Is There a Rightful Place for Camo Print in the Home?

Photo courtesy of Fortuny

Back in January, I began noticing a massive surge of interest around Realtree camo print, which I found odd. Now, it’s become a go-to for former streetwear hypebeasts looking to rebrand in their early to mid-thirties with the great outdoors as a backdrop. Since then, camo print has been ushered into a new era as a cool status symbol that has been further amplified by a younger demographic of non-conservative voters through Harris/Walz campaign merch—specifically, a camo baseball cap. (Teen Vogue reports that 47,028 hats have been sold so far.) Before the camo cap became political, stars like Chappell Roan were eagerly leading the charge with their own military-print trucker hats.

While I still don’t completely understand why so many people want to wear it, what really shocks me to the core is the fact that there are camo print home products for your bedroom, bathroom, and living room. (Realtree recently dropped aprons with Hedley & Bennett, in case you wanted to serve some camo realness in the kitchen.) After digging a little deeper, I discovered that you can also find a surprising amount of camo print furniture and decor on Amazon, Wayfair, and The Home Depot. Obviously, someone out there is buying this stuff—but who exactly?

When I think of camo print in the world of interiors, it brings to mind a house of horrors where you might find stag heads mounted on the walls alongside racks of guns and other miscellaneous taxidermy. But how could I forget the gorgeous library inside this A. Quincy Jones home designed by Studio Shamshiri that features a Fortuny Camo Isole fabric wall? In this setting, the presence of camo feels extremely elevated—and it’s so subtle that you almost miss it. “I remember when I saw that image from the project, I laughed out loud excitedly by that combination,” recalls Benjamin Stelly, coprincipal of Stelly Selway. “I can’t say that it belongs inside the home any more than it belongs anywhere else. The intended use of the pattern was originally for disguising something within the outside world, but I think when used smartly, you can create stunningly whimsical or fantastical narratives inside.”

Maggie Kidd, cofounder and managing director of Forsyth in St. Louis, acknowledges that the print has a “complex relationship” with fashion and design, noting that “it carries strong connotations, from ruggedness and adventure to a sense of rebellion.” Kidd believes the reclamation of camo is rooted in “blending the outdoors with urban sensibilities.” As she further explains in an email, “The ongoing resurgence of camo print reflects a broader trend of reclaiming utilitarian and historical patterns for contemporary aesthetics. This resurgence is often tied to a blend of nostalgia, practicality, and a desire to subvert traditional uses of the pattern.”

Hedley & Bennett founder Ellen Bennett was hoping to inspire people to embark on their wildest cooking adventures when she introduced a collection of camo aprons, a collaboration with Realtree that has been in progress for the past year and a half. “It weirdly works perfectly for us because people love to come to Hedley & Bennett to get a little bit of their identity out in the world—you can buy a Hedley & Bennett x Grateful Dead apron or a LoveShackFancy x Hedley & Bennett apron,” she explains. “We navigate the world in a really fun way where we can do two polar opposite collabs and it’s okay. So to us, it hit this whole other group of people that are really into fishing and hunting.”

From Bennett’s vantage point, the print made sense because, historically, it has always served an actual purpose and function. Camouflage was originally developed by the French during World War I to conceal soldiers from the enemy—these military “principles of coloration” were eventually adopted by brands like Realtree, Mossy Oak, and ASAT, who offered hunters a more appealing wardrobe to hide from their prey (no ghillie suits, animal skins, mud, or foliage required). As camo continues to evolve, so do the patterns themselves, which leaves room for new interpretations of its significance. While camo is having a moment, Bennett believes that camo is timeless and won’t ever truly phase out.

“Being around for a long time is cool; being cool for a day is not cool,” she says. “Good things don’t go away, they just poke their head up and we remember them, but that’s the sign of something that has true longevity in it. I think that that’s what camo is. It’s never gone away; we just forget about it and then it comes back, and it’s going to keep doing that forever.”

