IF YOU love to play with colour, and bright, beautiful surroundings sound appealing right now, the colourful cottage trend marries a free-spirited attitude with a love of the great outdoors.
There are plenty of ways to get the look – and you don’t need to live in an actual cottage to channel your inner flower child and go from white to wow!
“During the height of 2020, pastoral, country-style design aesthetics saw a surge in interest, with many people presumably looking for a way to escape the feeling of being ‘stuck’ in urban or suburban homes and environments,” observes interior designer, Celina Digby (celinadigby.co.uk). “With this, cottagecore became the top design style during the year’s summer.”
Country chic and farmhouse aesthetics are seeing a comeback right now too, and Digby says this time the look has had a bit of a makeover.
“While the cottagecore of lockdown saw people hero-ing neutrals and pastels – such as creams, pastel pinks and blues – 2022’s version is all about injecting bolder colours into our spaces,” explains the interiors expert.
Lyndsey Roberts, homewares buyer for Joe Browns, agrees: “The colourful cottage trend is inspired by our return to the outdoors and a rejuvenated appreciation for the classic English garden, something we all became very familiar with during various lockdowns.”
For their latest collection, Roberts says florals undergo a fabulous makeover: “We look to the magical jewelled and vibrant colours of butterflies against the explosive colours of striking garden flowers.”
“It’s all about bringing the natural beauty of the outdoors inside,” notes Roberts.
“And finding ways to inject the plethora of colours within the palette of the British countryside into your home.”
And the great news is, it’s easy to create a colourful home and build on the cottagecore romantic concept, such as introducing some curvaceous pieces in a brighter than usual shade.
It’s not just about sticking with one set of bright shades though. There’s certainly room for an eclectic touch and mixing patterns and materials.
As Rohan Blacker, founder of Pooky, puts it: “Country cottage style tends to invoke images of muted earthy tones, mix-and-match botanical printed fabrics, and spaces filled with wooden furniture.”
“For those who are braver with colour and looking to create a modern version of this aesthetic, opt for accent items in primary red, blue and yellow across accessories and lighting,” suggests Blacker.
“Think floral fabric lampshades paired with boldly bright resin bases, or a selection of patterned scatter cushions strewn across the sofa.”
Along with soft furnishings, sprays of dried flowers and farmhouse dining chairs – the spindle switched up a notch with a pop of colour – think about your main background colours too.
Helen Shaw, UK director of Benjamin Moore, says introducing bright colours on the walls is a quick and easy way to update and invigorate your space.
“Or if you’re looking for something a bit different, why not create a colour scale for a more playful finish?” Moore asks.
A colour gradient is a “great way to introduce colour in a striking, eye-catching way, brightening up your home with a striking and impactful twist”, she says.
Otherwise, Shaw says to look at the areas in your home which lend themselves to detailing – not only for an instant burst of colour, but to elevate the space with creativity and a personal touch.
“Updating even just a small corner of your home with a new colour can bring about the most enormous changes to not only your space, but also your mood,” says Shaw. “Perhaps colour is more important now than ever before.”
Likewise, trying your hand at tablescaping to give your dining room or table setting a makeover with some simple styling tricks can be hugely rewarding.
“The colourful cottage trend for tablescaping blends bold primary colours in homely and rustic table settings,” says Margo Kane, co-founder of Tableday.
“It has some of the cosy earthiness and traditional feel of cottagecore, with its natural materials for placemats and charger plates, but instead of dreamy pastel napkins, candles and flower arrangements, colourful cottage has bold punchy brights,” explains Kane.
To get the look, Kane says you could pair bright red gingham napkins with vibrant green foliage, and quirky iron candlesticks with strawberry-red candles.
Whichever side of the farmhouse fence you sit on, reinventing furnishings and laying the table is fun – and far from formal.
“Colourful cottage tables are earthy, bright and much less dressed up than regencycore,” notes Kane. “And has brighter, bolder primary colours, whereas regencycore is more sophisticated, with subtle Bridgerton blues and crystal glasses.”
And who wouldn’t drink to that, with tiki cocktails also trending and thoughts finally turning to sipping and dining in brighter, sunnier surroundings? Cheers to unleashing your creative side, with colourful cottage for a summer refresh!
