Cottagecore Home Guide

I have always dreamed of living in a quaint little cottage surrounded by wildflowers, or even the house portrayed in the Little Women production (PBS version). I love moody, layered, floral, vintage, colorful, collected, and organic elements in a home. “Cottagecore” is what it sounds like, a home that connects to cottage life: simple, natural, beautiful, and traditional.

In reality, we don’t all live in a perfect little cottage, deep in the woods. Some of you may be in a new construction neighborhood, void of mature trees, others may be in high-rise city apartments. Regardless of the location or aesthetics, we can easily transform our own abodes, making home feel more like cottage-life (without any renovations).

INSPIRATION

We have to begin with inspiration…is it the possibility of a garden that draws you, or is it the flowers, maybe the solitude and quietness? Why are you drawn in, what inspires you to live, design, and reach for this aesthetic? You likely already know the answer, but it always helps to ask the questions.

LIGHTING

Our Home - When Ira was just 6 months old <3

Overhead lights immediately make home feel less intimate, illuminating too much of a space. In a cottage-inspired home, we want all of the spaces to feel cozy, with little niches receiving warm, low light or natural light from windows. This is where placement of objects near windows, lamps and candles all become essential.

Creating a library space near a doorway or bright window is great for taking in all the weather while reading/writing. Cozy up by a window during a rainstorm, or sit right outside the door on a beautiful crisp fall morning wrapped in a quilt. Personally I love thunderstorms, and opening the windows to listen while I read nearby is heartwarming.

Lamps are essential to Cottagecore lighting. I don’t think any of the lamps in our home match. Most of them have been purchased from antique stores, thrift stores, or estate sales. We will switch out a shades or paint a lamp base to give it an update if needed. Lower lighting inspires rest and thoughtfulness, even conversation.

Candles make beautiful light, my favorite light. I recently purchased a set of 12 vintage candlesticks at an estate sale for $25.00. I love having a candle lit whenever I am going to be in a space for a few minutes or longer (washing the dishes, reading, planning out our homeschool week, taking a bath, etc.) I use beeswax taper candles or beeswax pillar candles, and I do purchase scented candles occasionally. Check out Etsy for several vintage candlestick options - or use old jars/saucers/etc. to burn candles in.

And don’t forget to use the fireplace.

COLLECTIONS

Collections are a natural part of life; we collect books, trinkets, art, hats, photographs of our travels, etc., it’s individual. Instead of hiding these collections away in cabinets or bins, we put them on display, creating beautiful vignettes. These collections tell stories about our lives that remind us to be grateful for what we’ve been give, and ignite conversations with our guests. Much can be learned about a home by browsing through its collection of books.

Dishes on display with open shelving not only speaks to the primitive and functional components of Cottagecore, but they contribute pattern, color, and texture.

Have a place that allows accessibility to special photos is also a simple way to make home feel collected and special.

NATURE + SEASONS

A cottagecore home should feel very connected to the outdoors. A bird feeder outside of a window can really makes the long winter months feel less dreary.

Fresh flowers, even simple chamomile flowers are a lovely, romantic touch. I always try to bring flowers in year-round, and I also dry flowers out and keep them around the home for little touches of color and texture. During the fall I sometimes clip small stems with fall foliage and place those in vases.

Decorating for the seasons using natural elements will keep the home feeling organic and intentional.

DETAILS + LAYERS

From Our Floating Shelf Testimonial Gallery

Details and layers are essential to Cottagecore.

Patterned rugs, floral designs on pillows plopped together on.a vintage couch, a pile of heirloom quilts, vintage wooden furniture, wicker baskets for magazines, recycled glass jars for burning candles, pottery collected from various shops, and taking the time to make something simple really special, like a muffin on a pretty plate - this is the heart of Cottagecore.

Use a tablecloth here and there, and layer your table with a few books and a candle on top.

There is no perfect way to achieve a certain theme of design - because each home will be unique to those that dwell there. If anything, consider the items and spaces of your home, and make them beautiful and functional in a way that you love.

Cottagecore gifts

10 Ways to Keep home cozy

Family, For Your Home, Hurd & Honey, LifeHurd & HoneyJuly 24, 2022cottagecore, home, home decor, for your home, hurd and honey, design, interiors, inspiration, interior design, living room, hosting, hospitality, photographyComment