How To Achieve The TikTok-Trending Cowboy Core Aesthetic In Your Home

Getting inspiration from some of the trendiest home décor ideas is an easy way to figure out what you like and how to design your own home. Currently, the cowboy-core aesthetic is trending on TikTok, and we wanted to know how to achieve this look in your own home. House Digest spoke exclusively with Erika Dale, Interior Designer and Founder of Erika Dale Interior Design, to learn more about this trend and how to make it possible.

Cowboy core provides a western vibe to a home by featuring wood, hide/leather, and animal or landscape artwork. Even if you are renting, there are easy ways to give your space a more cowboy-core feel. "There are certainly ways to incorporate the cowboy core aesthetic without going full-blown hunting lodge," Dale shared. "Try adding a hide (real or faux) rug, pillows, or upholstered bench for warmth and texture. Look to southwestern patterns in textiles, as well as rich leathers for upholstery. Incorporate chunky, rustic side tables reminiscent of the exposed wood beams in a lodge. If you are a homeowner, try adding a wood paneled accent wall in stained dark wood or even painted black for more of an upscale hotel in Jackson Hole vibe. Artwork or sculptures related to cattle or animals in general, as well as natural motifs such as plains fields, are always a perfect way to evoke that cowboy core aesthetic."

While a cowboy aesthetic has been popular in many regions of the U.S. for a while now, the sudden social media interest may seem very surprising to some. When House Digest spoke exclusively with Dale, we asked her about this trend.

Dale shared that she believes that the popularity of cowboy core has to do with many factors, including its more cozy appeal. "The cowboy core aesthetic is popular on TikTok because of the warm, laid-back, organic, masculine vibes it gives off. People are drawn to the connection to the land and cozy interiors full of organic materials that emulate that symbiosis," Dale said. "The interiors feel strong yet welcoming, expansive yet sheltering, and full of interesting textures from wood paneled walls and natural stone fireplaces to hide rugs and fur throws. Especially in the cooler months, people tend to gravitate towards design styles like cowboy core, which always seems to have a roaring fire and cozy textiles." Of course, if you aren't interested in the cowboy core look, there are other design tricks to make your home feel more warm and cozy.

Like all social media trends, one often wonders if and how long they will really last. House Digest asked Dale during an exclusive interview about her thoughts on the longevity of the cowboy core aesthetic. She shared that, in many parts of the U.S., this trend isn't going away anytime soon. "I live in the Midwest, where the cowboy core aesthetic has been prevalent for a long time and shows no signs of going anywhere," Dale said. "With many living the true cattle ranching cowboy (or cowboy-adjacent) lifestyle throughout the US, there will always be regional desire to emulate the aesthetic. While I feel that some elements of the style have staying power anywhere in the US, the timelessness of the cowboy core aesthetic may only last in the areas where there is an appreciation for the lifestyle behind it when TikTok stops caring."

If you are looking to make your home feel more like a ranch, check out the ultimate guide to western decor to help inspire your newest project. Or, just enjoy admiring this new trend for a while before completely committing to a new decor aesthetic.