22 Cottage Living Gameplay Ideas To Try | The Sims 4 Guide

A guide revealing 22 different gameplay ideas or things to do which are made possible or greatly enhanced from The Sims 4 Cottage Living expansion pack. The aim of this guide is to highlight some of the key features of the pack and to help inspire your gameplay, and potentially consider some gameplay ideas you might not have thought about before. Please like and comment, and Subscribe here: bit.ly/2ZM0L4h
The gameplay ideas in this guide are wide ranging. Some, like going for a swim in the Bramblewood or running errands can be smaller side hobbies. Others, such as running a farm or becoming a cross-stitch artist can form the base of your gameplay.
RELATED GUIDES:
Complete Farm Animals Guide: • Complete Farm Animals ...
Henford-On-Bagley Secrets and Features: • Henford-On-Bagley Secr...
10 Cottage Living Objects You Need To Start Using: • 10 Cottage Living Obje...
Introducing The Rabbit Raising Challenge: • Introducing The Rabbit...
See More Petey:
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Instagram: / peterconte1
Twitter: / peter_conte
Stream Reuploads: @peteystreamsit
Chapters
0:00 Introduction
0:17 Country Landscape Painter
0:49 Evil Chicken Chaos
2:01 Golden Chickens
3:01 Animal Shed Woohoo
3:22 Picnic!
3:53 Canning Legend
4:19 Sophie The Snail
4:58 Run Errands
5:23 Swim In The Bramblewood
5:44 Become A Farmer
7:06 Live Simply
7:54 Deal With Foxes
8:42 Barnhouse Wedding
9:19 Cross-Stitch Artist
9:55 Country Living Author
10:15 Dress Up Animals
10:55 Rabbit Raising Challenge
11:28 Death By Chickens/Rabbits
12:00 Lactose Meanness
12:25 Country Homewares Store
12:50 Finchwick Fair
13:21 Country Club
14:00 Outro

[@sabrinaloizides-merideth9874]

If you play long enough with the Simple Living Lot Challenge activated and cook enough meals with it, you gain the ability to write a special cookbook which, when sold, can net you $2500 or, if read, boosts the cooking skill dramatically. The first time I played with the pack in a legacy save, I kept passing the book down through the generations. Now, because of Growing Together, it's the kind of thing I would put in the family keepsake box.

[@carolinamp4940]

What?? This is so cool!

[@sarahni]

I unlocked it the other day I didn't know that! I love the idea of putting it in the box I might steal it

[@hilary3219]

You could also put Books of Life in the family keepsake box too, and literally keep the family alive

[@Charlee1776]

Thanks so much for sharing this! I had no idea about that book. I love cooking and haven't played with it on for long because I just want to cook everything. I'll have to set myself the challenge including that now! 😃

[@DeBorahae]

Wow, I had no idea. Thanks so much 🤗

[@SageArdor]

I did not know evil chickens could fight off the Grim Reaper. That's a nice touch, not to mention hilarious! 😂

[@haileybalmer9722]

A couple of in depth tips I'll add that relate: - Canning is a great way to make more money from your garden. You can turn a 1 simoleon mushroom into three jars of 22 simoleon conserve. It's a great way to make money if you want to just live a country life. - Wild foxes are super fun if you have the realm of magic pack. Put the wild foxes challenge on your magic house, and then you can befriend them and have a magic user with a wild fox for a pet. I think it's fun. - Kids can cross stitch, and that's just my favorite. I don't know about you all, but I love child inclusive hobbies. Giving them something to do besides their homework and making a mess is always a plus in my book. Also, little kids with grandma hobbies is just the best, always. - Rabbit raising challenge is fun, super cute. You should try it, I loved it.

[@ye11owflower]

Didn't know about canning, thanks!

[@PeteyPlaysIt]

Awe shucks thank you for the really helpful and kind comment Hailey! And I am so glad you liked the challenge :D

[@haileybalmer9722]

@@PeteyPlaysIt For what it's worth, the sim I made for that challenge is a bubbly Jamaican granny. She's so cute, living on the coast with her bunnies...

