Bringing the cozy, carefree feeling of a lakeside cabin into your own home can be a fun decorative challenge. Rustic design may make you think of rough wood finishes and campfire smells at first, but it can be adapted to many different styles. Whether your tastes run toward traditional, farmhouse, coastal, or contemporary designs, a little cabin fever is just what you need.
Embrace the Great Outdoors
One of the best ways to get that rustic camp vibe is to bring the outdoors in. Natural materials like wood, stone, leather, and feathers give a nod to the woods.
Incorporate foraged finds like pinecones, acorns, leaves, and branches in table centerpieces and wall displays. Hang a set of antlers or a carved wood sign above the fireplace. Use a tree stump as an end table or rustic stool.
Host a faux bonfire in your living room with stacked birch logs and flickering battery-operated candles. Toss some plaid blankets over your furniture for a cozy cabin effect.
Focus on Texture
Varied textures add to the handcrafted, timeworn look of camp cottage style. Mix up smooth and rough wood finishes, natural fiber rugs, nubby throws, and fleece pillows.
Distressed, aged surfaces also lend a sense of history. Try whitewashing or pickling wood furniture to soften the grain. Faux paint techniques like ragging, sponging, and stippling add dimension to walls and cabinets.
Wool mesh poufs, leather ottomans, and woven throws bring in some more rugged textures to balance all the wood. Wrought iron, galvanized metal, and copper offer eye-catching contrast.
Select Rustic Color Combos
Earthy, organic color palettes are typical in traditional cabins. Forest greens, sky blues, warm browns, and soothing neutrals complement the natural surroundings.
Plaids and buffalo check prints in shades of red, black, grey, and cream have that timeless lumberjack look. Try pairing them with denim blue and evergreen for a pulled-together cabin vibe.
Whitewashed pine furniture pops against walls in rich shades of emerald, navy, or charcoal. For a homier feel, coat built-ins or trim in warm cinnamon, buttercream, or cream.
Add Vintage Touches
A well-loved camp cottage accumulates charmingly imperfect antiques and hand-me-downs over many seasons. Honor this tradition by blending old and new in your home.
Search flea markets and antique shops for worn leather luggage, etched glass bottles, tarnished silver vessels, and chipped enamelware that show their age. Turn them into functional decor items like vases or catchalls.
Mix old quilt squares and faded feed sacks into throw pillows. Display vintage maps, nature guides, or fishing gear for nostalgic wall art. An antique trunk or crate can double as a rustic coffee table.
Incorporate Camp-Inspired DIYs
Put your own crafty spin on the camp cottage look with do-it-yourself projects. They allow you to customize pieces to match your space perfectly.
Make throw pillows from vintage cowboy shirts and jeans. Use oars and distressed doors for handy shelf brackets. Craft comfy Pendleton plaid pillows for your leather sofa.
Cut rounds from a fallen tree trunk to make natural wood cake stands and coasters. Decoupage maps and postcards onto boxes and jars for handy storage.
Handpaint signs with folksy sayings like “Fish Tales Welcome Here” or “Gone Camping.” Add cheeky graphics like canoes, pine trees, and critters.
Curate an Eclectic Gallery Wall
Fill a wall with cherished memories and collected keepsakes for the ultimate personal focal point. Choose a mix of frames, shelves, and pieces for visual interest.
Display vintage postcards, pressed wildflowers, insect shadowboxes, and found object sculptures. Intersperse black and white family photos from past camping trips and vacations to tell your unique story.
Paint rectangular boards in soft neutrals to frame Lichen-covered twigs, delicate feathers, and other organic elements from nature. Handwritten trail maps, tickets stubs, and hiking ephemera add to the charm.
Let Nature Shine Indoors
One of the most distinctive cabin elements is a celebration of natural beauty. Bring plants, flowers, stones, branches, and water features inside your home.
Line your mantel or bookshelves with smooth stones, pinecones, and stacked birch logs. Arrange wildflowers and potted herbs in jars on the kitchen windowsill.
Include large houseplants like weeping figs or rubber trees to purify indoor air. Set up a small indoor water feature surrounded by pebbles and greenery. The soothing sound removes stress as it brings the outdoors in.
Create Cozy, Cabin-Worthy Lighting
Proper lighting sets the RIGHT relaxing, welcoming mood and allows safe navigation on those dark forest nights.
Use tabletop lanterns and sconces fitted with natural beeswax candles to cast a warm, flickering glow. Wrap twinkle lights around branches in a vase for twinkling ambiance.
Install dimmer switches to control overhead lighting levels. Swap out cool white bulbs for soft warm ones. Position floor lamps and table lamps with directional shades to brighten seating areas and workspaces without glare.
Outdoor-rated string lights work beautifully when hung from your patio or between trees in the yard. Enjoy the sparkling ambiance they add for evening dinners, parties, or quiet nights curled up by the fire pit.
Infuse Indoor/Outdoor Flexibility
Blending interior and exterior spaces helps you better experience nature from the comfort of home. Extend your living area out onto a rustic deck or screened-in porch.
Use weather-resistant wicker and teak furnishings outside. Carry colors, patterns, and accessories from one space to the next for a cohesive flow.
Install extra-wide pocket doors that open your home to the yard or patio. Oversized barn door sliders also increase flexible access and allow you to enjoy the weather.
Keep warm with freestanding fireplaces, chimineas, and fire pits when spending time outdoors. Plush weather-resistant rugs extend your cozy cabin atmospheres into the fresh air.
FAQs
What are some key elements of camp cottage style?
Some hallmarks of camp cottage style include natural materials like wood, stone, and leather; outdoorsy details like antlers, pinecones, and vintage wilderness maps; textures like nubby wools and distressed wood; traditional color palettes with greens, blues, browns, and neutrals; and bringing nature indoors with plants, rocks, and water features.
How can I incorporate a handmade look in my decor?
Select furniture and accessories with visible imperfections, signs of age, or craftsmanship marks to embrace the handmade aesthetic. Incorporate DIY projects using natural found objects and imperfect vintage materials. Display family photos, homemade signs, and artwork by family members.
What are some budget-friendly ways to get the camp cottage look?
Check thrift stores and flea markets for old frames, nature books, baskets, and unique salvaged items. Paint existing furniture with whitewashed or antiquing techniques. Make simple upgrades like plaid throw pillows, natural fiber rugs, and faux fur throws. Use foraged items like pinecones and birch logs in arrangements.
How do I mix rustic and modern elements successfully?
Clean lines, ample open space, and a neutral palette help marry traditional rustic with modern. Incorporate sleek metals, concrete, glass, and ceramics along with the wood and stone. Add pops of color with midcentury-style furniture and accessories. Focus on handcrafted artisanal pieces rather than heavily distressed items.
What are the best flooring options for a camp cottage?
Hardwood, stone, reclaimed wood, and concrete offer that natural, organic look. Braided or woven wool rugs work beautifully layered over wood floors. For a more casual vibe try sisal, jute, or cotton area rugs. Tile with stone or wood-look finishes can provide a modern update.
Conclusion
Bringing a little cabin fever into your home creates a relaxing, welcoming atmosphere no matter your location or decor style. Focus on natural materials, cozy textures, and heritage colors paired with your favorite furnishings. Don’t forget small touches like camp signage, plaid accents, and foraged nature finds to personalize the space. Most importantly, embrace your surroundings and find creative ways to blur the lines between indoors and out. A cottage mentality provides joy, restoration, and family connection all year long.
