How I style my cottage. Styling tips and inspiration for your home.
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The Complete Guide to Creating a Thrifted Hot Cocoa Station: Every Detail You Need
One of the most charming and functional ways to use thrifted Christmas decor is by creating a dedicated hot cocoa station. A well-styled hot chocolate bar instantly makes your home feel more festive and party-ready, and the best part? Every single element can be sourced secondhand for a fraction of what you’d pay for a…
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Decorating | Shop | Styling
10 IKEA Pieces That Look Expensive for Cottage Style Homes
I’ll let you in on a little secret: some of my absolute favorite pieces in our cottage-style home came from IKEA. Not the trendy minimalist pieces everyone talks about, but the hidden gems that, when styled right, look like they cost three times what I actually paid. After years of decorating on a budget and…
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15+ Simple Minimalist Christmas Decorating Ideas for a Cozy Holiday Home
Christmas doesn’t have to mean overwhelming your home with decorations, bold colors, and glittery chaos. If you’re craving a calm, cozy holiday season without the clutter, minimalist Christmas decorating might be exactly what you need. This approach celebrates the beauty of simplicity. It showcases clean lines, natural materials, and intentional details. These elements create a…
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Goodwill Home Decor Finds Worth Money: What to Look For
I’ll be honest with you—some of my absolute favorite pieces in our cottage-style home came from Goodwill. Not because I was trying to save money (though that’s a nice bonus!), but because I found truly special, high-quality items that you simply can’t buy new anymore. Over the years of thrifting for home decor, I’ve learned…
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How to Use Purple with Neutrals for an Elevated, Elegant Home
Why Purple Feels Fresh with Neutrals For years, neutrals have dominated interiors: creams, ivories, greiges, soft taupes, muted whites. They’re safe, serene, and versatile. But over time, many spaces can feel flat or predictable. That’s why purple has quietly become one of my favorite “next step” colors to bring energy, depth, and personality—while still letting…
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How to Achieve Modern Cottage Interior Design: 15 Must-Have Style Elements
Modern Cottage Decor: The Ultimate Guide to This Trending Style If you’ve been scrolling through Instagram or Pinterest lately, you’ve probably noticed a fresh take on country living that’s captured everyone’s attention. Modern cottage style is having a major moment, and it’s easy to see why. This look takes everything we love about cozy farmhouse…
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Châteaucore vs. Modern Cottage: How to Blend French Countryside Elegance with Cozy Warmth
Châteaucore and Modern Cottage are two styles that have taken the spotlight in recent years. Both feel romantic and welcoming, yet they each tell a different story. Châteaucore brings the elegance of a French countryside château into everyday life. It’s ornate, soft, and filled with old-world charm. Modern Cottage is more restrained. It’s simple, collected,…
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Decorating | Home Tour | Shop | Styling
The IKEA Hyltarp Sofa EXPOSED – Comfort Test + Styling Secrets!
Hi friends👋 Today I’m sharing my honest review of the IKEA Hyltarp Sofa — a budget-friendly couch that’s been catching a lot of attention. If you’ve been wondering whether this piece is worth bringing into your home, keep reading because I’ll cover comfort, quality, pros and cons, and a few styling ideas to make it…
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How to Mix Styles: Cottagecore, Dark Academia & Modern Cottage
There’s something magical in layering styles. Cottagecore whispers of gardens and wildflowers. Dark Academia murmurs old books and candlelight. Modern Cottage brings in clean lines, openness, calming simplicity. When combined, you get a home that’s cozy yet crisp; moody yet light. Here’s how to invite Modern Cottage into the fold, and make a blend that…
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How to Achieve Modern Cottage Style on a Budget
One of the things I love most about modern cottage style is how approachable it is. You don’t need a huge budget or a decorator’s eye to make your home feel cozy, stylish, and welcoming. In fact, some of the best finds for this look come from thrift stores, flea markets, or even your own…
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What Is Modern Cottage Style? A Complete Guide to Cozy, Collected Living
Have you noticed the phrase “modern cottage style” popping up everywhere lately? Country Living just named it one of the newest trends. We’re glad to see it. Because here at Free Range Cottage, we’ve been living it for years. Modern cottage style is cozy, warm, and inviting. But it doesn’t pile on clutter or make…
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How to Get the McGee & Co. Style: Cozy Home Design Made Simple
Cozy Meets Timeless: Designing Your Home in the McGee & Co. Style The McGee & Co. aesthetic, curated by designer Shea McGee and her team at Studio McGee, has become one of the most sought-after design looks in modern interiors. Known for its timeless, layered, and approachable elegance, this style blends traditional charm with fresh,…
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Easy Tips to Elevate Your Decor with Calming Earthy Colors
Why Rustic Earthy Colors Feel So Inviting There’s something timeless and grounding about rustic earthy colors — the warm browns of worn leather, the soft cream of sun-bleached linen, the muted greens of moss after rain. These hues make us feel safe, calm, and connected to the natural world. Studies on color psychology show that…
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Decorating | Shop | Styling
How to Choose the Perfect Slipcovered Sofa for Your Cottage-Style Home
If there’s one piece of furniture that can instantly make your home feel cozy, timeless, and easy to live in, it’s a slipcovered sofa. Whether you’re curling up with a good book, hosting your grown kids for the weekend, or simply enjoying a quiet evening, a slipcovered sofa checks all the boxes for comfort, style,…
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How to Make Your Home Feel Enchanting in Every Season with Cottage Details!
