Camping Decoration and Furnishing: Ideas for a Cosy Campsite
How to turn your mobile home into an oasis of well-being
Camping decorations are what truly make your holiday feel cosy. If you feel the same way and would like to make your motorhome, caravan or tent even more inviting, keep reading.
Table of contents
- Why decorate when camping?
- How to get started
- Decoration tips from a pro
- Lighting creates atmosphere
- An awning rug makes all the difference
- Cosy moments with cushions and blankets
- Beautify your walls
- Door curtains and curtains create atmosphere
- Especially beautiful seating options
- An inviting table setting
- Beautify the equipment you already have
- What it looks like for me
- Conclusion: Make it beautiful for yourself!
Why decorate when camping?
Opinions differ on this question. Camping can be enjoyed in very different ways. Some people prefer trekking. In that case, decoration is naturally out of place, because you can only take what you really need. Others may have enough space to pack some extra “bits and pieces”, but simply do not see the need for it. And then there are campers like me. I love decoration on camping holidays. Why? Because for me, the relaxation effect is simply greater in a beautiful setting. Besides, I just really enjoy furnishing and decorating.
How to get started
For many people, coordinated decoration is a long-term project. After all, you probably already own a few items that do not necessarily match, but are still perfectly usable. Buying everything new at once is unaffordable for most people. That is why it is best to think of a long-term colour and style concept. This allows you to gradually adapt your decoration and furnishings to it.
If you find that difficult, I have a simple tip for you. Try to keep most of your furnishings in neutral colours (black, white, grey). This creates a simple elegance. Add highlights with just a few items in tones from the same colour family. For example, a rug, tableware, bunting and a cosy blanket in different shades of blue.
Decoration tips from a pro
You can find plenty of campers online who share their decoration ideas. Instagram in particular is a great place to discover inspiring profiles through hashtag searches.
One example is the profile @mehrkindcamping, where Sabine documents her camping trips and shows the decoration in and around her caravan. Since she has a lot of experience, I simply asked her a few questions on the topic.
Why is decoration important to you when camping?
Sabine: We have been camping with our own caravan since May 2019. The decoration in our caravan is what turned it into our personal holiday companion. It simply feels so much cosier that way. And it was so much fun to come up with a colour concept and buy a bit of “bric-a-brac”. Decoration always works.
What are your must-haves?
Sabine: It always depends on how long we stay somewhere. Cushions, blankets, rugs and fairy lights are “permanently installed” in the caravan – so they always come with us. If we stay in one place for a longer time, we also bring table decorations, a door sign and a nice awning rug under the awning. Of course, fairy lights outside are also a must. Fabrics and light are my must-haves.
What advice would you give beginners who want to make their camping setup feel cosier too?
Sabine: There is lots of inspiration out there, especially on Instagram. For example, I find @wohnwagenwege very inspiring. The book “Happy Campers” is also the decoration bible for all caravanners. My advice for beginners: Do not overdo it. You should always keep the weight of the trailer in mind. I keep a small box with bubble wrap under the round seating area, and inside it I have everything needed for a cosy atmosphere: candles, a tray, artificial plants, lamps. A little tip: if you like colourful things like I do, you can also find great accessories in children’s room shops.
And this is what it looks like in practice:
Lighting creates atmosphere
Like Sabine, I believe that light can make a huge difference and really create the right atmosphere. Of course, there are different lights for different purposes. Let us take a closer look at them now.
Functional lighting
Do you still want to play a game in the evening or jot down a quick note? Then you obviously need enough light to see properly, so you need a lamp that provides brightness. The Outwell Leonis Lux shown here is not only stylish, it is also foldable and therefore takes up very little space in your luggage.
Here you can find the Outwell lamp shown above in the Berger online shop.
Mood lighting
Candles, fairy lights, dimmable LEDs, torches, campfires – all of these create a romantic atmosphere on a camping holiday. This type of light is usually not especially bright. Please note: open fires are only allowed on a few campsites nowadays.
Here you can find the candle shown above from Brunner in the Berger online shop.
