Can I make my bungalow feel like a cottage?

[APermanentlyExhaustedPigeon]

For a variety of reasons, I seem to have ended up living in a bungalow instead of the quirky cottage of my dreams...

The only redeeming feature at the moment is that the previous owner installed a log burner jn the lounge, so if I stare at that hard enough I can pretend I'm in a cottage. (I also have to close one eye, squint and drink gin).

Given that moving isn't an option for the foreseeable future, please help me think of ways to make my house feel more like a home! Happy to hear anything from small decorative touches, to bigger things, or what to plant in the garden!

Cottage gardens - roses round the door, apple tree. Look out for hardy/herbaceous/cottage perennials at the garden centre. Herbs. Planting is fairly random - tucking plants in where there's space for them generally. It's many moons ago, but Geoff Hamilton had a good TV series and book about cottage gardens - probably not difficult to get hold of the latter second hand.

Use tongue and groove cladding on the walls (up to waste height for example) in kitchen and bathroom, decorate in cottage style, eg using patterned fabrics (maybe floral)

Have a look on Pinterest for ideas.

If you've got the funds, I saw a property programme recently where they added a bay window and a porch on the front of a very plain house, and it utterly transformed it! So something like that could be an option? Even just repainting?

Other ideas: planting. Just Google cottage garden and there's stacks of ideas. Inside - wooden kitchen, second hand/antique furniture rather than new/flat pack!

What is your budget op?

Ooh some lovely ideas, thank you all.
We have tongue and groove in the hallway already (very handy with sticky fingered toddlers). I will make a note to consider that when we re-do the kitchen and bathroom.
I think it’s the radiators that make it look a bit naff. I’m not sure we can afford to replace them all, but might look into radiator covers?
Loving the garden ideas, it needs totally re-doing, so definitely a labour of love, and something that will take a few years to really establish, but will chat to our local gardener and see what their costs are like.
We have bay windows at the front already, so one in the lounge and one in the bedroom. The internal floor level is higher than the external so can’t put a door in, and probably too shallow for a window seat, but maybe some kind of ottoman, or a basket/trunk with a few throws in? I see that a lot in magazines but not sure how well it works in real life (with aforementioned toddlers)!
I don’t have a set budget, as such. We are planning on a loft conversion in c. 5/6yrs so that’s our next big expenditure. I guess st the moment I’m looking for smaller things I can do.
Any other ideas gratefully received.
Thank you for the Pinterest reminder, I had an account ages ago, so will download the app again!

Forgot to say, our “front door” is on the side, and recessed slightly but too narrow to do much in the entry, could definitely plant either side and train something over the external door arch.
The exterior is a lovely combination of brick and pebbledash... we have considered painting the pebbledash, poss re-rendering first. But our house would really stand out from the rest of the road, so I need to check the covenant in our deeds as I recall them being quite restrictive! Some of the things detailed seem to be universally ignored, but as no-one else has done it I will check!

Is it maybe less you want to make it look like a cottage and more you want that chocolate box pretty warm welcoming home look?

Things like a wooden trellis arch at the front door, with a trailing plant over it. Or two large trees in beautiful pots either side of the door, with battery operated fairy lights, I have olive trees.

Lots and lots of pots outside, plants, flowers, small trees, make the pots good ones, they make all the difference. For example I love the heritage garden pottery ones. Expensive but they will last forever.

Inside ..rugs, throws on the sofas, pictures on the walls, nice muted colours on the walls,, tall plants in the corners of rooms with fairy lights round them, soft lighting, interesting and good furniture you love.

Same for accessories, always buy only what you love. Not generic crap from Homebase or something, spend time looking on line.you can get things like curtains, blinds, cushions, lamp shades, made for you by people on Etsy for reasonable prices. Look at some of the art shops on line, you can have an unusual print of your choice framed to your specifications for less than a generic print in next.

Look at the artists shops on Etsy, again you can buy beautiful originals from little known artists quite cheaply.

There is lots you can do, but the one rule I've learned, is don't buy something just to fill a space. Wait, spend time looking, think about it, and find something you love. Even if you have to save for it. Even if it takes a year to find it, Because you'll have it for years and love it for years. Don't buy for the sake of it, buy it because you love it.

