What is Cottagecore? An Introduction to the Slow-Living Aesthetic
A gentle rebellion wrapped in lace and lavender.
This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.
There’s something quietly radical about slowing down.
Cottagecore leans into this instinct — the pull toward softness, ritual, and the rhythms that make life feel more lived-in. It’s a way of choosing presence over pressure, and finding comfort in the beauty of the everyday.
You’ve probably seen the images: linen dresses, freshly baked bread, sun-dappled gardens, cats curled in windowsills. But cottagecore goes deeper than that. It’s about how you move through the world. How you make tea. How you tend to a houseplant. How you let yourself be — without rushing to turn every moment into content.
For many of us, cottagecore began as a simple aesthetic, and slowly grew into something more meaningful. It offered comfort and a sense of grounding, reconnecting us with what feels good and real.
If you’ve been feeling overstimulated, disconnected, or just tired of always chasing the moving targets of life, cottagecore might speak to something tender inside you, too.
So… What Is Cottagecore, Really?
Cottagecore is a lifestyle and aesthetic rooted in the romance of rural living — simple pleasures, slow routines, and a deep connection to the natural world. Imagine the quiet slowness of an old farmhouse or the scent of bread rising in a warm kitchen. It’s nostalgic and nature-bound.
At its heart, cottagecore celebrates:
A slower, more intentional pace of life
A deep love of nature and the seasons
Creativity through homey rituals (cooking, gardening, crafting)
Self-sufficiency, sustainability, and simplicity
Romanticism and vintage charm
And above all: coziness
Cottagecore invites you to look closely at your life and begin rooting into what feels nourishing, meaningful, and wholly your own.
How to Embrace Cottagecore in Your Everyday Life
You don’t need to live in the countryside to incorporate cottagecore into your routine. Small changes and intentional choices can bring its cozy charm into any setting.
1. Transform Your Home
Your space doesn’t need to be perfect — it just needs to feel like yours. Cottagecore homes are cozy, lived-in, and full of personality. Think worn wood, floral linens, soft lighting, and objects that carry a story. Try adding a lace table runner, a well-loved floral teapot, or a thrifted basket that makes you smile every time you pass it. It’s about warmth, not polish.
2. Start a Tiny Garden
Whether you have a backyard or just a windowsill, growing something is one of the most grounding things you can do. Fresh basil by the sink, wildflowers in an old jar, or tomatoes on your fire escape — whatever space you have, use it to reconnect with the rhythm of the earth (a windowsill herb kit is a great starting point for adding greenery to your home).
3. Cook and Bake From Scratch
Food is at the heart of cottagecore — because preparing meals slowly, with care, is a ritual in itself. You don’t need to be a homesteader to embrace it. Start with a simple loaf of bread or a pot of soup that simmers all afternoon. A cast iron Dutch oven is ideal for creating rustic, hearty dishes that taste as comforting as they look.
4. Make Something With Your Hands
Knitting, embroidery, candle-making, flower pressing, natural dyeing — cottagecore encourages creativity for the sake of it. Not to sell. Not to post. Just to make. There’s something deeply healing about watching something take shape from your own hands.
5. Choose Slowness (Even When It’s Hard)
This isn’t always easy. Choosing to slow down in a fast world can feel like swimming upstream. But it’s worth it. Cottagecore invites you to savor the quiet things: morning light, handwritten letters, a cup of tea you actually sit down to drink. These aren’t frivolous details. They are the life itself.
6. Read Stories That Feel Like Home
Cottagecore literature leans nostalgic, gentle, and soul-stirring. Think Anne of Green Gables, Little Women, Pride and Prejudice — stories with soft pacing and settings so vivid they feel alive.
7. Embrace Cottagecore Fashion
Flowy dresses, soft fabrics, and earthy tones define cottagecore fashion. Incorporate pieces made from natural materials like linen or cotton into your wardrobe to feel connected to nature. Accessories like a straw hat or a linen apron combine practicality and charm, especially for cottagecore activities like gardening and baking.
8. Bring in Scent and Light
Lavender. Chamomile. Rose. Scents that soothe the nervous system and invite you to exhale. Lighting a beeswax candle can be a ritual too. One that says: “I’m here. I’m home. I’m allowed to rest.”
9. Capture the Magic
You don’t have to turn everything into content. But if you want to document the beauty you’re creating, do it for you. Use a polaroid camera or a journal. Capture your life like a quiet scrapbook — not a performance, but a love letter to yourself.
Cottagecore in Literature, Film & Art
If you’re craving stories that feel like a warm blanket, a handwritten letter, or a walk through a foggy meadow, these books and films embody the gentle rhythms and nostalgic charm of the cottagecore world.
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
A celebration of imagination, nature, and the beauty of everyday life — told through the eyes of one of literature’s most spirited heroines.
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
An overgrown garden, quiet transformation, and the slow return to joy through connection with the natural world.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Creativity, domesticity, and sisterhood unfold in candlelit rooms and cozy attics — woven together with heart and handwritten pages.
Pride and Prejudice (2005 film adaptation)
This visually rich adaptation pairs romantic tension with timeless countryside charm.
Howl’s Moving Castle (Studio Ghibli)
Magic meets domestic ritual in this whimsical world of floating castles, warm breakfasts, and everyday enchantment.
Emma (2020 film adaptation)
Filled with pastoral views and quiet interiors, this vibrant retelling feels both playful and rooted in slow, artful living.
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
A woodland tale where riverside picnics, cozy burrows, and loyal friendships remind us of the comfort found in slow companionship.
Kiki’s Delivery Service (Studio Ghibli)
A young witch making her way in the world — delivering bread, building community, and creating home in a small seaside town.
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
A tender, uplifting novel about chosen family and finding peace in a life built slowly, with love.
Beatrix Potter: A Life in Nature by Linda Lear
An intimate portrait of the beloved writer and illustrator, whose life was steeped in land, animals, solitude, and the quiet art of observing.
Cottagecore invites a return to presence. It’s found in the small, ordinary choices that make a day feel meaningful — steeping tea without rushing, tending to a corner of your home, planting something just to watch it grow.
None of it needs to be perfect. It only needs to feel like you.
And over time, those quiet choices begin to shape something larger: a life that feels rooted, gentle, and entirely your own.
About the Author:
Hey there! I’m Olivia, the heart behind Petal + Hearth. Originally from California, I started traveling as a digital nomad in 2023 and eventually found my way to the south of France, which I now call home with my partner. I’ve been sober and in recovery for 3+ years and have a deep love for personal growth, slow living, and finding magic in the everyday. By day, I’m a freelance copywriter, but my passion for all things cozy led me to create this little corner of the internet. Petal + Hearth is where I share my love for seasonal rituals, warm spaces, and the art of savoring life’s simple pleasures.
How I Can Help:
🖋️ Hire my as a copywriter if you need support creating your own cozy content.
🎨 Visit my growing Etsy shop for cozy & witchy inspired lifestyle goods.
🪩 Ask me a question, submit feedback, or suggest a topic here.
💬 Feel free to like or comment on this newsletter so more Substack users can find it! ♥️