[@tesstucker3311]

I had a sim couple with pregnancy difficulty. I’ve never had that much trouble with my Sims getting pregnant, but this couple probably had 5 failures. Then lo and behold, I thought I would spice things up in the animal shed, and they got pregnant. Twin baby girls who I couldn’t help but name Bessie and Daisy, after the many many cows who seem to don those names 😂

[@docette2015]

An alternate store idea for those with Get To Work and Cottage Living -- make your own grocery store and sell your own produce and canned goods! That's what my cottagecore occult trio is doing in my current main save -- they have a farm in Henford-On-Bagley, and their store is in San Myshuno because I felt the city folk would appreciate fresh produce the most. :) They sell various raw produce, ready-made meals and baked goods, canned items (including some mod-added stuff from Simsonian Library's Simsco Canning Factory mod), flower arrangements, and meat that the werewolf Sim has hunted. I also plan to add toy robots (as the vampire is a robotics expert) and potions (from my spellcaster -- also, let me tell you, Copypasto is a super-useful spell for filling those shelves!).

[@far7964]

that is so cute i love that ideaa

[@docette2015]

@@far7964 :) They've recently expanded into also taking a food stand out and selling treats in a bunch of other worlds thanks to Home Chef Hustle (the vampire acts as main salesperson while the werewolf and the spellcaster make most of the food).

[@Ellary_Rosewood]

Cottage Living is STILL my favorite pack and world, even after all this time. It's the place I go when I'm feeling down and I need to get away from the world for a while. I wish I could live in Henford on Bagley!

[@ElainaMaria87]

It’s my favourite too, which is why I’ve started a legacy based in Henford. I’ve tried to live in the other worlds and I always move them back to Henford (or Sulani, I love it as well).

[@slwrabbits]

Hug ALL the bunnies!

[@marleythewizard]

Patchy in combinations with rabbits, birds and chickens has made my farm self maintaining, highly recommend. some dog traits will make them chase away foxes

[@phoenixfriend]

Something I've found, if you are selling items on a stall, you get a lot more interest and sales if you sell at the Finchwick Fair than anywhere else. Also the best canned products to do are the chocolate syrup, custard and mayo because they're a lot quicker than the ones that require cooking.

[@angelaliao9167]

LMAO not the cheerful "the 18th idea is to die~ 😊" I love your barn wedding setup!

[@PeteyPlaysIt]

Ahahaha a bit of a chaotic moment, and thank you so much Angela :D

[@kayleighstewart7280]

I like to play with simple living and off the grid in the house next to the waterfall. You can collect water and fish without going too far from your house! Although, I do forget to pay my bills lol

[@recordtapesbackward]

I had really fun building (and using) a grocery store in henford on bagley, highly recommend it! especially for simple living when you need sugar or flour that you can neither grow in your garden nor create in the kitchen

[@fableSimmer]

Ohhh I love the first idea and now I want to play as a Wandering painter. There's a great mod to set filters on reference paintings to make them look better or make them black and white, sepia, etc. Definitely a recommend because for some reason the paintings from reference always look blotchy, which is fine. But I prefer clear paintings like the normal ones.

[@reynavaldez13]

This mod is a must!

[@blackpinkedit9178]

Can you link to a laptop painting mod???

[@reynavaldez13]

@@blackpinkedit9178 if link don't show up: first mod is by Scumbumbo and it calls "Set filters on paintings by reference" ant to work it needs also "XML Injector" also by Scumbumbo. This second mod just helps work properly A LOT od other mods so it's good to have it anyway. Just remember it need to be directly in "mods" folder, not other "layers" of folders

[@zenspark9500]

You can make friends with the Scarecrow and he will help you garden and stuff as well. Love your videos!

[@lorisauber6820]

I love all your gameplay idea videos. I learn so much from them :)

[@Telepathy97]

I actually just started a new Cottage Living legacy save last week! This is by far my favorite expansion pack in the game, it feels like a stand-alone game in itself! It's a shame though that the Finchwick Fair minor contests are bugged where you don't win anything from them. I loved making pies especially :(

[@Masquerade37]

Inspired! I'm gonna make a save of two rival farms: one with evil chickens and one with golden chickens!

[@slwrabbits]

I have one of each on my farm and it's total chaos, would recommend.

