Rustic Camp Decorating Tips

Decorate with natural materials, like stones and leaf prints.

Camps located in rural areas often have a distinctive decorative look. Other camps might share that look, even if they aren't technically located "in the country," because they are dedicated to traditionally rustic activities, such as canoeing and horseback riding. Take decorating inspiration from the activities practiced at the camp and the history and natural features of the surrounding region.

Antique Tools

Some antique equipment is more suitable for outside decoration.

Hang or otherwise display the objects that made everyday life possible in the olden days. These can include gardening implements (spade, rake, shovel), farming equipment (yoke, plow), animal-related items (saddle, bridle, hoof pick, canister of liniment) and kitchen paraphernalia (butter churns, tin buckets, washboards, kettles). You can often get these types of items for low prices at flea markets, estate sales or and from friends with a barn or attic full of old stuff they'd like to get rid of.

Vintage Camp Photos

If the camp has been around for a long time, odds are good that there are photos of it from "way back when." Print high-quality reproductions of those photos and display them all around the camp. Even if the camp hasn't been around since the dawn of the 20th century, you can still hang pictures from years gone by. Seventies-era photos of rosy-cheeked youngsters posing in rows, showing their horses, sweeping out the bunkhouse and so on help instill a sense of continuity and community in modern-day campers and their parents. (And kids will enjoy gawking at the outdated hair and fashion styles.) If the camp is brand new, send out someone with a good eye to snap pictures of the buildings, animals, trails, natural beauty and other features. Edit the photos using editing software to make them sepia or black and white.

Wooden Signs

Paint inside the letters to make them visually "pop."

Simple, lightly sanded wooden signs hold a timeless, rustic appeal---and help visitors and new campers navigate the facilities. List all the different buildings and trails that require signs and make them at the same time. Use fallen trees or, failing that, wood from a certified-sustainable source. The Tulsa, Okla., nonprofit organization Up With Trees uses wooden signs and points out that "unlike metal or plastic, wood is a renewable resource and is biodegradable."

References

• Up With Trees: Why Wooden Signs?

Resources

• The Forest Stewardship Council