What is Cottagecore?

Hello Toadstoolers!

Today, I am going to delve a little deeper into cottagecore, what it is and what it means for me.

Grab a cuppa, settle in and come on a little journey of discovery with me.

To begin, cottagecore is not about perfection. It is about embracing the simple pleasures in life. Domestic life in particular. It changes your thinking where you realise that everything doesn't have to be perfect. It makes you more comfortable with the concept that you don't have to conform to the norm where everything must be 'just-so' to be Instagram worthy.

I didn't know cottagecore was actually a 'thing' until late 2020, in the middle of the first lockdown during the coronavirus pandemic.

It was 2'oclock in morning. I was doom scrolling social media. I fell a down rabbit hole checking out recipes for homemade baked goods (my hubby has a penchant for bread and pastries). I saw how the posters of these delectable delights had proudly displayed their treats - gingham tablecloths, wooden utensils and vintage mixing bowls, enough hot tea to fill a swimming pool, all staged around beautiful cottage style kitchens.

Here, my friends, is where I found out about cottagecore and I was in love! So, off I went down yet another rabbit hole. I can't quite explain the feeling. The best way I can describe it was like 'coming home'. I'd found a name for my lifelong love of homemade and handmade.

Cottagecore actually changed my mindset during the lockdowns and helped me mentally deal with it. It offered both an aesthetic escape and practical activities that made staying home feel more intentional and meaningful.

Think Peter Rabbit (Beatrix Potter), Anne of Green Gables and The Secret Garden books. Much of the cottagecore style is indeed inspired from vintage children's books, and the sense of nostalgia that these books give you. It made me want to re-read all my childhood favourites all over again.

"But what actually is it?" I hear you ask.

I found that cottagecore can also be known as countrycore or villagecore, so take your pick on what vibes with you the most! There is no right or wrong, it's whatever feels right and bolsters your connection to the aesthetic of traditional rural life, even if you don't actually live in the countryside. It is flexible and personal to you.

In general, it's about valuing a slower pace of life, participating in old-fashioned pastimes and activities like DIY, baking, crafting and gardening. Counteracting the stresses of modern-day living and the social expectations that come with it.

It's about surrounding yourself with a more pastoral and relaxed environment. Being more attuned to a more sustainable way of life and design.

Think about it like this. Equate modern day living to a black cup of coffee served in a stainless steel cup that you bought from Ikea. Cottagecore to me is an afternoon mug of tea, with milk and sugar (best served from a vintage teapot that you picked up from an antique or second-hand shop you visited whilst on your last visit to a countryside getaway). I recommend Goathland in North Yorkshire for a countryside day out. It's where the TV programme Heartbeat was filmed (the sweetshop and café in the village is exceptional).

Cottagecore about making your home a place you actually want to spend time in and pursue your pastoral interests, with the furniture and decor to support that. The core of it (see what I did there?) is an aesthetic combination of classic country living with a pinch of the sweet and sentimental. Patchwork quilts, knitted throws, simple wooden furniture and handwoven baskets are tenets of the style because they invoke the quintessential aspects of quiet and resourcefulness.

How to Achieve Cottagecore in Your Home

Visually, cottagecore is soft, warm, and nostalgic. We’re talking muted colour palettes with lots of creams, soft greens, dusty pinks, and warm browns.

Natural materials like linen, cotton, wood, and stone feature heavily. There’s an emphasis on vintage and antique items, handmade goods, and anything that feels organic and connected to nature.

Nature Connection is absolutely central. This means surrounding yourself with plants (both indoors and out), spending time in gardens or forests, foraging for wildflowers or mushrooms (be VERY careful with this), and generally being outside as much as possible.

Even if you live in a city high-rise or a flat in the middle of town, cottagecore encourages bringing nature inside through houseplants, fresh flowers, and natural materials.

Handmade and Homemade Everything

Cottagecore celebrates DIY culture and traditional crafts—baking from scratch, growing your own herbs, knitting scarves, making jam, pressing flowers, creating herbal remedies, and any other skill that connects you to the process of making things yourself rather than just buying them.

Vintage and Antique Aesthetics play a huge role. Think wooden furniture, vintage linens, old books, antique dishes, and anything that has history.

The cottagecore aesthetic loves things that look like they’ve been passed down through generations, whether they actually have been or you bought them from new to match your style.

There is loads of stuff on my store to help you along in designing your perfect space.

Visit Our Shop

If you want some help designing your space or don't know where to start, pop me a message via the 'contact us' section of my website, or email me directly on hello@thecosytoadstool.co.uk

I hope I have encouraged you to go wild with cottagecore and you love it as much as I do. There is more to come on all things cottagecore and in later posts and I'll be talking more about cabincore and the differences between the two.

In the meantime, have a scroll through my shop to get some inspiration and feel free to contact me if you have any questions about anything listed in my shop.