What is Cottagecore? 10 Things to Know

3. Connection to Nature and the Outdoors

Cottagecore brings back the notion of letting the rhythm of the seasons shape your daily life. Spring, for example, brings renewal and opportunities to plant a bounty in your garden. Moving on to summer, and the bounty you planted matures, bringing fresh vegetables and luscious fruits to your table.

Autumn brings the splendor of the turning leaves. For fall accents, you can put out cornucopias filled with decorative gourds and calico corn on a farm-style table.

Winter offers the joy of squeezing your eyes shut while you munch on scrumptious preserves made earlier in the season. Did you say you made extra jam? Then, add pretty gingham fabric and ribbons to the jars and gift them to your friends or neighbors. They’ll be delighted!

4. Vintage and Antique Inspiration

Cottagecore living favors antique and vintage knick knacks and other interesting finds you’d come across at thrift stores, yard sales, and antique marts. After all, what’s the alternative? Buying your decor at a big box store that is coldly mass produced by a machine, that’s what. And who really wants that? For those looking to bring this special kind of charm to their home, furniture like this distressed metal cabinet with drawers brings rustic appeal to a farmhouse-inspired bathroom.

5. Handmade and Artisanal Focus

Handmade goods are also part of the cottagecore philosophy, extending to local artisans, whose every meticulous stitch, handed down recipe, and stunning craft is made with pride and attention to detail. You can pay homage to these talented folks by decorating your home with thoughtfully-crafted accents like these handmade yellow crocheted flower stems that add a burst of color to any space. Display them in a whimsical vase or use them to accent other décor.

6. Romantic Colors and Rich Patterns

Cottagecore colors are usually warm and neutral. Soft, romantic colors like muted pastels, dusty pink, sage green, rusty orange, mustard yellow, and warm cream tones can create the look of a countryside retreat within your home. 

Patterns also play a role, with bursting, colorful florals, and gingham adding a vintage touch to fashion and home décor. 

Layering is super important too—imagine wool blankets adorning vintage armchairs, embroidered pillowcases, and linen tablecloths and lacy doilies atop a rustic wooden kitchen table. Also, a natural sheepskin accent rug draped over a hardwood floor can bring an extra layer of warmth and texture to your den or living room.

7. Breathable and Comfortable Materials

Textiles are made from layers, creating materials that are breathable and comfortable anytime of the year. Patterned quilts are a good example of this style of material. This style of bedding is a holdover from times when making them was a communal activity.

Now, quilting has become a popular hobby, and in a bedroom, nothing sets a cottagecore tone quite like them. A classic piece like this rustic patchwork quilt, with its gorgeous hand-quilted design, instantly brings character and a cozy farmhouse feel to your master suite or guest bedroom.

8. More Sustainability

The cottagecore mindset promotes sustainable living through less waste and mindful consumption. One way you can use this mindset is by giving overfilled landfills a rest by investing in slow fashion vs. fast fashion.

• Slow fashion is making your own clothes or buying well made clothes.
• Fast fashion is investing in mass-produced, and disposable fashion.

Another way to be more sustainable is through the concept of social influence. You don’t have to do anything, either, as it’s a byproduct of when you do green things like appreciating natural resources, going eco-friendly shopping, or becoming self-sufficient. This is how it works: basically, someone—a neighbor or friend, maybe—observes your environmentally-friendly tactics and is inspired to do the same. Score!