How To Decorate For Camp Events

Whether you are organizing a corporate retreat, a summer camp reunion, a school fundraiser, or a large-scale themed birthday party, the atmosphere is what guests will remember most.

How To Decorate For Camp Events? Decorating for camp events involves utilizing natural elements, such as pinecones and wood slices, alongside rustic textiles like burlap. Incorporate ambient lighting via lanterns or string lights to enhance the wilderness aesthetic while maintaining a cohesive, outdoor-inspired atmosphere.

A camp-themed event taps into a deep sense of nostalgia, adventure, and community.

However, decorating for a large-scale event is different from decorating a small room; it requires a focus on flow, durability, and high-impact visuals.

In this comprehensive guide, we will explore how to decorate for camp events to ensure your venue feels like a rustic getaway, regardless of whether it’s held in a ballroom, a backyard, or an actual forest.

Defining Your Camp Sub-Theme

Before you buy your first roll of burlap, you need to decide which “flavor” of camp you are going for. “Camp” is a broad category, and narrowing it down will help your decorations feel cohesive.

Classic Summer Camp: Think 1970s nostalgia, bright primary colors mixed with forest green, canoes, and vintage sports equipment.

Luxury Glamping: Focuses on cream canvases, gold accents, fairy lights, plush rugs, and high-end rustic furniture.

Adventure/Wilderness: Heavy on topographical maps, compasses, pine trees, and survival gear like lanterns and climbing ropes.

Winter Lodge: Focused on plaid (flannel), faux fur, pinecones, and “snow-dusted” evergreen branches.

Choosing one of these directions will guide your color palette and material choices.

The Grand Entrance: Creating a Sense of Arrival

The entrance is the most important part of your event décor because it transitions guests from the “real world” into the “camp world.”

• The Camp Archway: Create a large entrance using two tall wooden posts with a crossbeam. Hang a wooden or canvas sign with the name of your event (e.g., “Camp Smith” or “The Great Adventure”).
• Directional Signage: Use hand-painted wooden arrows pointing toward different “zones” of the event, such as “The Mess Hall,” “The Canteen,” “The Lake,” and “The Bunkhouse.” This is both functional and decorative.
• The Check-In Station: Instead of a standard folding table, use a vintage trunk or a wooden desk. Decorate it with a stack of old maps, a vintage typewriter, and a lantern.

Lighting: Creating a Campfire Glow

Lighting is the secret ingredient in how to decorate for camp events. Since camps are associated with the outdoors, you want to avoid harsh overhead fluorescent lights at all costs.

String Lights (Edison Bulbs)

Large, warm-toned Edison bulbs strung across the ceiling or between trees mimic the feel of an outdoor festival or a summer camp evening.

Lanterns Everywhere

Use a mix of vintage hurricane lanterns (with LED candles) and modern camping lanterns.

Place them on tables, along pathways, and hanging from hooks.

The “Campfire” Centerpiece

If you are indoors, create a faux campfire using real logs, orange and yellow tissue paper, and a string of orange fairy lights hidden inside.

This creates a focal point for guests to gather around.

Fairy Lights: Wrap these around indoor pillars or tree trunks to simulate fireflies.

The Mess Hall: Tablescapes and Communal Dining

In a camp setting, dining is a communal experience. Your décor should reflect that “family-style” warmth.

• Long Tables: Use long rectangular wooden tables rather than small round ones. This encourages conversation and fits the “Mess Hall” aesthetic.
• Table Runners: Burlap or plaid flannel fabric makes for excellent, affordable runners. If you want a cleaner look, use kraft paper rolls—you can even provide crayons so guests can doodle, just like at a camp craft table.
• Centerpieces: Keep them low so guests can see each other. Use “wood cookies” (slices of logs) as a base. Top them with mason jars filled with wildflowers, pinecones, and small lanterns.
• Enamelware: If the budget allows, use enamel tin plates and mugs. They are virtually indestructible and instantly signal “camping.”

Large-Scale Installations

To fill a large event space, you need “hero” pieces that draw the eye and fill the vertical space.

The Canoe Photo Op: A real or cardboard canoe filled with plaid blankets and oars makes for an incredible photo booth backdrop.

Canvas Tents: Set up a few bell tents or teepees around the perimeter of the room. These can serve as lounge areas, “quiet zones,” or even a place to serve snacks.

Indoor Forest: Rent or buy potted evergreen trees. Group them in threes of varying heights to create “groves” around the room. This adds a natural scent and breaks up the visual monotony of a large hall.

Functional Decor: The Canteen and Craft Shack

Every camp event needs a place for food and activities. Turn these functional areas into decorative highlights.

The Canteen (Bar/Drinks)

Use galvanized metal tubs filled with ice to hold drinks.

Hang a “Canteen” sign above the bar. Use wooden crates to display snacks like trail mix, granola bars, and dried fruit.

The S’mores Station

This is a camp event staple. Decorate a dedicated table with glass jars filled with marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate bars.

Use small tabletop roasting pits (Sterno-based) so guests can roast their own treats.

The Craft Shack

If your event includes activities, set up a “Craft Shack” with wooden benches, jars of popsicle sticks, and twine.

Use vintage-style posters of national parks to decorate the walls of this area.

Incorporating Textures and Materials

To make your camp theme feel authentic, you need to appeal to the sense of touch. Avoid plastic and shiny surfaces.

1. Wood: Use raw, reclaimed, or dark-stained wood for signs, furniture, and accents.
2. Canvas: This is the quintessential camp fabric. Use it for banners, tablecloths, or wall coverings.
3. Rope: Thick manila rope can be used to hang signs, wrap around vases, or create “stanchions” for line control.
4. Galvanized Metal: Use buckets, trays, and pitchers in this matte silver finish to add a “utility” feel to the décor.

DIY and Budget-Friendly Tips for Large Events

Decorating a large event can get expensive, but the camp theme is one of the most budget-friendly styles if you are willing to DIY.

• Pinecone Gathering: If you live near woods, pinecones are free décor. Use them as place card holders or fill large glass jars with them for instant centerpieces.
• Hand-Painted Signs: You don’t need professional printing. Some scrap wood and white acrylic paint can create charming, rustic signage.
• Blanket Bundles: Ask friends and family to lend their plaid or wool blankets. Roll them up and tie them with twine, then stack them in baskets for guests to use if it gets chilly.
• Upcycled Tins: Clean out large coffee or vegetable tins, remove the labels, and use them as vases for sunflowers or greenery.

Managing the Atmosphere with Sound and Scent

True event decoration goes beyond what people see; it’s about what they feel.

The Scent of the Woods: Use cedar or pine-scented candles (if allowed) or essential oil diffusers to give the room an earthy, forest aroma.

The Sound of Nature: Play a subtle background track of a crackling fire, chirping crickets, or a distant flowing stream during the cocktail hour. Transition into acoustic folk or “camp classic” music (think 60s/70s folk-rock) as the event progresses.

Conclusion

Learning how to decorate for camp events is about more than just putting a few tents in a room; it’s about storytelling.

You are telling the story of an escape into nature, a return to simplicity, and the joy of gathering around a fire.

By focusing on natural materials, warm lighting, and communal spaces, you can create an immersive environment that transports your guests.

Whether you are aiming for the rugged feel of a mountain expedition or the cozy nostalgia of a childhood summer, these decorating strategies will ensure your camp event is a resounding success.

Grab your lanterns, find some flannel, and get ready to create an unforgettable outdoor-inspired experience!