How to grow into the ‘garden girl’ aesthetic
You don’t need us to tell you that biophilic design (or, more simply, design that emphasises natural connectivity) is pretty hot right now.
At this point, it has appeared on top trend lists for at least five years, and it’s encouraged the majority of us to invest in at least a plant or two during that time. But have you heard of bioliophilic’s cousin, the ‘garden girl’ aesthetic?
Merging nature with luxury and comfort, garden girl design is pretty new to interior trends lists since its TikTok popularity last year. It’s a style that many of us are now considering, and with good reason. After all, you don’t need to give your home over to greenery to make this trend work, nor do you need to lean heavily into the raw materials that often go hand-in-hand with a biophilic approach.
Instead, the garden girl aesthetic is equal parts sustainable design and comforting decor. Simply keep on reading to find out how you can grow into the trend this summer.
1: What is a ‘garden girl’ aesthetic
At a base level, garden girl styling is what you might expect if biophilic and cottage core interiors had a baby. And trust us when we say that it’s as wonderful as it sounds. But, getting this style right isn’t as simple as popping a few potted plants onto your bookshelves and calling it a day (though that’s a great start!). Instead, the garden girl aesthetic is all about finding the ideal balance between nature’s charms and that at-home feeling.
When you think of it like that, you could argue that plants, and even natural colours, aren’t the main event of this trend at all. Instead, you’ll want to focus on soft textures, hidden corners, and magical elements alongside those more natural wonders.
Unlike more lofty designs like biophilic, garden girl is also iconic for its playful abilities. This style certainly isn’t trying to make any huge statements, but should instead have the fun vibes of a garden party in the heart of your home.
#2: Understand garden girl colours
While biophilic styling is all about serious natural tones like plant greens and wood browns, garden girl colours are a far more gentle affair. Sure, you can still use green here, but it should be a soft pastel shade that invites relaxation and calm. Equally, you could opt for floral pastel tones, including lilacs and rose pinks, which will lead to equally soft appearances overall.
Remember, too, that cottage core is a contributing factor to overall garden girl appearances. Hence, you can have a lot of fun with additions like floral wallpapers, which could be applied to everything from feature walls to kitchen cupboards and even ceilings!
You can also play around with colour combos here. Why not pair that pastel green paint and natural greenery with a faux velvet pastel pink sofa and fluffy pastel pink cushions? This ensures you’re ticking both the natural and comfort boxes that garden girl aesthetics were built to fill in the first place.
#3: Have fun with the plants
Plants certainly aren’t the be-all and end-all of the garden girl aesthetic, but this garden shouldn’t be all gravel if you really want it to shine. In other words, you’ll want to incorporate at least some plants into your garden girl look, and you should always do this in a fun, whimsical manner.
From trailing plants on your shelves to artificial plant canopies in your bedroom, these plant elements are a great way to freshen your rooms and hone in on the sustainable elements of this style. Equally, a huge monstera plant in the corner of your living room will be an impressive feature alongside your other, softer decor elsewhere.
Bear in mind that you don’t need to be a plant pro to make a go of garden girl styling. Even if you’ve never been a houseplant person in the past, opting for hard to kill houseplants like snake plants or pothos could turn you into a garden girl at last, especially if you seek pastel-toned pots that tie perfectly into your overall colour schemes.
#4: Sweat the small details
Just as cottage core is all about cutesy trinkets, the garden girl aesthetic keeps decorative whimsy at its heart, meaning that you’ll want to pay as much attention to the small details of this design choice as you do to those plants.
Ceramic mushrooms that are cottage-worthily cute and still tied into natural themes seem to be especially popular garden girl additions. Equally, traditional cottage core elements like vintage glass bottles, which should be in natural shades, can look great. Why not also invest in some antique books, which will look all the better if they’re nature-based in some way? You could also benefit from sticking with traditional cottage-style reading nooks, which you could kit out with those pastels, or frame with a house plant or two.
Pressed flower frames or framed leaf prints can also help to complement walls that you won’t want to leave blank when implementing this warming interior trend. This is like a garden girl version of a cottage gallery wall, and it’s guaranteed to add a level of interest that looks good without ever requiring you to water it!
If in doubt about these more minor, yet essential elements of this style, simply do a little research. The garden girl aesthetic ultimately grew on Pinterest, after all, and a quick search will reveal everything from strings of fairy lights to bowls of fresh fruit used as their very own decor additions on the kitchen counter. Either way, the more little extras you incorporate, the more wonderful your home is guaranteed to be.
Whether you’re an outdoor person or not, it might be time to get green fingers when it comes to your interiors. If you love cosiness, natural elements, and interesting home features that you simply won’t find elsewhere, then you should certainly think about growing into the garden girl aesthetic in these key ways!
