Okay, so we don’t all live in cottages in the middle of the forest… but that is okay. Right? That’s okay! Because we can totally capture the essence of cottagecore living by being intentional with what we choose to bring into our home and how we decorate our space. That’s what I have found, anyway. I’d do just about anything to jump into those picturesque English countryside cottages you see all over Pinterest. But that isn’t my reality (and I’d wager a guess it isn’t for a lot of us) so we just have to do the best we can to work with what we’ve got.
I’ve found that the below tips have helped bring peace and happiness into my home. Some of these ideas, no matter how small and insignificant they seem, can add up in a big way. So let’s fake it ’til we make it and curate the cozy cottage home of our dreams.
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Tips for Cottagecore Living
~ Choose an earthy palette.
Think linen creams, sage green, browns, oatmeal, beige. Any earthy colors will do, and sure, a pop of color if you desire (I love a good pop of yellow!) But overall, I like to keep the colors inside my home as earthy as I can. It’s just what I prefer and it makes it feel the most cottagecore. This doesn’t happen overnight, either. I am still slowly working through each room in my home to update colors and decor. It’s a slow yet satisfying process.
~ Fresh flowers all around.
Whether you cut them right from your backyard (which we will talk more about later) or grab a bouquet from Trader Joe’s every once in a while, fresh flowers do bring a lot of life and beauty to any table. And hot tip: go thrifting for inexpensive vases (every vase you see in this post was thrifted!)
~ Place reed diffusers for a sweet-smelling home.
Scent is important to me when it comes to my home and I love placing reed diffusers around. I recently found this brand and they are great quality and continue to smell great after weeks of use. Candles and essential oils are great, too. Your preference.
~ Go thrifting for wicker baskets.
Wicker and natural materials are very cottage-y and I love nothing more than decorating with all sorts of baskets. The best part? Your local thrift store is loaded with them for $5 or less.
~ Layer your furniture with cozy throws and pillows.
It’s a simple thing but adding cozy layers and different textiles/textures will make a big impact, especially in your living room.
~ Collect stoneware and decorate with pottery.
One of my favorite things to collect is handmade mugs and pottery. My friends and family know this, too, so I am often gifted unique pieces and they are just so stunning to use as decor in your kitchen. Again, natural materials are your friend when it comes to cottagecore.
~ Plant an herb garden.
A big garden is wonderful, but even a small herb garden in pots or on your back porch is a great way to feel like you are living in a storybook. Nothing looks prettier or tastes better than fresh herbs at the ready. Gather said herbs with one of your thrifted baskets and now we’re talking.
~ Bring the outdoors inside.
Driftwood from the beach, seashells, pinecones, branches, evergreen clippings, houseplants… welcome it into your home and your space will feel alive. Keep a small bowl or shelf with seashells, sea glass, unique rocks, and whatever other treasures you find.
~ Choose natural materials.
Are you sensing a pattern? Think crisp linen sheets, cotton, wood, rattan… all of these are beautiful choices for a cottage. I particularly am obsessed with linen bedsheets. I look forward to getting into bed every night.
~ Use soft lighting and fairy lights.
I really despise overhead lighting (anyone else?) so I have lamps in all corners of my home. I much prefer the soft light they emit! I also use fairy lights on shelves and in plants for a little touch of whimsy.
~ Go treasure hunting (aka thrifting) for unique pieces that add character.
When I think of a cozy cottage, there is definitely a little bit of cluttercore going on, right? I tend to lean on the minimal side, but I do like to find a few unique pieces – vases, ceramics, wall art – that make a statement or add character.
~ Plant flowers and bulbs in your yard or pots.
Back to flowers. I cannot recommend planting perennial flowers enough, if you have a yard and space. I planted endless hydrangeas, limelight hydrangeas, lilacs, daffodils, and peonies in our backyard and am gifted fresh cut bouquets year after year, at all different times. Even a forsythia shrub will give you beautiful yellow branches for a week or two.
~ Fling open the windows.
This is an easy one, but really… just open the windows and let in the breeze and listen to birdsong. Instant cottage feels.
~ Add a window bird feeder.
What’s more whimsical than animals peeking in your window (I see you, Snow White). We have used this one and loved it.
~ Decorate with books abound.
There is nothing more enchanting and inviting than a stack of books. On shelves, the coffee table, bedside table, in a basket. Books are some top tier cottagecore items.
