Last Updated on June 20, 2023 by lindseymahoney
I have always loved the cottagecore style, but back when I was in college, it was called Shabby Chic! While the shabby chic trend in the 2000s had more of a romantic feel with creamier colors and light pinks, cottagecore paint colors are with warmer, natural earth tones.
What is cottagecore?
Cottagecore is an aesthetic that became popular on social media and idealizes living in the English countryside. It focuses on natural elements, colors, and florals.
This design style creates a feeling of peace and coziness that welcomes you to relax within the room. Cottagecore is also called grandmillenial style.
The Best Cottagecore Paint Colors
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The cottagecore aesthetic falls within the same vein as the shabby chic design style of the early 2000s.
My college bedroom (2005) definitely had the romantic cottage vibe with a floral quilt by the brand Shabby Chic from Target, a DIY green and white chippy bed frame, a wicker dresser, and a vintage birdcage.
Our first home had the cottagecore style as well with yellow walls, a blue-striped couch, and white-painted furniture.
Looking for the perfect cottagecore color palette for your home? Check out the paint colors below!
Highland Peat by Fenwick & Tillbrook
One of my favorite Instagram accounts to follow right now is My Tiny Estate. Borja and Dean are restoring an old English estate and it is so fun to follow along!
The Caretakers cottage has a muted reddish/brown paint color on the wall called Highland Peat.
What better place to find inspiration for cottagecore paint colors than old English estates?!
Dead Salmon by Farrow & Ball
Dead salmon is one of my favorite cottagecore colors. I have shared this paint color before in my dark and moody paint colors post, but I just can’t quit it!
I have a thing for these ambiguous taupe paint colors that go from pink to brown depending on the time of day.
Brinjal by Farrow & Ball
I have found so many inspirational images with this deep purple paint color. This study at Ben Petreaths Georgian estate (via House Beautiful) is stunning.
I love finding examples of bold colors used as neutrals in a space.
Setting Plaster by Farrow & Ball
Heidi Caillier has been my design crush for some time now and I cannot get enough of this beautiful bedroom!
The dusty pink is called Setting Plaster and it is the perfect neutral for the warm tones and patterns in this bedroom. I plan on painting my daughter’s bedroom in this color this fall.
Meet Cute by Clare Paint
Along with Clare Paint offering a more eco-friendly paint option, they also get the award for best paint color names! Meet Cute is another dusty pink that can be used as a neutral in your home.
Restrained Gold by Sherwin Williams
Chris Loves Julia gave us a front-row seat to use every color of the rainbow in muted tones at their last house. Finding the perfect yellow paint color has always been challenging for me.
I have made my fair share of design mistakes when choosing yellow paint colors because I was not paying attention to undertones in the color. This mistake led me to what I like to call “Waffle House walls” and “baby duck walls”.
I have avoided yellows for a while now, but after seeing inspiring designs like Chris Loves Julia’s playroom, I think I am ready to try it again!
Chestertown Buff by Benjamin Moore
When you think of an English cottage, doesn’t a warm yellow come to mind? Chestertown Buff against the white beadboard is the perfect cottagecore paint color to try at home.
Oakmoss by Sherwin Williams
I recently updated our living room with a cozy, MCM design.
I found this old cabinet at a garage sale and decided to paint it a warm green to offset all of the red hues in the room. Oakmoss by Sherwin Williams was the exact color I imagined in my mind and I am so happy with how it turned out.
The green color gives the cabinet character without distracting from the other decor around the room.
Svelte Sage by Sherwin Williams
Our mudroom makeover is one of my favorite transformations in our house. We installed vertical wall planks for visual interest and I installed a flora and fauna wallpaper for added character.
Because you can see straight into the mudroom from our kitchen, I made sure to choose a green that would not clash with the design and colors in our kitchen. Svelte Sage was the perfect green that blended seamlessly with the dark gray planking in our kitchen.
Money Moves by Clare Paint
Money Moves is another great sage paint color option by Clare Paint.
Choosing muted colors like this is the perfect substitute for the standard gray walls. Sage walls will give you added interest and the cottage-core vibe you are looking for.
Burnham Overy by Fenwick & Tillbrook
Another one of my favorite Instagram accounts to follow is Greg from Man With a Hammer! He is restoring a Georgian home that has fallen into disrepair and I love all of his design choices.
This dark blue bedroom looks so warm and inviting with Burnham Overy on the walls and bold patterns.
Down Pipe by Farrow & Ball
I love a good gray/black neutral and Down Pipe is a beautiful option!
Oyster by Fenwick & Tillbrook
More inspiration from the English estate over on the My Tiny Estate Instagram account! Borja and Dean have used Oyster by Fenwick and Tillbrook in multiple rooms in their cottage.
It has warm undertones and looks beautiful with the old exposed ceiling rafters and historic details in each room.
I am sure I will be adding more cottagecore paint colors that I want to try in the near future, but for now, I think this is a pretty great list! Which color is your favorite?
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