The Bead Cottage

When I think of a cozy cottage style home, I immediately think of the quintessential cottage cat. You know the kind…sweet and fluffy and all curled up on the seat of your favorite antique rocker.

Here are 7 Decorating Tips from my own two Scottish Fold cats, Beau and Monique, for creating a “cozy cottage cat atmosphere” for your own home.

1. Kitty Condo. What cat doesn’t love to climb up and down one of those carpet covered kitty condos? By providing one for your cats, you’ll also reduce the claw marks on your furniture and window treatments. You can purchase one that matches the colors in your cottage.

2. Beautiful Beds. You can easily buy decorative beds at pet stores and on the internet. My cats have two round pink fur “cozy rings” that I bought at Target when I was redecorating my cottage bedroom. Their cozy rings look attractive, match my décor, and Beau & Monique love lounging in them. No hair on the bed, and the cozy rings have also been a conversation piece when friends come to visit.

3. Basket Case. Provide a pretty wicker basket for your cats’ toys. Wicker is always welcome in a cottage style home, and a basket provides a tidy way to store toys. It’s also a fun place for your cats to play and hide.

4. Litterbox Luxury. If it’s not possible to hide your litterbox well, purchase or build a wooden cabinet to slide the litterbox into, or at least buy a covered litterbox in a color that blends with your décor. A colorful rug can be placed under the litterbox to keep litter from being dragged all over your home.

5. Shelf Shazaam. Since cats loves high places, why not provide your cats with a high shelf of their very own? We installed one in our laundry room in a former home, padded it with a “cat patterned throw,” and put toys on it. At night, Beau & Monique slept the whole night on their very own shelf rather than wandering around our home and getting into trouble.

6. Feline Throw. Cats love snuggly blankets and throws. An attractive throw will also protect your sofa or chair from claw damage and an abundance of hair; just toss the throw into the washer and dryer for cleaning. A “cat patterned” throw can also add color and cozy ambiance to your décor.

7. Finicky Felines. There are many attractive cat dishes now available at pet and discount stores. My cats’ water dish is in the shape of a fish, and their food dish is a pink crown that says “Cat Princess.” When I travel, I’m always on the lookout for fun stuff for my “fur babies” and since I’m an interior decorating consultant, I only like to purchase attractive things that go with my own style of cottage décor.

Long gone are the days when your cats’ “stuff” has to be plain and drab. With the wide array of choices on the internet, you can integrate your cottage cats’ décor with your own, and coexist both happily and beautifully!

c2005 Kathryn Bechen.

Visit http://www.kathrynbechendesigns.com for more free ideas and tips for decorating your cottage style home on a dollarwise budget and to sign up for Kathryn's free e-newsletter of decorating tips and resources. Kathryn is an interior decorating consultant and author who specializes in Cottage Style, Non-Toxic, and Dollarwise decorating.