Give The Cottagecore Trend A Darker Feel With This Easy-To-Incorporate Approach

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Have you spent hours savoring the ominous stories in The Original Folk and Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm? Do you adore the moody floral cover of the New Order album "Power, Corrupution & Lies"? Are you drawn to the idea of decorating your home like an English cottage but repelled by the pastels in a standard cottagecore color scheme? If you answered yes to any of these questions, dark cottagecore has your name written all over it. This aesthetic takes the "cozy little house in the forest" look, infuses it with mystery, and throws in a few macabre touches. The vibe shift stems from a deeper, darker set of hues and objects that communicate how death is a natural part of life. 

Dark cottagecore trades the soft lavenders and buttery yellows of regular cottagecore for smoky charcoals, rich plums, rusty browns, and deep greens. This witchy color palette emphasizes drama and embraces the notion that sunlight wouldn't mean as much without darkness. You needn't paint your walls these hues to try the dark cottagecore trend. Lower the stakes — and the cost — by experimenting with wall accents. For example, paint some of your picture frames dark colors, then fill them with black-and-white photos of ancestors or scientific drawings of unusual creatures. Faded postage stamps, charcoal sketches of country scenes, and typewritten pages from poetry books could also be displayed in frames. A dark wooden cuckoo clock or a mirror in an ornate metal frame can make a room feel slightly haunted, too. Even if you mount these items on a pink wall, the effect is bound to be more eerie than cheery.

There are lots of small touches that can guide a room's decor into the dark cottagecore realm. Floral design and lighting are two helpful tools for making this transformation happen. While a standard cottagecore space would have eclectic floral arrangements bursting with colorful wildflowers, dark cottagecore favors withered flowers and evergreen boughs. Vases filled with bouquets of bird feathers and wreaths made of twisted branches can also summon the trend's gothic fairytale aura. If you enjoy pressed flowers, display a few in a shadow box to add a flash of rich, autumnal colors such as scarlet and goldenrod. Then hang trailing plants near the windows to conjure thoughts of vine-covered hobbit houses and secret gardens.

Dark cottagecore lighting often nods to eras past by incorporating Edison bulbs, antique sconces, brass candlesticks, wrought-iron chandeliers, or stained-glass table lamps. A warm and natural evening glow is key. If you're comfortable with a few well-monitored flames, try lighting some romantic pillar candles or burning a few logs in the fireplace to create at atmosphere that suits the style and promotes relaxation. Or, place strings of fairy lights on mantels, headboards, and window ledges. Their twinkling can have an equally cozy effect. You could even light a few old-school lanterns and move them about the house as needed.

Playing with texture can also open the door to the world of dark cottagecore. You might choose one room that you'd like to reinvent and start your project with a rug or window treatment. Jewel-toned velvet drapes make a space feel cozy yet sumptuous, while dark lace curtains provide a refreshing contrast in a room filled with white falls and smooth surfaces. Try layering textiles on beds, sofas, and armchairs. A dark floral quilt, a nubby neutral-colored blanket, and throw pillows in a few different touchable textures can take your bed to the next level. Meanwhile, a Persian-style rug with a floral motif and dark, dreamy colors will add instant character to the floor.

Not ready to commit to new textiles? Try smaller textural experiments. Fill glass jars with items Red Riding Hood might gather in a dark forest on the way to Grandmother's house. These could include pinecones, walnuts, or sparkling pieces of granite. A quill and inkwell can make a statement with their textures and historical significance. In the kitchen, consider displaying cast iron cookware and well-loved copper-bottomed pots, which will bring a timeless feel to the room. If you have handcrafted wooden bowls or cutting boards, place them in view to showcase their beautiful grain and texture. Finally, consider incorporating more dark woods into your home, which can give it an air of moodiness. See if you can thrift a wooden coat tree in a rich, natural hue, or pick up rustic cast iron wall hooks such as the Ogrmar 2-piece set of wall hangers. Each one looks like a little tree branch.