Scotland is the land of gorgeous landscapes, rich history, and interesting culture. Although people usually connect it to rainy hills and soccer, there are more amazing things we have coming from Scotland. One of them is certainly the Scottish interior design concept – Còsagach (pronounced “kos-ah-gogh”).

In 2018, VisitScotland presented Còsagach as a rival to hygge, a Danish lifestyle and interior design trend. In Scottish Gaelic, còsagach means cozy and sheltered. As a tourism body, VisitScotland intends to use Còsagach as one of the key points of their strategy to present their country to visitors and the world.

“It’s no secret that Scotland can have, at times, rather harsh and ferocious weather. In the winter when the storms rage and the waves crash against the rocks, there is nothing more satisfying than being curled up in front of the fire, book and hot toddy in hand, listening to the weather outside,” says the Trend 2018 report by the VisitScotland.

If you were a fan of hygge, then you should certainly try Còsagach. They are similar but not the same so you will also bring some novelty and freshness to your home. Here are some features of Còsagach that you can easily include in your interior décor.

• Cosy by the fireplace

A fireplace is something that will warm you up during the cold days and nights. Today, you can install gas fireplaces and still have a beautiful living room area to cozy up. Even a faux fireplace will work if you don’t need the extra heat. Make sure to place some decorative blankets on the floor and arrange old books above on the mantel.

This is an excellent place to sit down and have a glass of wine or cup of tea with your friends while chatting about things. Especially during the rainy and snowy days, but also during the sunny ones. Also, having a fireplace will surely earn you some extra points with admirers of the newest trends.

• Add rustic textures

When we think about Scotland, we rarely imagine houses, but rather castles on top of a hill with waves of a restless sea crashing against the rocks below. So, in order to bring out the castle in your home, you have to use rustic textures. Of course, this doesn’t mean that your 21st century home will turn into an old castle, but only that you will incorporate richness of details.

Wool throws and knit pillows are perfect to add to the decorative details and are also very welcoming to snuggling in. On the other hand, plaid flannel pillows and chunky cable knit blankets are also an excellent choice to include Còsagach in your home. In the end, it’s all the matter of your personal taste and choice what Còsagach items to include in the décor.

• Wood and stone in your home

The last year was all about natural materials, and if you choose Còsagach, then you’ll be adding wood and stone to the décor. You can create a stone wall or use wooden beams for the ceiling. Nicely lacquered floors of dark wood will add character to your home and make it look warmer.

There are many solutions for adding stone elements in your home. It can be just a few details like the home bar made out of differently shaped rocks with the matte wood countertop. This kind of setting would be perfect for having Scottish whiskey with your friends while watching a game.

• Paint it the Còsagach style

Colour will accentuate Còsagach and is the easiest way for you to implement this style into your interior design. If you ask contractors and local painters about the importance of color, they will all agree that it can do not only a lot but sometimes everything to set the mood in the home.

When it comes to Còsagach, the colors you choose will help you create your own Scottish home and make way for other decorative elements to fit in. Warm brown and pastel green will go together perfectly, especially if you decide to have a fireplace. Darker shades of green, grey, and burgundy may seem like a bolder move, but they will actually gorgeously complement lighter furniture and well-lit spaces.  

Whenever we think about redecorating, we tend to go for more safe designs. But Còsagach is one of those that will furnish your home with quality materials and still create a friendly and welcoming environment. With so many different variants of materials on the market, you can even get your own Scottish castle for a reasonable amount of money. And without actually moving to Scotland.