Picture this – An English-style country cottage adorned with roses against the backdrop of a clear mid-morning sky and a field of sun-kissed flowers. The door is striking and welcoming, leading up to a cabinet of vintage china pieces and rooms decked with antique furniture, neutral linens, reclaimed wood works, woven wicker baskets, and flowers of all possible kinds and colors.
Does this look like a place you’re nostalgic for; but have given up all hopes of finding? Thankfully, such idyllic scenes are not just reserved for your grandmother’s “life on the farm” anecdotes. The Cottagecore aesthetic, as dubbed by modern folks, is making a serious comeback to offset the despair of urban living.
Described as a “homage to a simple life,” Cottagecore interior design and gardening aesthetic are based on rural self-sufficiency and everything picturesque. Since Cottagecore gardens are slightly different in layout from their traditional counterparts, modern homeowners shy away from incorporating them into their home scheme. Some believe such a garden aesthetic is only suitable for those with large patios and yards.
The Discover Britain Magazine debunks these myths, stating that Cottagecore-themed gardens were popular among poor cottage dwellers and aristocratic property owners. Meaning, anyone can introduce this theme’s whimsical elements into their garden. This article provides insight into how you can create a Cottagecore garden akin to the famous English folklore.
What Can You Plant in a Cottagecore-themed Garden?
Cottagecore gardening was not started just for the aesthetics (at least not for the poor cottage dwellers). The aristocrats used these gardens to display botanical ornateness, but the rest of the English countryside grew vegetation for sustenance, along with wildflowers, grasses, and trees. The primary aim was to not disturb nature or tame it. So, you can grow the following in your Cottagecore garden –
- Lots and lots of flowers – Most English cottage gardens were a melting pot of colors and textures, often rendered by flowers. Perennial shrubs were the most common, followed by wildflowers and vines.
- Aromatic Herbs – If you can’t grow proper vegetables due to space crunch, try planting flavorful herbs like thyme, cilantro, rosemary, lemongrass, or sage. These will add a lovely touch to homecooked meals and align well with the sustenance aspect of the Cottagecore garden.
- Fruit Trees – If your garden space allows the square footage, and you have the patience of a saint, consider planting fruit trees like apples, mangoes, guavas, and oranges.
- Bushes and Ornamental Grasses – Need something interesting to fill visual gaps and spark four-season interest? Consider wispy bushes and ornamental grasses that add unparalleled texture. These include feather reed grass, fountain grass, little bluestem, switch grass, and blue oat grass.
Setting up a Cottagecore Garden Layout
While traditional landscaping leans towards taming the shrubs and trees, sometimes even towards fanciful topiary, English countryside Cottagecore gardens are all about allowing nature to run its course. You can call the shots through a concrete garden plan, but the rest is left to the whims of the planted foliage. Here’s how to go about it –
1.Start by Mapping out Your Garden
The first step in setting up a Cottagecore-themed garden is to walk outside and envision the final look (as far as possible). This should help you answer some important questions –
- Do you wish to see more flowers or just greenery?
- Will there be a single pathway or multiple, interconnected ones?
- Would you like a separate relaxation spot, and will there be space for one?
- Will the roadmap offer easy access to garden maintenance?
Maybe take a sketchbook and pencil along to make your plans visual and concrete. If you wish to introduce pathways, line them with pebbles or add stepping stones that bring out the Cottagecore theme in a vivid manner.
2. Decide Which Flowers and Plants Will Go Where
Once the basic layout is ready, the next step is to decide which plants and flowers you want and where. The best way to exude a charming Cottagecore feel is to have a juxtaposition of greens and flowers.
As for the varieties, you can stick to the plants and flowers that are native to your area. However, if possible, include popular English foliage, such as poppies, delphiniums, and foxgloves. Other vibrant flower choices include bellflowers, daisies, geraniums, irises, lavenders, and peonies.
3. Get Your Supplies and Review it All
Once the planning part is over, next is the execution. For this, you will need proper gardening tools and supplies. Make a list of the flowers, plants, tools, planters, potting mix, and manure that you will need.
