Country house: Build, buy, furnish – your romantic-rustic cottage with garden

Country house – You want to buy a house and dream of an idyllic house in the country? When you think of a country house, the romantic, rustic style immediately comes to mind. Secluded, in the middle of nature with a very individual touch. The English cottage might be particularly romantic and dreamy here. Are you also dreaming of your own little country house, preferably furnished in the appropriate country house style or Skandi style? Then read our article and find out all about the special charm, the positive and negative aspects and ideas for your potential furnishing if you have bought a country house or had it built yourself. Click here to go back to the overview: House types at a glance.

What is a country house? plot, garden and architectural style

A country house is a residential building on an estate. The large property in a rural environment usually has a spacious garden. A country house does not only convince by its size and the free space but also by its rustic, romantic charm. But nowadays you can find the country house style more and more often in the city.

This country house style is determined by massive buildings with generous proportions. The house entrances are usually strikingly designed, but the long balconies, terraces, dormers and pavilions are also eye-catchers. Folding shutters, doors, windows and railings made of real wood ensure the perfect harmony of the house. Sometimes the property also includes a conservatory or a carport.

Wood, rattan, stone and ceramics, country houses are mainly used natural materials. The floors are tiled in warm colours. A country house becomes cosy and warm with a tiled stove – the warmth radiates throughout the entire living space of the house.

Would you like to learn more about country houses? Then take a look at our Pinterest page! Here you will find the most beautiful pins on the topic of house types and also our pinboard on the topic of country houses.

Are you looking for the right house? Then take a look at our guide to house types from A-Z!

Room layout: large kitchen, dining room & more – including attic storey

Since you can choose any floor plan for country houses, it comes here to different room layouts. We will now introduce you to one popular variant:

The living room of the country house is usually furnished with large sofas and furniture in a historical style. Other textiles such as throws, tablecloths and cushions complete the picture of the living room. Next to the living room you will usually find a bedroom in the style of a log cabin.

The kitchen in the country house is anything but isolated: the kitchen is considered the second living room. Numerous chairs offer enough space to get together and communicate. Thus, everyone can participate in the preparation of the meal. For dinner, you can then move to the dining room with your loved ones. Generous wooden dining tables provide enough space for the whole family. There is also an attic with wooden floors.

Tip. You are thinking about building or buying a house, but you don’t know what to choose? Then take a look at our article on the subject of buying or building a house, here you will find reports on the experiences of builders from whom you too can learn and benefit!

Advantages and disadvantages: Is a country home right for you?

If you want to get a country house, you should be aware of the pros and cons of it. If you are not yet 100% convinced by a country house, then a small house in the city in the country house style might be just right for you.

Advantages: a lot of space & area, quiet location and individual house

The quiet location in the middle of nature offers you many advantages. Plenty of space allows you to own a spacious plot of land and living space, which you can design individually. Unlike in the city, you are not bound to a certain floor plan and can create your house according to your own ideas and needs. Natural materials, antique furniture and beautiful decorative elements make a country house.

The cosy interior with high living quality is joined by a green area according to your ideas. Lawns, flower beds and useful plants can be placed in your garden or on the terrace.

• Quiet location, close to nature
• Plenty of space, spacious garden and living area
• Cosy interior
• High quality of living
• Garden / Green spaces

Cons: poor infrastructure, long commutes & regular maintenance.

However, the quiet, remote location of the country house can also have negative aspects. Far away from the city, you will usually have to travel long distances to shops, schools, doctors or work. Due to the poor infrastructure, it would be advisable to have your own car. With the Internet connection, it can often come to problems with the connection due to the distant location.

Watch out when building a country house if it is a new construction! This is because you may incur higher costs for the laying of utility lines for electricity, water and gas. In addition to the construction costs, there are also maintenance costs for the country house over the years. In addition to the interior, the exterior also requires regular care: the garden must be maintained, fences and paths must be repaired and existing animals must be fed and cared for.

• Poor infrastructure, often somewhat remote
• Partly poor internet connection
• Risk of new construction: higher costs due to laying of supply lines
• Maintenance costs

Suitable for families, nature lovers and individualists

Country houses are an absolute eye-catcher in the tender green of nature and have a unique charm. But for whom is such a country house suitable? While large families with animals benefit especially from the large area and the spacious space, nature lovers the unspoiled nature and life away from the city is important. The individual style of the house also makes owning a country house palatable for some.

Families with children: own playground and space for pets

Large families benefit here especially through the generous space. Both living and outdoor areas offer plenty of space for children, pets and farm animals. Away from noisy streets and all kinds of exhaust fumes, you can live a relaxed life in the middle of nature. However, longer distances to school and kindergarten must be taken into account.

Relaxation seekers and nature lovers: relaxation away from the city

The quiet, secluded location is just right for people who like to spend time in nature. Relaxation and recreation – in this house you will find distance from the stressful city life and your everyday work.

Individualists: personal style from floor plan to decoration

Each country house is recreated in its own individual style. Therefore, the country house is the perfect solution for individualists. According to your own taste, you can design and build a house that suits your personal style and needs. You can also find your own taste in decoration.

Source: Country House (Lukinski.de)

Building styles country house: English, French, Bavarian & Co!

Country houses come in a variety of styles: From a Bavarian country house with an open-plan ground floor, to a Nordic idyll, to an English cottage. Each type of construction is determined by special features that reflect different tastes.

