Care for Some Cottagecore Craze? Top Tips to Keep up With the New Aesthetic

February 26, 2021
Jess

During this stressing time, we all want some peace and quiet away from the daily chaos. Maybe some of you would want to go into gardening, or maybe move away to the countryside or in the woods—really, anything to bring you that much-needed calmness.

What you might need is the cottagecore aesthetic—a trend that is centered on simpler ideas of living and being one with nature. Now, read on and transform your home into a soothing space.

Flower power

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A core element of cottagecore is harmony with nature, so it’s important that you showcase this principle in your design, too! Floral patterns on fabric are a big yes to this aesthetic, so don’t go throwing out those heirlooms and ancient curtains in your house.

For example, you have an old and tattered floral curtain. Since it’s all beaten up to be used for your windows, you can remake it into something you can use by taking the “untattered” part and sewing it into a pillowcase, a coaster, a hanging tassel wall decor like a modern farmhouse wall art —the possibilities are endless! This way, not only are you able to save money; you’re promoting eco-friendliness as well. Way to go, cottagecore!

And if you might be asking if you can use actual flowers, well then yes, of course! If you happen to have a few blooming in your garden, put some in an old vase or a clear jar, and make sure that the flower is near a window where it can soak up some light. Roses and daisies make good additions to the aesthetic, so consider growing your own, too.

Don’t worry about withered flowers because you can use them, too! Collect the dried flowers and store them as you would a flower that’s still alive. The beauty of cottagecore aesthetic is that nothing goes to waste.

Leaning on linen

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Gather all your old curtains, fabrics, and sheets because the cottagecore aesthetic prides itself in simplicity. Choose a plain sheet from your collection and use it as a drape for tables and drawer tops. You could also use it to adorn your windows with curtains that are not too thick and will still let natural light pour in the interiors of your home. Avoid buying new items just to achieve this—the older the fabric is, the more natural it looks, and the better the effect to the design is.

Another idea is to layer the fabric onto your wooden window blinds. This ragged look will bring a vintage, rustic look to your home and this theme is well-associated with cottagecore. Feel free to mix and match different items to determine which suits your taste best.

Out with the new, in with the old

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Just like what’s mentioned above, vintage is all the rage when it comes to cottagecore. If you want to add decorative items to your home, try looking for old paintings in your attic, some old vinyl records hidden in the drawers, maybe even a phonograph if you’re lucky! It can literally be anything that you can use to decorate your home, so keep an eye out for these items.

Common household items would be old floral plates, antique pots and vases, books, journals, and stained mirrors.

Now, it’s possible that you don’t have any old memorabilia left at home, and this is the time to a) improvise or b) go to a thrift store to look for really good art that’s not harsh on the budget.

For your foraged finds

If you’re doing a great deal of walking around in the neighborhood, you might stumble upon an interesting item or two—may it be some dusty coins or even a sprouting patch of mushrooms. Evaluate if the item is a catch for your cottagecore craving, and if it is, make sure to have a separate bag to put your items in. Remember that we’re in a pandemic so sanitizing is a big must for this part.

Your own garden may also be home to interesting items! If you happen to see any unique plants sprouting in your yard, it could be the cottagecore energy finding its way to your home. Dig in and decor on!

Leave me hanging

Cottagecore aesthetic includes a little bit of gardening (given that it promotes a simple, romantic farm life) so you should also consider growing plants of your own. You can start with herbs like basil, mint, chives, or parsley as these herbs are easy to grow and you can use them for your cooking adventures in the kitchen. But if you’re not big on the idea of planting, you can always purchase some hanging plants such as eucalyptus and or some ferns to decorate your home.