Everything You Need to Know to Create Your Own Countryside Escape
Cottagecore is an enchanting interior design aesthetic sweeping the world of home décor and DIY crafting. This distinctive style romanticizes rural countryside living and peaceful coziness.
Recently exploding in popularity online and in home magazines, Cottagecore embraces natural textures, floral motifs, antique furnishings, and handicrafts. It provides an imaginative escape from idealized notions of simpler, more purposeful living in harmony with nature.
If your busy life has you longing for a soothing retreat, integrating Cottagecore elements into your home may satisfy your craving for tranquility. Keep reading to learn about this emerging retro-inspired trend’s origins, signature look, and underlying ethos.
What is Cottagecore, and Where Did it Come From?
“Cottagecore is a way of living based on a feeling of comfort, self-dependability, and a curation of one’s most-loved pieces,” says interior designer Francesca Grace. It is a multifaceted aesthetic and lifestyle movement that romantically takes its cues from idyllic interpretations of countryside living. Cottagecore evokes visions of quaint stone cottages, flower gardens, afternoon tea, and homespun crafts. The essence of Cottagecore is disconnecting from technology and embracing a simpler way of life that is more in tune with nature.
This trend initially emerged as a reaction against the frenetic pace of modern life and the increasing digitization of society. It relates to ongoing interests in sustainability, wellness, and social consciousness. The Cottagecore aesthetic gained traction in 2016, mainly on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, where it continues to thrive today. Cottagecore resonates with millennials and Gen Zers who crave the perceived simplicity of the past by providing an escapist portal to a romanticized interpretation of rural living.
Cottagecore’s Whimsical Inspirations
The Cottagecore movement draws inspiration from various artistic and cultural sources across history that help explain its enduringly romantic charm. Tapping into these domains filled with pastoral delight makes Cottagecore spaces feel transportive, evoking the magic of fictional countryside to come to life.
Literary Classics
Cottagecore reveres classic literature depicting quaint country living. Novels like Jane Eyre, Pride and Prejudice, and The Hobbit romanticize the countryside’s simplicity. Immersing oneself in lyrical depictions of winding garden paths, stone cottages, and countryside maidens shapes the Cottagecore imagination.
Charming Artwork
Paintings that idealize rustic country homes and gardens also inspire the Cottagecore aesthetic. Art by Kate Greenaway, Beatrix Potter, and the Impressionists captures romantic Cottagecore imagery adorned with roses and wildflowers, evoking the beauty of rural living. Provincial paintings inform Cottagecore’s aesthetic vision.
Enchanting Folklore
Fairytales, folk songs, and mythology surrounding flower fairies, woodland nymphs, and innocent maidens shape Cottagecore’s fantastical, dreamlike atmosphere. The oral traditions exalting the forest’s mysteries, the magic of blooming gardens, and idyllic farm life help cultivate a world of wonder, imagination, and reverence for nature that Cottagecore taps into.
Nostalgic Films
Period romance films provide further inspiration with their Cottagecore fashion, wildflowers, and scenery. Movies like Emma, Pride & Prejudice, Howards End, Lord of the Rings, and Sense and Sensibility portray refined yet pastoral worlds that ignite Cottagecore delight. These cinematic reveries allow temporary escapism into the charming countryside of the past.
Social Media Trends
Finally, some observers date the origins back to 2017, though most pinpoint 2019 as the year it entered the mainstream, thanks largely to Cottagecore content going viral on TikTok.
“Cottagecore is a budding aesthetic movement,” stated a New York Times piece in March 2020, just before the pandemic sent its popularity into overdrive. As COVID-19 confined people indoors, longing grew for the idealized pastoral lifestyle depicted under hashtags like #cottagecore and #cottagecorefashion. What was once a niche aesthetic had officially bloomed into a full-blown lifestyle movement with millions of views across Instagram, TikTok, and beyond.
“Like so many movements, Cottagecore gained popularity through social media, but in reality, it exists far from technology, amongst sprawling meadows and wild gardens,” reminds Cottagecore expert Daisy Oakley. By channeling literature, art, folklore, film, and social media to celebrate the countryside’s beauty, Cottagecore crafts fantastical spaces flourishing with nature’s abundance, feminine charm, and memories of pastoral simplicity.
