How to Master the Magic of Cottagecore

If your social media algorithm is delivering you countless quaint interiors featuring the cozy, rustic charm reminiscent of an English countryside, you’re not alone. Cottagecore design has blown up online in recent years as people embrace a nostalgic aesthetic in their homes, marked by a longing for screen-free, simpler times in a trend that has touched everything from interiors to fashion and even cooking.

While commonly defined by decorative elements such as muted pastels, dainty florals and heirloom furniture, cottagecore can take on countless forms and mix with many interior design styles. It’s often inherently maximalist, with layers of pattern and textiles and collectibles filling a room, yet also conveys an atmosphere of tranquility and intentionality. 

It’s with this thoughtful mindset that content creator and photographer Sapphire Anderson curates her century-old home in Minnesota. Here’s Anderson’s advice on how you can capture the magic of cottagecore yourself.

Embrace a cottagecore state of mind

Remind yourself along the way that you’re creating a welcoming space reminiscent of nature, relaxation, and a touch of Victorian romance. This is the mindset you’ll want to embrace as you begin to collect decor and map out where everything should go. You can find inspiration in Anderson’s Instagram, or visit TikTok and Pinterest. 

Anderson said there’s no wrong way to curate your own cottagecore space; your goal is to create a space that makes you feel good when you walk through the front door.

“What do you want to feel when you walk into the dining room? What do you want to feel when you walk into the front room, the entryway, or your bedroom?” Anderson says. “I think that is a good starting point.”

“Cottagecore to me is more of a feeling,” she added. “I want to feel whimsical. I want to feel airy, I want to feel cozy. I want it to be very hygge.”

Hygge (pronounced HEW-guh) is a Danish word for feeling cozy and content, usually by creating an inviting space. Cottagecore can be quite hygge, indeed.

Set up hygge lighting

Speaking of hyyge, ambient lighting in warm tones is ideal for a cottagecore space. Anderson said she rarely turns on her overhead lighting because it stresses her out. After all, when you picture a cottage, you probably don’t imagine a harsh spotlight from above.

“Different lighting can make a room feel a certain type of way,” she said. “You can have your room styled in whatever style and only have one light and it could feel this way, but then you add a task light over here on the shelf or on the side table and it's just this totally different vibe.”

Your lighting options are endless, from the types of lamps you choose, to the fixtures you add. Anderson employs a gold floor lamp with a beige linen lampshade beside her sofa in her living room, for example. At other points of the room, she has table lamps, also with beige linen shades.

Don't limit yourself to one trend

If you feel intimidated coming out the gate, know that Anderson didn’t find her beloved style right away.

“When I first started out, I thought I wanted to be minimal, and then I was really loving the sleekness of midcentury modern, and then trying to bring in bold colors, and now I've really honed in on cottage, English, all that stuff,” Anderson said.

Anderson said you can still find remnants of these past experiments around her house. While they may not fit squarely into a cottagecore frame, she kept them because she appreciates their beauty.

“I think [maximalism] is really just a blend of everything that you like, that you want to see in your home, and that you want to be surrounded by,” she said. “That could be a cottagecore sofa, and then you've got a midcentury end table that goes well with it."

It goes to show that there are lots of ways to make your cottagecore dreams come true. 

Be true to yourself

Any form of maximalism is built on the individual creating a space inspired by who they are. For Anderson, that means staying authentic to who she is, as well as her husband, and her biracial twin boys.

While cottagecore inherently features elements reminiscent of Victorian England, Anderson’s twist on the style blends in details that honor her African roots.

“I've brought in a lot of things that speak to who I am as a Black human being, and I want our sons to see [this in their home], and to feel seen and heard and respected and loved, because what's on the outside is so different,” Anderson said.

Thrift antique furniture

Want to give your home a quaint vibe? Anderson said: buy vintage furniture. Not only does it add character to your home, but you can give a second life to some beautiful pieces.

“I find things on [Facebook] Marketplace, or things are handed down to me through family,” she said. “I find so much pleasure and comfort in just knowing that this was in somebody else's home that served a purpose for 50, 60 years and has had so many hands touch it.”

Specifically, look for wicker and rattan furniture to bring elements of nature into your home and boost the cottage vibes. Wood is another option; oak and reclaimed wood are classical types in particular. The texture and color of hardwood furniture can add warmth and a touch of the outdoors to any room. Anderson has several hardwood pieces all around her home for that reason.

Try cottagecore textiles

Pale linen curtains and lots of knitted throw blankets can be found all around Anderson’s home. For an extra touch of airiness, she has a set of sheer, white curtains that flow gently in the breeze when she opens her window.

Using a mix of textiles is a classic technique in any form of maximalist decor. In this case, you want to use elements reminiscent of nature and comfort. 

Have collections with purpose

There’s a difference between having a thought-out maximalist space and having clutter. Anderson’s advice on how to keep things hygge? Have collections with purpose, and find just the right spots for them.

“You are curating. You are collecting these things and deciding how you use them in your home. I think that plays a big part in the maximalist versus hoarder style,” she said.

Among her own collections are various pieces of blue and white china dotting her home. Anderson has arranged them so they add to the charming atmosphere, even when they’re sitting where dishes aren’t usually found, like on a desk or in an entryway.

“You can have this one collection, but they can be outlined in different areas of your home,” she said.

She’ll also use this intentional scattering technique with books. She could not over-emphasize putting your favorite reads on display — especially in unexpected ways.

“Always, always, always add books. Books anywhere in the kitchen, in the bathroom, in the dining room, in the front room, anywhere in your bedroom, in the entryway. And they can be anywhere. They don't have to be up on the shelf. They don't have to be sitting pretty,” she said.

“They can serve as a side table; put a vase on top of 'em. They just warm a space up and make a room feel so welcoming and inviting and lived in.”

Don’t overdo it — unless you want to

Prioritize your comfort at every step of your cottagecore journey. There’s no need to transform every inch of your home if it doesn’t work for you.

If you don’t want every inch of your walls covered with rural landscape paintings and watercolor art, don’t do it. Don’t have the budget for a small army of lamps? Then just buy one or two if you feel like it. You can nod to cottagecore style with a few specific pieces that compliment the space, and still stand out on their own.

Anderson’s final piece of advice is to decorate according to what you want, not whatever is trending online.

“Don't pay attention to what the magazines are saying or these fancy blogs are saying,” she said. “Do what you love, buy what you love, bring it home.”