Posted on April 14, 2023
Featured image from Lauren Gilberthorpe
With its narrow streets, rolling hills and cosy cottages, The Cotswolds exudes a sense of warmth and intimacy that makes it an ideal place to call home. For those living in these beautiful cottages however, space can often be a challenge.
Whether you're a long-time resident or a new homeowner, maximising space in your Cotswolds cottage is essential to creating a comfortable and functional living environment. With the right interior design ideas, you can transform even the smallest of spaces into an uncluttered place of retreat that feels like home. We spoke to a few of our favourite local interior designers who know the ins and outs of interior design when it comes to Cotswolds cottages to share their top tips and tricks for maximising space so you can make the most of every inch of your home and live your best cottagecore life.
Lauren Gilberthorpe
Left image taken by: Alexander Collins (@alexanderjcollins)
"Use multipurpose furniture: Furniture that can serve more than one purpose is ideal for Cottages and smaller spaces. For example, a sofa bed or a coffee table with storage can be used for seating and storage, respectively.”
Crittall + Hill
"One issue that we tend to see a lot in smaller cottages (and bigger ones for that matter) is lack of substantial storage options. In these cases we always recommend investing in some purpose built bespoke joinery that provide clever storage solutions, whilst also creating a beautiful design feature in the room. This really is our key recommendation when looking at how to maximise space. A lot of smaller properties don’t tend to have large windows, so we always design our curtains to extend beyond the window opening so that light and views are maximised, whilst also creating the illusion of more space.
"When considering furniture for smaller rooms, particularly larger pieces such as armchairs or sofas, our tip is to make sure that the legs should be exposed and to avoid any upholstered items that go all the way down to the ground so that the floor remains visible and creates more of a sense of openness. Consider using the same floor treatment through each level of the home, to help the feeling of expansiveness and improve flow throughout."
Alice and Rebecca will be holding a design clinic at the upcoming Conscious & Curated Show from 21st-23rd April. We’re proud to be part of the Shine House Tours team that’s organising the event which is raising funds for Stroud Women’s Refuge. Find out more and book your tickets here.
J H Designs Interiors
“Consider bespoke joinery that makes the best use of a small and awkward area, then paint the walls ceiling and skirtings the same colour to make the space appear bigger.”
Camilla Bellord Interiors
"Whilst many Cotswold cottages exude charm, space can be a valuable commodity. Traditional architectural features would be finished as natural timber or painted white, but to accentuate the feeling of space, we often use the same paint colour for walls, window frames, doors, skirtings and architraves, as well as a tonally matching fabric for window treatments. This works successfully with neutrals, but don’t be afraid of more dramatic colour selections, as the principal still works!”
To find your perfect Cotswold cottage or townhouse, visit our Village & Townhouses page, sharing all of our latest available properties that help you escape to The Cotswold countryside.