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What is Cottagecore? A Guide to the Cozy Aesthetic

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What is cottagecore? Join us as we explore the essence of cottagecore, its cultural significance, and how it invites us to reconnect with the beauty of everyday life.

In recent years, a captivating aesthetic and lifestyle known as cottagecore has blossomed across social media and beyond. Rooted in a longing for simpler times, cottagecore evokes images of quaint countryside living, lush gardens, and the comforting embrace of nature.

This movement celebrates traditional crafts, sustainability, and a slower pace of life, drawing inspiration from rural settings and pastoral imagery. But what exactly defines cottagecore, and why has it resonated so deeply in our fast-paced, technology-driven world?

An amber vase with daiseys and text overlay.

What is Cottagecore?

A few years ago we were all in lockdown from a global pandemic. During this time people began to long for a simpler time. Hence cottagecore was born.

Cottagecore is an aesthetic. It’s the feel of coziness and comfort and it’s brought about through your home. Here are some elements of cottagecore design:

  • Rustic Furniture and Accessories
  • Natural Materials
  • Vintage Tea Cups and Linens
  • Secondhand Furniture
  • Family Heirlooms
  • Lots of plants and flowers
  • A garden
  • Wildflowers in the yard
  • Chicken Coop

You can consider homesteading part of cottagecore. Having a garden, canning food, and having fresh cut flowers in your home are all part of cottagecore.

Making all of your own food is also an element. And embracing everyday items that you use and making them part of the decor.

Rustic elements such as exposed beams and using natural materials are part of cottagecore.

How to Replicate Cottagecore Design

Rustic features

Add rustic features to your home. You can do this by adding beams or just expose the existing beams.

Natural elements such as a stone fireplace, a brick or wood floors are also features you can add.

There are also a ton of faux options out there. At the hardware store you can get 4X8 foot panels that look like brick. I have seen people put these up then pant them to look rustic and refined. Absolutely gorgeous!

Vintage Tea Cups, Linens, and Furniture

Use dishes and linens that your grandmother would use. Things that have a floral motif or embroidery.

Also, use second-hand furniture. You can find these on FB Marketplace or at antique stores.

The types of furniture you are looking for that is cottagecore style would be skirted upholstered pieces, old wood tables that have a dark finish, and anything that looks like it’s been passed down through generations.

Add a Garden

You can add a garden of fruits and vegetables or create a cut flower garden. Both are easy to do and provide you with sustainable foods and flowers for a long time.

The front yard is a great place to add a wild flower garden. With a winding path through the flowers you can greet your guests with a wonderful cozy feel.

If possible add a chicken coop to your yard so you can have eggs year round!

The backyard is a great place to add a vegetable garden. With the fruits of your work you can can or freeze food just the way our grandmothers did!

Most important!

The most important thing to remember with cottagecore design is not to strive for perfect. With cottagecore the goal is loving the imperfect life.

Examples of Cottagecore Design

A front garden of purple flowers, a stone pathway leading to a stone house with a light green door that is slightly ajar.
Source: Dainty Dress Diaries

This is a great example of cottagecore with the rustic gate, stone walkway and lots of flowers. The stone house with the arched gable is gorgeous!

The front yard of a stone house with tons of wildflowers and vines growing up parts of the house.
Source: Financial Times

Another gorgeous example of cottagecore on the exterior. A wildflower garden with flowers that climb the home. It’s just beautiful. I love how nothing here is perfect but with the imperfections comes the most lovely feel.

A dining table with terracotta dishes, a large vase with wildflowers, vertical planked walls painted green, wood windows and baskets hanging from the ceiling.
Source: Lavender and Laurel Home

I love this image with the setting. The dishes are earthy terra cotta, the table looks like it’s from an old farmhouse, and the hanging baskets. Taking something that is useful and putting it on display.

A rocking chair with a pillow and linens that have been embroidered with flowers, matching curtains and a table with wildflowers in a vase and two floral teacups and saucers.
Source: Lavender and Laurel Home

This one is simply stunning! I love the embroidered linens, the flowery china teacups and the vase of cut flowers. Old wood furniture that looks like it’s been used for decades really keeps in line with the cottagecore aesthetic.

What is considered cottagecore?

Cottagecore is an aesthetic that is like living in the countryside. Baking bread, growing a garden, and getting back to living off land is part of the cottagecore aesthetic.

What does cottagecore style look like?

Cottagecore style looks cozy, comfortable, and lived in. It’s a style that is more of a feeling than it is a look.

What is the meaning of cottagecore?

The meaning of cottagecore is living life in an old fashioned manner. Rustic decor, handcrafts, gardening and baking are all examples of cottagecore.

A dining table with terracotta dishes, wildflowers in a vase, baskets hanging from the ceiling and text overlay pin for Pinterest.

As a licensed Real Estate Agent and an avid home decorator, I strive to give my clients the very best I can when it comes to staging, selling, and decorating their homes. I have lots of experience with paint color choices and love to DIY my home so I can have everything just the way I want it. I share my ideas and projects with the world in the hopes that I can help others have their homes just the way they want as well.

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