Home Home Decor Ideas Smaller But Smarter Cottage With Style By Southern Living Editors Southern Living Editors Since 1966, the editors of Southern Living have been carrying out the mission of the brand: to bring enjoyment, fulfillment, and inspiration to our readers by celebrating life in the South. We inspire creativity in their homes, their kitchens, their gardens, and their personal style. We are a friend they can trust, a guide to the seasons, a helping hand during the holidays, and a relentless champion of the Southern way of life. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on April 7, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Helen Norman Small cottages do not charm on looks alone. Sure their petite proportions make them very photogenic, but cottage style homes also pack a powerfully efficient punch inside and outside. The smaller the square footage the cheaper the construction costs, furniture budgets, and power bills. There is a universal appeal to living in a small cottage that hits home to both empty nesters and first-time homebuyers. Take a cue from P. Allen Smith's personal challenge: to build a 1500 square foot cottage for under $150,000 using lasting materials and maxing out every inch. Smith found that living in less square footage actually makes his life larger. Why not embrace living in a manageable cottage style where you will look forward to tending your garden and decorating your home instead of fighting feelings of being overwhelmed by a larger home. Check out some of these small cottages and you just may be looking to downsize soon. 01 of 45 Smaller But Smarter Cottage Style Helen Norman Designer P. Allen Smith loves a challenge. So when he built a guesthouse at his Moss Mountain Farm just outside Little Rock, he gave himself some limits: 1,650 square feet completed in 150 days for just $150,000. But that's not all. It would also feature the most up-to-date green construction principles, and its design would be inspired by vernacular precedent—the 19th-century Southern farmhouse. "This home is the anti-McMansion," says Allen. So how did he fare? Well, the house came in just $14,000 (or about 9%) over budget, but it checked all the other boxes, including Allen's mandate for comfortable and charming decor. Here, he shares 33 secrets for packing big style into a small space without breaking the bank. Exclusive to Southern Living readers: Buy this exact plan (#1859) at southernlivinghouseplans.com 02 of 45 1. Long-Lasting Metal Roof Photo: Helen Norman It wasn't cheap, but the payoff here comes in the form of longevity, because this standing-seam metal roof will far outlast its asphalt-shingled counterparts. Bonus: The metal reflects the sun's heat, thereby reducing energy costs during the summer. 03 of 45 2. Low-Maintenance Siding Photo: Helen Norman It looks just like traditional wood, but fiber-cement siding by HardiePlank (jameshardie.com) is more durable and comes with a 30-year warranty. 04 of 45 3. Efficient Windows Photo: Helen Norman One place where Allen never skimps is windows. "You don't have to sacrifice curb appeal in the name of energy efficiency," says Allen. Here, his four-over-four versions (from Marvin; marvin.com) have historical precedent and keep the interior free from drafts. Love It? Get It!Windows and doors: marvin.com 05 of 45 4. Rainwater Collection Photo: Helen Norman To reduce dependency on local water sources, Allen installed a rainwater-harvesting system. Gutters and rain chains direct water into underground pipes that connect to a cistern. The water is used for the lawn and garden. 06 of 45 5. Outdoor Living Areas Photo: Helen Norman The front porch and back deck add an extra 650 square feet of living space. "They make the cottage feel larger by creating an illusion of expansiveness," says Allen. 07 of 45 6. Entry Hall Photo: Helen Norman Forgoing hallways created space for this room. "Entries set the tone for and give a sense of prelude to a house," says Allen. Love It? Get It! Mirror: Architectural Salvage-Inspired Round Oak; paulmichaelcompany.com Rug: For a similar look, try the Stockholm; wayfair.com 08 of 45 7. Painted Furniture Photo: Helen Norman It's an easy and affordable way to transform any room. 09 of 45 8. Ready-Made Trim Photo: Helen Norman Custom millwork on the interiors was not in the budget, so Allen used standard trim and made his own moldings from scrap lumber. 