Cottegecore stories harken back to simpler times and a simpler way of living. Many stories center on the idea of a simple life of self-sufficiency in harmony with nature, or characters having adventures in a pretty cottegecore environment. Cottegecore is often influenced by the romanticization of the European countryside in historical times, but may also take place in the woods, mountains, or other rustic locations in any time period. Aesthetics often include rural landscapes, cottages and other dwellings surrounded by flowers and nature, boys in overalls and girls in old-fashioned dresses, lush forests, and low-tech items and furniture from olden times.