Living in an RV can be an incredible adventure, but making it feel like home requires a bit of customization. After living in an RV for three years, I’ve learned firsthand how important it is to create a space that’s both functional and comfortable. Whether you’re hitting the road full-time or setting up a stationary home base, here are some practical tips to help you renovate and organize your RV for long-term living!
1. Maximize Storage Space
One of the biggest challenges of RV living is finding enough room for all your essentials. Here are some ideas to make the most of your space:
- Use Vertical Space: Install shelves, hooks, and hanging organizers on walls and the backs of doors. Overhead cabinets can be fitted with stackable bins or tension rods to keep items secure while driving.
- Multi-Functional Furniture: Opt for furniture pieces that double as storage, like ottomans with hidden compartments.
- Declutter Regularly: RVs have limited storage, so it’s essential to regularly evaluate what you truly need and let go of items you don’t use.
2. Personalize the Interior
Your RV should reflect your style and feel cozy. Here’s how to make it your own:
- Paint or Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper: A fresh coat of paint or some peel-and-stick wallpaper can transform the look of your RV without adding much weight.
- Comfortable Seating: Upgrade cushions or add memory foam toppers to seating areas. Throw pillows and blankets also add warmth and personality.
- Lighting: String some Christmas lights throughout your RV to create a cozy atmosphere. We strung Christmas lights on the slide outs in the living room and in our bedroom and left them there all the time!
3. Prioritize Kitchen Efficiency
Cooking in an RV can be tricky, but a well-organized kitchen makes it much easier! With limited storage space in RV Kitchens, maximizing the space you do have is key.
- Install a Magnetic Knife Strip: Save drawer space and keep your knives easily accessible. It sounds like a small thing, but counter space is sacred in an RV, trust me!
- Collapsible Kitchen Tools: Items like collapsible mixing bowls and colanders save space without sacrificing functionality.
- Drawer Dividers: Keep utensils and gadgets organized with adjustable dividers or small bins.
- Reduce the Amount of Dishes: Don’t keep a full set of dishes and utensils in your RV. Only take one plate, fork, spoon, cup, etc. for each person and wash them by hand in between meals! We did this in our RV and it really helped to free up space.
Check out our Must Have RV Essentials!
After living in an RV full time for 3 years, we’ve learned a thing or two about what you need and what you don’t. We’ve compiled a list of Must Haves for RV life, RV Organization Essentials, and more!
4. Optimize the Bathroom
RV bathrooms are often tiny, but with a little creativity, they can still be functional:
- Over-the-Door Storage: Use hanging organizers for toiletries and towels.
- Compact Hampers: Look for slim or collapsible laundry hampers to keep dirty clothes out of the way.
- Water Heater Upgrade: We bought a small attachment that constantly heats your water in your hot water heater and doesn’t use propane! Click here to View the Product on Amazon
5. Invest in Climate Control
Maintaining a comfortable temperature is vital for long-term living:
- Insulate Windows: Use reflective insulation or thermal curtains to keep heat in during winter and out during summer.
- Portable Heaters and Fans: Small, energy-efficient heaters and fans can help regulate the temperature in specific areas. Be cautious with heaters though, as some of them use too much electricity and will not work in an RV.
- Get a Small Dehumidifier: We notice when cooking or showering in our RV, the condensation accumulates on all of the windows, especially in the winter. I would recommend purchasing a small dehumidifier on Amazon and running that as you need to!
6. Don’t forget about the Outside of your RV!
Extend your living space by making the most of your RV’s outdoor areas, as well as purchasing a few gadgets that will save you so much time and hassle:
- Awning and Outdoor Rugs: Creating a cozy outdoor space with an awning, a durable rug, and/or some comfortable seating really helps your RV to feel more like a home.
- Storage Solutions: Use exterior compartments for less frequently used items like outdoor gear, tools, out of season clothes, and seasonal decorations.
- Purchase a Heated Hose: If you’re planning to stay in your RV in a colder climate where it will get below freezing regularly, a heated hose is a must have! The heater is built in to keep your hose from freezing.
- Purchase a Propane Adapter Kit: If you want to stay in one RV spot for a long time without having to move, I would recommend purchasing this Propane adapter kit! Instead of having to go refill your propane tanks every few weeks or so, you can use the adapter to attach to a normal propane tank and just take them to a refill station when they run out! We’ve done this for the entirety of our RV journey and it’s so nice to not have to pack up and move our RV every time we run out of propane.
7. Embrace Organization Systems
Staying organized is key to enjoying RV life. Here are some tools and tips:
- Label Everything: Clear labels make it easy to find what you need and put things back in their place.
- Rotation Systems: Rotate clothes and gear based on the season to avoid overpacking. Like I said above, rotate through your clothes throughout the year and store the extras underneath your RV in a storage bin.
- Daily Habits: Develop habits like cleaning up daily and returning items to their designated spots. We do a 5 minute tidy almost every day because it’s crazy how quickly your RV can get messy!
8. Expect Things to Break
For my last tip, I just wanted to remind everyone that RV’s are designed for occasional use, not daily living, so wear and tear is inevitable when you’re using them full-time. Here’s how to be prepared:
- Carry a Basic Tool Kit: Include essentials like screwdrivers, wrenches, duct tape, and a utility knife.
- Keep Spare Parts on Hand: Stock up on items like light bulbs, fuses, and hoses.
- Learn Basic Repairs: It would be super helpful to familiarize yourself with common RV issues, like fixing a clogged RV toilet or patching the roof, to save time and money.
Renovating your RV for long-term living is an ongoing process, but the time and effort you put into creating a comfortable, personalized space will pay off in the long run. By optimizing storage, adding personal touches, and prioritizing functionality, you can turn your RV into a true home on wheels. What are your favorite RV renovation hacks? Share them in the comments below—I’d love to hear your ideas!
Thanks so much for reading!
Megan
Related Posts:
How We Renovated a Travel Trailer on a Budget from Start to Finish
How to Choose the Right RV for your Lifestyle
How We Renovated Our RV Kitchen on a Budget
Pin this Post to save it for later:
