Rustic Bedroom Ideas, Charming Cottage Styles

Whether you have a cabin or cottage that needs some character or a blank new build that needs some love, rustic interior designs are fantastic for creating cosy bedrooms that you’ll look forward to unwinding in.

So, what defines a rustic bedroom?

It features homespun textures, wooden furniture, a neutral palette, and simple patterns like stripes and dots.

Light pastel tones and pops of warm colours like red and orange are fine, too, but you don’t want anything that catches the eye too much.

Discover the best rustic bedroom ideas below for your cottage bedroom:

The bed frame

Your bed frame can set the stage for your rustic bedroom through frame materials (rustic woods) or dressings (patterned bedding).

If you need a new bed frame, look at oak and antique pine frames, such as the Birlea Rio and Julian Bowen Pickwick, for traditional charm.

Space is also easy with a wooden ottoman bed like the Birlea Phoenix, perfect for a small bedroom lacking cupboard space.

Metal bed frames are another option, with white numbers like the Julian Bowen Rebecca and cream ones like the Birlea Bronte providing plenty of rustic charm without breaking the bank.

Upholstered sleigh beds are another good option for a cottage bedroom—check out the Milan Bed Company Chicago and the more feminine Bedmr Oxford.

The upholsteries

Your bedding can be crisp white, striped, or floral, but the colour scheme should be relatively subdued so it doesn’t pop. Pale tones are best – think pastels, off-whites, and beiges that subtly stand out against white sheets.

You can transfer this bedding strategy to your curtains, roller blinds, rugs, and throws to create a cohesive look.

Textures are just as crucial for a rustic bedroom, with knitted, woven, and other heavy styles best to create depth and character.

You can also link textures in different places to create a cohesive feel. A few ideas include jute rugs and dream catchers, woven curtains and cushions, and a rattan corner chair and bed headboard like the Willis Gambier Etienne.

Layering up textures lets you play with softness and catch the light in interesting ways. For instance, textured throws for your bed can instill comfort, while rattan lampshades create a warm feel perfect for that cottage feel.

The lighting

Dimmable lighting is a worthwhile upgrade that instantly changes the ambiance of your rustic bedroom. You just need to swap out your standard light switch for a dimmer one and get dimmable light bulbs.

The light fitting is another opportunity to upgrade from a basic pendant shade. Spotlights are perfect for large spaces, but most bedrooms do better with a chandelier, be it a candle-style number or something metallic.

Soft lighting is perfect for cottage bedrooms, so your bedside lamps should cast a soft glow, or you can install wall lights to free up space.

The furniture

Cottage bedrooms are more forgiving than most for mismatched furniture, so there’s little pressure to ensure your bed matches everything else.

A white bed frame works great with a dark wooden wardrobe (and vice versa), provided both pieces have a sense of quality. The Willis Gambier Antoinette and Willis Gambier Ivory Upholstered Bed Frame are good examples.

Most cottage and rustic bedrooms have different textures and patterns, so sometimes they feel cramped. However, you can always move furniture to free up visual space.

A tall, narrow wardrobe instead of a fat, wide one and built-in underbed drawers instead of a chest of drawers can free up precious floor space.

You don’t need to buy new, either. Charity and preloved furniture shops have bargains; you can try your luck at furniture auctions.