Why Cottagecore Resonates Today
In recent years, Cottagecore has exploded in popularity online and entered the mainstream decorative arts scene. So, what exactly makes this design trend so appealing to people today?
An Antidote to Hustle Culture
Many fans are drawn to the Cottagecore design style as a reaction to the complexity of our tech-driven, urbanized modern era. The cozy, nostalgic cottages and floral prints offer an escape from work stress, digital overload, and “hustle culture.” Cottagecore allows people to imagine a simple rural lifestyle removed from the rapid pace of contemporary life. “That’s what’s at the core of Cottagecore: a kinder, slower, gentler pace of life,” says designer Patti Carpenter.
Back to Nature Movement
Cottagecore is also part of a larger “back to nature” movement gaining momentum globally. More people seek to reconnect with nature and engage in organic, sustainable living. Growing food, making crafts, and living off the land are central to Cottagecore style. This trend speaks to a desire to return to traditional skills and crafts.
Escapism and Nostalgia
Many Cottagecore devotees are drawn to the trend’s escapist nature. Even if they don’t necessarily want to live an isolated country life, they enjoy engrossing themselves in Cottagecore’s romanticized storybook world as an escape from the negative aspects of real life. The trend evokes nostalgia for the idealistic vision of the past.
Key Elements of Cottagecore Style
The Cottagecore design aesthetic centers around natural materials, vintage items, soft colors, and charming details to create a cozy pastoral aesthetic. Here are some of the key elements that define this style:
Floral Fabrics and Wallpapers
Pretty floral prints are essential for adding Cottagecore whimsy to any space. Look for small-scale blooms in soft, muted colors. Delicate rose prints are a quintessential choice. For major impact, use floral patterns on upholstery, curtains, bedding, and wallpaper.
Vintage Furniture
Secondhand wood furniture helps cultivate the essence of an old countryside cottage. Painted wooden tables, mismatched country-style dining chairs, antique cabinets, and distressed settees make perfect Cottagecore furniture finds. “By mixing era-inspired pieces into your space, you can create a layered and vintage look often found in charming cottages,” says style expert Ursula Carmona. If buying genuine antiques is unrealistic, go for new furniture with an intentionally weathered look.
Ceramics and Pottery
Handcrafted ceramics like vases, bowls, and tableware have a lovely rustic texture. Opt for items with visible imperfections that look lovingly handmade. Earthenware pottery with minimal glazing feels fresh from the kiln. Displaying flowers in a glazed ceramic jug is quintessential Cottagecore.
Woven Accents
Incorporate natural fiber accents like woven baskets, rattan furnishings, linen curtains, and braided rugs. These handmade details fill spaces with organic textures. Macramé wall hangings and jute poufs can make fun decorative additions. Handmade touches feel personal and homespun.
Fresh Floral Arrangements
What Cottagecore space would be complete without abundant fresh flowers? Pick wildflowers from meadows or your garden to display in vases and bottles. Florals with charming imperfections feel right at home in a cottage-style abode. Let bouquets dry for a crunchy, preserved texture, too.
Natural Wood and Rattan Furnishings
Furniture crafted from natural woods, wicker, and rattan complements Cottagecore style. Painted rocking chairs, woven stool seats, and rattan accent tables evoke laidback country living. If your budget allows, invest in solid wood furniture for longevity. Otherwise, more affordable unfinished pieces work as
Checked and Striped Fabrics
Incorporate classically patterned fabrics like checked gingham and striped ticking in soft hues for the perfect Cottagecore vibe. Use these prints for table linens, pillows, quilts, and even lampshades. Mixing checks and stripes together prevents the patterns from feeling too traditional or kitschy. Aim for muted color combos.
Pastel Color Palette
While any muted, earthy color scheme works for Cottagecore, pastels are popular. Soft sage greens, powdery blues, muted roses, buttery yellows, weathered woods, and neutral linens evoke pastoral charm. “You want the home to feel inviting and charming. Using warm whites, pale pinks, and duck egg blues on the walls will create the perfect backdrop,” says Oakley. Avoid bright, saturated hues that feel too modern and stark. Keep things light and dreamy.
Bringing Cottagecore Style Home
Looking to infuse your living space with pastoral Cottagecore coziness? Incorporate these elements and tips for bringing the decorating style home through décor and daily habits:
Create Inviting Reading Nooks
Carve out comfy, tucked-away reading nooks perfect for escaping into a book. Include cushy woven chairs or loveseats draped with cozy blankets, surrounded by plenty of feather pillows. Add rattan side tables for teacups and ambient lighting for enjoying pastoral literature classics. Create a serene hideaway.
