will make it easy to move things out of doors for casual get togethers, drop-in guests, campfires, and a night of stargazing.

A summer lake cottage color palette

I love the coastal, nautical feel of a summer cottage. On the exterior, our coastal vibe starts with a pop of color. The crisp white cottage has a cornflower blue trim, accented by the red, white, and blue of the flag hanging near the front porch.

summer cottage decor with mixed patterns

A variety of colors are seen in the garden, with the annual flowers changing color scheme each year. Similar colors are found inside, along with natural textures in the wood, brick and baskets.

The primary bedroom is casual with soft colors, where the upper loft where the kids all sleep offers fun, bright colors. Since our cottage is a fairly small space, we have tried to keep soft neutrals in the background, with pops of color throughout the space.

summer cottage decor soft colors in bedroom

Simple details for easy living

With summer cottage style, everything hearkens to an easier, simple life. Food is easy to grill and prepare, there are places to nap or read a book, and being a bit lazy is never a problem.

summer cottage decor with nautical details

Consider also who you are sharing the space with. Although in the past I have loved the pretty bottles of soft blues I kept on the coffee table, but those are now tucked away to allow the grandkids to enjoy the space and no one has to worry.

Cottage decor should also be easy to upkeep, quick to dust and clean, so time can be spent enjoying the simple life that surrounds it.

Making and sharing memories through decor

Our summer cottage holds more memories than I can ever share in one post. Everywhere I look, I see the love and happiness we have shared with family and friends over the last two decades. In fact, I often ask my grandkids what are the 3 rules of the cottage? Russell, the 9-year old, knows the answer in a heartbeat, “peace, love, and happiness”.

Many of the furnishings within the cottage came from trips we spent on Cape Cod, my first coastal love. When you surround yourself with items that hold memories, you will feel that within the space.

When friends come to visit, we have a unique little ‘guest book’ where they can sign their name and leave a small note. We do this on beach rocks! They are kept in a glass candle holder, and friends can write messages and leave them for us to see years later.

The basics of a summer cottage

When creating the casual, easy look of a summer cottage, add these elements if you can:

less technology – I fought having a TV for a long time at the cottage, but have succumbed to it in recent years as it keeps the hubby happy to check in on sports in the evenings. On a rainy night, we all enjoy a movie and popcorn while snuggled up together.
pillow covers – keep things removable and washable as much as possible. Our sofa is also slipcovered incase of accident.
window charm – whether it be window boxes or window seats to gaze out at the scenery, add charm to those areas that connect the house from the inside to the outside.
easy furniture – shop flea markets and antique stores for cute furniture with a patina. When it is already worn, there is no worry of it getting damaged.
family photos – our photos in the cottage tell the story though the years. This also gives children a sense of place and history.
make it easy to clean – we all would love to forget housework for awhile so keep decor simple so that your space is easy to keep up.
cozy accents – the summer cottage is about simple pleasures, so add accents that bring that spirit home to you.

Is cottage style still popular?

When talking about summer cottage style, I believe this will always be popular, as it is timeless. Cottage style is really a way of life, offering simple details and natural elements that surround life in a smaller space.

Whether cottage design is brought to a beach house, a cottage in a meadow, near the mountains, or even in the city, this style of decor can work throughout time. There are plenty of ways to keep things classic so redecorating won’t be a thing you have to worry about. Focus on ways to decorate to enjoy long days in the sun and summer nights.

The cottage garden

Every cottage needs a garden, no matter the size. Our little cottage garden is my favorite.

When we are at the cottage, we are outside most of the day, so enjoying and keeping up the garden are priorities. The summer tour in early June looks a bit different than it does in late September, but each year, all the perennials get bigger and bigger. Fresh flowers are added to the pots on the front porch, side yard, and the back patio.

We didn’t always have the garden the way it is, but after a large tree fell over in a storm one spring, we needed to make some changes. You can read about how our little cottage garden came to be in this post.

How can I decorate my house like a cottage?

When adding cottage details to a home, think about mixing wood tones and white. Add bright paint colors, along with distressed finishes. Forego the formal dining room for a more casual setup.

Add wicker baskets for storage, casual wall art for fun, and cottage decor in every room. Each item in our cottage has a purpose. Everything is about function. Learn more about creating cottage style decor.

If by water, vintage oars make good looking wall decor. Incorporate things you love to create the look of a coastal living room that you would feel comfortable in. I love old buoys, signs, and items that are useful as well as decor.

Always remember, whatever style you are decorating with, make things personal. Add elements to your home that create the feeling that you want to feel. Our home is the backdrop to our life and can set the mood for a happier existence. Make things personal and get them how you want them.

This blue cabinet was painted using our Bungalow 47 Furniture Paint in the color Shuttered Cottage.