[@annmarie1032]

I absolutely love these gameplay idea videos

[@vcombs4276]

Thanks for all the videos you make, Petey! You've become my favorite sims KZbinr because of the effort and character you put into your work. I really appreciate you and the joy you bring to our community ❤

[@PeteyPlaysIt]

Awe shucks thank you so much V C!! This comment means a lot!!!

[@ranposkindagay]

I love playing with cottage living so I’m so glad you’ve made this

[@LpsLovley]

A really fun idea i do sometimes when i have the simple living challenge activated, i use the get to work expansion pack and make a grocery store to fill with produce and ingredients so every couple weeks i make it a trip to go to the grocery store with my sims and we hang out around town 🥰

[@heath6802]

I actually went through in my personal save and made every lot “simple living” and in almost every world, built a store with grocery stuff, and other stuff you’d see in a store like bathroom stuff and make up and kids toys. I didn’t change them much for each world except change the color schemes and maybe add some stuff from the pack the world came with! I had every store be called “Langraab ___” like the one in Brindleton Bay is “Landgraab Country Store” and the one in Komerebi is “Langraab Konbeni” and of course... they’re all owned by the Landgraab family! I try to buy all that I can from the stores instead of buying from build buy in the case of furniture

[@robertspencer5297]

Does the evil chickens stick their wing out and point like Evil Monkey from Family Guy? LOL!😀

[@mackenziej8980]

Finally! I have been waiting for this!

[@simizenj]

You always inspire me to play! Been watching you since 2021. Keep it up Petey!

[@hannahbate1301]

Just started the video and already addicted to it! ❤❤

[@finnleyflint]

This was so good. I love the Cottage Living pack. All great ideas, thank you !

[@eshedyson6458]

Thanka for the video!! I was in need of some inspiration for my Cottage Living family.

[@DeBorahae]

Love this so much! Thank you 🤗

[@spacebuns34]

your ideas videos are my favourite ❤

[@SILENTVIXXSIN]

Omg evil chicken ( so cute!!) And it can save you from the grim reaper ?! Thats awesome 😂😂 I didnt even know about any of these! You make the best sims content! ✨

[@kathymiller5575]

I am so glad i found this channel you give me so mich i never knew.

[@melo_k]

Awesome ideas!

[@ljmittelsdorf6594]

Rainbow cow looks scarred from the evil chicken fighting the Grim Reaper

[@fleacy]

Great video, petey! Thanks so much for the cottage living inspiration. I hope you know how much your videos contribute to the sims community ❤

[@PeteyPlaysIt]

Awe shucks thank you so much Fleacy! Appreciate the super kind comment!!

[@ragabashmoon1551]

I just got this expansioni finally and I love it, especially the Simple Living challenge, I have that on all my household lots. I love the realism of it!

[@savannahperkins8852]

Honestly I’m kind of excited whenever you do cross compatibly with the horse pack and your ideas for that!

[@Marginallyflailing]

Rags to riches with cottage living is a super fun time.

[@starsaligned8440]

I absolutely love your videos! Can you make one of these for San sequoia and an update on which lots are interesting

[@pinjas3277]

I cant wait for the new pack!!! Ill have chickens, goats and sheep ffs 😭❤️

[@Manilach1983OOEVBAP]

He wow, never heard about this before...it seems Sims 4 is also a cozy farming game now...I really like that. :-) Maybe in the future i should buy this expansion pack.

[@tomjohnson4922]

Evil chickens?! I did not know I could have an evil chicken. Count me in!

[@OatsNCrafts]

13:41 THE CLUB DESCRIPTION!! GENIIS 😂

[@OatsNCrafts]

I can’t spell TwT genius? I think that’s how u spell

[@Domhalldc]

The best expansion pack ever

[@kmrazSilverSimmer73]

Ohhh I’ve only used the Golden pulse on plants. I always learn new things watching your videos. I love your fun and creative ideas. Gooooo Heckings! Have an amazing day too!

[@PeteyPlaysIt]

Hooray for learning new things! Thank you k mraz! I hope all is going well!

[@tugbatok9008]

wow i never noticed waterfall!