Artfully Display Vintage Finds
Incorporate antique treasures like distressed silverware, etched glassware, worn books, and ornamental milking jugs found thrifting or passed down through generations. Arrange in an artful way to cultivate vintage cottage charm. Mix timeworn items with newer pieces for visual balance.
Craft a Rustic Farmhouse Kitchen
Channel pastoral practicality in the kitchen with woven baskets for storage, gingham curtains, braided rugs, and cottage-inspired appliances. Dried botanicals hung from the ceiling, ceramic bakeware, and rustic wooden utensils also help cultivate farmhouse charm.
Freshen up your Tablescape
Dress tabletops with checked or floral table linens layered over natural jute runners. Add mismatched vintage China plates and dainty floral teacups. Incorporate natural elements like potted herbs, mini vases of wildflowers, and whimsical napkin rings. Create an idyllic spread.
Mix and Match Patterns
Don’t be afraid to blend and layer traditional prints like checked ginghams, dainty florals, ticking stripes, faded plaids, and woven textures in Cottagecore style. Different patterns create visual interest when done harmoniously in the same soft color family.
Embrace Organized Eclectic
Showcase your meaningful memorabilia and found treasures in an intentionally curated way. Neatly arrange seashells, classic books, and nostalgic photos on open shelving, glass-front cabinets, and wall ledges to cultivate an organized but eclectic look brimming with personality.
Welcome Nature Indoors
Bring the natural world in with an abundance of potted houseplants, windowsill herb and flower boxes, and vases overflowing with freshly picked roses, baby’s breath, ferns, and foraged greenery. Display natural objects like stones, feathers, and sea glass as ornamentation.
Cottagecore’s Connection to Sustainability
With its emphasis on traditional crafts and natural everyday life, Cottagecore philosophy intersects beautifully with eco-consciousness and sustainability values. Embracing Cottagecore style allows people to align their homes with environmentalism.
Repurposing Materials
Upcycling scrap fabrics, discarded wood, and thrifted furniture breathes new life into forgotten items, reducing waste. Cottagecore celebrates imperfections and finds beauty in weathered, well-loved items that tell a story.
Sustainable Materials and Resources
Incorporating renewable materials like rattan, linen, salvaged wood, and plant dyes while avoiding plastics means a lower carbon footprint. Cottagecore cherishes artisanal craftsmanship using responsible natural materials.
Simple Living
Cottagecore emphasizes living simply with less and prioritizes mindfulness, connection to nature, and quality time with loved ones overconsumption and accumulation. Sustainability requires rethinking priorities.
By elevating the ethics of mindful crafting and caring for the earth, Cottagecore offers a powerful template for sustainable living, gently in tune with the seasons. This timeless trend’s core values lasting beauty, purpose, and environmental stewardship.
Your Cottagecore Retreat Beckons
With its emphasis on returning to nature, appreciating traditional crafts, and embracing a simpler lifestyle, it’s no wonder the Cottagecore trend continues to gain fans. You can curate a charming, pastoral aesthetic by incorporating flowers, natural wood pieces, vintage finds, and cozy handmade accents into your living space. Cottagecore allows you to thoughtfully disconnect from modern stresses and make your home a whimsical escape where you can imagine living the rural life of your dreams.
Bring Cottagecore Home with Kaiyo
At Kaiyo, we aim to make beautifully designed furniture accessible and sustainable. Our online secondhand furniture store offers a wide selection of high-quality pre-loved pieces perfect for realizing your Cottagecore dreams without compromising the planet.
We source charming vintage wood furniture, like distressed hutches, farmhouse dining tables, and cozy armchairs that bring cherished character to living spaces. Our expertly curated inventory helps you find timeworn Cottagecore treasures so you can avoid cheap, fast furniture that won’t last.
Kaiyo is committed to sustainability. We plant a tree with every purchase and support the circular economy by reducing waste. So why buy new when you can bring home the well-loved, eco-friendly Cottagecore style pieces you crave at a fraction of standard retail prices? Visit Kaiyo today to find effortless Cottagecore charm for your home while also doing good for the planet.
