How to Bring Cottagecore Style Into Your Space

Curious about cottagecore decor and looking to embrace the popular aesthetic in your own home? Keep reading to learn all about what the cottagecore look entails design-wise and what materials and accents you will need to turn your own space into a countryside-inspired oasis. The good news is that you certainly don’t need to live in a cottage or cabin to enjoy this aesthetic, we promise!

Below, we highlight what cottagecore decorating is plus tips to get the look.

What Is Cottagecore Decorating?

Cottagecore decorating romanticizes all things homespun and slow. Think of traditional English cottages and the magic they conjure. There is a nostalgic element to cottagecore, it’s about harkening back to simpler times.

The cottagecore design aesthetic is all about embracing a comfortable, lived-in, and pattern-filled space where you can curl up with a good book and a mug of tea or get to baking your latest recipe. Cottagecore lovers are all about homemade decor—they may sew their own curtains, knit their own quilts, or needlepoint—and draw from nature in their designs, too.

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Cottagecore Decorating Characteristics

Cottagecore is a maximalist style and is all about working with plenty of color—usually in the pastel family–to create a cheerful, welcoming home.

Cottagecore is not about designing with matching furniture sets or streamlined pieces. Instead, bring in some wooden pieces, antique and vintage finds, and repurposed furnishings, and mix all of these items together to design your cottagecore home. Decorating in cottagecore style is a great opportunity to weave family heirlooms into your home.

Keep in mind that these pieces do not have to serve their original purpose. For example, a secretary’s desk could function as a beautiful bar cart in your living room. Finally, keep technology to a minimum in your home.

How to Add Cottagecore to Your Space

You can add cottagecore to your space by embracing plenty of color and pattern. Floral designs, checkers, ruffles, and more are all welcome in a cottagecore style home. Opt for antique-looking finishes rather than shiny and new options when selecting hardware and other accents for your space. Additionally, embrace natural decor accents and make eco-friendly choices when decorating your cottagecore home. Bring the outdoors in and repurpose items where feasible.

For example, turn an empty Mason jar into a vase for flowers or repurpose a wooden fruit crate and use it to store everyday essentials in your kitchen or bathroom. Make the most of leftover fabric scraps and use them to create your own table linens or coasters.

Cottagecore Decorating Tips

• Go for secondhand finds. Thrifting and cottagecore style go hand in hand. Hit the antique store or local thrift shop in search of affordable treasures that you can enjoy in your own home. Whether you use items as intended or repurpose them to fit your needs is entirely up to you. The cottagecore lifestyle is all about being crafty and creative, after all!
• Mix patterns. Cottagecore homes are by no means minimalistic and devoid of color and pattern, rather, they’re all about combining various prints for a cozy, lived-in look. Do not be afraid to mix patterns within an individual room—doing so will help you achieve this aesthetic in no time.
• Incorporate fresh florals. Even if you don’t have your very own garden growing outside your window, you should still make an effort to bring the outside in by decorating with fresh flowers. Keep the theme going by weaving all kinds of floral elements (printed pillows, blankets, curtains, and more) into your space as well.
• Embrace the handmade. Craft your own pieces to display throughout the home or patronize shops run by artisans. Avoid big box store buys unless absolutely necessary; the cottagecore home is meant to look collected and unique, not cookie-cutter.
• Skip trending pieces. Related to the above, cottagecore is less about embracing fleeting trends and more about looking to timeless designs. You do not want your cottagecore home to appear just like everyone else’s, so resist the temptation to purchase furniture that you see in everyone else’s home—or if you do go this route, think about how you can customize or alter a piece to make it more of your own.