[@susanbrown4891]

❤These ideas are splendid, Petey. Thanks so much.❤

[@PeteyPlaysIt]

Thank you for the kind comment Susan :D

[@fromviennatoyou]

My farmer sim kept loosing the fairs and turned into a jealous kleptomaniac

[@Friendlyfire97]

Love that your female sim is as skinny as mine😂😂😂

[@elderscrollsswimmer4833]

Well, how about your knitting people having a couple of Llamas to get wool from. Along with the garden, bunnies and birdies just so you can get all sorts of color of wool to knit with. Oh and chickens because some treats need eggs. Or, do the Grilled Cheese aspiration with Simple Living. Along with a cow for milk to make the cheese and then you just need to buy flour for the bread.

[@LisaSaliture]

Can you have beehives with the cottage?

[@KingBasieSims4]

😂😂No matter how mad we as the community get at how packs turn out or over the bugs, we have to admit that the sims team really tries to add the oddest humorous situations. I honestly didn't know the evil chicken can beat grim up too 😂😂😂😂

[@PeteyPlaysIt]

King Basie Sims!! haha this is so very true. I really love when the sims team adds quirky things into the game! It makes me so happy!

[@Sasha_xo]

How are you able to go swimming in the stream?

[@OutlawSiam21]

Mate lmao "my spice rack is better than yours". Description "It is." Got to say bruv, you got me subscribed. Never heard of you and got to say, no idea how. I watched fakegamergirl but other than her and Lilsim (I think) you have got to be pretty damn high for me. Been laughing at everything from the vibes to the personal opinion comments (fabulous). Keep it mate. Maybe give us a runway model or fashion show next with base game fashion or something. I need some ideas because as a guy for me, dressing my female sims feels off to me. I cannot make a guy cause I will permanently have them with one look lol.

[@jaubert5313]

It would be amazing if you did Sims 3 videos too! Love your content

Hey guys, little off-topic: is the glitch where cows, chicken, etc die even with animal aging turned off, still happening? I'm thinking of buying the pack but I read about the glitch and didn't see that it was solved anywhere. I would never cope with my animals dying so it's a critical part in my decision. Thanks if anyone can inform me about this!

[@morinomajou]

Idk about the PC version, but this is definitely still a problem in the console version sadly. That said, I haven't got the Cats and Dogs pack yet, so haven't tested whether the anti-ageing treats work on farm animals; I'll come back to this thread when I have, unless anyone who has both packs can weigh in in the meantime haha! EDIT: Actually just looked it up, and the Healthy Treat you can get/make in Cottage Living increases animals' lifespans too! So you can keep them alive forever just by making a batch of those and feeding them one regularly. It's a bit of a palaver compared to how easy it is to keep human sims and other pets alive, but at least it's something!

@@morinomajou thanks for the answer! I saw that in the next patch they will fix the bug, so it will be okay for everyone, hopefully 😊 probably we can thank the horse pack for that because people would murder them if their horses died when aging was disabled 😅

[@slwrabbits]

I noticed that my rabbits are not aging now, so I think they patched it. As a side effect, my chicks never grow up. Oh well, they're cute!

[@jessice293]

How do you get the digital sketch pad?

[@sobruhkey]

Freelance painter career, I believe

[@PeteyPlaysIt]

You can just buy it in buy mode :D

[@lxverlxv]

Wait um how do you get a midnight treat

[@CursedHatter]

whose the alien sim in pink dress a townie? default ?

[@c.m7082]

Wtf evil chickens exist??

[@Dragonmistress83]

I love the canning...buuuuuut you can only use one at a time......ARGH..have you no idea in real life how much one pot can create? Wish we could make multiple canning at a time to use all the produce in inventory/fridge.

[@vcombs4276]

Not sure if you're aware, but when you make a jar of something it will put one on the counter and the rest into your sim's inventory

[@Dragonmistress83]

@@vcombs4276 I know, but I tend to have to much produce in my inventory. Making it only uses on produces. What I mean it would have been nice to add multiple instead of just one at a time.

[@SageGreen_Tea]

Firstt

[@AlexisTwoLastNames]

this might make the pack seem worth even the 50% price tag. i think the animals they added are so boring and lame that it ruins the entire pack for me, even tho i’d like the world and the new gameplay aspects.

[@Sam-nm1ix]

I just bought it yesterday because it was 50% off and I love it already!

[@amxchaa2680]

Hi can i ask what to do if my "wohoo" button not appearing.. in the phsical intimacy it only appears "offer massage " or "Gaze lovingly at new spouse"