Interior shutters provide a cozy look and controlled light for cottage-style decor

Decorating a home with a cozy, cottage-style theme can incorporate both vintage accents and a lighter, contemporary edge in furnishings.

"Cottage decorating is a mixture of light colors, comfortable fabrics and furniture and accessories that is easy on the eyes with a vintage appeal," according to CottageStyleDecoratingGuide.com.

Furniture in the cottage style shouldn't be heavy or stuffy. Wicker, light wood pieces or overstuffed, upholstered seating can all be used, but textiles that convey the cottage look are most often chintz, toile, florals or plain, textured fabrics.

Interior shutters bring the outdoors inside for a cottage-style room. They can be painted in any color, although whites and off-whites may fit better with traditional cottage design.

Shutters that cover only the bottom half of the window can be closed to limit bright sunlight coming into the room without shutting it out altogether. They also provide some privacy at street level, while retaining a view at the tree line.

The website also recommends using slip covers that work well with this interior style and can be changed easily to reflect the change in seasons. Using older pieces with worn paint or shells to reflect a seaside atmosphere are popular ways to convey cottage living.