Cottagecore home has become one of the most popular interior design aesthetics in recent years, with its charming vintage vibe and emphasis on natural surroundings. This whimsical style is centered around pastoral living and harkens back to idyllic country homes and simpler times.
Cottagecore interiors and exteriors feature flower boxes, herb gardens, vintage furniture, and cozy nooks. Creating a cottagecore home allows you to connect with nature while decorating with comfort and beauty in mind. If you want to give your house an enchanting cottagecore makeover, there are many key features to focus on inside and out.
What is Cottagecore?
Understanding how to decorate and design an ideal cottagecore home helps to dive deeper into this trendy aesthetic. From its origins to its recognizable traits, here is an overview of the cottagecore style.
Definition and History of the Cottagecore Aesthetic
Cottagecore is a romantic style of decor and fashion that has become popular online among millennials. This trend glorifies a nostalgic interpretation of rural life and embraces homespun crafts, vintage patterns, and natural materials.
The term “cottagecore” originates on platforms like Tumblr, where photos of lush gardens, flower crowns, tea parties, and cobblestone cottages first inspired this aesthetic.
The initial cottagecore content idealized the countryside and pastoral living. This eventually evolved into a full lifestyle movement that hit mainstream popularity in 2020.
Cottagecore has links to folk traditions that emphasize handicrafts and simpler living. It is also connected to back-to-the-land movements, which advocated moving to rural areas to grow food and make goods rather than relying on modern industrialization. The pastoral artwork and lifestyle of the early 1900s Arts and Crafts movement is another cottagecore inspiration.
Overall, cottagecore culture calls people back to enjoying nature, gardening, baking, sewing, and picnic lunches in meadows full of wildflowers. It suggests a whimsical existence free from modern stress and technology.
Characteristics of Cottagecore Home’s Design and Decor
Cottagecore design is centered around natural materials, vintage style, and cozy spaces. Some main characteristics that define this aesthetic include:
- Floral accents and botanical prints
- Ruffled and lace-trimmed fabrics
- Pastel color schemes
- Willow baskets, woven rattan, and wicker
- China plates or floral teacups on display
- White or green painted furniture distressed to look worn
- Light and airy rooms with large windows
- Handmade quilts and embroidered pillows
- Outdoor spaces decorated with flower boxes, climbing ivy, and herb gardens
- Aged terracotta pots and weathered wood tones
- Rocking chairs and hammocks for relaxing
- Handwritten notes and letters on display
- Rustic antiques like cast iron and copper
- Gingham picnic supplies laid out on wooden tables
The overall goal of cottagecore decor is to create a welcoming space where you can relax, unwind, and enjoy the simpler pleasures in life. Every detail evokes pastoral charm, from the small, cluttered kitchens baking homemade treats to the cozy bedrooms filled with quilts and books. The atmosphere is meant to feel like a whimsical countryside getaway.
Benefits of Cottagecore Homes
Beyond just being aesthetically pleasing, creating a cottagecore home offers many lifestyle benefits. Here are some of the top advantages of living in a cottagecore-designed residence:
Promotes Coziness and Comfort
Cottagecore interiors are designed to be your haven, emphasizing comfort above all else. Using natural textiles like cotton and linen and plenty of pillows and quilts makes a home feel cozy. Deep soaking tubs, window reading nooks, and bedrooms that invite relaxation all contribute to the overall sense of comfort. There are no hard lines or modern harshness in a cottagecore retreat.
Environmentally Sustainable Living
This design style champions living sustainably off the land, embodying the essence of a cottagecore home. Features like vegetable gardens, compost piles, and food preservation pantries allow for self-sufficient agriculture.
Cottagecore also makes use of renewable sources and salvaged materials whenever possible. Handmade pottery, antiques, upcycled furniture, and all-natural decor reinforce environmentalism. Simple and sustainable living is at the core of cottagecore philosophy.
Connects to Nature and Simple Living
Cottagecore home allows people to reconnect with nature in meaningful ways. Spaces harmonize with the natural world around you through large sunny windows, quaint outdoor sitting areas, and decorative plants indoors and out.
Living closely with nature provides a sense of peace. Simple old-fashioned living also encourages focusing on simple pleasures without modern-day distractions.
Overall, cottagecore homes provide cozy sanctuaries, opportunities for sustainable living, and a deeper connection to the natural environment.
The benefits span from aesthetic enjoyment to family bonding. Embracing a cottagecore home allows individuals to create a harmonious space that reflects simplicity, warmth, and a love for the rustic charm of countryside living.
Essential Cottagecore Exterior Features
To cultivate an authentic cottagecore home aesthetic, it’s imperative to infuse the design with elements that resonate with the warmth and charm of the countryside. When crafting the perfect cottagecore home, pay attention to key exterior features embodying rustic coziness and idyllic simplicity.
