Cold weather and shorter days naturally make you want to step into your hibernation era, and the burrowcore aesthetic gives pull permission to do exactly that. Not quite cottagecore, this aesthetic focuses more on cocooning a la your favorite childhood storybook animals that somehow always had the coziest, most enveloping spaces.
“To me, burrowcore is all about creating a sense of refuge at home. They’re spaces that feel enveloping, intimate, and deeply comforting,” explains Shweta Pathak, a Seattle-based interior designer and founder of House of Suris. She adds, “Strategic use of color, texture, pattern, and layered materials to create a perfect space to retreat.”
Ahead, we’re sharing designer pro tips on embracing this aesthetic in your own home.
Add Soft Pools of Light
Lighting is everything, and the burrowcore aesthetic heavily relies on it. “Think of a fire in the middle of the night, the way it lights a small circle and leaves everything else in shadow. That is the feeling to recreate,” says Vanessa Larsson, an interior designer at Planner 5D.
She recommends scattering little lamps and candles around the room in different sizes and at different heights so the light pools rather than floods. “Keep it warm, and never use the overhead light,” she adds. “A den should have dark corners, so don’t be afraid to leave some parts without lighting.”
Create a Sense of Enclosure
You can capture that snug feeling in a couple different ways. “Painting the walls and ceiling in a deeper enveloping color, making use of existing architectural elements can instantly make the room feel intimate and cocoon-like,” Pathak says.
You can also try heavy curtains in rich, earthy tones, or incorporate additional architectural details like crown molding.
Layer Warmth
Layering materials that bring in warmth through texture, tone, and softness throughout the room can make the room feel collected over time almost like an animal den. Larsson says to be generous here with full, heavy curtains, throws, cushions, and a bed filled with pillows and covers.
“Carve out at least one spot made purely for curling up, a reading nook, or a low cushioned seating area on the floor,” Larsson says. “Anything that lets the room reel you in and feel like a magical little respite.”
Infuse Some Whimsy
From little handmade trinkets to paintings and ceramics with a slightly wobbly rim, imperfect whimsy is a highlight of the burrowcore aesthetic. This, of course, is inspired directly from the Earth. “Nature is full of organic shapes, irregularity, and unpredictability,” Larsson says. “Bring that in and the room stops feeling styled and starts feeling warm and cozy, as if it grew around you over the years.”
Wendy Rose Gould is a lifestyle journalist who routinely contributes to Real Simple, Martha Stewart, Women’s Health, and House Beautiful, among others. She covers home and garden, wellness, and travel, focusing on thoughtful storytelling and detailed reporting. When not writing, you can catch her perusing thrift stores, singing, hitting the gym, and petting any cat or dog that'll allow it.
