When it comes to cozy home decor, the cottagecore aesthetic is a fun interior design option to consider. Somewhat similar to the modern farmhouse aesthetic, cottagecore style is the epitome of comfort and simple living. This makes it the perfect space to spend time with family and friends. However where modern farmhouse embraces modernity and simplicity with an appreciation of rustic, sometimes even industrial elements, cottagecore has a more historic or fantastical mindset behind it’s aesthetic. Cottagecore rooms tend to be more pastorally romantic and nostalgic with inspirations from old fairy tales and a sensibility of living simply. This can give cottagecore rooms a welcoming and dreamy feeling.
What Is Cottagecore Decor?
Cottagecore, as the name suggests, is focused on creating a home that has whimsical character touches that would look right at home in the peace of the country, but just as fitting as the home of the main character of a fantasy novel or a character in a studio Ghibli film. With the rise of poplar fantasy and romantasy books, (Lord of the Rings, Bridgerton, and A Court of Thorns and Roses anyone?) and the return of 70s/90s prairie dresses, this is the interior design answer to bringing that feeling to the real world. If you’ve ever wanted to live like a hobbit, a French maiden in 1850, or look like you walked out of Taylor Swift’s folklore album, this is the aesthetic for you. It’s all about getting back to our roots in nature, respecting craftsmanship, embracing details, and developing an ongoing story in your home that reflects you.
Romanticized country decor isn’t a new concept, and in-fact the original Arts and Crafts and Romanticism movements back in the 1800s stemmed from a very similar idea of going back to artisan crafts and romanticizing old european fairy tales and chivalry. During this time period, it was common for European nobility to have their opulent city homes, and more summer “pastoral homes” where they could temporarily get away for simpler living. In a sense, it’s only logical that the mindset behind this movement has returned, especially with our rising connection to technology. Each time this idea and concept returns, it does feel and look a little different, but there’s almost always a nature-driven aesthetic with pattern emphasis on botanicals, incorporating natural materials, and focusing on quality craftsmanship instead of fast paced industry and trends. This iteration often has a bit more whimsy added in, with quirky pillows, woodland animals such as birds, foxes, and bunnies, with modern amenities blended into the aesthetic.
10 Cottagecore Ideas for Your Home
Intrigued? Here’s 10 ways to start to transform a room with the cottagecore aesthetic a begin your story.
1. Look for Natural Materials and Historic Elements To Incorporate Into Your Home
Cottagecore is all about going back to the basics, and that includes the materials you use to decorate your home. From furniture and throw pillows, to art and hand woven baskets, get inspired by rustic elements that cozy up your space to transform it into your own cottage. Got an antique typewriter? That can now be a focal piece.
For furniture selections stick to stains finishes that allow the natural material to shine through. Keep an eye out for wicker and wood, which can easily match existing pieces and transition any room into your ideal vintage home. Meanwhile, for other cottage materials, you can opt for cotton, wool, prints, embroidery, etc. All of these will instantly add a cozy feel to your home. Feel free to mix time periods and historic styles with your furniture.
There’s many fabrics today that are performance fabrics that will give you the aesthetic of linen without the wrinkling and care requirements of linen. In this case, it’s more about the visual aesthetic of natural materials, not the extra effort needed to maintain them. Got a piece you love, but it doesn’t quite match the vibe? Don’t worry, cottagecore is all about eclectic and vintage decor mixing together, so if it resonates with you, it’s a part of your story.
2. Decorate With Nature-Inspired Art
When looking for cottagecore room decor, art pieces can quickly transform any space into a rustic country home. Fill your walls and bookshelves with floral art prints and/or scenic landscapes to make it feel like you’re in the country — even if you’re not. Embrace alternative art selections, such as textile and fiber crafts as artwork in a space. This can be quilts, macrame, embroidery and tapestries in addition to handpainted pieces of art. Woven baskets, antique hoops, and more can also had add pastoral cottage feel as well.
If you want to incorporate art that doesn’t highlight nature, don’t worry! Simply select frames that still match the cottagecore aesthetic. Choose frames with classic details and traditional character, perhaps even a non-rectangular shape. It’s about the whimsy and giving the impression you’ve collected art over the years that makes this all pull together. Cottagecore isn’t about perfection, it’s about embracing the story.
3. Stick to a Low-Saturated Color Palette
When choosing a color scheme for your new home design, take inspiration from nature. This is often low-saturated with more muted shade and tints to give an aged yet calming presence. Soft blues, and greens with earthy neutrals such as clay and tan are ideal places to start. Similarly, off-white, cheery yellow, and dusty pink can brighten a space while still building a calming environment. Usually there isn’t any straight crayola colors, such as crisp white, stark black, vivid cobalt, bright red, etc.
