English Country Cottage Green Bedroom Tour

When I first started this bedroom makeover, we wanted to embrace the rich dark light of the room and it really makes sense in a house of our age.  We wanted it to be cosy, cottagey and classical in style. Somewhere that instantly puts you at ease the moment you step inside. I’ve always loved the character of English countryside homes, so my aim was to bring that same charm into this room — blending rustic details with a clean, modern feel that doesn’t feel fussy.

The plan

When we moved in the room was pretty beige without any kind of character. There were lots of holes in the walls which we needed to fill in it just really needed to be shown a bit of love. This was one of those makeovers that hadn’t quite gradually over time as it was never a huge priority like the kitchen or main living area downstairs. However, this really worked for us as it enabled us to add layers as and when we were able to and really consider each piece of furniture or wall art. We knew the room was dark as it was north facing so we wanted to lean into it as it was never going to be a sunny or bright room.

Colours

The biggest change? The colour! Green became the anchor of the makeover, inspired by the hues of nature outside the window.  I really wanted a strong flood of colour in this second bedroom, so we chose a beautiful rich green called Breakfast Room Green (No. 81) from Farrow & Ball. We went for Modern Emulsion (7% sheen)  because we wanted something a little more tough. It is also washable, mould-resistant, and pnly has a ever so slight sheen.

We chose a few samples and painted little squares on each wall as the colour can differ so much depending on the lighting

The ones that were close but we didn’t end up going with:

• Whirly bird (No. 309) – a slightly lighter version of Breakfast Room Green. Lively and lovely response to light
• Vert de Terre (No. 234) – a more grey/blue tone soft green reminiscent of the pigment green earth
• Light blue (No.22) – lovely light silvery blue colour – full of calm

Tip! We decided to save some money and instead of purchasing a new radiator we painted the old one the same colour as the wall giving  it a seamless, built-in look—no need to replace!

Soft furnishings

Fabrics play a huge role in softening the look and making the room feel lived-in. We kept the soft furnishings tactile and timeless, with a focus on comfort and cosiness over anything too polished or modern.

On our bed we’ve got bedding from UK based bedding company Linen Cupboard with beautiful cushions from Oka. To finish off the bed, I found a gorgeous Indian bedspread from a local shop East of Here in Penzance specialising in rugs, blankets and bedspreads. This blanket is 100% cotton and handprinted in Jaipur, India.

Then we’ve got the red and cream lampshades from Alice Palmer & Co. which add a delicate floral detail that contrasts with the dark wood and adds softness to the room.

The curtains took me a long time to pick out and we went with a gorgeous floral, tropical print from Sanderson. I then got them made at Truro Fabric. I think they work perfectly with the bedspread and the cushions.

Furniture

One of the first purchases we made for the house was actually this king size Coco bed from Loaf. I love the roll top headboard with linen upholstery. Rather than buying new, the makeover leaned into secondhand treasures. We found lots of beautiful vintage furniture—like scalloped lamp-side tables, a pine chest of drawers, and a sewing box with barley twist legs—were all thrifted via charity shops or Facebook Marketplace for under £150 in total.

Decorations

I wanted to create a gallery wall on the main wall opposite the window to break up the green. When you colour drench a room, to include skirtings, window sills and radiators you really need furniture and wall art to break up the sheer amount of colour. The art is sourced primarily from charity shops and Etsy, I included some prints from Cornwall and also some botanical style drawings.

Then we’ve got a piece of furniture that we’ve had since our last house, a vintage antique pine chest of drawers which we picked up from Facebook marketplace.

Ready to try in your own home?

If you’re feeling inspired to refresh your own bedroom, start small:

• Pick a paint colour that makes you feel calm and grounded.

• Add natural textures with bedding, throws, and cushions.

• Source a few secondhand gems that add real character and go with what brings you joy!

Remember—it doesn’t have to be perfect to feel beautiful. Sometimes, it’s in letting the room evolve slowly and layering in details as you go.