17 Ways to Add Cottagecore Charm to Your Life

17 Ways to Add Cottagecore Charm to Your Life

Embrace Slow Living with Cozy, Rustic Simplicity

If you’ve ever dreamed of waking up in a sun-drenched cottage, sipping tea from a delicate vintage cup, and surrounding yourself with fresh flowers and cozy textiles, you’re already halfway to embracing the cottagecore lifestyle. Rooted in nostalgia and a deep love for nature, this aesthetic is more than just a trend—it’s about creating a life filled with simple joys, handmade beauty, and a slower, more intentional way of living.

Whether you live in a city apartment or a countryside home, there are so many ways to weave cottagecore magic into your daily routine. Let’s dive into 17 charming ideas to bring this cozy, romantic aesthetic into your life.

1. Fill Your Home with Fresh Flowers 🌸

Nothing says cottagecore like a home overflowing with flowers. Dried bouquets, wildflowers in mason jars, and delicate floral arrangements instantly add romance and warmth.

How to do it:

• Forage for wildflowers on nature walks.

• Grow your own garden with daisies, lavender, and roses.

• Arrange flowers in vintage pitchers or repurposed glass bottles.

Picture this: A sunlit kitchen table with a handpicked bouquet resting in a chipped ceramic vase, bringing in the fresh scent of the outdoors.

2. Decorate with Vintage & Thrifted Finds 🏡

Cottagecore celebrates the beauty of the past. Antique furniture, lace tablecloths, and rustic wooden shelves bring in an old-world charm.

How to do it:

• Visit thrift stores, flea markets, and estate sales for unique pieces.

• Repurpose old furniture with chalk paint for a shabby-chic look.

• Incorporate lace curtains, embroidered linens, and delicate porcelain.

Picture this: A cozy reading nook with a vintage armchair, a well-loved quilt draped over the back, and a stack of old books beside a flickering candle.

3. Start a Small Kitchen Herb Garden 🌿

What’s more charming than fresh herbs growing on your windowsill? Basil, rosemary, and thyme not only smell amazing but also add a touch of rustic elegance.

How to do it:

• Use terracotta pots for a natural look.

• Place herbs near a sunny window or on a balcony.

• Clip fresh sprigs for cooking and homemade herbal teas.

Picture this: A windowsill lined with fragrant herbs in mismatched pots, bathed in golden afternoon sunlight.

4. Bake from Scratch Like a True Cottagecore Baker 🍞

Cottagecore is all about the simple pleasure of homemade food. Baking bread, pies, and biscuits from scratch is both fulfilling and delicious.

How to do it:

• Try your hand at sourdough or rustic farmhouse loaves.

• Use vintage mixing bowls and wooden spoons.

• Display baked goods on a floral plate for the perfect aesthetic.

Picture this: A warm, flour-dusted kitchen where a freshly baked loaf of bread sits on a wooden cutting board, butter melting into each slice.

5. Wear Flowy, Feminine Clothing 🌾

Soft fabrics, delicate florals, puff sleeves, and romantic dresses define the cottagecore wardrobe.

How to do it:

• Opt for linen and cotton in earth tones or pastels.

• Choose lace-trimmed blouses and maxi skirts.

• Pair with leather boots, woven baskets, and dainty accessories.

Picture this: A dreamy, ruffled dress swaying gently in the breeze as you walk through a field of wildflowers.

6. Write Letters & Keep a Handwritten Journal ✍️

Slow down and savor the art of handwriting. Letter writing and journaling capture the essence of vintage charm and mindfulness.

How to do it:

• Use a fountain pen and aged parchment paper.

• Seal letters with wax for an old-fashioned touch.

• Keep a gratitude journal filled with reflections on nature and daily joys.

Picture this: A rustic wooden desk with an open journal, a steaming cup of tea, and dried flowers tucked between the pages.

7. Incorporate Natural Materials in Your Decor 🍂

Cottagecore decor is rooted in nature. Think wood, stone, linen, and clay.

How to do it:

• Swap plastic decor for woven baskets and handmade pottery.

• Use linen tablecloths and cotton throw blankets.

• Display wooden cutting boards and rustic dishware in the kitchen.

Picture this: A softly lit cottage dining room with a wooden table, a linen table runner, and a clay pitcher filled with fresh garden blooms.

8. Make Homemade Candles & Soap 🕯️

DIY projects bring out the self-sufficiency aspect of cottagecore. Hand-poured candles and natural soap-making are relaxing and rewarding.

How to do it:

• Use beeswax or soy wax for candles.

• Scent with essential oils like lavender or rosemary.

• Wrap finished soaps in parchment and twine for a rustic touch.

Picture this: A collection of homemade candles flickering softly on a wooden shelf, their soothing scents filling the air.

9. Grow a Vegetable or Flower Garden 🌻

Nothing is more fulfilling than growing your own food or flowers.

How to do it:

• Start small with a container garden or raised beds.

• Plant vegetables like carrots, tomatoes, and lettuce.

• Add sunflowers, daisies, and hydrangeas for color.

