Crazy For Cottagecore

Cottagecore is the trend I’ve been waiting for all my life. The aesthetic is something I did in our very first home and one I’ve always loved. The new incarnation of the aesthetic, that went crazy last year because of lockdown, carries what I did back in the 80s to a whole other level. And I have to say I love it. It’s perfect for our farmhouse, for the kind of slow living we are embracing and my love of all things handmade. But what exactly is the Cottagecore movement? Have you even heard of it? I hope that after reading this you might be inspired to introduce some elements into your home.

What is Cottagecore Exactly?

According to what I’ve read and watched lately (and believe me, I’ve been a bit obsessed) Cottagecore is a movement that romanticises country life. The movement is rooted in simplicity and rural life. There’s a connection to nature, self-sufficiency and sustainability. This is why this aesthetic is perfect for country and farmhouse living.

Over the past decade, the trend in interiors has been more minimalist and white. So much white. The farmhouse style has been about chippy paint and painting your furniture to the point you can simply buy accessories in that style and the authenticity has been lost. But Cottagecore is about secondhand and antique. It’s about using what you have to create a warm, secure and loving home. Which I would like to think most of us would want. This aesthetic is more about quirks and nostalgia that would be reminiscent of an old rural cottage and country living.

Elements of Cottagecore I Love

I struggle with white. A lot. Which is why the farmhouse style was never my thing though I tried to make it my thing. For a minute. My current decorating style is more of an eclectic mix of country and vintage. But I am definitely up for bringing in the elements of Cottagecore decorating. In fact, I already have quite a few

Florals

I cannot tell you how excited I am to add more floral prints into the farmhouse. I began last year with my office makeover and did a quick update of our bedroom for Spring. Both makeovers used large florals I loved. The great thing about the use of floral fabrics in the Cottagecore movement is that they can be layered. The look is lived in and homey. Having many floral pillows or a mix of patterns is what it’s all about.

This style isn’t only about floral fabrics though. It’s about floral china and clothes, bunches of wildflowers on the table in rustic jugs. Cottagecore embraces bringing nature into the home and layering linens and china to create that warm country aesthetic. And wallpaper! I’m already planning to bring some floral wallpaper into our home. Cottagecore, or farmcore as it can be called too, is about vintage touches, natural fibres and living a life that’s in tune with the seasons.

Colour

Yes, colour is back. But in the Cottagecore way, colours are more muted and earthy. Our farmhouse is already decorated in neutral tones. So incorporating pastels will be easy, I think. The danger here is that if you bring in too many florals and pastels the scheme could look too romantic and girly. You could also go a step too far into ‘shabby chic’ territory and nobody wants that. Embracing Cottagecore is not about pink and blue pastels and everything painted white. It’s about the look of a country cottage that’s been added to over time. Pieces are reused and repurposed. Nature in the house is important.

If your partner doesn’t care about how many flowers or bird and deer motifs you have on your walls then go for it I say, but I have a feeling full-blown Cottagecore throughout our home might tip the man of our house over the edge. I’ll stick to my basic palette. Introducing the trend in accessories that can be changed easily is more my style.

Handmade Items

Whether it’s baking, preserving, sewing or other handcrafts, Cottagecore encapsulates everything handmade. I love this element. Being someone who loves to create and makes this the perfect style for me. Cottagecore means you can make a pillow cover or take time to sit and press flowers. You can knit or crotchet. You may even want to sew your own clothes. And if you are into farm-style clothing, this aesthetic has that too. Think floral dresses, straw hats, big woollen cardigans and boots. I’ve always gravitated to this style of dressing. It can be classic while still on trend if done the right way.

Slow Living

Living life at a slower pace is something we could all do to improve our well-being. The Cottagecore aesthetic encourages you to step away from your phone and pick up a book. Some younger devotees go as far as to promote books, movies, and tv shows that demonstrate the aesthetic. They share romantic hairstyles and how to bake traditional style recipes from novels.

For me, Cottagecore asks you to simply put on a jacket and go for a walk in the bush. It wants you to stop and literally smell the roses, then pick some petals and make rose petal cordial. It wants you to lay on the grass and look at the passing clouds. Couldn’t we all try that? No matter how old we are?

If we stopped our busy lives for one hour a week and walked in a garden or talked on the phone rather than texting, how improved might our lives be? If we sit at a table set with a vintage cloth and china we collected or inherited to have a cup of tea and look out the window for a while, would we not feel a little better? That’s what Cottagecore is about.

Collect some eggs, and grow herbs on your windowsill. See the beauty in the sunset. I’m all for it. What about you?