Stone or Brick Facade
Embracing the essence of cottagecore, the most iconic cottagecore homes boast stunning natural stone or brick exteriors. This architectural choice evokes a sense of rustic charm and creates the illusion of an old countryside cottage built to stand the test of time.
Exposed stonework and brick patterns with traditional mortar are key elements contributing to the cozy and inviting ambiance of a cottagecore home.
Window Flower Boxes
No cottagecore home is complete without abundantly overflowing window boxes! Choose wooden boxes painted white or green and fill them with cascading flowers like peonies, geraniums, or hydrangea. Overflowing blooms give a quaint, welcoming feel.
Vines Climbing Up Walls
Let vines like ivy or jasmine climb freely up the exterior walls of a cottagecore home. This is very picturesque, and vine-covered buildings help promote pollinators and provide natural insulation.
Shutters on Windows
Black, green, blue, or red shutters add great decorative detail to exterior windows, creating a charming atmosphere reminiscent of a cottagecore home. They should appear weathered or faded to suit the vintage style. Shutters also enhance the visual appeal, contributing to the cozy and nostalgic ambiance that defines a cottagecore home.
Weathered Wood Accents
Create a charming cottagecore home by incorporating weathered wood wherever possible, from board and batten siding to decorative eaves and railings. The aged gray wood has a rich texture, and the distressed look blends beautifully with stone and brick.
Wraparound Porch with Swing
A wide wraparound porch with a porch swing provides excellent outdoor lounging space with countryside appeal. Add vintage lanterns, ferns, and a wood sign to complete the look.
Cute Front Door with a Small Entryway
An adorable front door makes a strong first impression. Paint it a bright color like red, yellow, or turquoise to pop. Top with a quaint arched awning. Add a welcome mat, pots of flowers, and rustic log sconces.
Stone Walkway and Gardens
Linking the front door to the main path, a winding stone or gravel walkway edged by fresh flowering gardens looks enchanting. Use native plants and herbs for natural charm.
Visible Vegetable Garden
Cultivating your own food is part of cottagecore living. Ensure the front yard has raised beds overflowing with vegetables, fruit bushes, and herbs. A cute scarecrow adds playful flair.
Rustic Mailbox
Pick a mailbox with a vintage flair to complement your cottage exterior. A red metal mailbox on a weathered wood post works perfectly. Add painted name lettering.
White Picket Fence
What’s more classically cottagecore home than a white picket fence? A slim fence with pointed pickets bordering the front yard helps complete the storybook countryside look.
With these charming exterior details, your cottage will radiate pastoral vibes and provide a welcoming first impression.
Cozy Cottagecore Home Interior Features
While the exterior sets the stage, the interiors bring home cottagecore charm. Decorating each room for maximum coziness helps transform a house into a cottagecore retreat. Here are some of the most important interior features:
Plenty of Natural Light
Cottagecore rooms feel bright, cheerful, and sunny. Large windows, skylights, and cottage-style doors allow ample natural light to pour in. Sheer curtains in floral patterns complement this airy look.
Hardwood Floors
Wood flooring adds natural warmth and texture to a room. Hardwoods like oak or pine with visible aged grains suit the vintage cottage style. Refinish floors to appear naturally worn and weathered.
Stone Fireplace
A classic cottagecore living room includes a rustic exposed stone fireplace as the focal point. Top it with a mantel or built-in shelves to display treasured antiques. Add wooden logs and an iron kettle for cozy evenings.
Wood Beams on Ceilings
Exposed wood beams on ceilings enhance the rustic charm. Salvaged barn beams work perfectly to add textural intrigue. You can also install faux beams.
Floral Wallpaper
While plain painted walls work, you can amp up the floral appeal with wallpaper in vintage-inspired flowery prints. Cottagecore home wallpaper has tiny dainty patterns, not big, bold blooms. Soft pastels complement the look.
Vintage Furniture Pieces
Fill space with furniture that tells a story, like painted dressers handed down for generations or dough bowls found at a local flea market. Distressed woods and worn finishes make new furniture look appropriately vintage.
Pastel Color Palette
Decorate using softsmokey pastels like powder blue, muted peach, and sage green. These dreamy diluted hues embody cottagecore home style while still feeling clean and bright. Avoid bold or harsh colors.
Ruffled Curtains
Adorably feminine ruffled curtains in lightweight cotton or lace fabrics gracefully frame windows. Opt for floral or striped patterns with pom pom or tassel details along the hems.
Abundance of Indoor Plants
Plants breathe life into interior spaces, upping the cozy biophilic design. Fill shelves, window sills, fireplaces, and tabletops with abundant potted greenery, from succulents and air plants to trailing ivy.
Display of China Plates or Teacups
A cute cottagecore home display includes sets of vintage china plates or dainty teacups hung or stacked on open shelving. This embodies the tea party picnic aesthetic.