25 Simple Décor Styling Ideas for a Cozy Home Creating a home that feels fresh and inviting through every season doesn’t have to be complicated—or expensive.Whether it’s spring blooms, summer breezes, autumn warmth, or holiday magic, small seasonal touches can transform your space without a full makeover. Here are 25 seasonal décor styling ideas—all simple,…
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How To Add Quiet Luxury Cottage Decor for Fall🍂
Create a living room that feels both cozy and quietly elegant this fall. Think “quiet luxury cottage”—a blend of subdued sophistication and layered comfort, filled with natural warmth, plush fabrics, and earthy tones. 🍁 What Is Quiet Luxury Cottage Style? “Quiet luxury” in interiors is about subtle elegance—not flashy or overly ornate, but deeply rich…
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Decorating | DIY | Styling | Thrifting
🏡 Small Steps, Big Change: How to Make Over Your Space Without Losing Your Mind
Simple steps to transform your space on a budget — no experience needed! Welcome to your Small Steps, Big Change Home Makeover Guide! Whether you’ve just moved into a new place or want to breathe fresh life into your current home, this guide is designed for you. You don’t need to be an interior designer…
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10 Tips for an Elevated Colorful Cottage Style
Colorful Cottage Home Decor: Elevating Cozy Charm with Sophisticated Style Cottage-style home decor has long been associated with charm, warmth, and a touch of nostalgia. In recent years, designers and homeowners alike have embraced a more elevated, colorful approach to the traditional cottage aesthetic. The result is a vibrant, fresh take on cozy living that…
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Unique Christmas Decor: How to Use Branches in Vases for a Festive Touch
Christmas decor doesn’t always have to be about traditional wreaths, twinkling lights, or garlands. Sometimes, it’s the natural elements that make the most stunning impact. One of the simplest yet most sophisticated ways to decorate your home for the holidays is by incorporating branches in vases. These natural accents can bring a touch of greenery,…
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10 Nature-Inspired Christmas Decor Ideas for a Cozy Winter Home
As winter approaches, there’s something truly magical about transforming your home into a warm, nature-inspired retreat. This season, create a cozy and inviting atmosphere using elements from the great outdoors that bring an organic, rustic feel to your Christmas and winter decor. From evergreens to dried flowers and rustic wood accents, nature-inspired decor is not…
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How to Make a Small Room Look Elegant: 9 Tips for Chic Spaces
Making a small room feel elegant may seem challenging at first, but with the right strategies, even the coziest spaces can be transformed into sophisticated, visually stunning environments. Elegance doesn’t necessarily require lavish decor or massive spaces; it’s about achieving balance, texture, and refinement. Whether you’re working with a tiny apartment, a small bedroom, or…
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15 Simple and Neutral Home Decor Ideas for Fall
Fall is the perfect time to refresh your home decor with warm, inviting touches. If you love the calm and timeless look of neutrals and mixed textures, then read on for inspiration! Here are fifteen fall neutral home decor ideas to create a cozy and elevated atmosphere in your home. 1. Cozy Throw Blankets Nothing…
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Ultimate Guide to Slipcover Couches: Transform Your Living Space
Introduction Slipcover couches offer an affordable and stylish solution to refresh your space. Their timeless appeal and easy care make them a favorite choice. Many slipcover sofas offer a selection of slip covers, making it simple to change your space without the cost of new furniture. In this guide, we’ll dive into the world of…
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Decorating | Shop | Styling
Cozy Home Favorites and Dupes from Pottery Barn
If you’re looking for great Pottery Barn style or how to get the look with dupes, I’ve got ya covered! You can also watch all of my YouTube videos covering home decor and styling, right here! The following links are affiliate links. I may earn a small commission if you shop through my links, with…
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7 Affordable and Comfortable Sectionals for Your Cottage
Cottage homes have a charming and cozy atmosphere. A cottage style home is a popular choice if you appreciate a warm, welcoming, and timeless aesthetic. When it comes to furnishing your cottage, choosing the right sectional can significantly impact the overall look and feel of your space. Let’s explore seven sectionals that work seamlessly with…
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Small Dining Room Refresh on a Budget
We have a very small dining room at our Cottage style house. However, I still want it to have function and style! In the video below I’m sharing part 1 of my Dining room makeover using what I have and a Facebook marketplace find (or two.) This year is the year of frugal for us….
