17 English Cottage Ideas: Cozy and Charming Home Inspiration

I have always been drawn to the charm and character of English cottages.

From their thatched roofs to their cozy interiors, these homes exude a warmth and comfort that is hard to resist.

In this article, I will share 17 English cottage ideas that will inspire you to bring a touch of this style to your own home.

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Whether you live in a rural area or a bustling city, incorporating elements of English cottage style can create a cozy and inviting atmosphere.

From the use of natural materials to the incorporation of floral patterns, there are many ways to infuse this style into your space.

So, whether you’re looking for a complete overhaul or just a few simple updates, these ideas will help you create the perfect English cottage-inspired home.

1.False-Thatched Roof

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Yes, that’s a faux family of ducks marching across the false-thatched roof of a cottage in Norfolk, England.

This roof subtype copies real thatched roofs that once dotted rural landscapes throughout Great Britain.

This one is steeply pitched with curved dormers and gables.

A bunting of flags, charming climbing roses, and a perfectly trimmed hedge enveloping the picket fence make this country cottage absolutely iconic.

2.English Country Garden

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Irene lives with her sons and husband in an “ancient” Cotswold manor house with a romantic garden and a courtyard built in 1570, what she calls “a gorgeous 500-year-old money pit.”

In the eight years since she’s lived there, Irene has created a lovely terrace, greenhouse, and garden that grows tomatoes, peas, and herbs for the family’s supper.

She also grows breathtaking flowers, like these white viburnums, which grow abundantly, spilling over into the walkways for the classic English look.

3.Bwthyn Swynol

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Staying in old houses (or mansions) while traveling throughout Europe to experience is a wonderful way to see what it’s like to live like a local and explore intriguing buildings.

This B&B is a well-maintained cottage in Wales that has had architectural elements painted for just enough emphasis.

The stone exterior, arched doorways, and climbing vines feel quintessentially British.

4.Older-Looking English Cottage

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Nat Woods loves French antiques and furnishings and owns a Morris Minor automobile—named Mrs. Taylor—that takes her through the Hampshire and West Sussex countryside.

Although Nat’s house looks like a tidy but slightly rustic farmhouse/cottage, it was actually built in 1993.

In her blog, Laid Back Farmhouse, Nat chronicles renovating and decorating a cottage home as she adds period architectural elements, wainscoting, and light, cozy furnishings to give a newish home character and lots of personal touches.

5.By the Sea

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Another renovation that’s a work in progress is Laura’s 1920s cottage on the coast of Devon, England. Dubbed her “forever home by the sea”, the property sits on an acre with a wild garden that she and her husband are in the process of renovating, like everything else.

Did you ever think that English gardeners might want an American look?

Laura is hoping to give her landscape a “New England kind of vibe” with Adirondack chairs and a fire pit.

Of course, she won’t rule out a classic English country garden, and her interior has a patina that is both cozy and refreshing.

6.Savoring the English Countryside

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As the owner of Gather & Graze Boards, Kyle Campbell divides her time between her home base of Nashville and long working trips to England.

Captivated by the English country lifestyle, she frequently explores villages to take in breathtaking homes and gardens.

“There is nothing like an English village in June,” she says. “English summers are something special.” The thatched wood, stone construction, and climbing roses of this cottage feel romantic and historic.

7.Charlwood Charmer

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Take the brick path to a 16th-century cottage in Charlwood, England, that once had a wooden chimney.

Wisely, it was replaced long ago with fire-retardant brick. This old gem includes a steeply pitched, false thatched roof and classic Tudor half-timbering details on its facade.

There’s something about it that feels right out of a storybook, from its clearly handmade construction to the dormer windows peeping out like eyes from the roof.

8.Bibury Cottage

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Pink English roses surround a country cottage in Bibury, a rural village and tourist destination in Gloucestershire with many historic Cotswold buildings and tea houses.

Note the characteristic front-facing gables and steeply pitched roof.

The setting feels both elegant and intimate, embodying the English aesthetic.

9.British Miami

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One of the first projects for the architectural firm of McCown Design was Fairhope Cottage, an English country cottage…in Miami. McCown added elements to give it a refreshed, modern cottage look.

There’s a traditional subtly curved roofline, dormers, lintels made of reclaimed brick, contrasted with more modern dark accents for the trim, windows, doors, and posts and beams.

You’ll see thickly painted brick embedded in sand and lintels made of reclaimed brick.

It’s a contrast with the surrounding architecture, yet it blends right into its landscape

10.Storybook Cottage

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Fittingly, this whimsical storybook cottage with a steeply pitched thatched red roof is in Devon, England, which is known for medieval towns, towering coastal cliffs, and fossils along its Jurassic Coast.

This feels like something right out of a fairy tale with the turquoise blue accents and roof that feels almost surreal.

You could expect a magical creature to pop out of the front door at any moment.

11.Charming English Cottage in Illinois

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A 3,000-square-foot house in Hinsdale, Illinois, was designed by Michael Abraham Architecture to appear as an established quaint stucco cottage-style home.

Looking at it from the facade, you’d never guess it has a sprawling floor plan.

The sloped roof, dormer windows, and small panes give it a perfectly British appeal.

Set on rolling hills, the home is landscaped with native plants that complement its design. 

12.Castle Combe

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Freelance writer and editor Elaine lives in Bath, England, and is an old house and cottage fanatic.

This cottage is in Wiltshire’s Castle Combe, considered one of the prettiest and “quintessentially English” villages.

Since the town receives so many visitors and is often photographed, owners keep their cottages and gardens well manicured.

This one, with its large stone brick facade and charmingly old stone wall, is exactly what you imagine when you think of a centuries-old village.

13.Elm Cottage

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This pale yellow early 19th-century stucco cottage, which overlooks Barnes Pond, was originally built for the village schoolmaster.

Located in the Borough of Richmond upon Thames, the district of Barnes has many 18th- and 19th-century homes and buildings.

This is a simpler construction than many of the other cottages, with a gable roof, symmetrical facade, and two chimneys, but the picket fence and gingerbread detailing give it a charming appeal.

14.Wiltshire English Cottage

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After living in London for 18 years, Laura recently “closed the door on my flat for the last time” and moved to her dream home: a cottage in a tiny rural village in Wiltshire.

This charmer has the false thatched roof; leaded, multi-paned windows, and stacked chimneys.

The free-growing garden in the front is a timeless English countryside look.

15.Village Beauty

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Photographer Corinna takes stunning pictures of the villages near her home in Wiltshire, England.

This particular cottage is her favorite, and has an authentic thatched roof, curved dormers, wood-framed or casement windows, and lovely garden.

16.Plant Lush Greenery

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Characteristic of classic English cottages is the focus on a green and growing exterior.

Plant bushes, trees, and other greenery native to your area, as well as creeping plants like ivy that will make your home look like it is emerging from nature.

17.Have Fun With Color

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Beige brick, step aside: English cottage exteriors embrace the colorful and whimsical with color selection.

Pops of pink, yellow, and blue are often seen in cottage-style design, as the small homes are unafraid to play with color.