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Do you ever find yourself longing for the easy pace of life? A home that feels less like a chore and more like a sanctuary filled with nature, texture and stories?
You don’t need a literal cottage in the woods to embrace you Cottagecore aesthetic. At its heart, the movement is about romanticizing the everyday—finding beauty in a weathered stone, a mended sweater, or a fresh herb in the garden.
What does cottagecore mean?
At its simplest, cottagecore refers to bringing elements of the country cottage lifestyle into your everyday life. It’s about getting back to nature and adopting a traditional slow lifestyle to bring back a simpler, more intentional lifestyle.
Even if you don’t live in a country cottage, there are several easy ways to enjoy the cottagecore style:
- Add elements of nature such as fresh and dried flowers, stones, branches and wood to your home;
- Use botanical patterns and floral prints in your decor;
- Choose natural, high-quality fabrics such as linen, organic cotton and wood instead of polyester;
- Shop second-hand and thrift stores for lasting home decor and clothing instead of trends and fast fashion.
$0 Cottagecore Starter Kit!
If you’re ready to start your “slow living” journey, here are 5 must-have projects from our archives to help you build your own. Sustainable CottageCore Sanctuary.
1. The Foraged Art: Botanical Painted Rocks
CottageCore begins with an appreciation of what the earth offers for free. Instead of buying plastic garden markers, look to your backyard.
- Project: Use simple botanical illustrations to turn simple river rocks into garden labels, paperweights, or “pity stones” for your porch.
- The Vibe: whimsical, earthy and grounded.
- Motivation: 60+ Best Painted Rock Ideas
2. Kitchen Greenhouse: Upscale Planters
Nothing says “cottage kitchen” like a windowsill full of fresh herbs and flowers. By upcycling your everyday tin cans and mason jars, you can add a green space indoors that feels cozy and beautiful.
3. The Heirloom Touch: Wrinkle Free Floral Decoupage
The secret to the “grandma-core” side of cottagecore is the use of romantic, floral patterns. You can turn a simple thrift store tray or wooden box into a family heirloom using our signature iron-on decoupage method.
- Project: Place botanical napkins on wooden trays to create a “tea service” that looks like it’s been in the family for generations.
- The Vibe: Nostalgic, feminine and bespoke.
- Get the tutorial: How to decoupage without wrinkles
4. Mended wardrobe: Visible repairs and repairs
In a disposable world, the most “cottagecore” thing you can do is take care of what you already own. Visible improvements turn a flaw into a feature, adding “soul” to your favorite cardigan or apron.
- Project: Use contrasting thread to fix a hole in your garment, creating a unique, hand-stitched look.
- The Vibe: Purposeful, durable and cozy.
- Get the tutorial: A Beginner’s Guide to Garment Repair
5. Soft Sanctuary: Baskets of hand-knit t-shirt yarn
Cottagecore is all about soft textures. Chunky, hand-knit or using your old, unworn tees to make Crocheted baskets Provides perfect storage for your yarn, bread or fodder.
Ready to dive deeper into the sustainable CottageCore home?
These five projects are just the beginning of your journey to a more intentional home. If you want to learn how to style these pieces into a cohesive look, check out our The Ultimate Guide to the Modern Cottagecore Home.
Which of these “cottagecore starter kit” projects are you tackling first this weekend? Let us know in our Craft Habit Social Facebook Group!
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