Our Best House Plans For Cottage Lovers

Cloudland Cottage, Plan #1894
Photo: Southern Living

When we see the quaint cross-gables, steeply pitched roof, smooth arched doorways, and storybook touches of a cottage-style home, we can't help but let out a wistful sigh. The coziness just oozes from every nook and cranny, inside and out. And while we feature every house style under the sun in our handy arsenal of Southern Living House Plans, it seems that none might be more treasured than the cottage. These charming cottages are just hard not to love, so we gathered some of our best-selling house plans that are perfect for the cottage lover. Whether you're in the market or you just want to relish the fairytale appeal, these cottages—both traditional and modern—are certain to leave you breathless.

01 of 25

Randolph Cottage, Plan #1861

Randolph Cottage, Plan #1861
Southern Living

This charming cottage lives bigger than its sweet size with its open floor plan and gives the perfect Williamsburg-meets-New England style with a Southern touch we just love.

The Details:

3 bedrooms and 2 ½ baths

1,800 square feet

See Plan: Randolph Cottage

02 of 25

Cloudland Cottage, Plan #1894

Cloudland Cottage, Plan #1894
Southern Living

Life at this charming cabin in Chickamauga, Georgia, centers around one big living room and a nearly 200-square-foot back porch. It was designed with long family weekends and cozy time spent together in mind.

The Details:

2 bedrooms and 2 baths

1,200 square feet

See Plan: Cloudland Cottage

03 of 25

Cottage Revival, Plan #1946

Cottage Revival, Plan #1946
Southern Living

This L-shaped cottage gives a lived-in, cozy vibe and places the great room towards the back of the home near the outdoor deck and kitchen. It's a modern approach to a traditional cottage home.

The Details:

4 bedrooms and 2 ½ baths

1,929 square feet

See Plan: Cottage Revival

04 of 25

River Place Cottage, Plan #1959

River Place Cottage, Plan #1959
Southern Living

This traditional Southern coastal-style cottage gives a classic feel with charm. It features a large open layout with a living-dining space that's flanked on most sides by a large porch and additional side screened porch, making it ideal for family gatherings!

The Details:

3 bedrooms and 2 ½ baths

2,420 square feet

See Plan: River Place Cottage

05 of 25

Farmdale Cottage, Plan #1870

Farmdale Cottage, Plan #1870
Southern Living

This country-style cottage gives a warm welcome with the centered raised front door and entry, while brick floors in the light-filled dining room give rustic charm.

The Details:

3 to 4 bedrooms and 4 baths

2,057 square feet

See Plan: Farmdale Cottage

06 of 25

Covington Cottage, Plan #1010

Covington Cottage, Plan #1010
Southern Living

Giving just over 1,900 square feet of living space, this cozy cottage lives big with an open, one-level floor plan and spacious interiors. The home blends traditional elements and comfortable family styling for a plan that makes a perfect place to call "home."

The Details:

3 bedrooms and 2 baths

1,941 square feet

See Plan: Covington Cottage

07 of 25

Sugarberry Cottage, Plan #1648

Sugarberry Cottage, Plan #1648
Southern Living

This compact plan gives a family-oriented layout with elements like a perfect breakfast nook in the living room, cozied up to the stairs and right off the kitchen.

The Details:

3 bedrooms and 2 ½ baths

1,679 square feet

See Plan: Sugarberry Cottage

08 of 25

Celebration Cottage, Plan #1891

Celebration Cottage, Plan #1891
Southern Living

This stunning Southern home with modern detail was Southern Living's 2016 Idea House, located in our hometown of Birmingham. The open spacious interior perfectly complements the impressively large Southern porch that makes you want to stay awhile.

The Details:

4 to 5 bedrooms and 4 ½ baths

4,037 square feet

See Plan: Celebration Cottage

09 of 25

Cottage of the Year, Plan #593

Cottage of the Year, Plan #593
Southern Living

Here's a warm and inviting year-round retreat where friends and family can relax. It's a plan that's infinitely versatile with style and location, making it a fail-safe option for any home.

The Details:

4 bedrooms and 3 ½ baths

2,718 square feet

See Plan: Cottage of the Year

10 of 25

Seale Court, Plan #1910

Seale Court, Plan #1910
Southern Living

This cozy Vernacular cottage features a simple gabled ell form seen on my Southern cottages. Its simple, yet well-placed door (with a pop of color!) is the focal point of the welcoming front porch.

The Details:

3 to 4 bedrooms and 4 ½ baths

2,755 square feet

See Plan: Seale Court

11 of 25

Aiken Street, Plan #1807

Aiken Street, Plan #1807
Southern Living

A mix of simple spaces and natural materials set the tone for this home's relaxed attitude, while a metal roof and tall operable shutters lend a Lowcountry feel to this classic cottage with a vintage twist.

The Details:

4 bedrooms and 4 ½ baths

2,233 square feet

See Plan: Aiken Street

12 of 25

Wildmere Cottage, Plan #1110

Wildmere Cottage, Plan #1110
Southern Living

The living room, dining room, and kitchen flow seamlessly together in this home for a farmhouse-style cottage perfect for a family. A functionally compact, but charming mudroom opens to a cozy screened porch at the back of the home.

The Details:

3 bedrooms and 3 ½ baths

2,345 square feet

See Plan: Wildmere Cottage

13 of 25

St. George Cottage, Plan #1906

St. George Cottage, Plan #1906
Southern Living

This quaint coastal-inspired cottage features an efficient open layout that makes the most of its compact square footage. The design ensures abundant natural light in the interior of the home, while a fireplace and dual access to a full-width rear covered porch are major standouts in the main portion of the house.

The Details:

3 bedrooms and 3 baths

1,581 square feet

See Plan: St. George Cottage

14 of 25

Winonna Park, Plan #503

Winonna Park, Plan #503
Southern Living

This cottage gives all of the features of a larger home in a super manageable size. It's all about the free-flowing spaces in this home, including an upper-floor loft area that's open to the main floor. A see-through fireplace punctuates the living and dining space, while a wall of front-facing windows in the living room ensures that this area receives plenty of natural light.

The Details:

2 to 3 bedrooms and 2 baths

1,872 square feet

See Plan: Winonna Park

15 of 25

Nautical Cottage, Plan #224

Nautical Cottage, Plan #224
Southern Living

An exterior of cedar shakes and porch detailing in the Nantucket star design add to the authentic look and feel of this relaxed and spacious cottage. Inspired by small summer cottages built along the East Coast, this plan is adaptable in a variety of climates and locations.

The Details:

3 bedrooms and 2 baths

1,315 square feet

See Plan: Nautical Cottage

16 of 25

This Old House Cottage, Plan #1873

This Old House Cottage, Plan #1873
Southern Living

This storybook cottage with a steeply pitched roof combines historical architectural details with modern amenities. An open floor plan, a flexible layout, and a wraparound porch maximize space indoors and out for a home that's functional, adaptable, and full of appeal.

The Details:

3 bedrooms and 3 baths

2,011 square feet

See Plan: This Old House Cottage

17 of 25

Canton Row, Plan #1938

Canton Row, Plan #1938
Southern Living

An open kitchen-dining-living space allows for entertaining and family time, while a small side screened porch offers an escape for relaxation.

The Details:

3 bedrooms and 2 ½ baths

1,623 square feet

See Plan: Canton Row

18 of 25

Benning, Plan #1909

Benning, Plan #1909
Southern Living

This cottage features traditional Colonial-Revival touches and gives some great curb appeal. The layout embodies many of our favorite elements of classic Southern Architecture, while the generous five-bay front porch beckons cool evenings sitting in rocking chairs and visiting with neighbors.

The Details:

4 to 5 bedrooms and 4 ½ baths

3,151 square feet

See Plan: Benning

19 of 25

Brunswick Cottage, Plan #595

Brunswick Cottage, Plan #595
Southern Living

The heart of this cottage is the galley-style kitchen and casual dining area thoughtfully designed as one integrated space, but a clever mix of materials lends simple charm. Cedar shingles and wooden brackets accent the peaked gables of the home; while decorative wood paneling below the windows, a standing seam metal roof, and the stone chimney add the perfect finishing touches.

The Details:

2 bedrooms and 2 baths

1,184 square feet

See Plan: Brunswick Cottage

20 of 25

Cotton Hill Cottage, Plan #286

Cotton Hill Cottage, Plan #286
Southern Living

This cozy cottage proves that special things come in small packages. It's equally livable, whether nestled in a suburban neighborhood or built along a lakefront; while the entry and front porch offer a quaint first impression that reflects the interior's inviting, light-filled spaces.

The Details:

2 to 3 bedrooms and 3 baths

2,083 square feet

See Plan: Cotton Hill Cottage

21 of 25

Amelia River Cottage, Plan #2069

Amelia River Cottage

This bungalow-style cottage offers a warm welcome with its charming front porch. Inside, the hardworking layout features an open concept kitchen and living area, with tucked-away bedrooms to retreat from the action. Live outside year-round on the back porch with a brick fireplace.

The Details:

3 bedrooms, 2 ½ baths

2,449 square feet

See plan: Amelia River Cottage

22 of 25

Magnolia Cottage, Plan #1845

SL-1845_FCR

This classic cottage features a perfectly symmetrical floor plan, with bedrooms on the left and right sides of the open family room and kitchen. This cozy home includes front and back porches in its compact footprint for indoor-outdoor living.

The Details:

3 bedrooms, 3 baths

1,776 square feet

See plan: Magnolia Cottage

23 of 25

Longleaf Cottage, Plan #1961

Longleaf Cottage, Plan #1961
Southern Living House Plans

This floor plan is meant for entertaining, with spacious porches and airy living spaces for gathering indoors and out. See how interior designer Anna Braund brought this cottage to life in her hometown of Roswell, Georgia.

The Details:

4 bedrooms, 4 ½ baths

2,584 square feet

See plan: Longleaf Cottage

24 of 25

Hawthorn Cottage, Plan #2004

Southern Living House Plan 2004 Hawthorne Cottage
Lake & Land Studio, LLC

This farmhouse-inspired cottage lives much larger than its 1,600-square-foot footprint thanks to a lofted ceiling in the great room and big, breezy screened porch.

The Details:

2 bedrooms, 2 baths

1,611 square feet

See plan: Hawthorn Cottage

25 of 25

Garden Cottage, Plan #1830

Garden Cottage Plan #1830

This teensy-tiny outbuilding is the perfect abode for aging parents or weekend getaways. This cozy plan packs all the essentials into 540 square feet, including a bedroom and bath, kitchen, living room, and front porch.

The Details:

1 bedroom, 1 bath

540 square feet

See plan: Garden Cottage

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