Someone said to me "it's not just your house that's beautiful, it's everything in it" Which is a huge compliment, but it's not because I spend a lot of money, but because at the grand old age of 49 and having lived with my husband since I was 23 and coming to the realisation the man thinks everything should last forever, I only buy what I love.

For example I've a huge coffee table, I want something for the centre of it to replace what's temporarily there, I've been looking for several months on and off, and I haven't found it so I haven't bought it.

So take time over it. Find the things you love one by one. Things you think are beautiful, the you absolutely love. Then buy it. Over time your house will become a much loved home. Structural changes do make a huge difference but filling it with things you love inside and out, it will take on rhe look and feel you want.

Thank you Bluntness, that’s a really helpful post. I think in most of the rooms, it is those finishing touches. They do all feel a bit unfinished, but I haven’t found quite what I’m looking for yet - not that I know what it is!
My Pinterest boards are filling up nicely with ideas for the interior. I think we still have some way to go on de-cluttering too. I keep finding myself looking at storage solutions, and then thinking the solution is to get rid of it all!
Pots are definitely are great look for the garden, although I’m a bit worried about how often I would need to water them, we have a water butt, but it’s more remembering to do it!
Walls are interesting, as I worry that having pictures up with make the room feel smaller, but might need to think about choice of frame rather than not having anything - they are all bare at the moment.
Lots to think about, thank you again!

White walls, heritage green painted doors and windows.

Flowers, candles, blankets, lamps,

Just described my home.

I live in a bungalow too although it's in the med I do like it to feel cosy in winter.

I have a few of the things suggested and agree they make a difference, lots of roses for example and we have a log burner in the kitchen as well as the lounge so there's one at each end as it were. Our kitchen log burner has a small oven in it too. Both log burners have small bright rugs in front of them.

I think furniture makes a difference too. Most of mine is inherited solid wood stuff.

Lots of our garden was concrete. We got AstroTurf while we decide what to do with it. Controversial but I love it!

Window dressings can make a massive difference - traditional thick curtains, maybe with a pelmet, with a coordinating cushion for a window seat would make it feel more cottage like. Try toile de joie (sp?) or a soft tartan or gingham if florals don't suit.

Also maybe a stable-door for one or two Internal doors - to the kitchen? Or utility room if you have them?

Go for natural fabrics - wool, basket-work, cotton, earthenware - and steer clear of anything shiny, glittery or floaty or glass.

Have fun! Great opportunity to make it a lovely home :-)

I live in an 18th century cottage (sorry, if that makes you feel jealous, would it help if I told you it is a bugger to maintain?) The first thoughts that came to mind when I think about my house are: unpainted wooden doors and skirting boards, latch doors, doors made of tongue and groove with a z shape support instead of panel doors, open fires, log burner, rustic soft furnishings e.g. crochet blankets and cushion covers, window seats (in the bay window maybe?), shelving in any alcoves or nooks Instead of bookcases, wooden worktop in the kitchen, butlers sink, old fashioned taps, roses round the door, hanging baskets.

Bluntness thank you so much for that timely reminder. We are just completing an extension/renovation and in a position to get lots of new house things including soft furnishings and ornamental bits and bobs (after holding off for the past few years, knowing that the renovation would be happening). I know I should only buy what I love, and have been trying to do that with the fixtures and fittings, but your post reminded me that I have the same issue with a DH who expects things to last forever. And in the past I have bought things that are ‘quite nice’ to fill a space, and then hated them because I was stuck with them and they weren’t lovely, whereas things that I have loved and bought bring me so much joy. I must ensure I remember this!!

(Sorry for hijack!)

Living room should be cosy in winter, and significantly cooler and slightly darker than outside in summer.
Nets, curtains, window box - geraniums or pansies.
Dark wood furniture, large sideboard or dresser. Large, comfy sofa, not the TV, is main feature of the room.

Bright, warm kitchen. Suitable accessories in sight and modern gadgets stored away. No plastic on view.