How to Decorate a Fireplace with Rustic Cottage Appeal

A rustic cottage can be inspired from any number of sources: It may have the rough-hewn good looks of a cabin in the woods or the historic simplicity of a New England stone cottage. Primitive Early American décor, country, lake, mountain, beach cottages, and farmhouse styles can all have roots in rustic cottage influences. What they share is a lived-in, welcoming and every-day comfortable style with a lack of pretense and a focus on natural and simple materials. Here are some tips for decorating the mantle of your rustic cottage fireplace.

Remember that your fireplace is a natural focal point, so it provides the perfect opportunity to display what you love about your particular brand of rustic cottage style.

Simply Natural

For a look that’s naturally rustic with minimum effort, start with natural materials like wood, stone and dried flowers. If your mantle is made of stone or raw timber, let its rustic simplicity show through or add a runner made of a natural textile such as homespun linen or tea stained cotton; this soft layer provides a great basis for decorating the mantle.

A large grapevine wreath decorated with dried berries and flowers can make a wonderful focal point over the mantle. Gather pine cones or acorns in glass vases, earthenware or wooden bowls, or baskets for additional natural accents. A tall vase or rustic urn on the hearth full of dried grasses or pheasant feathers makes a nature-inspired rustic look complete.

All text copyright Relica. Photo from Flikr - "Fireplace after remodel" courtesy of greenbroke.

Other Focal Point and Accents

When thinking about a focal point to place on the wall above the mantle, your choices are numerous and varied and may be tailored to a particular rustic style. A stretched patchwork quilt, framed farm scenes or natural landscapes, wildlife paintings, rustic wood signs, antique wall mirrors or portraits, and primitive metal wall art tree are a few options to consider. A good place to buy wall art is your favorite local antique or resale shop, but don’t overlook online sources for unlimited selections and excellent prices on reproduction or vintage pieces.

Color choices for a rustic theme include neutrals such as earth tones and linen, and outdoor inspired shades like barn red, pine tree green, gold and shades of blue. Finishes are weathered rather than glossy and textures should have time worn patina of items that have been cherished and well-loved. Tin lanterns, tarnished brass and pewter candlesticks or wood or iron wall sconces can bring a gentle glow to the mantle. Simple pottery, crocks, baskets, tinderboxes and old fashioned glass hurricanes can add detail to the mantle arrangement. Seasonal embellishments, such as gourds in fall or a pot of forced bulbs in spring, keep the look fresh and varied.

Cozy and Snug

Patchwork quilts look great folded and stacked in a basket by the hearth and a warm hand-crafted rug in front of the fireplace will add color and softness. Old-fashioned braided rugs, patchwork rugs or primitive style wool rugs keep it comfy underfoot. Don’t forget a basket or iron rack for logs and hammered wrought iron fireplace implements. Add comfortable seating and a few good books and settle in for a snug and cozy evening by the fire.

All text copyright Relica. Photo from Flikr - "Fireplace" courtesy of Alicia Nijdam.