Bedrooms
June 22, 2021
30 Cottage Bedrooms With Breezy Charm
Is there any a sweeter sound to fall asleep to than lapping lake waves? Cottage bedrooms are the ultimate in relaxation and there are plenty of examples from our archives. Breezy enough to invite a good night’s rest and practical enough to sleep multiple guests, these cottage bedrooms are the main ingredient to a rejuvenating weekend away. Browse through to get summer decorating ideas for your own bedroom!
This upstairs loft of this charming barn, belonging to designer Emily Griffin on her family’s property in the Kawarthas, can easily sleep up to 10 people, which is perfect for the ultimate cottage slumber party. Kids often head up there to watch movies or stage pillow fights.
In this getaway on Lake Libby in Quebec’s Eastern Townships, twin metal bed frames and jaunty striped pillows are quintessential cottage staples. The rooms have a relaxed, lived-in charm created with low-maintenance materials. The floors are wood-look ceramic tile so they can handle the dirt, and they’re heated for when the family comes to ski in the winter.
Designer Youssef Hasbani selected a brilliant white for all the walls in his cottage: Benjamin Moore’s Chantilly Lace. “White shows everything off nicely,” he says. “Plus, white is soothing and relaxing, which is how I like to live here.” In one of the bunkie’s bedrooms, windows swing up for a breezy boathouse effect, capitalizing on the dreamy waterside locale.
In this serene principal bedroom, full-height windows let the homeowners enjoy sunrise views in their cottage. Hardy, wide-plank German oak floors, installed throughout the cottage, add rustic warmth underfoot — perfect for barefoot summer living.
A creamy palette lends a sophisticated and calming vibe to this Muskoka cottage. In the guest bedroom, traditional wooden double-hung windows are accented by rich gray sashes for a bit of contrast.
In this ’80s-style, 2,300-square-foot cottage, a crisp palette of white, blue and cherry red creates a preppy backdrop in the homeowner’s son’s bedroom. “These bunk beds were the one thing we splurged on,” says the homeowner. “Now it’s hard to get him outside!”
Waking up to the sight of an airy gabled ceiling (as seen in the principal bedroom of this cottage built on Shanty Island) practically guarantees a good morning!
Designer Sam Sacks turned a no-frills cabin into the cottage of her fantasies. Sam’s daughter’s room doubles as a guest room, so a queen bed was a must. “Yes, we know the horseshoe is upside down,” says Sam. “We promise to fix it before our luck runs out!”
Nestled in the New Brunswick countryside, designer Fenwick Bonnell’s Maritime cottage has been in his family since the 1950s. Pops of sunshine yellow inject warmth into the principal bedroom, complete with built-in storage, plush bedding and an unfinished blanket chest.
The principal bed is simply dressed in relaxed linens in this boathouse on Muskoka’s Lake Joseph, which is tucked under a canopy of trees and hugs the rocks. The lower windows are outfitted with motorized screens to accommodate sleeping in.
Vintage-look iron beds have classic appeal in a couple’s seasonal P.E.I. home, especially when paired with a crisp blue and white palette.
A treehouse-like bedroom panelled in the same white oak as the flooring gets a textural boost from a dividing wall clad in black brick.
A pastel palette in this boathouse’s principal bedroom encourages guests to unwind and recharge — and soak in the panoramic view. “At dusk and dawn, you get purply hues in the sky that reflects on the water,” says designer Anne Hepfer.
Designer James Davie designed a ladder and rope railing to give access to the second floor in his bunkie. With one full and two twin beds in the loft, and a pullout sofa on the main floor, the bunk can sleep six.
Like the rest of the bedrooms in this cottage on Lac Libby in the Eastern Townships, the principal bedroom is an exercise in comfortable minimalism. We love the breezy panelled wall and casual stump bedside table.
This charming Laurentians cottage is full of old-school touches, like flip-up windows secured by long hooks, white bedding, glossy painted side tables and breezy drapes.
In this rustic bedroom, a classic Hudson’s Bay point blanket helps enliven a minimalist envelope.
This room is full of vintage touches like the ceiling fan to help counteract hot summer weather and make for a restful sleep. Timeless twin beds are dressed with lush ticking bedskirts that match the drapes.
Perfectly rumpled linen bedding ensures a relaxed feel in a guest bedroom. Inspired by this West Coast’s cabin’s horizontal panelled walls, butterfly artwork is hung in a single line and even wrapped it around the adjacent walls for a playful, dreamy touch.
Old-fashioned quilts are modernized against crisp white walls and a geometric pendant light in this East Coast bedroom. Patterned fabrics on pillows and a striped rug lend the space an easygoing charm.
When this cozy Muskoka cottage reaches full capacity, a Murphy bed can be pulled down to create an extra sleeping space. A custom unit provides ample storage.
In this shared girls’ bedroom, wicker pendant lights and a jute rug keep the space from feeling too precious and inject a welcome hit of natural materials.
Perfect for cottages where children congregate to spend their summer, this quartet of built-in bunk beds are sure to inspire some amazing sleepovers.
Trundle beds are a great alternative to bunk beds, and are just as space efficient. In this kid’s bedroom, twin units sit flush against the wall (with extra beds tucked away in the pull-outs underneath) meaning there’s still plenty of space to hang out with friends.
Though the furnishings in this children’s room skew toward the traditional, the space feels up to date thanks to a fresh palette. A watery blue envelope nods to this cottage’s lakeside location, while a fire-engine red bunk bed injects a hit of spunk.
One of the most popular ways to give a space classic cottage style is to install shiplap panelling on the walls (and ceiling, too!). Here, it lends subtle texture to a principal bedroom.
“The trick to using several patterns in one room is to keep the colors consistent and differ the scale,” explains designer Kate Stuart. In this bedroom, a daring palette of red, white and grey temper traditional furnishings and lend the space a fresh, youthful feel.
So that your cottage doesn’t feel dated in a few years, furnish bedrooms with a mix of styles. Here, contemporary bedding is balanced with vintage pieces, including an elegant chandelier and trad side tables.
When it came to decorating this shared space, designer Margot Austin kept the original pine bunkbeds and updated the look with plaid throws and mod sconces.
Says the owner of this cottage: “This armoire was originally made in France by a father who gifted it to his daughter when she got married and left home. It works here because it’s a little piece of art on its own.”