Picture this: A lush, overgrown garden with a vintage watering can resting beside rows of blooming flowers and ripening vegetables.

10. Have Afternoon Tea with Vintage China ☕

Slow afternoons sipping tea in delicate porcelain cups is the epitome of cottagecore elegance.

How to do it:

• Collect vintage teacups and saucers.

• Bake scones or tea cakes for an authentic experience.

• Add honey and fresh herbs for a natural touch.

Picture this: A quaint tea setting by the window, with a floral teapot, homemade scones, and fresh flowers in a mason jar.

11. Read Classic Literature by Candlelight 📖

Nothing sets the cottagecore mood like getting lost in the pages of a timeless novel. Classics like Pride and Prejudice, Wuthering Heights, or Little Women transport you to simpler times filled with romance, nature, and poetic descriptions of daily life.

How to do it:

• Create a cozy reading nook with soft blankets and cushions.

• Read by candlelight or fairy lights for a dreamy atmosphere.

• Start a book journal to reflect on your favorite passages.

Picture this: A well-loved, slightly worn copy of Anne of Green Gables, resting on a wooden nightstand beside a flickering candle and a cup of chamomile tea.

12. Decorate with Botanical Prints & Pressed Flowers 🌿

Bring the beauty of nature indoors with botanical art and preserved flowers. Vintage floral illustrations or framed pressed flowers add a delicate, old-world charm to any space.

How to do it:

• Collect and press wildflowers between the pages of a heavy book.

• Frame your pressed flowers for an elegant wall display.

• Look for antique botanical prints at thrift shops or print free ones online.

Picture this: A cozy cottage wall adorned with framed botanical prints, pressed flowers in glass frames, and a woven basket of freshly picked lavender hanging nearby.

13. Use Soft, Warm Lighting for a Cozy Glow ✨

Cottagecore spaces should feel warm, inviting, and magical—and lighting plays a huge role in achieving this. Soft, warm lighting creates the illusion of a candlelit cottage tucked away in the woods.

How to do it:

• Swap harsh white bulbs for warm, soft-glow lights.

• Use fairy lights, oil lamps, and candles for ambient lighting.

• Hang a vintage chandelier for an elegant touch.

Picture this: A rustic wooden shelf lined with flickering beeswax candles, casting a golden glow across a cozy, linen-covered bed.

14. Learn Embroidery or Hand-Sewing 🧵

Cottagecore celebrates handmade, slow-living crafts—and embroidery is one of the most charming and relaxing ways to bring this aesthetic into your life.

How to do it:

• Start with simple floral or nature-inspired embroidery patterns.

• Stitch onto linen napkins, pillowcases, or tote bags.

• Display your work in embroidery hoops as wall decor.

Picture this: A small embroidery hoop with delicate wildflower stitches, resting beside a steaming cup of tea and a basket of colorful threads.

15. Make Your Own Jams & Preserves 🍓

Nothing is more wholesome and rewarding than stirring a bubbling pot of homemade jam while the sweet scent of fruit fills your kitchen. Preserving seasonal fruits connects you to nature’s rhythms and gives you a delicious taste of summer all year long.

How to do it:

• Use fresh, organic fruits like strawberries, peaches, or blueberries.

• Simmer with sugar and a splash of lemon juice until thickened.

• Store in vintage glass jars and seal with gingham fabric covers.

Picture this: A rustic wooden counter with jars of homemade strawberry jam, a wooden spoon resting on a floral tea towel, and a loaf of freshly baked bread ready to be slathered with sweetness.

16. Forage for Wild Mushrooms & Herbs 🍄

Foraging is an enchanting way to connect with nature and bring a touch of the countryside into your kitchen. Fresh herbs, edible flowers, and wild mushrooms add a rustic, homemade feel to your meals.

How to do it:

• Learn about safe, edible plants in your region.

• Pick wild mint, dandelions, and chamomile for homemade teas.

• Dry herbs like lavender and rosemary for natural decor and cooking.

Picture this: A wicker basket filled with freshly foraged mushrooms, wild herbs, and sprigs of lavender, placed on a wooden picnic table in the golden afternoon light.

17. Spend More Time in Nature & Appreciate the Little Things 🌳

At its heart, cottagecore is about slowing down and finding beauty in the simple things—and nothing is more essential than spending time outdoors.

How to do it:

• Take leisurely walks through forests, fields, or gardens.

• Bring a journal and sketch or write about what you see.

• Have a countryside picnic with fresh bread, cheese, and fruit.

Picture this: A sunlit meadow with a cozy picnic setup—an old woven blanket, a vintage wicker basket, and a bouquet of handpicked wildflowers resting beside a well-loved book.

Ready to Live the Cottagecore Dream? 🌿

Adding cottagecore elements to your life is about slowing down, appreciating beauty in simplicity, and surrounding yourself with warmth and nostalgia. Whether you start small with fresh flowers or go all in with a full garden and a vintage wardrobe, every little change brings you closer to that idyllic, cozy lifestyle.