Cottagecore Is the Popular Decorating Style That’s All About Intention

The Foundation of Cottagecore Decorating

While at home throughout the pandemic, many of us reconsidered our spaces and spent time on domestic activities like cooking, gardening, and hobbies like needlepoint. “We made room for the time that it took to do something,” says Carpenter. “That’s what’s at the core of cottagecore: a kinder, slower, gentler pace of life.” Where cottagecore evolved beyond traditional cottage style is in the themes driving the decorating trend: it’s maximalist, nostalgic, and absolutely intentional. 

Cottagecore developed and gained popularity alongside (but opposite from) sleek, minimalist styles like Japandi. “Whenever there’s a trend, there’s a countertrend,” says Carpenter. Where Japandi and Scandi aesthetics are neutral and clean-lined, cottagecore is maximalist. It embraces a mix of patterns, textures, oversized pieces, and bold colors. But this maximalism is driven by nostalgia. “It closely ties with grandmillennial style or granny chic,” says Carpenter. Florals, warm woods, and colors, for example, are right at home in the cottagecore aesthetic.

Like all maximalist styles, more is more. But with cottagecore, the abundance is intentional, in more ways than one. “Everything really got more intentional as we were forced to sit at home and pay attention to the things we were living with,” says Carpenter. She calls one intentional aspect “shopping with our values,” which includes considering the sustainability, craftsmanship, and source of the products we bring into our homes. Thrifting and antiquing, for example, are a staple in cottagecore decorating; these intentional purchases contribute to slow decorating and add a nostalgic undertone. 

Cottagecore is also about balancing functionality and style. Decor should withstand and be part of the activity of a home; rooms aren’t just for show. “It’s not supposed to be precious,” says Carpenter. “It’s not a room we don’t go in but just point and say, ‘Isn’t that stunning in there?’ It’s really about being able to live with it.” Cottagecore demands both form and function, things that are not only useful but also beautiful. Think tabletop items that can be left out between uses and don’t need to be hidden away in storage or furniture that’s useful for everyday activities. 

Read full article here: https://www.bhg.com/cottagecore-decorating-ideas-6831706