What Is Dark Cottagecore? Fashion, Home Decor & More

You may be familiar with the Cottagecore aesthetic, but did you know there’s a darker, moodier version of this trend? If you’re a fan of Cottagecore but prefer a bit more edginess, Dark Cottagecore (aka Goth Cottagecore) may be the perfect aesthetic for you. We’ve compiled a complete guide on Dark Cottagecore fashion, home decor, media, hobbies, and more. Keep reading for everything you need to know!

What is Dark Cottagecore?

Dark Cottagecore is similar to the Cottagecore aesthetic, but with a darker, witchy vibe. Like Cottagecore, it focuses on nature and rural life, but it also draws upon the imagery of witchcraft to create a moodier and more gothic atmosphere. The fashion and decor also feature a color palette of deeper, earthier colors.

Section 1 of 8:

Dark Cottagecore Aesthetic

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Dark Cottagecore is like Cottagecore, but with a darker, edgier twist. It encompasses Cottagecore’s focus on nature, country living, and vintage clothing and decor, but it combines these things with the imagery of witchcraft and dark fairytales. It also focuses on the darker side of nature (gloomy or harsh weather, poisonous plants, spooky forests) as opposed to Cottagecore’s brighter aesthetic (blooming gardens, sunshine, farm animals, etc).^{[1]
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- This aesthetic is sometimes called Goth Cottagecore or Cottagegore, as well.^{[2]
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Dark Cottagecore Fashion & Outfits

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Vibes & style Dark Cottagecore fashion is inspired by rural life and vintage clothing, but it also has a gothic and witchy flair.^{[3]
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Research source} For example, if your outfit gives off the vibe that you’re a several-hundred-year-old witch who lives in a cozy cottage in the woods and spends your days tending to your garden of poisonous plants, you’ve achieved the look. Here are some examples of these types of ensembles to inspire you:
- Dark-colored overalls (with either pants or a skirt at the bottom), layered over a vintage-looking black blouse with lace or embroidered details, witchy gemstone jewelry, ruffled socks, and clogs or boots
- A jewel-toned velvet dress with a collared neckline, dark-colored lace socks or tights, and pearl or gemstone jewelry
- A chunky knit sweater paired with a long, flowing skirt (in a dark color or plaid pattern), and worn-looking brown or black boots
- Brown or plaid loose-fitting trousers, a dark-colored eyelet blouse, and a flowy cape or oversized cardigan
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Color palette Dark Cottagecore outfits usually feature a color palette of deep and earthy colors, like rich brown, forest green, slate gray, dark purple, and black. Autumnal tones like rusty orange and burgundy also work well for a pop of color.^{[4]
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- Think of the colors of the forest during fall or winter.
- The greens, reds, oranges, and muted yellows of the leaves, the browns of the tree trunks and mud, and the gray of the rain and fog come together to make the perfect Dark Cottagecore palette.
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Fabrics and textures Flowy fabrics and lace are common for Dark Cottagecore, just like they are for regular Cottagecore ensembles. However, Dark Cottagecore is more autumnal and wintry, so it also includes heavier materials like velvet, wool, corduroy, and chunky knits.^{[5]
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- Vintage-looking touches like embroidered details, ruffles, collars, and eyelets are also popular.
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Outfit inspo Here’s a list of pieces you can mix, match, and layer to create the perfect Dark Cottagecore outfit:
- Long, flowy dresses in dark colors, like black, brown, or forest green
- Flowy skirts in the same color palette or plaid
- Blouses with lace details
- Dark-colored overalls
- Loose-fitting pants or trousers
- Velvet dresses or blouses
- Chunky knit pullover sweaters or cardigans
- Lace or knit socks
- Clogs or lace-up boots
- Witchy gemstone jewelry
- Cold weather accessories like knit scarves and witchy capes or ponchos^{[6]
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Dark Cottagecore Makeup & Hair

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Since the aesthetic is inspired by nature, simple, natural-looking makeup is common. However, you can also opt for a few witchy or gothic elements, like smokey eyeshadow in deep, earthy tones, winged eyeliner, or dark plum or berry lips.^{[7]
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Research source} For hair, long, loose, and flowing locks are popular, as are loose braids, and windswept updos.