Cozy Window Nook with Pillows
A cushy window nook provides a perfect reading retreat. Flank the space with shelves of books. Add plush pillows and a hand-knit blanket for enjoying bookish afternoons.
These dreamy interior details will help cultivate the coziness, charm, and pastoral essence that defines cottagecore decor. Find ways to infuse vintage character and natural elements throughout every room.
Cottagecore Kitchen Essentials
The coziest room in a cottagecore home is often the kitchen. This space celebrates homemade cooking, natural ingredients, and an inviting farmhouse vibe. Include these essentials to craft your cottage kitchen
Farmhouse Sink
A deep farmhouse-style sink with an apron front makes even washing dishes charming. Opt for fireclay or enamel materials. Add vintage-look fixtures and a window over the sink.
Open Shelving with Mismatched Dishes
Visible open shelving stuffed with vintage dishware makes a bold cottagecore statement. Mismatched plates, teacups, pitchers, and cakes, and add eclectic charm when styled just so.
Herringbone Backsplash
A herringbone brick, marble, or ceramic tile backsplash provides a lovely texture behind a quaint farmhouse sink. Soft cream, beige, or blue colors suit the style.
Also Read: COTTAGECORE FASHION
Rustic Dining Table
Weathered wood dining tables help set the pastoral dinner party mood. An oval table with turned legs and visible wood grains works perfectly. Top with a gingham or lace tablecloth.
Dried Herb Bundles Displayed
Tie up lavender, thyme, rosemary and more into fresh, dried herb bundles. Hang them from open rafters or display in a wire basket for an authentic cottage feel.
Wicker Baskets for Storage
Woven wicker baskets suit the whimsical style while providing charming storage options for pantry items or produce fresh from the garden. Line them with cotton linens.
Vintage-Inspired Appliances
While modern appliances are convenient, disguise them for a truly vintage cottage look. Opt for retro Smeg-style fridges, multicolored mixers, and antique-looking ranges.
The kitchen should be designed for both beauty and bustling cottagecore cooking. Keep the space light-filled and infuse nature wherever possible.
Cottagecore Bedroom Ideas
Bedrooms in a cottagecore home emphasize rest. Include these details to create your perfect pastoral sleeping space:
Iron or Brass Bed Frame
Wrought iron or brass bed frames with curvature and ornamentation suit the vintage vibe. Try a simple iron frame with botanical accents for a more modern but still cottagecore home look.
Quilt Bedspread
Patchwork quilts as bedspreads provide texture and a handcrafted feel. Look for designs stitched with flower patterns or gingham prints. Quilted shams reinforce the style.
Nightstand for Books and Tea
An aged wooden nightstand provides space for cozy cottagecore nights. Include a stack of well-read books, a brass reading lamp, flowering teas, and a unique vintage alarm clock.
Woven Rugs
Layer beautiful cottagecore rooms with plush woven wool rugs. Braided jute rugs also complement the floors. Floral prints and fringed edges add flair.
Fresh Flowers on the Bedside Table
A vase of freshly picked wildflowers or a petite posy makes for an adorable cottagecore bedroom accent. Display them on the nightstand or windowsill to wake up to each morning.
Sheer Curtains
Breezy, lightweight curtains in sheer cotton, linen, or lace allow light in while still offering privacy. Solid whites or florals suit the cheerful space.
Painted Armoire
Give an old armoire new life with chalk paint and stenciled patterns. Use it display favorite outfits or linens. Add optional distressing for antique appeal.
Rocking Chair by Window
A cozy spot for reading by sun-filled windows. Try striped cushions and a handmade blanket over a distressed white rocking chair for serious hygiene vibes.
Make your cottagecore bedroom a sanctuary filled with comforts and delicate details. Focus on restful decor.
Cottagecore Bathroom Tips
Even the bathroom should evoke pastoral charm with these ideas:
Clawfoot Tub
At the heart of the cottage bathroom is a clawfoot tub for long, relaxing soaks. Choose a freestanding style to showcase this feature. Add fresh flowers and linen curtains.
Floral Shower Curtain
Instead of glass doors, use a fabric shower curtain in a cute floral print. Ruffled hems and vintage botanical designs capture the essence.
Wicker Shelving
For a natural look, try open wicker shelving in the bathroom. It provides airy storage for neatly folded linens, plants, candles, and homemade soaps.
Mirror Framed with Vines
Frame the bathroom mirror with artificial vines or garlands for a whimsical touch. Try faux roses, baby’s breath, and herbs.
White Wainscoting
Add white wainscoting panels along the lower walls to provide a clean and light look in the bathroom. This trim detail suits the traditional cottage aesthetic beautifully.
Vintage Hardware
Vintage-inspired fixtures like woven rope curtain pull, ceramic knobs, and clawfoot tub hardware add old-fashioned flair. Keep finishes timeworn and distressed.
