Cottagecore

Escape the hustle and bustle of modern living by embracing the cottagecore style in your home. Here we cover off all you need to know about this much-loved look including tips from an interior influencer who truly embodies everything cottagecore.

What is cottagecore?

Cottagecore is all about embracing a cosy, rustic and nature-inspired life, through fashion, decor, and lifestyle choices that reflect this idyllic, rural vibe. Think quaint countryside cottages in the Cotswolds, fields of wildflowers blowing in the soft wind and the simple pleasures of baking a cake or tending to a garden. It’s all about nostalgia and enjoying a slower pace of life, celebrating life’s simple pleasures.

5 tips on how to embrace cottagecore in interiors

1. Accept that not everything has to be new. Take pleasure in collecting items from over the years, bringing special memories and sentiment to your home. Think about giving new life to second-hand items rather than buying new.

2. Opt for natural materials, from sustainable cotton and linen fabrics to rustic natural wood furniture. Choose items that feel handmade and vintage to bring a cosy, lived-in feeling.

3. Add pattern with upholstery, choosing floral, botanical or gingham prints for curtains, blinds and cushions. Choosing smaller scale patterns often works best to give a true cottagecore feel to a scheme.

We spoke to Anita Russell, from @by_anitarussell, a Scandinavian living in a cottage in the Cotswolds whose interior style is influenced by her Norwegian background; creative, cosy and rustic. She said “an impactful way of adding some character and bringing that cosy cottagecore feeling is to use wallpaper and maybe wood panelling like tongue and groove in your home. Layer this up with a mix of fabric patterns like floral, stripes and gingham in your curtains and cushions as they go with anything”.

4. Keep the colour scheme fairly neutral. Opting for earthy, muted tones like beige, brown, soft pink and sage green as your base colour works really nicely for this look.

5. Accessorise with wildflowers picked from the garden, dried bouquets and stacks of your favourite books for a lived-in feeling.

Brands to inspire

Some brands are well known for having that Scandi, lived-in feel that cottagecore is all about, so if you're feeling a little stuck, these can be a great place to start too.

For cottagecore wallpapers in muted, neutral tones, Borastapeter is a wonderful choice. Collections like Essens and Cottage Garden capture the cottagecore look really well. Sandberg also has a lovely collection of florals and botanicals, mixed in with some ginghams and stripes too. Our favourites include Mimi, Lykke and Linnea. 

In terms of fabric for upholstery, Morris & Co is a great place to start. Their Pure Morris North and Emery Walker's House and collections in particular. Or, if you love small prints, try GP & J Baker's House Small Prints.

The key is to blend elements that bring comfort, nature, and a touch of nostalgia into your living space. Let your personality shine through and enjoy the process of curating a cottagecore haven!