Both for indoor and outdoor gardening, the scope is limitless as you can choose among garden beds, permaculture, rock systems, and traditional pots. Crescent Garden believes that a mix of small, large, and different shapes of pots will enhance the whimsical appeal of the garden. You can even choose self-watering pots for moisture-loving plants.
Once you’ve purchased and reviewed all supplies, place the flowers and plants in the desired alignment to check whether you like the layout. Allow sufficient space between plants, but also fill visual gaps using succulents and phlox.
4.Take Advantage of Mulching
If you consider the soil to be a cake, mulch is the icing or topping. Mulching is the process of adding a protective layer of organic material, dried leaves, or wood chips to prevent soil erosion and encourage moisture retention.
It will prevent weeding and protect your plants from drying out in summer and freezing in winter.
Décor Ideas for Wholesome Country Vibes
Do you crave the ‘Anne of the Green Gables Meets Bucolic Dreamland’ aesthetics for your garden, but are not sure how to achieve it? Well, the elements are simple and when brought together, will seamlessly exude a folksy mystic vibe.
1. Install a Summer House
Ah! Just imagine the feeling of walking into a shabby-chic wooden summerhouse humbly sitting in the midst of your English garden where you can allocate time to yourself. With plenty of rustic windows, the natural light invites you to bask in its glory or try your hand at hobbies like art, music, and reading.
The perfect vintage summerhouse would feature antique furniture, natural materials, wooden armchairs, a hammock (if you please), and lots of antique trinkets that transport you to the bygone era.
2. Hang Macramé Plants
The macramé trend, or the art of knotting rope to create fanciful hanging decorations, is not a newfound idea. In fact, it has resurrected from the 1970s as homeowners are creating stunning macramé pots to hang from the ceilings.
The use of ropes gives this look a Cottagecore vibe. You can hang these in your living room, kitchen, bedroom, and even the patio or the summerhouse. The best botanical beauties for macramé pots include the Boston fern, satin pothos, button fern, and tradescantia.
3. Consider Having a Fanciful Trellis
Is the English Cottagecore aesthetic ever complete without a trail, arch, or lattice of flowers? Thankfully, it’s super easy to create one without breaking the bank. While you can opt for a basic wire mesh display, the Cottagecore vibe comes out best through a wooden pergola.
The most common yet appealing look is that of an archway lined with (fragrant) flowers opening up to the patio or separating the summerhouse area from the rest of the garden. Some of the top flowers for this setup include clematis, honeysuckle, sweet pea, rose, star jasmine, and wisteria.
4. Don’t Forget the Signature Fountain!
Whether your patio features a detailed Cottagecore theme, a manicured one, or a pathway framed by stones and pebbles, it will stay incomplete without the signature English fountain.
The ideal model would be a tiered fountain surrounded by potted hydrangeas and other colorful flowers. Even small stone fountains can become the focal point as their cascading waters produce the calming effect needed to soften the formal symmetry.
5.Add the Touch of Wrought-Iron Benches
Given the Cottagecore theme, you can choose wood or stone benches that feature some carvings. But, the only design that is truly transportive is the ornate, antique cast-iron benches still resting in some Victorian parks today.
These benches are easy-to-install and weatherproof; plus, sitting on one of them while gazing at the birds flocking to drink from the fountain will have you enjoying your personal ‘Bridgerton’ moment!
Time to Gild the Lily?
Is your current garden or patio brimming with life already, but you’re just looking to switch to the English Cottagecore era? Even if you’re not starting from scratch, the above-mentioned tips and décor ideas will work for you.
The only difference might be in terms of the plants and flower arrangement. In case you’re already happy with the setup, there’s no need to change the placement right away. You can do that when it’s time to change the plants’ soil (which may be sooner for some than others).
Simply try to create room for whimsical elements that breathe ‘cottagecore’ into the aesthetic theme. Finally, plant a whole lot more flowers; after all, can one ever have too many flowers, especially in the gardens of the English countryside?
