That the Cotswolds takes its name from the Anglo-Saxon words for sheep enclosure (cots) and limestone hills (wolds) tells you all you need to know about this charming corner of Britain, which promises a quintessential country retreat. With nearly 800 square miles of winding streets and rolling hills, arterial footpaths and Roman ruins, this honey-tinged haven feels plucked straight from a Romanticist painting. Those lucky enough to reside in one of the area’s distinctive limestone cottages face a challenge of sorts: how to emulate the beauty of the location behind their home’s historical facade. It’s a task our stylists embarked on with fervour as they set about creating our latest autumnal look, staged in a country cottage in rural Oxfordshire.

A cottage sitting room with two sofas, a coffee table and a rug, two lamps and a mirror, in front of a large window.A cottage sitting room with two sofas, a coffee table and a rug, two lamps and a mirror, in front of a large window.
The corner of a cottage sitting room with a palm-print armchair in front a red lamp and a fireplace, decorated with framed art work.The corner of a cottage sitting room with a palm-print armchair in front a red lamp and a fireplace, decorated with framed art work.

Beyond the property’s wisteria-clad frontage our team found the a truly characterful space, where low ceilings, wooden beams and original fireplaces give way to personality packed design. Here, there’s no such thing as too much pattern and colour: stripes, florals, geometrics, chinoiserie and even a palm print adorn rooms from top to bottom, lending them an inviting look. This eclectic mix is grounded by an earthy palette that nods to the building’s bucolic location; shades of brown and green are mixed with warm red, pink and yellow.

When decorating a country cottage, good lighting is essential, and so our stylists ensured each room was given its moment in the spotlight. Lamps, perched on side tables, tucked discreetly behind sofas and hung in pride of place over kitchen countertops, cast the cottage interiors in a golden glow, each one decorated with a shade as visually appealing as it is practical. In the dining room, this translates to an industrial-style pendant, a splash of sleek urbanity that brings a touch of modern design to an otherwise traditional aesthetic. With flickering candlelight adding even more warmth, the space extends an invitation to be cosy.

An autumnal setting featuring a large round wooden dining table and leather dining chairs in a lowly lit cottage dining room.An autumnal setting featuring a large round wooden dining table and leather dining chairs in a lowly lit cottage dining room.
An autumnal tablescape with green-and-white striped crockery, white cutlerty and a red tablecloth.An autumnal tablescape with green-and-white striped crockery, white cutlerty and a red tablecloth.

Texture serves to lure you in further, with contrasting materials expertly layered for a welcoming effect. There’s velvet, perched on top of embroidered cotton; raw silk paired with soft leather; and glossy mango wood sitting pretty on woven rattan. For every rustic finish, you’ll find something soft or sleek nearby – in the bedroom, a cashmere throw is draped across a linen ottoman; in the study, a ceramic vase decorates a rattan desk.

As the autumn months awaken a desire to hibernate, a welcoming aesthetic such as this feels fitting. With warmth found in every corner, from the heat of the fireplace to the hug of the homely colour palette, there’s little else to do but sit back, relax and get cosy.