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Dark Cottagecore Home Decor

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Dark Cottagecore home decor has a witchy and autumnal vibe. Think of a blend of spooky, cozy, and rustic, and you’ve got Dark Cottagecore. The decor features the same color palette as the fashion does (deep browns, greens, purples, burgundies, and black). Vintage furniture and decorative objects are also common, as are natural elements, like fresh or dried plants. Here’s a more detailed breakdown to inspire you:^{[8]
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- Wallpaper: Wallpaper in rich, deep colors with dark nature imagery (mushrooms, greenery, poisonous flowers, bugs, animal bones, moon phases) are common.^{[9]
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  Research source} If you can’t put up wallpaper in your living space, wall art with these motifs also works perfectly!
- Furniture: Vintage looking furniture is ideal for this aesthetic. Think dark bookshelves, velvet couches, and gothic-looking mirrors.
- Bedding: Dark-colored bedding with plant patterns works super well with this aesthetic. Solid bedding in the same earthy tones looks amazing, too.
- Plants: A mix of living green plants and dried bouquets of flowers (either hanging or in a vase) creates the perfect blend of natural and spooky imagery.
- Decorative objects: Witchy and gothic accents like crystal altars, taxidermy bugs, and tarot cards make great decorative objects for tabletops and nightstands. Candles can also help you create the right dim, atmospheric lighting to go along with your decor.

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Dark Cottagecore Movies, TV Shows, & Books

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Check out movies Pan's Labyrinth and Practical Magic for inspo. There's tons of media out there with Dark Cottagecore themes. Whether you’re hoping to find some fashion or decor inspo, or you're just looking for something fun to watch or read, there’s bound to be something you love. Here are some options to check out:
- Movies: Pan’s Labyrinth (2006), Practical Magic (1998), Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (1937), The Harry Potter series (2001-2011), Tuck Everlasting (2002), The Secret Garden (1993), The Witch (2015), The Blair Witch Project (1999) Sleepy Hollow (1999)
- TV shows: The Haunting of Bly Manor, The Haunting of Hill House, Alias Grace, The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, A Series of Unfortunate Events
- Books: Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson, Grimm’s Fairy Tales, Ash by Malinda Lo, Juniper and Thorn by Ava Reid, The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett^{[10]
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Dark Cottagecore Hobbies & Activities

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Dark Cottagecore isn’t just a fashion trend, it can also be a lifestyle. If you fall in love with this aesthetic, there are tons of hobbies and activities you can do to incorporate Dark Cottagecore elements into your daily life. These include:
- Going on walks in nature (extra points if you live in a woodsy/forest-y area)
- Gardening
- Baking cozy treats
- Sewing
- Crocheting or knitting
- Embroidering
- Candle-making
- Painting or drawing (especially natural scenes)
- Reading

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What is the difference between dark academia and dark cottagecore?

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Dark Cottagecore and Dark Academia have similar color palettes and vibes, but they're inspired by different things. They do share a color palette of deep, earthy colors, and they both have an autumnal feel, but their focuses actually differ a lot. While Dark Cottagecore is inspired by nature, rural life, and witchy elements, Dark Academia is inspired by the aesthetic of higher education.^{[11]
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- For example, Dark Academia imagery includes gothic architecture at old universities, dimly lit libraries, rainy weather, and lots of plaid and tweed clothing.

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Similar Aesthetics

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Goblincore is an aesthetic inspired by the folklore of Goblins. Like Dark Cottagecore, it focuses on the darker side of nature (frogs, toads, moss, mushrooms, etc), and it features a deep color palette of earthy browns, deep purples, and forest greens.^{[12]
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Research source} The biggest difference is that Dark Cottagecore focuses on the folklore of witchcraft, rather than goblins.
Whimsigoth is an aesthetic that blends gothic and fairytale imagery. Like Dark Cottagecore, it includes a lot of witchy elements, but it has a bit more of a bohemian, whimsical feel. It also draws upon the aesthetic of iconic supernatural 90’s TV shows, like Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Charmed.^{[13]
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Witchcore Witchcore is an aesthetic centered around witchcraft, so it has a lot in common with Dark Cottagecore. The main difference is that Witchcore has less of a focus on rustic elements and country life, and more of a focus on mysticism and magic.^{[14]
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- Its fashion may feature more obviously witchy elements, like wide brim hats and black capes.
- The same goes for home decor—you may see decorative objects like grimoires, wands, altars with incense, and mason jars with foraged herbs, for example.^{[15]
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The original Cottagecore aesthetic is inspired by rural life. It’s all about simple, sustainable living, and harmony with nature.^{[16]
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Research source} Like Dark Cottagecore, it includes hobbies like gardening, baking, sewing, and crafting. Unlike Dark Cottagecore, however, it features a lighter pastel color palette, there’s more of a bright, springtime energy, and there's no supernatural or witchy element.