What is Cottagecore?
How to Hop on This Trend
Cottagecore is a trend that has been in my peripheral vision for a few years now. Idyllic country life filled with walks in nature, homemade jam, and floral décor; I think, on some level, we have all fantasised about a simpler existence. The best part for makers like us is that a lot of cottagecore is based around the handmade. So let’s delve into the world of cottagecore, take a look at its history, and learn how we can redefine this trend through the lens of crafts.
Cottagecore is an aesthetic that celebrates simple living, particularly in the countryside. It encourages a lifestyle rooted in traditional skills—like baking bread, gardening, and sewing your own clothes.
- Author Courtney Jane Higgins, The Good Trade
For many, cottagecore is more of a dream life rather than a reality. Most of us don’t have the luxury of owning a cottage in the countryside where we can disconnect from social media and the stresses of modern life. That’s why cottagecore is so huge on platforms like Instagram and TikTok; after a stressful day, you can scroll through appealing visuals that make you feel calm and connected to nature.
In the cottagecore universe, there are no phones pinging constantly with updates, no urgent work emails, no evenings spent responding to the onerous demands of a tyrannical boss. In fact, there is no labor beyond domestic, and workaday tasks are completed with a gauzy sense of fulfillment.
- Author Isabel Stone, New York Times
Some lovers of the cottagecore aesthetic take it one step further by finding meaningful ways to integrate the practice of this trend into their lives. This goes hand in hand with being a crafter, as the act of making something yourself reflects the self-sustainable peace that many are striving for. Whether it be through knitting, crochet, baking, or gardening, making time for these things is a great way to unplug from our technology heavy lives.
This is a more modern approach to rural living, but cottagecore has come under criticism for its problematic past. This way of life is historically rooted in privilege, a predominantly white space that has its ties to colonialism. As Fashionista writes, ‘Early participants were rightfully criticized for romanticizing, oversimplifying and whitewashing a domestic, agricultural lifestyle they knew nothing about, as well as celebrating colonialism, but cottagecore has since been taken in a more progressive direction by a range of diverse communities.’
For historically excluded communities especially, the lifestyle also offers safe haven and an escape. For LGBTQ+ teenagers, cottagecore offers a safe and welcoming space, where softness, romance, and open arms are central to its ideals. For Black women, in particular, the trend offers a chance to push back against colonialism and formerly segregated spaces—and instead reclaim the “domestic femininity” movement that had earlier excluded them.
There is comfort in knowing that, perhaps, anyone can live a simple, visible life.
- Author Courtney Jane Higgins, The Good Trade
The obsession with cottagecore is somewhat born out of resistance to ‘hustle culture’, a stressful way of life that encourages you to work constantly and achieve professional success at the expense of your health and personal life. Isabel Stone describes it as an ‘obvious backlash to the hustle culture… cottagecore attempts to assuage burnout with a languid enjoyment of life’s mundane tasks.’
Cottagecore can be applied to anything, from vintage clothing and sustainable living to your favourite pastimes and floral interior designs. So, if you find yourself looking for moments of peace and a deeper connection to the world around you, cottagecore might just be the community for you.
Cottagecore for Crafters
Pretty much any hobby that involves the handmade will grant you access to a cottagecre lifestyle, but I think one of the best ways to embody this aesthetic is through design. What catches my attention about cottagecore is its soft colour palette, its ties to nature, and the ways you can inspire your own creativity from these things.
A huge handmade trend over the last couple of years has been mushrooms. This is great for cottagecore lovers as you don’t even need to leave the house to go foraging! Whether its amigurumi mushrooms, motifs, or themed accessories, mushrooms always bring an element of fun to your handmade projects.
For your colour scheme, think natural brown, muted greens, and accents of floral shades like pink and red.
