Camping is a word that we associate with the outdoors and the rustic. If you're one of those who love the feel of the wild but are held in an urban trapping, you might want to consider a dose of camp décor,

At home in the wild

Camping is a word that we associate with the outdoors and the rustic. If you're one of those who love the feel of the wild but are held in an urban trapping, you might want to consider a dose of camp décor,

The word "camp" carries with it many connotations. In the context of home décor it reminds us of cozy dwellings near scenic forests and mountains. This décor is reminiscent of the beautiful untamed surroundings. It is also becoming popular in city apartments since it brings the outdoors, indoor. Whether you want a touch of camp décor in your city house or a fully fledged camp theme in a second home, here’s how to go about it.
>> Go rustic According to Vinay Agrawal, Director, BoConcept, India, "One can bring outdoor or camp inspired decor home by including camp style furniture and accessories such as paintings, rustic wallpaper and so on which draw inspiration from nature and give a rustic look. "Wooden furniture, especially with natural or distressed finish falls into this category. Lamps and candles fit the ambience. A fireplace looks great too. The right furnishings add texture to any setting. Animal prints are perfect accessorisations to go with this theme. Faux fur is another popular choice. In the era of plenty, people used animal skins. Today strict protection laws have made it illegal to possess animal skins of certain species, especially of endangered animals and rightly so.
>> Reflect the activities… Camp décor reflects the main activity of the area. Is it animal spotting? Then accessorise with binoculars, animal pictures, fabrics and fake animal heads. If it is fishing, use fishing equipment and images and do likewise. If it is the mountainside, you may want maps of the nearby areas and reflections of the beautiful landscape. For camp décor themes in cities, try and decorate your house with elements of camp décor that inspire you the most. So, if you're an animal lover, take your cue from that and so on. The possibilities are as endless as your imagination.
>> Using natural materials Using local and natural materials from the area or otherwise is very important for this style. You may use local material not only to build your house but also to furnish it. The most popular way to do this is to use local wood for the furniture. Animal bones, skulls and animal skins feature in many second homes, especially safari lodges. However, one needs to be aware that due to poaching it is illegal to possess many of these. If you still harbor a love for these, go in for fake ones!
>> Tribal art Tribal art has a special place in camp inspired homes. This is especially true of houses that may be located in a particular region that boasts of a rich tribal heritage. If one travels to African lodges and homes one may observe a lot of Masai and Samburu tribal décor figure in the overall décor scheme. Closer home, the Warli tribes in Maharashtra have beautiful stuff that can grace the homes in the area. Walls painted with tribal motifs are a big hit too as are tribal accessories. Nowadays, many designers have successfully incorporated tribal design into modern furniture to suit changing aesthetics.
>> Camp décor in
modern homes Ayaz Basrai, Industrial Designer, The Busride Design Studio, believes that camp décor in modern times calls for a change in thinking. "To me it would suggest a hybrid kind of experience of the outdoors inside in a new and cool way. Natural light, the proximity of green, access to open spaces, a home in sync with its surroundings and not working against it are few factors" he suggests
    Basrai also evokes the role of balconies and terraces to establish this indoor-outdoor connect. "Small balconies become areas of release. Terraces are extremely valuable to sense the passing of time and day, with people living in increasingly pocketlike interior existences. They should definitely imply a strong connection with nature. Recently in the studio, on a residential design project, we experimented with drawing the balcony experience far back into the living room. Materials used outdoors like decking and hard-paving, which have a textural memory for us, were explored to extend the domain of the outdoor, into various parts of the house. Experiments of this nature, I hope would create a more fun urbanity format. There is a certain mad rush to enclose spaces in apartments, wall up balconies and convert all floor space into interior space. The camp inspired decor could look at reclaiming some of that lost outdoor space" he opines.
    Agrawal recognizes that it may be difficult to apply camp inspired décor to modern city homes due to space crunch. "However, it is a wonderful idea to include one corner of your home, which rescues you from the hustle and bustle of the city and brings you closer to nature. A camp inspired room or corner can be created with cushions, quilts and rugs with animal and birds motifs. Wooden tables and chairs displaying some peculiarities add character to the room. Use candles, essential oil or potpourri or scented pinecones to make the room more pleasant, earthy and relaxing" he believes.
    Homes that take inspiration from camp décor do have a certain kind of magic to them. "If the house is designed in accord with the outdoors, if sections are designed with respect to a monsoon experience, where parts of the balcony become activated as informal sit-outs, if it's designed with the summer or winter seasons in mind, with the elements of sun, wind and rain all synergizing with the home, it will experientially change every day of the year. And that, I guess is why people go outdoors in the first place, to feel a visceral connect with nature" concludes Basrai.