Cottage is back! Well, did it really leave? If you have a penchant for rustic décor, foraging and growing your own tea, you may already be living a cottagecore life – and you didn’t even realise it. We've got some cottagecore garden ideas for you.
If you didn’t know: Cottagecore is a fashion aesthetic popularised by teenagers and young adults celebrating an idealised rural life. But, why? Well, not only is it a form of escapism and nostalgia for a lot of people, but it seems to be a reactionary movement against modern life. But, essentially, it’s just a deep appreciation of the outdoors.
Another big part of cottagecore is the philosophy of self-sufficiency. Often, you will see people growing their own food, encouraging permacultural farming practices and investing in second-hand, vintage or upcycled furniture. Cottagecore encourages ecological mindfulness and an environmentally friendly lifestyle.
As Modern Gardens Magazine contributor Selina Lake says: "It’s a positive concept that works in harmony with nature and focuses on growing our own food and flowers." Food always tastes better when you’ve grown it in your garden. Plus, planting a good number of flowers at home can attract all kinds of amazing insects, including bees, which aid in promoting biodiversity, as well as increasing the pollination and yield of crops.
When it comes to getting cottagecore bits for your garden, you need to remember that simplicity is important and anything too modern is off the table. The cottage trend is all about pastoral life, only.
Fancy adopting a cottagecore garden but don’t know where to start? Modern Gardens has scoured the net and done all the research for you. We’ve found the best ideas for your self-sufficient cottagecore garden.
The best cottagecore ideas for your garden
Flowers
Flowers come first, obviously, as a cottagecore garden isn't complete without them. To give your garden a vintage feel, our advice is to mix and match colours and species. Pair flowers with climbing roses, and shrubs with peonies. Selina says: "For established gardens with flowerbeds, adopt a relaxed approach, letting plants naturally self-seed."
Here are some of our favourites:
The best flowers for a cottagecore garden
1 of 5Ceanothus griseus var. horizontalis 'Yankee Point'
This low-spreading habit makes an excellent ground cover. With a magnificent early summer display of deep blue flowers, this flower tolerates coastal conditions.
2 of 5Sweet Pea 'Heirloom Mixed'
Coming as seeds, these flowers are a bold kaleidoscope of cheery colours. They're wonderfully fragranced and perfect for adding colour (as well as fragrance) to garden arches.
3 of 5Paeonia Lactiflora 'Sarah Bernhardt'
Available to order from Autumn, this perennial dies back to below ground level each year in autumn, and then fresh new growth appears again in spring. Its flowers are enormous, rose-pink and fragrant.
4 of 5English Marigold Seeds
Flowering between June and October, these English Marigolds have daisy-like flowerheads in a vivid shade of orange. They're a wonderful display when they appear in profusion above the softly hairy, aromatic leaves.
5 of 5Trachelospermum Jasminoides
This hardy shrub bears thousands of pure white, star-shaped flowers. Plus, it turns deep red and bronze in autumn. Its dramatic blooms perfume the air with an irresistible, sweet fragrance.
Herbs
The cottagecore lifestyle surrounds sustainability and self-sufficiency. It's a love letter to pastoral life, nostalgic and romantic. As Selina says: "Grow your own veggies, plant nectar-rich flowers to feed the bees and wear a straw hat!"
We recommend planting your own little herb garden. Here are some seeds for you to get started.
The best herbs for your cottagecore herb garden
1 of 5Wilko Parsley
Sow and harvest all year round.
2 of 5Johnsons Basil Organic Seeds
Sow seeds indoors all year round. Harvest all year round.
3 of 5Wilko Thyme Seeds
Sow seeds from Feb-May. Harvest all year round.
4 of 5Johnsons Rosemary Herb Seeds
Grows in any well-drained soil. Sow seeds from February to May.
5 of 5Wilko Chives Seeds
Ideal for a herb garden or patio containers.
Tea
If you fancy growing your own herbal tea, here are some starters for you.
You can also check out our article on growing your own cuppa.
The best herbal teas to grow and brew in your cottagecore garden
1 of 5Lemon Verbena
Slender, lemon-scented, bright green leaves clothe upright stems, while delicate clusters of pale lilac to white flowers offer late summer colour. Plant it next to paths and entrances, which is useful for herb tea and can be fully appreciated.
2 of 5Mint - Apple Mint
Apple-scented, grey-green leaves and dense spikes of pink or white summer flowers make this vigorous mint decorative as well as practical. The leaves can be used to make mint sauces, tea and added to salads.
