Bringing the Countryside to Your Home with Cottagecore Design

How to Achieve the Cozy, Vintage-Countryside Look You’re Seeing Everywhere

Let’s talk about cottagecore. If you’ve spent any time scrolling through Instagram or Pinterest lately, chances are you’ve seen this dreamy, cozy aesthetic. Think wildflowers in mason jars, soft linens, antique teacups, and spaces that feel like they belong in a storybook cottage.

The best part is you don’t have to live in the English countryside to embrace cottagecore. Whether you’re in the heart of Cleveland or tucked away in the suburbs, you can bring that same warm, inviting charm right into your home.

So, What Exactly Is Cottagecore?

Cottagecore is more than just a trend, it’s a lifestyle aesthetic rooted in simplicity, nature, and nostalgia. Think soft textures, vintage finds, handmade items, and a touch of whimsy. It celebrates slower living, meaningful design, and creating a space that feels like a warm hug.

It's a refreshing shift from the all-white, ultra-modern minimalism we’ve seen for years. Cottagecore says: let’s live beautifully, not perfectly.

How to Get the Look: Cottagecore Design Tips

You don’t need to overhaul your entire home, just a few thoughtful touches can go a long way.

1. Start with Vintage or Antique-Inspired Pieces

Look for furniture with character: wood that shows its age, ornate mirrors, spindle-leg tables, or a well-loved armchair with floral fabric. Even just one vintage dresser or thrifted hutch can anchor the space and give it that lived-in charm.

Design tip: Cleveland has some great vintage shops and estate sales if you're hunting for unique finds. Bonus points if they come with a good story.

2. Layer in Soft, Earthy Textures

Cottagecore loves anything cozy. Think linen curtains, crocheted throws, ruffled bedding, and tufted cushions. Add softness with mismatched textiles in muted tones like sage, cream, rust, and dusty rose.

3. Go Green, Literally

Fill your space with houseplants, herbs in clay pots, or dried flowers in vases. Even faux greenery (if styled right) can help give that countryside feel. Hanging plants in the kitchen or a little window garden? Peak cottagecore.

Creating That Cozy, Come-On-In Atmosphere

Cottagecore isn’t just about how your space looks, it’s about how it feels.Use warm lighting (think lamps with soft bulbs, not harsh overheads), scented candles, vintage lanterns, or even a fireplace if you’ve got one.

Scatter in personal touches: stacked books, handwritten recipe cards, a basket of knitting supplies, or a teacup collection. It’s less about perfection, more about personality.

Don’t Forget: Nature & Sustainability Matter Too

One of the core values of the cottagecore lifestyle is sustainability. Use what you already have. Repurpose old furniture. Shop secondhand. Choose materials like wood, cotton, linen, stone, and ceramic.

Even swapping out mass-produced décor for locally made or handmade pieces can make a big difference in the way your home feels, and the footprint it leaves behind.

A Final Thought From Your Cleveland Designer

Cottagecore is really about slowing down and making your home feel like home. It's not about doing it all at once. Add one vintage lamp, hang a floral print, or repot that plant you've been ignoring. One little corner at a time, you can create a space that’s personal, peaceful, and uniquely yours.

Need help pulling it all together? At Desired Designs, we love helping clients turn their space into the cozy retreat their dreaming of, cottagecore or otherwise.

Let’s bring the countryside to Cleveland, one room at a time.