Bavarian country house: Open floor house with terrace and balcony

The Bavarian country house is just one example of the different country house styles. In this type of house, the floor plan has an open ground floor and usually several floors. Ornate wood with patterns meets white plaster. Generous outdoor areas are created via the wind-protected terrace and the open balconies. The country house garden can be embellished with wooden elements and flowers that optimise the picture.

English country house: Dreamy little cottage in the countryside

An English cottage is the dream of many! Dark natural colours such as brown, ochre and terracotta enter into a symbiosis with light pastel shades, creating a unique look.

The house without a cellar has a generous architecture with light-flooded rooms and large window fronts. Wood and natural stone, dark furniture on light backgrounds and colourful patterns such as flowers or checks make up the interior design of an English cottage.

An English cottage naturally also includes a real English country house garden! Old walls, large hedges and many colorful shrubs and flowers – this is how we know the outdoor area of an English cottage. You can relax here in a small sitting area or in a tea pavilion between fragrant roses. For hobby gardeners, we recommend a small glass greenhouse for growing your own fruit and vegetables!

French country house: light-flooded rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows

Unrendered natural stone or brick walls, wrought iron fences and railings, stone or brick walls – this is how we imagine the idyll of a French country house. Bright and flooded with light, this room has floor-to-ceiling windows with shutters, which, with their subtle tones, harmonise perfectly with the rest of the house. Open beams and ceiling beams give the French country house a very special charm. Mediterranean and maritime elements enter into a unique symbiosis here and create an incomparable image. In this house with open, elegant architecture you can spend cosy, nostalgic hours.

The perfect country house garden is waiting for you on your doorstep: Baroque, stone or country gardens with water features or stone figures invite you to spend a relaxing day in the green. You can decorate your own garden dream with colourful flowers, hedges or bushes in geometric shapes.

Italian country house: charming wooden interior with herb garden

What makes the charm of an Italian country house? Wood from pine, pine and walnut for the exterior and interior furnishings give the house a Mediterranean flair. Other important materials are rattan, wicker and hyacinth fibers.

Tiled or wood-clad walls, unplastered natural stone, ceiling beams and shutters for darkening – this is how you create your own Italian country house. With the help of built-in columns and warm colours, you can create an authentic Mediterranean paradise.

A typical Mediterranean country house garden includes a large terrace or garden. Natural stone and terracotta are used here for the walls, for example. You can plant Italian herbs or a small citrus tree, which will fill your garden with a fresh scent. The Tuscany atmosphere is made perfect by a pond, fountain or water feature.

American country house: large veranda meets Cape Cod style

There is no particular floor plan attributed to the American country house. Different floor plans and styles can be used here in the construction. For example, the house can be modeled after the Cape Cod style, the L-shape or the Craftsmen.

Spacious rooms and a wide covered porch – these are the first things that come to mind when you think of an American country house. The house with the typical wooden construction consists of a boarding of brightly painted narrow, horizontally aligned boards. The roof is usually covered with small-format shingles.

Scandinavian country house: idyllic house with self-cultivation of fruit and vegetables

A Scandinavian country house embodies the idyll of the north. Natural, warm and quiet, this is how your home appears in the Scandinavian country house style. The wood gives the house its typical cosy charm. Organic shapes provide a clear design. Simple, elegant and functional – the dream home from Scandinavia is perfect for lovers of natural beauty.

Furnish the wild country garden with white garden furniture, homemade decor completes the decor of the garden. Herbs, fruit and vegetables for your dinner at home – fresh food from your own garden. Eye-catcher and your favourite place in the garden will surely be the typical Swedish red garden house and the Finnish outdoor sauna.

Building a country house: costs & planning with prefabricated house

Due to the individuality, the construction of a country house also incurs higher costs than normal detached houses. Due to the remote location, the builder may also incur high development costs, as the connection to the public grid must first be established.

When building a house, the builder can choose between a prefabricated house and a solid house. Building a country house in the form of a prefabricated house promises you lower construction costs and a shorter time to move in. Despite this, there is still enough room for individualization and the typical rustic-romantic flair. A prefabricated house is usually built with natural, sustainable materials.

In addition to the costs arising from the construction itself, you should also never lose sight of additional costs such as insurance costs and maintenance costs. Especially white facade and wood on the exterior requires regular renovation and maintenance.

Our tip: It is best to seek the advice of an expert in planning before starting the building project and thus create your own country house according to your own ideas.

Vintage, Used Look, Shabby Chic: Find your interior style

You can design your furnishings as well as your house individually. Whether vintage style, shabby chic or used look, find your own style!

Furniture and accessories that look used or used have a particularly authentic effect here. Other characteristics are faded, peeling colors and rough surfaces.

Antiques and older furniture give the house a very special charm. Highlights such as terracotta dishes, old vases, rustic carpets and large mirrors complete the interior. You can set colourful accents very well with carpets and cushions.

You can find more inspiration on the subject of furnishings and interiors in our Interior Brands Guide!

Tip. Furnish in country house style or Scandinavian style

You want to furnish your country house in a classic country house style, or bring the reduced, charming Scandinavian interior style into your own home? We have summarized the trendiest and most popular interior styles for you and show you how you can also implement the style of a certain interior direction in your home. Boredom adie, decorate your country home in country style or Scandinavian now and feel a little bit like you’re on holiday every day!

• Furnish country style
• Scandinavian furnishings