What is Cottagecore Decor?

Cottagecore came around in 2020- people were stuck at home and the idea of making it cozy, nostalgic, and romanticizing the details suddenly made perfect sense. And it’s been a style with staying power! I call my style Cottagecore- why, yes I want to embrace all things grandma! So if you’re wondering what is cottagecore decor? I thought I’d share all about it and how you can bring it into your home.

What is cottagecore decor?

At the roots of cottagecore is a quest to escape stress and trauma. The modern world of AI, people being glued to their phones, hustle culture, and just all this (waves hand around)- it feels like too much.

Instead, Cottagecore is the hope to find simplicity, spend more time in nature, and actually take care of what matters most- home, family, and self. It’s creating a protective bubble around what you love.

So, what is Cottagecore decor? It’s about adding whimsy through quirky tchotchkes. It’s making your home as cozy as possible with soft textiles and lots of layers. The “cottage” part of the name is about the love of a simple country life- collecting eggs from backyard chickens, spending time gardening. And it’s about creating a lived-in feeling with thrifted items and DIY projects.

The last time a country style was trending was the 1990’s. And it makes sense! Y2K was looming. Personal computers felt exciting, but a little scary too. And when technology seems foreboding, we tend to yearn to get back to our roots. The cottagecore style isn’t exactly the same as it was in the 90’s, but there’s some similarities.

And if you’re a millennial with nostalgia for the 90’s, this style might feel like coming home to you. It was definitely a simpler time. Riding bikes with friends, watching a favorite video on VHS, and spending hours outside. For me, I want my kid to grow up with some of that joy. If you’re the same, decorating in a more analog way might call to you as well.

For me, decorating in the Cottagecore style is one of the ways I heal my inner child. My house feels so safe- like I can be who I really am, I can sit and read anywhere, I can dance in my kitchen. It’s cozy and interesting and really pretty. It feels good. If you want some of that, let me show you how to add the Cottagecore look to your home.

color scheme

A typical cottagecore home will have earth tones- think blues, greens, soothing colors. I personally use a lot of pastels and find those to work well. The colors can also be moody and deep.

What to avoid for the color scheme? High contrast- think black next to white. And neon colors. The goal is a relaxing atmosphere so low contrast is key.

Textiles

One of the main component of a cottagecore home is textiles- lots of layers. Think a lace table cloth. Ruffled chair cushions. Fabric wrapped frames. Cafe curtains. A skirted sink. Bed canopy. It’s creating soft layers to soften the hard edges and bring in more texture and pattern.

Every room needs a soft rug. And it doesn’t have to look perfect- lived in is the preferred vibe. A hand quilted blanket on the bed. A crochet throw blanket on the sofa with soft throw pillows. Ruffled lamp shades. Each surface that can have a layer of fabric does and the result is coziness. Rooms that beg you to enjoy them and linger longer.

Light

To embrace cottagecore decor, pay attention to the light! There should be layers of lamp light at night- floor lamps, table lamps, sconces, and always a lamp in the kitchen! It’s about having a soft glow- no harsh light allowed.

And fire light is important! The easiest way is with tapered candles. A beautiful candle warmer works too- making the whole home smell lovely. But the pinnacle is having a fireplace with a fire going! There is nothing that adds more to the ambiance (even if it is an electrical fireplace).

In the daytime, let in as much light as possible! Light streaming through the windows brings a whole home to life. One important component of the cottagecore aesthetic is the connection to nature. And sunlight is ideal for that. It makes a room feel soft- especially if there’s sheer or lace curtains.

Storage

At its heart, cottagecore is for the maximalist girlies. More is more! And thus, storage is really important to hold all that beautiful stuff.

From built-in library bookcases (definitely with a library ladder) to plate racks, to peg hooks. Pantry shelves with food in mason jars. Woven baskets that are hanging to add texture and having a pretty way to store things. Finding nice ways to make holding things is key. And, hot tip, if you can add some scallop trim to your storage, that’ll make it cuter!

In my son’s room we built a bed nook and it’s the coziest spot! Plus it has lots of built in storage- drawers under the bed and cubbies behind the headboard.

wall art

Using the wall to display art is a main component for the cottagecore look- a plate wall to display gorgeous plates, hanging copper pots to easily grab and cook with, a gallery wall filled with family memories, and a wall clock.

Art should be whatever calls to you. Cottagecore art is usually nature inspired in earth tones, moody colors or pastels. Examples of this are oil paintings (like a landscape or floral study), botanical prints, framed embroidery, pressed dried flowers, a painting of your house, or portraits (either animal or human- whatever floats your boat).

thrifting

Cottagecore decor is vintage inspired. This is your permission to do lots of thrifting, antiquing, and flea market shopping (you’re welcome)! Look for wood furniture- if it has patina that’s a plus. If it needs painted, well, that’ll be a fun project. Learn to embrace imperfection. You’re saving decor and furniture from the landfill. So it might have a few dings- it just adds character.

While you’re at the thrift shop, look for brass candlesticks, floral dishes, and pretty baskets. Walk the aisles and grab what looks interesting to you. This is how you slowly create a house that tells your story and is super unique.

collections

No cottagecore home is complete without a collection! I collect the Spice Village, Sheila’s houses, vintage souvenir plates. A collection is a great thing to look for when thrifting. And it adds the nostalgia and charming feeling to the home.

Other collections could be brass figurines, wicker baskets, pottery in a style you like, or vintage tea cups.

florals

Bringing nature inside is another key component of cottagecore. And that means florals! From floral wallpaper to fabric to plates to art- layer those flowers on top of flowers.

And definitely have fresh bouquets of flowers too! Though they don’t need to be perfectly arranged. The wild flower look is preferred. As well as “picked straight from the garden.” This is your sign to plant lots of flowers this year!

When using florals, it’s a good excuse to try pattern mixing. Try different scale of floral prints in the same space. Stripes and gingham patterns are both Cottagecore prints that work really nice with florals.

conclusion

Cottagecore isn’t about pretending you live in a literal cottage or owning chickens (though if you do, I fully support that. I’m a chicken mom of 12 myself). It’s about creating a home that feels safe, layered, nostalgic, and deeply personal. It’s about slowing down. Lighting the candle. Pulling the quilt over your lap. Cuddling with your dog or cat (or both). Letting your house tell your story.

You don’t have to overhaul your entire home to embrace cottagecore decor. Start with one floral lampshade. Add a thrifted wood table. Hang lace curtains. Swap harsh lighting for warm lamps. The magic is in the layering- and in giving yourself permission to romanticize your everyday life.