It’s fair to say that fashion plays an integral part in our every day lives. Waking up and deciding which outfit suits the day best is either a thrill or a chore- depending on your interest in the matter. But nowadays, fashion can influence more than just our everyday clothing. It can impact our interior design choices too.

This is where cottagecore fashion comes into play. For those that don’t know, this sense of style is largely revolved around comfy, cosy jumpers, or light floral dresses, knitted wear, flower headpieces, or any other clothing items that present a tranquil and countryside aesthetic. This emerging trend is thought to stir feelings of nostalgia and remind people of simpler and more relaxed times. As the world continues to spiral into a chaotic and undetermined state, cottage-core fashion appears to be a go-to reliever of this, with now the term ‘#cottagecore’ being referenced over 711,000 times on Instagram alone.

So, how is this fashion trend inspiring many of our interior design choices? Here we look at how this nostalgic trend is more than just the worlds latest fashion staples, and a décor preference as well.

Interior design: cottagecore edition

Getting into some creative interior design work to add the extra finishing touches or changes our spaces need is a challenge we as a nation adore – and now cottages appear to be a key source of inspiration behind our décor choices. Hashtags such as ‘#cottagecoreaesthetic’ have been used in over 144,000 posts, with ‘#cottagecoredesign’ being referenced over a thousand times too.

It seems that this social media trend has taken to Google too, as searches for ‘cottagecore’ has experienced a dramatic spike over recent months.

As of April 2020, ‘cottagecore fashion’ has experienced a sharp increase in searches across the UK, peaking last month in August. Not only that, related search terms including ‘cottagecore clothes’ and ‘cottagecore aesthetic’ have also experienced a dramatic increase recently, highlighting the nation’s growing interest in cottagecore fashion and interior inspiration.

Perhaps this is due to social media influencers and celebrities proliferating this trend, or maybe it’s the nostalgia we feel for those summer countryside getaways that is the catalyst behind our countrycore interior inspiration.

Since cottagecore fashion often consists of all things floral print and countryside inspired, many of us have used these themes to add some quirky décor editions around our home in a variety of ways.

Nature

For those that love all things floral print, floaty, and cosy, then cottagecore fashion is something that could reflect your style perfectly. Celebrities including Taylor Swift, Millie Bobby Brown, and David Beckham have been pictured recently embracing the cottagecore trend, wearing loose, light clothing that  have floral prints and colours. Perhaps these popular faces are responsible for the surge of cottagecore interior designs too.

To help bring the country style of living home, many have favoured buying the likes of floral print furniture such as sofas and curtains for their interiors. Not only that, greenery including plants and flowers dotted around the different rooms in your home help not only embrace the cottagecore trend but also bring more life to your interior.  

Chintzy patterns and clutter

Many are quick to assume clutter is a chaotic, unorganised mess that often adds more ‘dust collectors’ to your home than what’s needed. However, the benefits of adding a few more ornament editions and quirky patterns to your home are often overlooked. Since chintz fashion items including checked shirts, colourful skirts, and patterned crochet hats have experienced a surge in popularity, these are being used as a catalyst for some home décor for many.

Just because adding additional items to our homes mean some extra things to keep clean and tidy, it doesn’t have to be an unorganised mess. Cottages tend to have a cosy and warming feel to them thanks to the array of display ornaments and chintzy blankets, jackets, and curtains that are scattered around. Therefore, many have turned to these items as a way to embrace the cottagecore style and add an extra pop of colour to their homes.

Retro-inspired

Since cottagecore fashion includes long-flowing dresses that originally became trendy in the 1960s, floral prints that gained popularity as far back as the 1920s, antique jewellery dating back for centuries, and chintzy clothing that originated in the 16^th century, vintage inspiration is key when it comes to cottagecore décor.

When you think of a traditional British cottage, often images of vintage-style furniture, mismatched ornaments, and cosy mood lighting spring to mind. Since these all bring back nostalgic thoughts of those staycation holidays away with the family as a child, many look to use their interior theme to reflect upon these happy memories of being in the countryside. With this in mind, chintzy print rugs, retro-inspired sofas, antique display pieces, and long flowing curtains with random patterns on are making a comeback in many people’s homes. 

DIY cottagecore editions

Speaking of rugs, DIY-ing some cottagecore interior pieces is an increasingly preferred choice of hobby for many. Cottages typically portray images of your elders sat by the fire with a blanket slumped over them, knitting together another blanket made up of different types of old fabrics, materials, and prints that have been left in a storage box somewhere. This DIY trend is perhaps the best way to begin adding some country core fashion to your home – at a low to no cost too.

Knitting, crocheting, and sewing a new blanket, cuddly toy, or even a cover for a plain old plant pot of yours are great ways to bring the countryside cottage aura to you. Using the likes of old floral clothing you don’t need, or vintage chintz shirts and tees, you could find the inspiration to create some of your own DIY cottage-core interior.

As the future remains difficult to predict due to current societal events, one thing that remains persistent is those nostalgic memories we have of our countryside getaways with family and friends. To help bring that cosy cottage theme home to you, finding inspiration in cottage-core fashion pieces and all the latest trends this involves is a great way to begin your interior makeover!