10 of 45 [Nos. 9-15] The Living Room Helen Norman "Learn to love what you have with the help of a few inexpensive upgrades." - P. Allen Smith 11 of 45 9. Exposed Floor Joists Photo: Helen Norman Allen left the upstairs floor joists exposed, which added 10 inches of height downstairs. "Nine-foot ceilings really help the scale," he says. "They're also characteristic of 19th-century homes, which inspired the guest cottage's design." 12 of 45 10. Black and White Paint Photo: Helen Norman For an airy feel, Allen used black paint (Benjamin Moore Black Bean Soup) for the floors and a creamy white (Benjamin Moore Snow White) for the walls, ceilings, and trim throughout the living spaces. 13 of 45 11. Faux Grass Cloth Helen Norman To create the look of a woven wallpaper in the living room for a fraction of the cost, Allen applied burlap-wrapped, particle board panels to the walls and then painted them. 14 of 45 12. Original Artwork Helen Norman "It's more affordable than you might think," says Allen, who mounted old farm tools above the fireplace to make a big impact for little cost. Other sources for one-of-a-kind pieces: school fund-raisers and charity auctions. "Original artwork adds so much soul to a home," says Allen. 15 of 45 13. Antique Mantel Helen Norman The distressed finish on this 19th-century relic lends historic character to the new wood-burning fireplace (from Monessen; monessenhearth.com). 16 of 45 14. Sleeper Sofa Photo: Helen Norman The slipcovered piece (from Lee Industries; leeindustries.com) folds out into a double bed, which converts the living room into a guest room when there's a full house. Love It? Get It!Coffee table: Wood "X" Base; paulmichaelcompany.com 17 of 45 15. Oval Mirrors Photo: Helen Norman This pair bounces more light around the bright white room and draws the eye up, underscoring the lofty ceiling height. 18 of 45 [Nos. 16-28] The Kitchen Photo: Helen Norman "This house is all about using ordinary things in an extra-ordinary way." - P. Allen Smith 19 of 45 16. Metal Ceilings Photo: Helen Norman Typically used for barn roofing, this corrugated material adds authentic farmhouse charm for only about $15 per sheet. 20 of 45 17. Cased Opening Photo: Helen Norman The extra-wide, doorless opening that connects the kitchen to the living and dining rooms makes the entire space feel larger without adding a single square foot. 21 of 45 18. Ductless HVAC Photo: Helen Norman This mini-split system (by Fujitsu; fujitsugeneral.com) has small ceiling vent units in every room that are connected to the outdoor unit by tubing and wires instead of space-hogging ducts. It cost Allen around the same to install, but the monthly energy bills are about 30% less than with a traditional system. 22 of 45 19. Classic Subway Tile Photo: Helen Norman Tried-and-true basics like this are readily available at home-improvement centers and lend charming cottage style without blowing the budget. 23 of 45 20. Maple Countertops Photo: Helen Norman Allen found these for next to nothing at Lumber Liquidators (lumberliquidators.com). The most cost-effective part: They look even better with a little patina and require less maintenance than you might think—just condition with oil if the wood shows signs of cracking. 24 of 45 21. Makeshift Island Photo: Helen Norman An antique butcher-block provides additional workspace in the kitchen, which is not large enough for a traditional island. A simple tripod with casters elevates it to standard counter height and enables it to be moved around easily. 25 of 45 22. Painted Floors Photo: Helen Norman Two coats of paint specially formulated for floors plus one coat of polyurethane create an extra-durable, low-maintenance finish on the lower-grade pine floors. 26 of 45 23. Secondhand Cabinets Photo: Helen Norman Allen snagged as many matching cabinet doors as he could find at a local Habitat for Humanity ReStore (habitat.org), a home-improvement outlet that sells gently used goods to support the nonprofit. 27 of 45 24. Open Shelves Photo: Helen Norman The incomplete set of cabinet doors worked to Allen's advantage. Leaving a few off gives the effect of shelves, which helps open up the small space. 