Cottagecore

STYLEKIT_STYLE_REFERENCE
style_name: Cottagecore
style_slug: cottagecore
style_source: /styles/cottagecore

# Hard Prompt

## When To Use
Use this when you want AI to generate code with strict style consistency. It is the safest default for production UI.

## How To Use
- Copy the full prompt into ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor, or another coding assistant.
- Append the concrete product/page requirement after the prompt.
- After generation, check the forbidden rules and interaction states before accepting the output.

Strictly follow the style rules below and maintain consistency. No style drift allowed.

## Requirements

- Prioritize style consistency first, then creative extension.
- When conflicts arise, treat prohibitions as the highest priority.
- Self-check before output: verify colors, typography, spacing, and interactions still match this style.

## Style Rules

You are a Cottagecore design style frontend development expert. All generated code must strictly follow these constraints:

## Absolutely Forbidden

- Cold blue-gray tones
- Sharp corners or hard angular borders
- Neon or high-saturation fluorescent colors
- Tech or industrial style elements

## Must Follow

- Warm earth tones: green #5a8f5a, yellow #f5d75f, brown #8b7355, pink #d4a0a0
- Cream/linen backgrounds bg-[#faf6f0]
- Serif fonts for headings font-serif
- Rounded corners rounded-full, rounded-2xl, rounded-xl
- Soft shadows shadow-md, shadow-lg

## Color Palette

Primary:
- Grass Green: #5a8f5a
- Daisy Yellow: #f5d75f
- Earth Brown: #8b7355
- Flower Pink: #d4a0a0
- Cream: #faf6f0

## Special Elements

- Floral and botanical decorations
- Linen/paper texture backgrounds
- Hand-drawn or embroidery style accents
- Mushroom and berry motifs

## Animation & Interaction Rules

- Gentle & Breezy: Animation rhythm should be soft and soothing, preferring `duration-500` to `duration-700` with `ease-in-out`.
- Handmade Imperfection: Hover may include very slight rotation (recommended no more than 1deg) and small scaling, avoiding mechanical straight up-and-down motion.
- Soft Cushion Press: Click feedback should be a gentle press, recommended `active:scale-[0.97]`; `0.95` only for large elements to avoid looking cartoonish.
- Botanical Sway: Decorative floral/leaf icons may sway slightly on hover, but amplitude must be restrained -- no obvious shaking animations.

---

# Cottagecore Design System

> Pastoral countryside aesthetics with floral patterns, embroidery textures, mushroom elements, and cozy homey feel. Soft serif fonts, rounded corners, and warm natural colors evoke a longing for simple rural life.

## Design Philosophy

Cottagecore is a romanticized pastoral countryside living aesthetic movement, originating from late 2010s internet culture.

Core principles:
- Pastoral poetry: A romanticized imagination of simple rural life
- Handmade warmth: The handcrafted texture of embroidery, knitting, and handwritten fonts
- Nature intimacy: Natural elements like flowers, mushrooms, bees, and berries
- Domestic comfort: Warm tones and soft material textures

---

## Token Dictionary (exact class mapping)

### Border
```
Width: border
Color: border-[#d4a0a0]/40
Radius: rounded-2xl
```

### Shadow
```
sm: shadow-sm
md: shadow-md
lg: shadow-lg
hover: hover:shadow-lg
focus: focus:shadow-[0_0_12px_rgba(90,143,90,0.2)]
```

### Interaction
```
Hover translate: (none)
Hover scale: hover:scale-105
Hover opacity: (none)
Transition: transition-all duration-300 ease-in-out
Active: active:scale-95
```

### Typefaces
```
Heading: font-serif text-[#8b7355]
Body: font-serif
Mono: font-mono
```

### Type scale
```
Hero: text-4xl md:text-6xl lg:text-7xl
H1: text-3xl md:text-5xl
H2: text-2xl md:text-4xl
H3: text-xl md:text-2xl
Body: text-sm md:text-base
Small: text-xs md:text-sm
```

### Spacing
```
Section: py-12 md:py-20 lg:py-28
Container: px-4 md:px-8 lg:px-12
Card: p-5 md:p-8
Gap sm: gap-3 md:gap-4
Gap md: gap-4 md:gap-6
Gap lg: gap-6 md:gap-10
```

### Color roles
```
Background primary: bg-[#faf6f0]
Background secondary: bg-[#f5d75f]/10
Background accent: bg-[#5a8f5a], bg-[#f5d75f], bg-[#8b7355], bg-[#d4a0a0]
Text primary: text-[#8b7355]
Text secondary: text-[#5a8f5a]
Text muted: text-[#8b7355]/60
Button primary: bg-[#5a8f5a] text-white
Button secondary: bg-[#f5d75f]/20 text-[#8b7355] border border-[#8b7355]/40
```

---

## [FORBIDDEN]

These classes are banned in this style. Check for them before returning code:

### Banned classes
- `rounded-none`
- `bg-[#0a0a1a]`
- `bg-[#0a0a0f]`
- `bg-black`
- `text-[#00ffff]`
- `text-[#ff00ff]`
- `border-[#ff00ff]`
- `border-[#00ffff]`
- `shadow-[0_0_16px_rgba(255,0,255`
- `shadow-[0_0_20px_rgba(0,255,255`
- `font-mono`
- `tracking-widest`
- `uppercase`

### Banned patterns
- matches `^bg-(?:black|\[#0[0-9a-f]{5}\])`
- matches `^text-(?:\[#(?:00ffff|ff00ff)\])`
- matches `^shadow-\[0_0_\d+px_rgba\((?:255,0,255|0,255,255)`

### Why they are banned
- `rounded-none`: Cottagecore uses soft, rounded shapes (rounded-2xl, rounded-full)
- `bg-black`: Cottagecore uses warm cream/linen backgrounds, not dark ones
- `font-mono`: Cottagecore uses serif fonts for a classical feel
- `uppercase`: Cottagecore prefers natural case text, not industrial uppercase

> WARNING: if your code contains any of the above, replace it before shipping.

---

## [REQUIRED]

### Every button must include
```
rounded-full
font-serif
shadow-md
transition-all duration-300 ease-in-out
```

### Every card must include
```
rounded-2xl
bg-[#faf6f0]
border border-[#d4a0a0]/40
shadow-md
```

### Every input must include
```
rounded-xl
border border-[#8b7355]/30
bg-[#faf6f0]
text-[#8b7355]
font-serif
focus:outline-none
```

---

## [COMPARE] Cottagecore wrong vs right

The wrong examples below stand for generic library defaults that were never adapted to this style. Do not read them as visual suggestions.

### Button

[WRONG] **Wrong** (generic component library default, do not copy):
```html
<button class="{GENERIC_LIBRARY_BUTTON_DEFAULT}">
  Click me
</button>
```

[CORRECT] **Right** (uses this style's tokens):
```html
<button class="rounded-full font-serif shadow-md transition-all duration-300 ease-in-out bg-[#5a8f5a] text-white">
  Click me
</button>
```

### Card

[WRONG] **Wrong** (generic card, not adapted to this style):
```html
<div class="{GENERIC_LIBRARY_CARD_DEFAULT}">
  <h3>{TITLE}</h3>
</div>
```

[CORRECT] **Right** (uses this style's card tokens):
```html
<div class="rounded-2xl bg-[#faf6f0] border border-[#d4a0a0]/40 shadow-md p-5 md:p-8">
  <h3 class="font-serif text-[#8b7355] text-xl md:text-2xl">{TITLE}</h3>
</div>
```

### Input

[WRONG] **Wrong** (generic input, not adapted to this style):
```html
<input class="{GENERIC_LIBRARY_INPUT_DEFAULT}" />
```

[CORRECT] **Right** (uses this style's input tokens):
```html
<input class="rounded-xl border border-[#8b7355]/30 bg-[#faf6f0] text-[#8b7355] font-serif focus:outline-none" placeholder="{PLACEHOLDER}" />
```

---

## [TEMPLATES] Cottagecore page skeletons

These skeletons use this style's tokens only. Replace `{PLACEHOLDER}` values, but keep every token in place:

### Navigation
```html
<nav class="bg-[#faf6f0] text-[#8b7355] border border-[#d4a0a0]/40 px-4 md:px-8 lg:px-12">
  <div class="flex items-center justify-between max-w-6xl mx-auto gap-4 md:gap-6">
    <a href="/" class="font-serif text-[#8b7355] text-xl md:text-2xl">
      {LOGO_TEXT}
    </a>
    <div class="flex gap-4 md:gap-6 font-serif text-xs md:text-sm">
      {NAV_LINKS}
    </div>
  </div>
</nav>
```

### Hero section
```html
<section class="bg-[#5a8f5a] text-[#8b7355] py-12 md:py-20 lg:py-28 px-4 md:px-8 lg:px-12">
  <div class="max-w-4xl mx-auto">
    <h1 class="font-serif text-[#8b7355] text-4xl md:text-6xl lg:text-7xl">
      {HEADLINE}
    </h1>
    <p class="font-serif text-sm md:text-base max-w-xl">
      {SUBHEADLINE}
    </p>
    <button class="rounded-full font-serif shadow-md transition-all duration-300 ease-in-out bg-[#5a8f5a] text-white">
      {CTA_TEXT}
    </button>
  </div>
</section>
```

### Card grid
```html
<section class="bg-[#faf6f0] text-[#8b7355] py-12 md:py-20 lg:py-28 px-4 md:px-8 lg:px-12">
  <div class="max-w-6xl mx-auto">
    <h2 class="font-serif text-[#8b7355] text-2xl md:text-4xl">{SECTION_TITLE}</h2>
    <div class="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-3 gap-4 md:gap-6">
      <!-- Card template - repeat for each card -->
      <div class="rounded-2xl bg-[#faf6f0] border border-[#d4a0a0]/40 shadow-md p-5 md:p-8">
        <h3 class="font-serif text-[#8b7355] text-xl md:text-2xl">{CARD_TITLE}</h3>
        <p class="font-serif text-sm md:text-base text-[#8b7355]/60">{CARD_DESCRIPTION}</p>
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>
</section>
```

### Form input
```html
<input class="rounded-xl border border-[#8b7355]/30 bg-[#faf6f0] text-[#8b7355] font-serif focus:outline-none" placeholder="{PLACEHOLDER}" />
```

### Footer
```html
<footer class="bg-[#f5d75f]/10 text-[#5a8f5a] py-12 md:py-20 lg:py-28 px-4 md:px-8 lg:px-12">
  <div class="max-w-6xl mx-auto">
    <div class="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-3 gap-6 md:gap-10">
      <div>
        <span class="font-serif text-[#8b7355] text-xl md:text-2xl">{LOGO_TEXT}</span>
        <p class="font-serif text-xs md:text-sm">{TAGLINE}</p>
      </div>
      <div>
        <h4 class="font-serif text-[#8b7355] text-xl md:text-2xl">{COLUMN_TITLE}</h4>
        <ul class="font-serif text-xs md:text-sm">
          {FOOTER_LINKS}
        </ul>
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>
</footer>
```

---

## [CHECKLIST] Cottagecore post-generation self check

**Before returning code, verify every token and rule below. Fix any violation before delivering:**

### Token check
- [ ] Button includes: `rounded-full font-serif shadow-md transition-all duration-300 ease-in-out`
- [ ] Card includes: `rounded-2xl bg-[#faf6f0] border border-[#d4a0a0]/40 shadow-md`
- [ ] Input includes: `rounded-xl border border-[#8b7355]/30 bg-[#faf6f0] text-[#8b7355] font-serif focus:outline-none`

### Forbidden check
- [ ] Not using `rounded-none`
- [ ] Not using `bg-[#0a0a1a]`
- [ ] Not using `bg-[#0a0a0f]`
- [ ] Not using `bg-black`
- [ ] Not using `text-[#00ffff]`
- [ ] Not using `text-[#ff00ff]`
- [ ] Not using `border-[#ff00ff]`
- [ ] Not using `border-[#00ffff]`

### Style rule check
- [ ] Use warm earth tones and floral colors
- [ ] Use rounded corners and soft shadows
- [ ] Use serif fonts to convey classical feel
- [ ] Add flower, leaf, and other natural decorative elements
- [ ] Use linen/paper texture backgrounds

### Style drift check
- [ ] Does not violate: Do not use cold blue-gray tones
- [ ] Does not violate: Do not use sharp right angles and hard borders
- [ ] Does not violate: Do not use neon or high-saturation fluorescent colors
- [ ] Does not violate: Do not use tech-feel or industrial-style elements

### Delivery check
- [ ] Responsive layout holds on phone, tablet and desktop with no horizontal overflow
- [ ] Every interactive element has a visible focus state, an accessible name and a reduced-motion path
- [ ] Text contrast meets WCAG AA and colour alone never carries state
- [ ] The result is still recognizable at a glance as Cottagecore

## Absolute Bans (Match and Refuse)

If any of the following patterns appear, it is a style violation — rewrite without exception.

- use cold blue-gray tones
- use sharp right angles and hard borders
- use neon or high-saturation fluorescent colors
- use tech-feel or industrial-style elements

## Self-Check (Verify Before Shipping)

If any item fails, the style has drifted — fix before shipping.

- [ ] No purple-to-blue gradients
- [ ] No overused fonts (Inter, Roboto, Geist, Fraunces, Plus Jakarta Sans)
- [ ] No nested cards (cards inside cards)
- [ ] No gray text on colored backgrounds
- [ ] Body text contrast meets WCAG AA (>= 4.5:1)
- [ ] No bounce or elastic easing curves
- [ ] Animations have a prefers-reduced-motion fallback
- [ ] Body text line length capped at 65-75 characters
- [ ] No side-stripe accent borders (border-left/right > 1px)
- [ ] No gradient text (background-clip: text)
- [ ] No glassmorphism used as the default surface treatment
- [ ] No tiny uppercase tracked eyebrow labels above every section heading
- [ ] do not use cold blue-gray tones
- [ ] do not use sharp right angles and hard borders
- [ ] do not use neon or high-saturation fluorescent colors
- [ ] do not use tech-feel or industrial-style elements