The Summer Camp Aesthetic Is Childhood Nostalgia at Its Finest

Every afternoon, when I drive up the road to pick up my son from day camp, I pass the nearby sleepaway camp on my way. Crawling along at the designated 10 miles per hour, I glimpse the wood-clad cabins tucked in between the trees and lichen-covered Adirondack chairs by the lake. There’s something about the scene that tugs at the strings of my interiors-loving heart. I find myself imagining decorating my own little lake cabin someday and longing for rustic wood walls, a bud vase filled with blue jay feathers, and maybe an antler or two. The summer camp aesthetic may be a far cry from the look of my New York City apartment, but it’s undeniably appealing.

I’m not alone in my love for summer camp-inspired interiors: Nancy Meyers’s 1998 remake of The Parent Trap, starring Lindsay Lohan, has launched a thousand blog posts about how to copy the Camp Walden look in your home (and yes, I clicked on those posts), and professional designers are equally as enchanted. “Camp aesthetic is so appealing because it reminds us of summer and youth and nostalgia and simpler times,” says Portland, Oregon–based designer Max Humphrey, the author of Lodge: An Indoorsy Tour Of America’s National Parks.

“Camp is a place and shared experience that connects us across generations and zip codes,” adds Tereasa Surratt, a co-owner and creator of Camp Wandawega, a resort and event space in Wisconsin housed on a former campground. For interior designer Leanne Ford, the appeal lies in the materials and the setting. “My summer camp had massive stone fireplaces and beautiful, aged log cabin walls, with large panels of windows that looked out at the most wonderful views. I think it was these kinds of things that stuck with me—inspiring me as a child and creating the kind of environment that opens up my creative mind even to this day.”

In the hope of breaking down the elements of classic summer camp style, I asked these design experts about what exactly makes it so appealing. They were generous enough to share their thoughts, along with strategies on how to get the look at home. “You can evoke those feelings through your decor. It’s also the type of aesthetic that you can do in big ways or in little ways, depending on your commitment to summer camp vibes,” Humphrey says. Here’s how to weave a little bit of that summertime spirit into your favorite spaces.

Bring the Outdoors In

All of the pros I talked to used this exact phrase when asked how to capture the feeling of summer camp. “This can be literal just with outdoor elements, like plants or wood furniture, or more figurative elements like botanical-inspired wallpapers and fabrics,” Humphrey says. “Start with materials and things that you can find in the space right outside of your home,” suggests Ford, who often cites her childhood summer camp as a source of inspiration. Ford recommends foraging for branches in your backyard and then popping them into a vase or collecting beautiful rocks and filling your bowls with them. “You’ll get that same sense of being grounded in your home that you do when you are out in nature.”

Let Mother Nature Dictate the Materials You Use

Follow the same ethos when renovating a space you want to embody the camp aesthetic. “When sourcing materials for your project, look for ones that you would find in nature,” Ford says. “For example, opt for a roman clay or limewash finish instead of paint on your drywall, or create a fireplace hearth from river rocks.”

Start with a Neutral Foundation

Ford suggests sticking to muted, natural tones, but she says, “Don’t forget to layer. I promise you, a monochromatic space does not have to feel stark. Use it as a blank canvas and start layering the life into it with rugs, lighting, blankets, art, branches, etc.”

Layer in Camp-Inspired Colors

“Summer camp definitely has a color palette that people can picture without ever having been: forest greens, gold, that perfect camp red color, and browns,” Humphrey says. “Using color as a design element means you can do it in non-camp ways but still get the point across.”

Bring on Secondhand Finds…

All of the experts felt vintage elements were essential to successful camp-inspired décor. “Elements sourced from antiques shops lend an air of authenticity and storied past, grounding your space in a sense of enduring charm,” Krista Stokes, senior creative director at Atlantic Hospitality, whose hotels tap into Maine’s particular brand of camp core, explains.

…Especially Vintage Photographs

“I can’t think of a single design element that holds more emotional power to connect you to your childhood memories,” says Surratt, who collects antique summer camp photo albums. “They are time transporters and conversation starters.” She suggests framing some, leaving out whole albums, tucking a few into pages of coffee table books to fall out and be discovered, pinning them to a bulletin board or the inside of a cupboard door, and placing them under glass on a dresser top.

Decorate the Walls With Quirky Accessories

“Get creative with your décor—use oars, arts and crafts, wonky ceramics, twigs, rocks, sails,” Ford suggests. At Camp Wandawega, you’ll find arrows and oars in every corner, including hung on walls in intricate patterns, but as Surratt notes, “They aren’t just for decoration: Our visitors use them.” Humphrey suggests using retro coolers as case pieces and accessorizing with vintage thermoses, lanterns, and lunch boxes.

Stock Up on Classic Wool Blankets

“Camp blankets are the most functional thing you can add to any space to say camp, but more importantly, they’re a necessity,” Surratt says. They can be found at Camp Wandawega wrapped around visitors during summer campfires and on every bed in fall and winter. “Nobody makes wool blankets better than Pendleton and Faribault, two historic brands,” she adds.

Add Texture

“Texture, texture, texture!” Ford extols. It’s essential to the camp aesthetic. “I am always looking for ways to bring earth (and therefore soul) into a space. Texture is how I do it. Mix wood, concrete, tile, brass, like I did in this kitchen [seen above] for the ultimate cozy, lived-in vibe.”

Embrace the Mix

“It doesn’t have to match,” Stokes says. “Camp design is all about patterns and colors that evoke feelings of a childhood summer or cozy winter nights: plaid, gingham, stripes.” Surratt adds, “The thing about the camp aesthetic is that it’s the culmination of decades of campers, each with their own objects, tools, badges that collectively have become the camp aesthetic. A 1930s felt pennant above a headboard next to a 1950s blanket across a side chair, next to a modern craft camp pottery project can all work together if they’re authentic.”

Avoid Prop Decor

While both Humphrey and Surratt have worked with brands to create camp-inspired home accessories, like wallpaper designed by Humphrey and bedding by Surratt, the pros all cautioned against buying anything that’s a facsimile of a vintage item. “Whenever possible, scour Etsy and eBay for vintage originals before buying new knockoffs. The end result will add more substance and soul to your rooms,” Surratt advises.

Be a Little Kitschy

“Camp aesthetic calls for a blend of bespoke furnishings, antique finds, and sometimes, an item or two with a dash of kitsch. In camp design,” says Stokes. “There is always room for silliness, magic, and joy.” Just don’t overdo it on the pennants, okay?