What we’re loving this month: Cottagecore
What is cottagecore?
Cottagecore began trending back in 2018 when it first started as a hashtag, but it really came into its own last year thanks mainly to the pandemic enforced stay-at-home rules. As a result we all became invested in our homes and surrounding areas, turning to DIY and renovation projects as a way to distract ourselves and also taking advantage of the time suddenly at our hands. Our homes feeling like our sanctuaries and providing a safe and aesthetically pleasing environment from the outside world became even more important.
As a great example of this aesthetic cottagecore embraces the charm of an english countryside inspired country life. It’s a lifestyle trend based on a wistful back-to-nature concept, focused on home baking, gardening, natural materials, handmade crafts and wholesome hobbies.
Think hand-stitched quilts on pretty four-poster beds, and dried flower arrangements in antique jugs on window sills with pretty countryside views just beyond. Flowy prairie dresses worn with ribbons in hair, and accessorised with rattan baskets full of handpicked fruit.
Cottagecore is a way of bringing just a little bit of the dream country life to your immediate surroundings. You don’t have to go all out to achieve the look and feel the vibe, here’s our top picks to inject just a little into your day to day life...
This gingham tablecloth from Zara is a real nod to the cottagecore trend. Perfect for packing up and taking on picnics it’s also a great base for a festival themed celebration too. Dress with flowers from the garden, vintage vases and cabbage plates.
These floral napkins with a lovely pom pom edge are great for dinner parties, picnics, BBQ’s...even just your Monday night tea! There’s no need to buy throw away paper napkins when you can invest in a more sustainable and beautiful option like these. Mix them up with a clashing patterned tablecloth, or combine with a plain table cloth if you want more of a paired back cottagecore look.
This serving plate is amazing. It’s lovely for a summer table to add that little extra touch and make your table look special, and there’s also matching bowls and smaller plates if you want the full cabbage set (and who wouldn’t)
This quilted cotton throw from Oliver Bonas would look lovely on the end of a bed adding a cottagecore feel to the bedroom in an instant. Alternatively have it on the back of the sofa or stacked in an open basket with other throws and blankets. Comes in other colourways but we really love the blue and pink…
Vintage jugs are great for displaying flowers from the garden to really give that cottagecore feel. We love this blue and white one found on Etsy but you could take a look in local charity shops for a bargain, or even find one on the many Instagram pages that curate vintage homeware. A couple of our faves are @ukiyorama.vintage and @scenebychloe.
Cottagecore is a real fashion moment as well, and we adore this gingham dress from Warehouse. It’s great for the summer and the puff sleeves are 100% cottagecore aesthetic! We’ll be wearing it with sandals one day and trainers the next...
Dried Flowers are a simple way to achieve the cottagecore look. Display in a vase or as a wreath on the wall or front door. We love the variety they have available on the Fox Flowers website but buy local as well and try your local florist. They keep forever and you can move them around the house and change the arrangement for the different seasons.
Who doesn’t love a basket!? Great for making your storage look prettier but also a lovely accessory for a living room, kitchen or bedroom. Store blankets, cushions, flowers, or fruit. Homesense always has a wide selection to choose from as well.
These linen cushion covers from H&M are an inexpensive way to bring collage core to the living room or bedroom. They have a frilled edge but they’re not too chincy because of the linen, soft tones and the raw edge to the frill. They come in cream and grey but we’re all about the powder pink.
We love these colourful glass candle stick holders – great for on the fireplace, dinner parties or decoration in the bedroom. Find some lovely twisted colourful candles to accompany them to give you a modern take on the cottagecore look, and for a really great dinner party table, mix the coloured glass with clear glass and a floral table cloth.
Cottagecore is about handcrafting as well as fashion and home accessories and embroidery and cross stitch is a great way to get creative and achieve the cottagecore look. Try our uplifting Always Hope cross stitch kit, or the botanical Forget Me Not back stitch embroidery kit, or the colourful Amethyst cross stitch kit for a lovely piece of art to hang on your wall that you can be proud of.