3 of 5Lemon Balm
Lemon-scented leaves appear in early spring and are followed in midsummer by spikes of tiny, pale-yellow flowers, which fade to white or lilac. In true cottage fashion, the flowers are attractive to bees and the lemon-scented leaves are delicious in salads, soups and also great for tea making.
5 of 5Roman Chamomile
A useful medicinal herb, chamomile flowers produce aromatic feathery foliage that will happily creep about the herb garden. Plus, they produce an abundance of white, daisy blooms.
Pots & Planters
Selina recommends "planting up old galvanised metal tubs and containers, which started life on a farm. They're simply perfect for adding colour to small gardens or courtyard spaces."
Remember: upcycled, recycled, vintage. So, here are our top picks for pots and planters.
The best pots and planters for your cottagecore garden
1 of 6Orson Cylinder Terracotta Pot
Display your plants beautifully in the Orson XL Terracotta Plant Pot. Prepared by skilled craftsmen using only the finest quality clay, each plant pot is unique to you and your garden.
2 of 6Galvanised tray with handles
These attractive and useful trays fit neatly into the windowsill and are ideal for growing seedlings in small pots or for sowing directly into the tray. They're perfect for a cottagecore herb and succulent garden.
4 of 6Mesa Metal Wall Planter
Made from high-quality and rust-resistant metal, add a fashionably distressed look to your wall plants.
5 of 6Encinoso Metal Urn Planter
The weathered material in this decorative piece brings about a natural, serene and authentic atmosphere to the garden. This oval urn includes a drainage hole. We love how classic it feels.
6 of 6Galvanized Metal Milk Pitcher
This primitive, rustic flower holder is the perfect decoration for your table, patio or reading nook.
Furniture & Decor
We've rounded together some cute, vintage-looking furniture and décor to help bring your cottagecore dreams to life.
The best cottagecore outdoor furniture and decor for your garden
1 of 7Wooden Fairy Garden Mushroom Set
Made from English Ash, this set of fairy garden mushrooms is the ultimate cottagecore find.
2 of 7Outsunny Wooden Folding Flower Stand 3 Tier Planter Display Ladder
Made from fir wood and crafted into a ladder design, this plant stand is great for smaller outdoor spaces.
3 of 7Old Rectory Folding Bistro Set
This vintage wirework bistro set is perfect for drinks and dining on smaller patios, terraces and courtyards. Made from mild steel with a soft green powder coat.
4 of 7Portable Plant Caddy
Robust - and crafted from galvanised steel, this lightweight metal two-tier caddy is an easy and attractive way to display and transport your plants.
5 of 7Rowlinson Rustic Arch
Give your garden a traditional look with the attractive, rustic, criss-cross design of the Rowlinson Rustic Arch. Decorate with climbing plants to look great at entrances and pathways. Check out our article on climbing plants.
6 of 7Esschert Design, Ceramic Wall Flower Pot
Rustic, these planters would make a fab addition to your cottagecore haven.
7 of 712 Mini Mushroom Solar Stake Lights
These 12 mini mushroom solar lights are a must-have for adding an enchanting atmosphere to any outdoor space.
Bird Baths & Boxes
Cottagecore's ethos focuses on nature and its beauty. With that, comes all creatures great and small. Let's give back to our little winged friends in the sky with some baths and boxes.
The best birdbaths and bird boxes for a cottagecore garden
1 of 5Stone Garden Bird Bath - Salt Glaze & Detachable Top
Elevate the look of your garden with this best-selling outdoor stone bird bath.
2 of 5Tom Chambers Handmade Square Log Hut - Bird Nesting Box
With a handmade moss design, this wild bird hut box comes with a natural rope hanger.
3 of 5Terracotta Garden Bird Bath
Give a classic flair to your garden with this highly decorative garden bird bath. It's perfect for providing wild birds with fresh drinking and bathing water.
4 of 5Rustic Wooden Bird House
This birdhouse is designed in traditional style, like a very small house - with decorative tools and artificial flowers for decor.
5 of 5Borderstone Medium Floral Bird Bath
This floral bird bath has been stylishly designed from expertly crafted solid cast stone. It provides birds with a lovely spot to bathe or drink from. This Floral Bird Bath will look amazing as a centrepiece in any style or size of the garden.
Stone Paths
When it comes to the cottagecore aesthetic, consider how effective a meandering stone pathway would look to help your eye – and feet – walk through the garden. It'll give your outdoor space that classic feel.
The best stepping stones for your cottagecore garden
1 of 2Weathered Grey Stepping Stone
A charming way to ad a wonderful distinctive feature to any garden.
2 of 2York Brown Stepping Stone
With its slightly riven appearance, is a perfect choice if you're looking to create a charming, traditional setting.
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