Cosy tartan, warm oak tones and nostalgic pops of red come together to define Christmas 2025’s biggest trend – Ralph Lauren Christmas. Searches for ‘Ralph Lauren aesthetic home decor” have risen by 175% this week on TikTok, while searches for “cottagecore décor” increased by 206% and “English cottagecore” jumped +340% on Google searches.
The aesthetic stems from American fashion designer, Ralph Lauren, who was particularly inspired by the English countryside with the desire of creating timeless and traditional designs grounded in nostalgia.
To help you bring a sense of English rustic charm into your home, interior trends expert at Tapi Carpets & Floors, Johanna Constantinou, has shared her interior tips.
1. A neutral colour backdrop
“Building a foundation composed of warm, soft neutrals is the first place to start when attempting to achieve a cottage look at home. Warm whites, beiges, and soft greys will provide a gentle, inviting backdrop that will allow other elements to shine.
“Choosing a mixture of these warm, soft tones, such as warm white and beige, and using the slightly darker tone on feature walls, skirting boards, door frames, or wainscoting while applying the lighter shade to larger areas like the walls and ceiling, will create a warmth and depth that will prevent the room from falling flat without being too stark or contrasting.
“Add further warmth and depth with subtle pops of colour like deep red, dark green or gold. Using these colours for pillows, rugs, throws and Christmas decorations like candles, bows and tree lights will create a cosiness within the space, quintessential of the English cottage charm.”
2. Embrace tartan patterns
“Tartan patterns take centre stage when recreating the Ralph Lauren aesthetic. Deep greens, navy blues and rich reds woven through classic tartan bring a touch of heritage to your home and evoke the cosy, countryside feel that Ralph Lauren is known for.
“Layer tartan throws across armchairs, mix patterned cushions with soft wools, and pair them with warm oak accents for a timeless yet elevated aesthetic.
3. The importance of lighting
“Lighting plays an important factor in any colour scheme. By maximising natural light, you can make the space feel airy and open, highlighting the neutral colour palette. Sheer curtains are a great option, making it feel as though the outdoors is being brought in.
“Incorporating warm ambient lighting fixtures, such as soft-glowing lamps or pendant lights, are important for enhancing the cosy cottage aesthetic, and in particular any Christmas lights should be gold rather than white to bring that fuzzy comforting feel.
“If your flooring is wood or another organic material, gold lighting will reflect the warm tones into the space.”
4. Incorporate natural materials
“Wooden furniture is a great way to bring the rustic, cottage charm of Ralph Lauren into your home, such as through vintage wooden tables, and wooden bookshelves.
“Vintage Christmas decorations – especially those made of brass – will ground the look and can easily be found at vintage fairs and shops.
“A fireplace is quintessential to the English cottage aesthetic, but for those without one, a faux fireplace or stone feature wall can add that same sense of texture and authenticity, bringing a cosy cottage feel even if it doesn’t look it from the exterior.
“The resurgence of cottagecore signals the yearn for comfort and a timeless aesthetic in the home, allowing a sweet escape from the fast-paced, technologically driven lives we lead today.”
For more inspiration on how to create the cottage look at home, please visit our lookbook: https://www.tapi.co.uk/the-ideas-hub/lookbook/country-cottage
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