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8 Ways to Make Your Bedroom Look Like a Luxury Hotel on a Small Budget
For a luxury bedroom design you don’t need to spend a lot of money. You can create the bedroom of your dreams by focusing on the little things that bring a feeling of luxury. The good news is that even a small bedroom (with a small budget) can have a hotel feel! This post may…
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9 Best Tips to Decorate with the color Green
Ok, so you’re liking this green trend in home decor. But you’re not sure if you’re favorite colors include green. You need ideas! For that reason, I’m sharing my 9 best tips to decorate with the color green. Most are low commitment for your home decor. While others are the best option for more passionate green…
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Friday Favorites
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure for more info… Welcome to Friday favorites! I’ll be sharing my favorite unique finds (thrifted or new) in home decor, fashion, books, other great blogs, and anything else I think you might love. This week I wrote a post about how to cozy up your…
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The Truth About Slipcovered Sofas + Care Tips
What is a sofa slipcover? Just to make sure we’re thinking about the same thing, I wanted to go over what a sofa slipcover or a slipcovered sofa is! For a very long time, when someone mentioned a slipcover for a sofa, what came to mind was an ill- fitting, sloppy, stretchy piece of fabric…
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How to Cozy Up Your Bedroom for Fall
There is a hint of cool weather coming our way. The days are not quite as long, so it’s time to add some cozy to our homes! The bedroom is a great place to start this fall. With all of the staying at home these days, a cozy fall bedroom has become a priority for…
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IKEA Kivik Sectional Review (Video)
Hey friends! The IKEA Kivik sectional is obviously a hot topic. It’s my most popular pin on Pinterest and I get questions about it all the time. So with that in mind, I created a video review to give you even more info! Considering the Sectional Purchasing a sofa is a big deal. We are…
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Cozy Bedroom Makeover On An Extreme Budget (Video)
It was time. Our guest bedroom had become a dumping ground for all the “things”. But with our DIY kitchen still in the works, I had to do this makeover fast and on an extreme budget. I originally had bunkbeds in there that I had thrifted. There was also a leather chair that I had…
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5 Tips for Making Your Home Holiday Ready on a Budget
For several years when my children were young, fall would roll around with all of the commotion of starting a new school year and activities. I would find myself caught off guard when Thanksgiving and Christmas “showed up” as if they were surprise house guests! I quickly realized that making my home holiday ready and…
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10 Simple Ways to Cozy Up Your Home for Fall
There are simple ways to cozy up your home for fall. Embracing the change of seasons in your home decor doesn’t have to be a chore. I gave up lugging bins out of the attic for each season a long time ago. I’m including links. Some may be affiliate links that a make a small…
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7 Ways to Decorate Your Home for Free
Let’s face it. Home decor and styling isn’t usually at the top of the list when it comes to the budget. There are so many other things like food and that pesky mortgage payment that seem to take priority. By the time you go down the list, the home decor budget can be slim to…
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Bohemian Farmhouse Bedroom Makeover: Before and After
Hey Free Range friends! I recently completed our master bedroom makeover. I went with a Bohemian Farmhouse bedroom style. We installed a couple of shiplap walls and a sliding barn door to our bathroom about a year ago. So it had a great farmhouse vibe but was just “plain vanilla”. I usually hate that term…
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Painted Furniture Before & After and a New Sofa
Is chippy white your vibe? Then you’re going to love this Pottery Barn trunk makeover. It went from grey and blah to cottage gorgeous. Wet distressing and chalk style paint are the keys to this finish. Furniture Makeover I have to be honest that I was a little nervous about painting this trunk, which never happens!…
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IKEA Kivik Sectional Review and Farmhouse Decor
Have you wondered if a more modern sofa can fit in with farmhouse decor? The IKEA Kivik sectional has square arms and a streamlined slipcover. This made me question if it would look out of place in my farmhouse, cottage style home. The IKEA Kivik Sectional The last couple of times we visited IKEA, I…
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IKEA Ektorp Sectional Sofa Review (3 years later!)
Ektorp from Ikea Corner Sofa I’m sure you’ve seen the white denim slipcover sofas, that are still as popular as ever on social media. Maybe you’ve wondered about the Ikea Ektorp with the sofa cover? Well keep reading if you want to hear my experience with the Ektorp sectional. I have the dark beige slipcover…
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Black and White Bedroom Refresh
Black and White Bedroom Black and white decor has been my favorite since I was a little girl. I periodically try to add in some color. It just doesn’t last very long! Black and white can also be a little boring unless you add in some texture. Some choose to add in an accent color…
