In recent years, the term cottagecore has blossomed across social media, in interior design magazines, and lifestyle blogs. More than just a trend, it represents a return to the beauty of simple living: fresh scones cooling on a wooden countertop, linen curtains fluttering in a breeze, and mornings spent in the garden with a hot cup of tea.
But here in Ireland, many of these ideals are already deeply woven into our everyday culture. With rolling green landscapes, time-honoured crafts, and centuries-old cottages dotting the countryside, Ireland offers the perfect setting for an authentic embracing of this lifestyle.
Whether you live in a modern home, a seaside flat, or a rural farmhouse, you can infuse your space—and your lifestyle—with the charm and intention that defines cottagecore.
What Is Cottagecore?
Cottagecore celebrates a romanticised view of rural life. It encourages slower days filled with mindful rituals: gardening, baking, mending clothes, writing letters, and surrounding oneself with nature and nostalgia. Aesthetically, it leans toward vintage fabrics, floral prints, soft textures, and natural materials like wood, clay, and wool.
Yet the aesthetic is more than its Pinterest-perfect visuals. It’s a philosophy: living in tune with the land, the seasons, and a sense of calm purpose. It prioritises community, craft, and the cosy joy of everyday domestic life.
Irish Cottagecore: Where Culture Meets Countryside
In Ireland, these ideals aren’t new—they’ve been lived for generations. Think of the thatched cottages of County Clare, the peat fires of Connemara, or the stone walls of West Cork. Traditional Irish crafts like weaving, basket-making, and pottery are deeply tied to the land, passed down from hand to hand over the centuries.
In many ways, Ireland is the embodiment of this way of living. So, if you're looking to adopt or deepen this lifestyle, Irish culture offers a rich well of inspiration.
Creating a Cottagecore Home, the Irish Way
A cottagecore home is comfortable, thoughtful, and welcoming. It's not about perfection—it's about warmth and character. Here's how to achieve it:
1. Bring the Outdoors In
Embrace this style by decorating with florals and foliage. Dry some wildflowers from a hedgerow walk, or display meadow grasses in a simple jug.
Try using the Flowers Mini Card Set by Annabel Langrish to offer botanical charm that's perfect for framing, gifting, or decorating shelves.
2. Choose Natural Textures
Traditional Irish homes were built with locally sourced materials: linen, wool, stone, and wood. Bring these into your home with:
- Handwoven wool blankets
- Clay or ceramic mugs (like our Frog & Lily Pad mug and coaster set)
- Wooden chopping boards or stools
3. Surround Yourself with Heritage
Use homeware that reflects Irish culture. These West Cork Landscapes Placemats capture the beauty of the wild Atlantic, while the Puffins Tablemat Set celebrates coastal life.
Seasonal Living: The Soul of Ireland
In Ireland, the changing seasons are rich with meaning. Traditional Celtic festivals like Imbolc, Bealtaine, Lughnasadh, and Samhain mark the passage of time in deeply sensory ways: with food, fire, song, and nature.
To live seasonally in the cottagecore spirit:
- Grow herbs in spring and use them in baking.
- Forage for blackberries in late summer.
- Carve a turnip or light a candle at Samhain.
- Bake soda bread in winter while a peat fire crackles.
Each season offers a moment to slow down and reconnect.
Irish Adventures: Living the Lifestyle Outdoors
Looking to add this style beyond the home? Ireland offers rich and rustic activities that invite a deeper connection to craft, nature, and tradition.
1. Visit Irish Heritage Sites
Experience what rural life was like centuries ago at the Kerry Bog Village, where thatched cottages, turf fires, and Irish wolfhounds offer a glimpse into 19th-century Ireland.
Or step even further back in time at the Irish National Heritage Parks, where ancient homes and woodlands illustrate Ireland’s evolving relationship with land and community.
2. Take a Craft Workshop
This lifestyle celebrates making things by hand. Discover Irish craft workshops through Discover Ireland’s craft experiences. Learn:
- Basket weaving in Clare
- Pottery in Kilkenny
- Botanical dyeing in Kerry
- Wool spinning in Donegal
These experiences offer not only the chance to learn a timeless craft—from pottery to weaving—but also connect you to Ireland’s rich cultural heritage. Each skill carries a deeper story: of local traditions, rural communities, and the hands that kept these arts alive through generations. Whether you're shaping clay in Kilkenny or weaving a basket in Clare, you're not just creating something beautiful—you're becoming part of a living legacy.
3. Go Foraging and Wild Walking
Join a foraging walk with Wicklow Wild Foods and learn to identify edible plants and fungi while exploring beautiful woodland trails. These walks encourage a slow, sensory way of experiencing nature.
The Cottagecore Gift: Thoughtful, Beautiful, Useful
One of the core principles of cottagecore is giving with intention. Skip mass-produced items and look for gifts that are handmade, useful, and artful.
Thoughtful Gifts from Birch & Bracken:
For the letter writer: Birds Mini Card Set
For the table: West Cork Landscapes Placemats
For the mystic: Tarot Trinket Dish
For the nature lover: Garden Bird Coaster Set
These items bring artistry to everyday life and reflect the slow beauty of this way of living.
Everyday Rituals
You don’t need a rural homestead to enjoy this style. Here are simple ways to embody the lifestyle in your day-to-day routine:
- Brew tea in a ceramic cup and drink it outdoors.
- Write a note to a friend on a hand-illustrated card.
- Bake from scratch—try Irish brown bread or rhubarb crumble.
- Display fresh or dried flowers.
- Light beeswax candles in the evening.
- Visit a local farmer’s market or small maker fair.
By filling your days with small, meaningful rituals, you transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.
Why Cottagecore Resonates So Deeply
At its heart, cottagecore answers a longing for connection —to nature, to heritage, and to the rhythm of life itself. In a world that often feels fast, loud, and digital, this lifestyle offers quiet joy, a touch of nostalgia, and space to breathe.
Ireland, with its poetic landscapes and enduring traditions, makes this aesthetic feel not just like a trend, but like coming home.
Final Thoughts: Bringing Cottagecore Home
Whether it’s a bouquet of wildflowers on your table, a handmade placemat under your teacup, or a handwritten card sent to a loved one, cottagecore is about beauty in the everyday.
We'd love to hear how you add cottagecore to your everyday life. Share your favourite tips and tricks in the comments below.
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