SPOTLIGHT ON A TREND; COTTAGECORE
If you’ve been on the internet at all this year, you’ll have heard of cottagecore. If you haven’t, let me fill you in- cottagecore is a lifestyle trend that’s been percolating on Instagram and Tumblr for years, but which found a foothold on TikTok this summer, gaining almost four and a half billion views.
Cottagecore values a rural, artsy aesthetic and the power of self-sufficiency- imagine living in a cottage in the woods, making your own food and completely removed from society, and you’d be pretty close to the ideal cottagecore life. If cottagecore is your thing, but you’re not planning on upping and moving to the wilderness any time soon, here’s what you need to know to get the look.
The good news; you don’t need to buy that much stuff to get the look, because this particular trend is about being able to reuse and recycle anything you can. To get the look, all you really have to do is make sure you have the essential bits. Steer absolutely clear of anything overly modern, technological or plastic; your furniture essentials should either be wood, metal or fabric. This can be the difficult part, but you can find some great fabric options for beds here.
The other piece of good news about cottagecore decorating is that not everything you do needs to match- as long as your colour palette stays consistent, variation will add the rustic charm we associate with cottagecore. For colours, stay in muted, pastel tones and neutrals- you can’t go wrong with white walls and pastel accents.
Finally, what makes a great rustic space is the details- flowers and greenery add great natural touches, as do exposed brick or beams. There aren’t really any hard-and-fast rules when it comes to this, but most cottagecore spaces try to stick to natural materials and soft colours rather than statement pieces.
As always, the most important thing is to create a space that feels authentic and soothing to you. Cottagecore is about escaping the mainstream for a simpler, less stressful life, so remember that the only person who has to be satisfied with the end result is you.
Photos courtesy of @bestlife_style__ on Instagram
