According to Wikipedia “Cottagecore is an Internet fashion aesthetic, that celebrates an idealised rural life and developed throughout the 2010s until being named on Tumblr in 2018. It values traditional skills and crafts such as foraging, baking, and pottery.” The pandemic last year sure taught us the value of reconnecting with nature and of a sustainable way of life and with the threat of the virus still looming large in 2021, this is a trend that is sure to stay.
Let’s stay home
Cottagecore in Home Décor
Touted to be one of the hottest trends in 2021, cottagecore in home decor is essentially creating a cosy sanctuary for a home where one can unwind and forget all about the modern-day stress and hustle culture. Think plenty of fresh flowers, hand embroidered napkins, plenty of lace, gingham upholstery, a warm fire place, pressed flowers, earthy tones and the smell of cinnamon pie and freshly baked bread.
Cottagecore also means embracing your roots and following sustainable practices while creating a picture-perfect cottage vibe in your interiors. Much like Hygge (which is the Danish and Norwegian term that is the epitome of being comfortable and snug), cottagecore is about seeking solace in nostalgia and being content in rural tranquillity. And unlike the minimalism, Japandi or Scandinavian trend, cottagecore celebrates maximalism but with a vintage feel and a whimsical touch replete with textures and colours.
Décor elements
Given that Cottagecore décor is about evoking the farmhouse, rustic aesthetic the first step is to adopt a colour palette that full of pastels, beige, creams and earthy tones. Botanical prints, plenty of plants, upcycled accessories, a faux fireplace and exposed brick walls are just some ideas for your living room.
When it comes to furnishings, upholstery and wall paper there is nothing like soft colours, old fashioned lace curtains and hand embroidered cushion covers. Simple cotton bed linen, an applique work quilt and framed family pictures on the wall could add oodles of old-world charm to your bedroom. A vintage four poster bed, string lights, sheer curtains, a bunch of roses and a rocking chair while you read or knit go a long way in adding reassuring, cosy vibes. Wool and organic cotton are the ideal choices for blankets, pillows and throws.
When it comes to the kitchen and dining space, there is nothing more old school than dainty kitchen valances, open shelves filled with your grandmother’s crockery and plenty of plants by the kitchen window.
Style cues
If you want to incorporate the cottagecore aesthetic in your home, it is key to note that it not about being perfect or impeccably coordinated. It is about embracing the natural imperfections and the ability to mix and match colours, textures and materials. So, go ahead and choose your favorite chairs for the dining table rather than a meticulously put together set. Start slow and add in elements that inspire, tell a story and make you happy.
If you are fond of knitting, macramé or crochet, make a unique wall hanging to reflect your personality, use old perfume bottles to arrange fresh flowers and pick up quaint pieces on your next visit to the thrift shop. You do not have to buy expensive flowers, use plenty of natural material like jute, wooden twigs, drift wood and the like to make impromptu arrangements with foraged flowers and leaves. Use a wooden ladder to hang in plants or your favorite accessories.
A detailed version of this article was originally published in Seema Magazine.