From Kidd’s perspective, camo can bring a “natural element inside the home” for those who crave a deeper connection to the outdoors. “Camo can be quite versatile if used sparingly and in the right context,” she says. “Bedding with a muted camo pattern can add a sense of adventure or playfulness to a bedroom, especially in a kid’s room or guest room.” For example, Kidd recently upholstered a vintage Jens Risom chair with a “campy” fabric by the Venetian-based textile house Fortuny. “It’s camo in the most refined and stylish manner,” she insists. “It has a little sheen to it, which adds a touch of elegance to an otherwise rugged print.”

Sarah Fishburne, director of trend and design at The Home Depot, believes that there are no boundaries when it comes to camo print. “It works both inside and outside, especially with all the ways it has evolved from classic camo colors to new, unexpected shades,” she writes in an email. “Whether it’s military, mossy oak, or digital camo, these patterns can be used in both spaces.” Kidd loves this juxtaposition, comparing the neutral effect of camo colors (its greens, beiges, grays, blacks) to that of leopard print. “As a pattern, it’s bold and instantly recognizable, making it both a statement piece and a potentially polarizing choice in design,” she explains. “Sometimes it can really stand out paired with a hot pink or deep red, or blaze orange. It has that quality and versatility to stand out or blend in.”

Stelly loves camouflage, so he’s found a variety of creative ways to incorporate camo print in his interior design projects. He recently completed a custom bed and some upholstery pieces for a project in Austin using Metaphores Eden fabrics. “The primary bedroom of the home has beautiful architecture and natural light; we paneled the walls in a naturally oiled birch wood, and so the natural patterning of the upholstery complements the space wonderfully while adding a sense of the whimsy,” he says. The designer is also excited about an upcoming restaurant project in Los Angeles that is driven by patterning, noting that “the furniture we’ve created for the space is based off of characters, one of whom is trying to camouflage themself within the space, and we have covered the pieces in Nobilis Fauve upholstery with Metaphores Pampas cushions.”

As a Texas native, Stelly avoids using the most literal versions of the print because it “feels a bit on the nose,” but is very pro camo in general because he appreciates elements of design that have a sense of humor and play. “Given the iconography of camouflage patterning, it’s natural that people are drawn to it as they are familiar with seeing it—but it’s seldom used in interior settings, so there’s still something surprising about it,” he explains. “What I’m drawn to is an extrapolation of the tricolor patterning. I love the idea of shower curtains, table linens, and pillows in a printed camouflage.”

Additionally, Kidd points out that, while camo print can add an “intriguing layer of texture and personality” to a home, there are precautions that should be taken to not overwhelm an interior space. She stresses the importance of balancing camo with “neutral tones and natural textures to ensure it doesn’t overpower the space.” If you’re camo curious, Kidd suggests playing around with subtle accents like pillows or throw blankets before advancing to bolder statement pieces such as a sofa or lounge chairs.

Bennett admits that she’s definitely not the type of person who would cover her entire house with camo print, but is open to featuring it in smaller doses that nod and wink to it. “I might give you a camo apron—I’m not going to make a camo wallpaper happen in your kitchen,” she laughs. “I think there’s a line to draw. I am here for the camo, I respect the camo, but I’m not going to put a bedspread in my house with camo… For people excited about camo, that’s great. Get an apron.”

Hedley & Bennett x Realtree Crossback Apron

$115.00, Hedley & Bennett

Sabre Green Camo Bistrot Vintage Flatware (Set of 4)

$70.00, SSENSE

BAPE Khaki ABC Camo Cafe Stool

$950.00, SSENSE

Urban Renewal Vintage Camo Utility Throw Blanket

$79.00, Urban Outfitters

Camouflage Printed 3-Panel Room Divider

$189.00, Home Depot

JBL Flip 6 Portable Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

$130.00, Target

Levtex Home Camo Duvet Set

$117.00, Target

Erosebridal Camouflage Bedding Set

$50.00, Amazon

Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest