Cozy Cottage Charm: Rug, Mat, and Lighting Solutions for Your Retreat
In our March Blog Post, we shared tips to get your cottage ready for summer, specifically focusing on outdoor furniture, fabrics, and materials. Hold onto your sun hats, because in this month’s posts, we are shifting gears to share some of our favourite recommendations for outfitting your cottage with the perfect rugs, mats, and outdoor lighting solutions. When it comes to these aspects of your cottage, functionality must reign supreme because nobody wants sandy & muddy footprints across the floor or a poorly-lit outdoor get-together.
Elevate Your Cottage Floors with Chic and Functional Rugs and Mats
We (and most decorators that I know) are big fans of rugs and floor coverings in our homes. I use rugs and mats in all of my projects for many good reasons;
Practicality: Mats located at all entry points to the house are a practical way to catch mud, water and sand. But they don’t have to be black rubber from Home Depot. I personally love the Chilewich Shag Mats at all the cottage doors as they catch everything, and are extremely easy to clean. When it comes to selecting the size of your rug - bigger is better!
Acoustics: Area rugs and large carpets are a great solution for providing sound dampening in noisy spaces. That is why you will see all movie rooms with full carpeting. I opt for oversized rugs in all kids rooms, playrooms and family rooms. If you have a really large room or an oddly shaped room, visit your local carpet store to have an “off the roll” carpet (broadloom) cut to the specific size that you need.
Because they look good! Area rugs help define a space, especially helpful in today's open concept homes. In living rooms, aim to have at least the front legs of your furniture on the rug by about 8”. In bedrooms, place the rug under the bed, with at least 3’ of rug on either side, and at the foot of the bed. The top of the rug should stop just in front of the nightstands.
Natural Fibres vs. Synthetic
Enhance the charm of your cottage with carefully chosen rugs and mats. We often picture the natural vibe of sisal and jute rugs in cottages, but they are not appropriate for wet areas. Sisal and Jute are natural fibre and will break down with direct sunlight, repeated traffic of wet feet and shoes (or worse, turn mouldy!). Ruggable, or other washable brands are excellent choices for outdoor and wet spaces. Consider a large rug in your porch or patio to tie a space together like this outdoor collection.
Illuminating Your Outdoor Haven With Perfect Lighting
No cottage retreat is complete without thoughtfully chosen lighting to enhance its ambiance. Consider faux rattan pendants in a porch, or an enamelled metal that is approved for outdoor use.
Portable LED outdoor lighting is also a fun option, eliminating the need to ferry in an electrician to your island cottage. Whether illuminating pathways or creating a warm glow for late-night gatherings, LED lighting, like the Marset Ginger lamp provides a versatile and energy-efficient solution.
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