8 Easy Ways to Make Indoor Camping More Fun
Indoor camping is a great year-round and weatherproof way to bring the outdoors inside. Suitable for all ages, it is both a great way to spice up date night and a fun activity for kids during school holidays. But don't just toss a tent in the living room! With a little effort, you can easily create a warm and inviting campsite that still feels connected to nature.
To get you started and inspired, we've done the Pinterest research and home testing, and curated our list of easy ways to elevate the indoor campsite to be mre fun and special. We've also included some easy recipes to keep you satiated and minimise the mess.
If you don’t have a tent or the space (or energy!) to set one up, then with a bit of DIY creativity, you can recreate the magic with a sheet and a rope. Check out this video for instructions on how to make a great sheet fort.
1. LIGHTING
Set the magical mood by stringing fairy lights around your tent and the room to recreate a starry twinkle.
(Photo from Pinterest)
2. GO GREEN
Place your indoor houseplants around the tent to block off the views of furniture and feel a bit more in the outside.
3. STREAM NATURE
Take advantage of your wi-fi by streaming a campfire, the night sky, or ocean sounds from your TV.
(photo via Pinterest)
4. BRING ENTERTAINMENT
Being inside means you can listen to podcasts, watch adventure movies, or play any game that you have on hand.
5. INVITE YOUR BFF
Many campsites don’t allow pets, but not this one!
6. CAMPING COCKTAILS
After a camp-friendly drink? Our friends at Ladies and the Camp have done the oh-so-hard work of crafting some amazing Camping Cocktails. We highly recommend their Hot Chocolate Campfire Cocktail for winter!
(Photo via Ladies and the Camp)
7. ONE POT RECIPES
One of the best parts of camping is yum food and fewer dishes. Here are some of our favorite one-pot recipes to recreate that camp food vibe:
- Fancy Ramen: This lazy dish got us across the Nullarbor! We jazzed up our packs of ramen with fresh veggies from the market. Slice up some mushrooms, onion, spinach (or bok choy if you can find), and add some nutrition to a simple dish. -- Katey, Wholesale & Marketing Coordinator
- Taco Skillet (via REI): eat as is, or add some tortillas for taco night!
- Pasta Primavera (via Fresh Off the Grid): who doesn't love pasta?
- Blueberry Pancakes (via From My Bowl): a good one to prep ahead for easy camping breakfast, or just quick daily pancakes.
(Photo from Fresh Off the Grid)
8. TOASTED MARSHMALLOWS
Our staff member Katey is American and a self-appointed s’mores snob who feels very strongly on the “science and art” of a perfectly toasted marshmallow. She has taken a deep dive into the topic, available here. TL:DR - skewer a marshmallow, toast over the flame of the stovetop, and smoosh between two Arnotts biscuits with some chocolate. Aldi also sells a s’more kit which, in her words, “will do in a pinch.”
A big perk to being indoors is that you now have access to the pantry and fridge to get creative with your toasted marshmallows!
Some ideas:
- Swap Oreos or use fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies.
- Add a scoop of ice cream into the middle.
- Sub chocolate for Caramello Koalas or Nutella.
(Photo by Jessica Ruscello on Unsplash)
Stay Merry everyone! xx
