Holiday cottages are an important part of the tourist industry in nearly every country of the world. In Denmark, for instance, summer cottage tourism in 1998 generated a GDP worth $563 per head. What attracts most tourists to a holiday cottage includes a number of factors: open space, scenic view, coastal location, and many more. One thing that counts as a primary attraction for the urban visitor's interest is the decoration of the holiday cottage.

While undergoing the effort of decoration, it is important to know that most urban visitors prefer a country ambience in a holiday cottage. Different ways of adorning a cottage include giving style to windows, decorating floors, choosing attractive colors for cottage walls, setting nice furniture, and adding accessories. The overall effect of any decorative style should, however, be one of ease and simplicity. Overly decorating a cottage will give it an unwanted look of cheap showiness.

Cottage Windows

As a general rule, keep the windows of simple design with plain shutters or blinds of simple style. Light curtains go well with summer season, the prime time of holidays. At least one relatively large window should allow a fuller view of the open.

Decorating Floors

To produce a feeling of natural charm and country flair, it is advisable to lay a simple wooden floor in the holiday cottage. In fact, many cottage owners transform the new look of the wooden floor into an old one to provide the desired effect. Plain designs can be made on the floor and paints matching the color of furniture items can be used to create a harmonious unity of the place.

Painting Walls

Different colors are used for decorating the walls of a holiday cottage, more popular ones being yellow, orange, and warm-brown colors that are typical of many backgrounds. Depending on the location of the cottage and the inside furniture, other colors like white, green, or light blue can be used - the latter a special case for coastal cottages. Patterns and designs on walls can be colored different from the background, though care should be exercised not to over-paint the scene.

Furniture in the Cottage

The best furniture for a holiday cottage is what most of us use in our patios - wicker furniture, while lightly built wooden furniture is also a good choice. Excessively ornate styles do not match the cottage setting, and, if painted, all items should be painted the same color, preferably a light brown or as best suits the color of floor.

Accessories

Many different types of accessories can be used to supplement the beauty of a holiday cottage's décor. These include small tables, benches, candlesticks, aquariums, beads, and numerous other items. In any case, fresh plants and flowers are the desideratum for the cottage's beauty.