Cottagecore interiors often are more of a nuanced combination of soft muted colors in a wide range of value, often with multiple accent colors, or even colors acting as neutrals such as navy, sage, or clay. These interiors can also have strictly neutral palettes if desired, but it isn’t as common. For color palette inspiration, think of your favorite flower , or a forest in bloom. This can help you envision the cottage home of your dreams.
4. Try Using Wallpaper
Whether in your entryway, bedroom or bathroom, or even a ceiling, try decorating with subtle floral wallpaper. William Morris prints are a easy shoe-in for this style, as are most arts and crafts or art nouveau inspired patterns. Rustic homes often have simple patterns and styles that emphasize the great outdoors such as tickling or small checks and pinstripes.
Nowadays, wallpaper comes in a wide variety of patterns, colors and subjects to choose from, so there’s a perfect solution for every room in the home. This enables you to perfectly tailor your space to fit the cottagecore home style.
5. Fill Your Space With Nature
Plants add color, brightness and coziness to any space seamlessly. Plus there’s added health benefits for having plants around to help filter your indoor air. Spruce up your kitchen with a bright flower arrangement or herb garden to create a little cottage haven. Other exciting ideas to try are decorating with dried herbs or hanging a bouquet of lavender in your bathroom. Both work as decor and calming home fragrances.
If you have children or pets and/or can’t commit to daily watering, you can always fill your cottagecore space with fake plants and flowers to complete the aesthetic. Alternatively, you can also start with a beginner-friendly plant, such as a peace lily, snake plant or ZZ plant. Trust me, you can’t kill a snake plant.
6. Get Cottagecore-Inspired Light Fixtures
Cottagecore style is a romantic interior design choice, so you’re free to choose a light fixture that achieves that feel. Even though this design mostly uses simple and rustic elements, you can choose more intricate pieces for your focal light fixture — just prioritize natural-looking materials and a more traditional aesthetic.
A great example is an intricate chandelier designed with delicate crystals or beads. Similarly, you can complete your home dining room with a wooden candelabra centerpiece.
7. Bring Coziness to Your Living Spaces With Comforting Textiles
From the master bedroom to your living room, make sure every living space has access to soft, homey textiles. Classic quilts, soft pillows, and knit throws are great for cuddly nights and creating warm memories with family and friends.
And remember, you can never have too many blankets! Simply use a wicker basket or cabinet to store extra textiles as needed.
8. Shop for Antique Kitchenware and Cutlery
As previously mentioned, your cottagecore home doesn’t have to match perfectly. In fact, it’s probably helpful if not everything comes as a matching set. With this in mind, you can nail the kitchen look with vintage furniture and antique dishes, china and cutlery — just like from your childhood. You can also add whimsy by using these antique pieces in other more unexpected ways. Teacups as jewelry storage, glasses as office storage accessories, and larger platters and bowls as decor.
9. Let the Sunshine in
Bring the outdoors inside through your windows! Invest in light linen drapery that can complement the shining daylight and brighten the space. If you prefer colorful and/or patterned options, try adding a layer of sheer drapery behind the main fabric.
Then, in the early mornings, you can pull away the main drapery to allow a soft ethereal glow to enter your cottagecore living spaces through the lighter ones. This design element can also add to the dreamy quality of your home, which is essential for cottage-inspired design.
10. Experiment With Atmospheric Lighting
Candles, decorative lanterns and string lights can all help build the perfect romantic glow to your cottage-inspired home. As the sun sets, instead of turning on your overhead lights, you can recreate the simpler atmosphere of past country living with softer ambient lighting.
To avoid potential safety hazards, invest in battery-powered candles to fill your space and brighten your home. You also don’t need to commit to one source of ambient lighting. Instead, play around with different lighting options to get your preferred cottagecore vibe.
Achieve Your Cottagecore Home With Decorating Den Interiors
Inspired and excited to get started on your home’s interior design? The Kozar Design Team can help you transform your home into a cottage getaway — whether in one room or your entire home! We offer tips, personalized assistance and solutions to streamline the entire process.
Simply give us a call or fill out our contact form to schedule your complimentary consultation. At this meeting, we’ll get to know you, your current space, and how you want to start your cottagecore story. Together we will build a tailored plan to decorate your home, and begin the transformation into a more cottagecore feeling.