Wire Basket for Toiletries
Woven wire or rattan baskets make charming organizers for rolled towels, soaps, and bath salts. Line them with linen and set them out beautifully displayed.
Bringing Cottagecore Outside
While cottagecore shines brightest indoors, you can also carry the style into the backyard. Here are some ideas:
Potted Plants on Steps
Flank outdoor steps or a back door with abundant potted flowering plants. Opt for stone planters or galvanized metal buckets. This invites you into the space.
Hammock Strung Between Trees
Nothing says lazy afternoons outdoors like lounging in a hammock. Choose a woven style and hang it between two mature trees with a summer breeze.
Gravel Garden Paths
Rather than paved walkways, opt for rustic gravel or stone paths meandering through the backyard gardens. This suits the pastoral style and blends with nature.
Birdbath
Encourage local birds to visit by including a pedestal birdbath in a garden bed or the lawn. This quaint detail doubles as decoration.
Picnic Table with Gingham Tablecloth
Picnics are a cottagecore summer activity. Set up a reclaimed wood picnic table outdoors and dress it with a red gingham cloth for impromptu meals.
Rose Arch Over Gate
An archway covered in blooming climbing roses makes a fairytale-like garden entrance. Train the vines over a simple wooden arbor against a picket fence gate.
Wheelbarrow Planter
Repurpose a rusty wheelbarrow into a cute planted container for flowers and herbs. Position it by the backdoor or at the edge of the yard.
Cottagecore home style isn’t just for interiors! Bring the vintage pastoral vibe outside, too.
FAQ About Cottagecore Homes
For those considering bringing cottagecore design into their own homes, here are answers to some frequently asked questions:
What are the most affordable ways to incorporate cottagecore home style?
Some budget-friendly cottagecore ideas include choosing inexpensive flowy fabric curtains, hitting up thrift stores for dishes and antique furniture, framing vintage botanical prints instead of buying expensive artwork, and using faux greenery and flowers instead of live plants. Focus on small decor touches rather than big ticket renovation ideas.
How can I add cottagecore accents to a rental home?
Renters can infuse their spaces with cottagecore flair through wall art, bedding, window treatments, and decorative objects. Opt for removable wallpaper as an easy switch-out rental update. Also, utilize furniture risers and lifts to DIY paint-worn flea market finds. Then style bookcases, shelves, and tablescapes with cottagecore home accessories.
What colors work best in a cottagecore kitchen?
Soft pastel hues like sage green, buttercream, and Robin’s egg blue make sweet cottage kitchen colors. Accent with brass hardware and wood stained in natural lighter tones. Add personality by including wallpaper or paint in floral motifs or gingham patterns.
How do I pick exterior colors for a cottage look?
Classic exterior cottage colors include light browns, creams, white, blue-gray, and sage green. Consider colors already present in home materials like natural wood and stone. Accentuate architectural details like trim and shutters in bolder black or red.
What flowers should I plant for cottagecore window boxes and gardens?
Some quintessential cottagecore floral options include peonies, roses, daisies, hydrangeas, cosmos, pansies, lavender, sunflowers, hollyhocks, and wildflowers like black-eyed Susans. Herbs like mint and thyme also enhance the homegrown appeal.
What types of lighting work best for the cottagecore aesthetic?
Opt for lighting like pendant lamps, sconces, and chandeliers with visible bulbs rather than recessed lighting or harsh overheads. Brass hardware and natural woven lampshades enhance the vintage vibe. Place lamps low and use dimmers for a cozy ambiance. Candelabras and lanterns also suit cottage decor.
How can I make a timber or brick home look more cottagecore?
Even contemporary homes can achieve a cottage look with the right accents. Add board and batten siding, window flower boxes, climbing vines, a brick chimney, a colorful front door, weathered wood accents, and an inviting front porch. Cotswold and English countryside architecture can inspire. Focus on blending rustic and feminine elements.
Conclusion
With its charming vintage vibe emphasizing natural surroundings, cozy spaces, and whimsical decor, cottagecore home style is the ideal design choice for anyone looking to create a relaxing countryside retreat. You can transform your home’s exterior facade and interior rooms into a storybook cottage by incorporating details like abundant flowers, antique furnishings, bright windows, and pastoral colors. The benefits range from sustainability to simple living.
Some essential cottagecore home elements include stone or brick exteriors, climbing vines, floral window boxes, antique hardwoods, canopied beds, clawfoot tubs, farmhouse kitchen sinks, and cozy reading nooks. Rustic and feminine accents blend seamlessly. Proper planning and cottagecore home design principles allow you to cultivate an enchanting home that immerses you fully in this Instagrammable lifestyle craze that celebrates idyllic pastoral living. Even small cottage touches allow anyone to embrace countryside coziness.
