The Real Difference Between a Cottage and a House (Updated)

When I wrote my first post describing the difference between a cottage and a house, we had our old, quirky cottage in the woods – a place full of charm, creaks, and character…

Now, we’re in our new home – still surrounded by trees, still close to the rhythms of nature – but this time with a level floor, a solid roof, and the modern conveniences I used to dream about when the power went out again (or I needed laundry done).

The new house is warm, welcoming, and comfortable. But it’s different.

And lately, I’ve found myself wondering:

Am I still The Cottage Wife?

This little identity crisis nudged me to revisit the question I once tried to answer:

What is the real difference between a cottage and a house?

I’ve grown, and so has my perspective – so it felt like time for an update. You can find my original thoughts in this post.

Basic Definitions

Let’s start simple.

The dictionary defines a cottage as: “A small house, typically in the countryside.”

It’s a humble definition, one that touches on location and size—but leaves out all the feeling.

By comparison, a house is simply: “A building for human habitation.”

Neutral. Practical. Functional.

But you can feel the difference just in how those words sound, can’t you?
House is sturdy and straightforward.
Cottage is soft, inviting – dreamlike.

One is where you live. The other is how you live.

Enter: Cottage-core

In recent years, the rise of cottage-core has put a spotlight on this dreamy, grounded lifestyle.

Cottage-core isn’t just an Instagram trend, it’s a cultural shift. A collective exhale.

It’s slow mornings, home-baked bread, fresh-cut wildflowers in mismatched jars. It’s reading by candlelight, growing herbs in chipped mugs, and mending instead of tossing. It romanticizes rural life, yes – but more deeply, it honours presence, intention, and connection.

And whether people live in an apartment or a farmhouse, many are seeking that same kind of stillness and meaning.

From Quirky Cottage to New Home

When we had our old cottage, I didn’t realize we were living a version of cottage-core. We were just … living. We ate simple meals and listened to the birds and the breeze in the trees. We took time to rest and time to play. Notice I didn’t say we made time for all of that? That’s right, we didn’t need to squeeze it in!

Even when things broke or nature got the best of us with rattlesnakes or fallen trees, I felt rooted. The cottage didn’t pretend to be anything it wasn’t – and neither did I.

Now in our new home, life is easier. It’s less drafty, more reliable, and full of blessings. But it also feels a bit more polished. Less creaky charm, more intentional design. Less cottage, more house.

And that’s okay.

So What Is the Difference Between a Cottage and a House?

The answer, I think, is this:

A cottage isn’t just a structure. It’s a state of mind.

Carol Glover, The Cottage Wife

You can live in a house and carry the cottage spirit with you.

You can:

• Bake simple meals.
• Grow herbs on your windowsill.
• Choose wool blankets over synthetic, trendy decor.
• Light candles not just for ambiance but for ritual.
• Seek simplicity, softness, stillness.

You can create a cottage life no matter where you are.

Because the true essence of a cottage life is this:

Peace in the ordinary. Beauty in the small. Connection to what matters.

Carol Glover, The Cottage Wife

The Cottage Lives On

So yes, I still think of myself as The Cottage Wife.

Not because of the structure I live in, but because of the life I choose to create within it.

A cottage is more than a small house in the woods or beside a lake.

• It’s the sound of rain on a tin roof.
• The joy of fresh laundry flapping on a line.
• The ritual of tea at four o’clock.
• The way you breathe differently when you’re surrounded by trees.

Final Thoughts: A Cottage Is a Feeling

In the end, the difference between a cottage and a house isn’t just about the look – it’s about the feel.

A cottage is a feeling.
One of peace.
One of simplicity.
One of connection to nature, and to yourself.

So, whether you’re in a farmhouse, a city flat, or a modern build tucked in the woods … you can still live the cottage life.

Just breathe a little deeper. Choose a little slower. And carry a little wild beauty wherever you go.