Lighting with speaker
If you want to save yourself bringing an extra device, take a look at lights with integrated speakers. These are often visually very appealing and can provide musical background sound in the evening. But be careful: when camping, it is important to be considerate of your neighbours. So it is best not to turn the speaker up too loud.
An awning rug makes all the difference
Use an awning rug – this is actually my ultimate tip because it makes a big difference straight away. Your mobile home will immediately feel more inviting and homely. These days, rugs are available in beautiful colours and all kinds of patterns. Just make sure the rug is truly suitable for outdoor use.
Here you can find the Bo-Camp outdoor mat in the Berger online shop.
Cosy moments with cushions and blankets
Decoration should create a cosy feeling. And what is inherently cosy? Exactly – cushions and soft blankets. That is why they are always on my packing list. It is best to arrange cushions and blankets visibly on a sofa or camping chair, as this looks especially inviting. Faux furs can create the same effect too.
Here you can find camping cushions in the Berger online shop.
Beautify your walls
Bare walls without colour can feel very cold. You have several ways to change that. For example, add highlights with coloured wallpaper or adhesive films. You may even be able to paint the wall. Pictures can also have a huge impact.
If you are travelling with a tent, “wall decoration” is of course a bit more difficult. But with large tents, you can at least hang some decorative items. Whether it is bunting, artificial plants or fairy lights – small touches make a difference. Especially with tents, however, make sure that hanging decorations are not too heavy and do not damage the tent. Here you can find a beautiful string of fairy lights in the Berger online shop.
Door curtains and curtains create atmosphere
Curtains for doors and windows are great for visually enhancing a space. But especially when camping, they also serve a practical purpose. Door curtains help keep insects out, and curtains can also provide privacy when needed. If you know how to sew, you could even make your own curtains. You can read how to sew a curtain in this blog post.
Especially beautiful seating options
Of course, you will want somewhere to sit on your camping holiday. That is what classic camping chairs are for. You can find all the important information here.
But beyond that, there are also some especially beautiful seating options. These include camping sofas, moon chairs and rocking chairs, for example.
Here you can find a comfortable folding sofa in the Berger online shop.
An inviting table setting
A beautifully laid table when camping – that is pure enjoyment. If you coordinate the colours of your tableware, tablecloth and/or placemats, and perhaps add flowers or candles, your neighbours are sure to be impressed.
Here you can find various table accessories in the Berger online shop.
Beautify the equipment you already have
Are you already well equipped, but your camping gear does not really match visually? Or would you rather save the money for buying new things? No problem. How about one or two DIY projects instead? Since there are endless possibilities in this area, I will simply show you the makeover of my camping kitchen for inspiration.
I covered the back panel with imitation tiles. These needed to be as resistant to moisture as possible and also able to withstand heat. The same requirements applied to the film I used to cover the worktop. I chose a wood look because I like natural tones. I also attached an LED strip at the top. It could be shortened, so I was able to adapt it exactly to the dimensions of the kitchen. It is also waterproof, controlled with a remote control and battery-operated. For me, this was the ideal solution – but something else may suit you and your needs better.
As a general rule: If you modify your equipment for decorative purposes, make sure that its actual function is not restricted. With outdoor products, it is also important that the DIY materials used can get wet and are heat-resistant.
What it looks like for me
Last but not least, here is a little glimpse into my large tent, which I use for longer holidays. Beautiful decoration thrives on new combinations and change, so I am always adding something new as well. What matters most to me is that it feels cosy and remains functional at the same time. I like the boho style and want to align more of my equipment with it in the future.
Conclusion: Make it beautiful for yourself!
As you have probably noticed, this article is quite personal this time. That is because decoration is something very personal. Beauty is, after all, in the eye of the beholder, and everyone finds different things attractive – which is exactly why there is no one-size-fits-all formula for decoration.
I simply love transforming a bare pitch into a temporary home. If you feel the same way, just give it a try. Choose colours you really like and items that are both practical and cosy. That way, you can truly enjoy your camping holiday.
