18 Cottagecore Decor Ideas to Put You in a Rustic-Chic Mood

It's undeniably true that for the past few years cottagecore decor has been on everyone’s minds. People have been grabbing their favorite cozy cardigan and curling up in a sea full of throw pillows and blankets, admiring their vintage plate collection and arrangements of dried flowers. They’re utilizing corners of their homes and they’re incorporating vintage and rustic elements to make it feel like you’re living in a cottage in the woods.

From old china sets to reclaimed wood pieces to adding touches of soft greens and beiges to your space, it’s easy to add cottagecore elements to your home. Below we’ve curated a list of 18 cottagecore decor ideas that will put you in a rustic-chic mood.

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Rustic Doors

@amberpiercedesigns / Instagram

Use a reclaimed wood door to get that cottagey feel in your home. The wear on the door gives a rustic vibe to a modern kitchen. Plus, doing something like swapping out doors is a great way to add character to your room.

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Vintage Open Shelving

Ashley Montgomery Design

This open shelving with mismatched china and ceramic bowls is the vintage cottagecore version of open shelving. The floral curtain and shiplap only add to the cottagecore look. The key to this look is to pair different textures and have the appearance of organized chaos. This open shelving is a smart way to utilize the wall to create extra storage space.

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Hang a Floating Bed

Ashley Webb Interiors

If you want to go full out whimsical, this floating bed is the way to do it. Use fluffy white bedding, worn linen sheets, and cozy blankets to create bed that will make you feel like you've woken up in a cottage in the woods. Floating furniture needs to be installed properly, so opt for a contractor if you don't feel like you have the expertise.

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Embrace Shiplap

Ashley Montgomery Design

The presence of shiplap can easily give you the feeling that you’re in an old cottage or farmhouse. The open shelf above a gorgeous stove can showcase any cool vintage pieces like a teapot or vase. The sheer curtain panels on the window make you want to stand there washing dishes, looking out into the forest (or city) all day. You can easily install a floating shelf above your stove as long as there isn’t a backsplash going up the wall the whole way.

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Purposeful Clutter

@milkandHoneyLife / Instagram

Hang a rail behind your stovetop to store utensils that you find yourself reaching for and to save counter space. Add in a few vintage utensils and be sure to mix and match metals to counterbalance your modern tools with some rustic flair.

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Whimsical Bathroom

Becca Interiors

This silver coated tub along with shiplap walls, rattan shades, and the branches in the vase are giving off serious minimalist cabin vibes. It’s the combination of materials here and the soft colors that embodies cottagecore. If you want to add shiplap to your space, it’s actually pretty easy to DIY.

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Showcase a Vintage Hutch

@homestead.city.dwelling / Instagram

Try to find unique furniture pieces, like this vintage cabinet. It’s got some wear to it but that just adds character. If you have your eyes on a cabinet and it’s not quite distressed enough for you, there are ways to DIY the distressed look. The gilded mirror, candlesticks, dried flowers, and large cutting board all add to the cottagecore feel.

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Style Built-Ins With Vases

House Nine Design

We’re all for open shelving and this built-in helps showcase some whimsical vases and other knick knacks that could definitely be found in the cottage of your dreams. Remember, even when you have built-in furniture you can still change your decor or even paint to get a different aesthetic.

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Create Cozy Corners

Jessica Nelson Design / Carina Skrobecki Photography

Cottagecore evokes images of cozy corners and reading nooks. If you have a weird area in your room and you can’t quite figure out what to do with it, see if you can add bench seating or an accent chair. Imagine curling up here in your throw blanket reading your favorite book and letting your imagination run wild.

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Wooden Beams

@milkandHoneyLife / Instagram

Add reclaimed wooden beams to your ceiling to give that cabin feel (you can even make beams yourself). You can also add wicker details and long comfy throw blankets to increase the level of cottagecore style in a bedroom.

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Thrifted Touches

@homestead.city.dwelling / Instagram

Use open shelves to showcase your finds from the thrift store or vintage store. You can find a lot of really beautiful pieces at old flea markets or yard sales. Look for things that have a bit of wear to them like the picture frame on the top shelf here.

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Paint It Sage

Jessica Nelson Design / Carina Skrobecki Photography

The sage paint, light colored wood, and tilework in the shower all work really well together in this room that is a modern take on a cottagecore vibe. It just goes to show that you can incorporate modern elements and still maintain a rustic-chic look.

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Highlight a Cozy Fireplace

@homestead.city.dwelling / Instagram

We love all of the reclaimed wood in this space. From the cabinets either side of the fireplace to the mantel itself, this room is screaming cottagecore. If you can’t find any reclaimed wood, go to the hardware store, pick up some wood and stain it and distress it yourself.

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Accessorize a Soaking Tub

@milkandHoneyLife / Instagram

This tiny tub only looks quainter by the light of a single taper candle'. We love the way they’ve used vintage knickknacks to fill the space. The wooden tub tray is gorgeous and is also quite functional when it comes to storing bath oils and salts.

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Mix Colors, Shapes and Textures

Kate Marker Interiors

Utilize different colors, shapes, and materials for your serveware and display them on open shelving. Sticking with just a few all-warm or all-cool will keep the vignette from looking chaotic. And if there is something you need to cover up that doesn't match the rest of your display, half curtains are a great way to do it.

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Make a Hallway Hideaway

Jessica Nelson Design / Carina Skrobecki Photography

We’ve got a cottagecore trifecta in this space. From the shiplap to the sage green paint to the cozy bench seat, it’s transporting us to the forest. Plus, creating a seating area with storage for awkward spaces can be helpful in making the most out of your square footage.

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Rustic Table Settings

@homestead.city.dwelling / Instagram

In every wild cottagecore fantasy there should be a tea party going on, and this table setup fits the bill. The old wooden window frame in the background is the perfect addition to make the room feel smaller. You can bring a room together by repeating one design element through the room, such as the dried flowers pictured above on the window, in the centerpiece, and laid on the table.

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Freestanding Kitchen Island

@milkandhoneylife / Instagram

The addition of a freestanding island is a great way to add extra counter space to your kitchen and another area to decorate. When you have painted cabinets, choose an island of varnished wood to create a nice contrast. An unpainted island also ties in nicely with the floating shelves.