28 of 45 25. Bright Serving Ware Photo: Helen Norman Pots, pitchers, and casserole dishes splash saturated color around a white room without an added decorating expense. Similar Dutch oven: dillards.com 29 of 45 26. Salvaged Pendants Photo: Helen Norman A few coats of white paint took these salvage-store metal fixtures from dull and dated to sleek and modern. "Painting vintage items is a win-win: It's an inexpensive way to update old stuff and keep it out of landfills," says Allen. 30 of 45 27. Consistent Finishes Photo: Helen Norman Nickel hardware (from Lumber 1 Home Center; lumberonehomecenter.com) and stainless steel appliances (by LG; lg.com) prevent the small kitchen from looking busy. 31 of 45 28. Bare Windows Photo: Helen Norman Skipping curtains where privacy wasn't a concern saved room in the budget for more essential items. 32 of 45 [Nos. 30-33] The Primary Bedroom Photo: Helen Norman "I never let a perfectly good piece of scrap material go to waste." - P. Allen Smith Love It? Get It!Bed: Church Architectural Salvage Arch Headboard; paulmichaelcompany.com 33 of 45 29. No-Frills Shade Photo: Helen Norman This ready-made Roman one easily fits Allen's standard-width window and provides privacy without the bulkiness of curtains. Love It? Get It!Roman shade: theshadestore.com 34 of 45 30. No Hallways Photo: Helen Norman Forgoing a corridor between the living area and primary bedroom allowed Allen to make both rooms a little larger. 35 of 45 31. Cozy Color Photo: Helen Norman Allen played up the room's snug factor with soothing taupe paint (Benjamin Moore Quicksand). He clad the ceiling with the same corrugated metal as the kitchen but painted it flat white (Benjamin Moore Snow White) to tone down the shine. 36 of 45 32. Lower-Grade Lumber & 33. Local Materials Photo: Helen Norman He used No. 2-grade pine boards for the walls' horizontal planking, which cost him less than drywall. "It typically has more knots, but once they're sealed and painted, you'll never know the difference," says Allen. Soybeans and pine are both readily available in Arkansas, so Allen used soybean insulation and pine timber to cut back on material-transport costs and support local industries. 37 of 45 Budget-Savvy Solutions Photo: Helen Norman Live large for less with Allen's ideas for turning trash into treasure. Painted PiecesThe dated chandelier and chairs were freshened up with bold red paint in varying shades. 38 of 45 Budget-Savvy Solution: Scrap-Wood Wainscot Photo: Helen Norman Allen made this Mount Vernon-inspired wainscot with leftover 2-by-8 boards cut into beveled blocks. 39 of 45 Budget-Savvy Solution: Converted Console Photo: Helen Norman Allen cut an old farm table down to a narrower width to fit the space better. Love It? Get It! Lamps: Exclusive Bottle Lamp; paulmichaelcompany.com Squash painting: by P. Allen Smith; pallensmith.com 40 of 45 Budget-Savvy Solution: Colorful Slipcovers Photo: Helen Norman A bold pattern revives club chairs that belonged to Allen's grandparents. 41 of 45 Budget-Savvy Solution: Personal Collections Photo: Helen Norman In the guest room, Allen hung 19th-century transferware plates he picked up at flea markets. Love It? Get It! Wall paint: Spring Iris (1402); benjaminmoore.com Pillows: Ginkgo Leaves; paulmichaelcompany.com Mirror: Antiqued Wood Diamond; paulmichaelcompany.com 42 of 45 Budget-Savvy Solution: Overhead Shelves Photo: Helen Norman Made from leftover lumber, they provide extra storage in the mudroom, taking advantage of typically wasted space. 43 of 45 Budget-Savvy Solution: Repurposed Paneling Photo: Helen Norman In the living room, simple Shaker-style cabinet doors from a lumber salvage yard mimic the look of a custom paneled wainscot for much less. 44 of 45 Budget-Savvy Solution: Chicken Wire Cabinets Photo: Helen Norman Allen lined some of the kitchen-cabinet door frames with this inexpensive, airy material that adds farmhouse character. 45 of 45 Budget-Savvy Solution: Architectural Salvage Photo: Helen Norman The reclaimed traditional 19th-century front door adds old-house charm to the brand-new facade. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit