Camp Alta was a multi-cabin interior refresh done on and off between 2023 and 2025, with larger sprints in fall 2023 and summer 2024. I worked as the interior designer with a practical, constraint-heavy brief: improve functionality and perceived quality across 18 cabins while keeping costs low, and sourcing secondhand and reusing camp furniture where possible, all during active operations.

Early walkthroughs and stakeholder conversations highlighted several issues: the cabins lacked personality, provided limited privacy, did not reflect the surrounding setting, and the overall campsite experience felt inconsistent.

With 18 cabins and a low-budget approach, scope creep was a risk. It’s easy to focus on changes that look nice but don’t meaningfully improve layout, privacy, or function.

Inconsistency was the other risk. If cabins are updated in isolation, the campsite loses cohesion and maintenance becomes harder. Cleaning staff turnover is high, so without clear guidance, even good interiors degrade quickly.

Instead of treating each cabin as a full renovation, I approached the work as a repeatable interior approach focused on reuse and low-cost optimisation. The trade-off was less dramatic change per cabin, but a stronger overall effect across the campsite and a solution that staff could maintain. This also fit operational reality: targeted upgrades and reuse are easier to execute during active operations than full renovations.

With the low-cost focus, decisions needed to prioritise impact per krona, targeting changes that visibly improve perceived quality and function without relying on expensive replacements.

Grounded in an on-site furniture and material audit and layout planning, the work combined intentional layout changes with upgrades to colour scheme, textiles, and artwork, alongside reuse of existing materials. Most furniture was reused from the camp, purchased secondhand, or saved from the recycling station. Some pieces were upcycled and repurposed. Textiles were purchased new with an effort to optimise material use. In some cases, new items and wood were purchased to create interior elements where reuse was not an option.

The approach focused on consistency through repeatable choices: stronger connection to the setting through nature cues, more intentional colour use, clearer material direction, and improvements supporting guest privacy and comfort. The goal was not luxury cabins, but an interior experience that felt considered and consistent.

Implementation happened on-site during active operations with occasional help from camp staff. A key constraint was scheduling: cabins could be booked from a night to a month, and furniture sometimes needed to move between cabins without overlapping bookings. Secondhand sourcing also required flexibility, since items and salvage opportunities could not be planned far in advance.

For long-term sustainability, I documented placement and layout so new cleaning staff could maintain the intended feel, and I provided guidance for how staff should make replacements when exact items wear out or cannot be sourced again.

This project reinforced that constraint-driven design works best when treated as a repeatable approach. A holistic view of operations, sourcing limits, guest flow, and maintenance makes it easier to define what repeats, what can vary, and what must stay consistent, improving perceived quality at scale without overextending.