Embracing the Chaos: Cottagecore, Fairycore, and Goblincore Aesthetics Taking Over Home Design

Embracing the Chaos: Cottagecore, Fairycore, and Goblincore Aesthetics Taking Over Home Design

If your TikTok feed is anything like mine, you’ve likely stumbled upon viral time-lapse videos of rooms transforming into whimsical, nature-inspired spaces. While timeless styles like traditional and midcentury modern remain popular, a wave of new design movements has emerged as a rebellion against the sleek, sterile vibes of minimalism. These trends encourage embracing imperfection, collecting freely, and rejecting the pressure to maintain a “showroom-ready” home. Let’s dive into three of the most enchanting aesthetics taking over interior design: cottagecore, fairycore, and goblincore.

Cottagecore: Romanticizing Rural Life

Cottagecore romanticizes the simplicity of 19th-century English countryside living. Picture wildflower bouquets in mason jars, sunlit tea parties on lace-draped tables, and vintage furniture weathered by time. This aesthetic blends practicality with dreamy nostalgia, evoking a life intertwined with nature.

How to Bring Cottagecore Home:

• Furniture: Opt for distressed wood pieces like curio cabinets, high-back chairs, or upholstered chaises.
• Colors: Soft yellows, creams, sage greens, and washed-out florals paired with dark wood accents.
• Textiles: Sheer, billowy curtains; crocheted throws; and embroidered cushions.
• Décor: Dried herbs in jars, antique pottery, and hand-painted botanical art.

@laurenemilyjuarkiv
“Slowly turning my bedroom into the cottagecore room of my dreams…”
#cottagecorebedroom | ♬ original sound

Fairycore: Where Fantasy Meets the Forest

Fairycore takes cottagecore’s love of nature and adds a dash of magic. Inspired by ethereal realms and Shakespearean whimsy, this style leans into surreal, glowing landscapes. Think dew-covered mushrooms, twinkling lights, and furniture that looks like it’s grown from the earth itself.

How to Capture Fairycore Magic:

• Lighting: String lights, Himalayan salt lamps, and candles in iridescent holders.
• Botanicals: Moss-covered shelves, hanging vines, and terrariums with tiny figurines.
• Colors: Pastel purples, shimmering greens, and pearlescent whites.
• Details: Butterfly motifs, crystal clusters, and stained-glass window decals.

@chloerosetheartist
“Night time vibes …”
#fairycore | ♬ Mary On A Cross – slowed + reverb

Goblincore: Celebrating the “Ugly” Side of Nature

Goblincore rejects prettified nature in favor of the odd, the damp, and the wonderfully weird. This maximalist trend is all about displaying mossy rocks, mushroom art, and ethically sourced bones. It’s a love letter to clutter, cozy chaos, and the beauty of decay.

How to Embrace Your Inner Goblin:

• Décor: Dried fungi displays, terrariums with lichen, and framed insect specimens.
• Colors: Deep forest greens, muddy browns, and rusty reds.
• Texture: Knitted blankets, rough-hewn wood, and stoneware mugs.
• Collections: Showcase trinkets, rocks, or vintage keys in shadow boxes.

@valkyrjana
“Apartment/Room Tour ☕️…”
#goblincore | ♬ rainy day

Make It Your Own

These aesthetics aren’t about rigid rules—they’re about creating spaces that feel authentically you. Mix cottagecore florals with fairycore lights, or add goblincore’s earthy textures to a minimalist base. Your home should tell your story, even if that story includes a coffee table shaped like a toadstool.