One big advantage of owning your camper, like a Happier Camper, is being able to style it your way. Creating the specific look and feel for your home-on-wheels is a breeze with these inexpensive fixes.
Even the least crafty among us will find some painless options in this article for making their rig feel more like the home they imagined. And the best part? Most of these options were designed with renters in mind, so they’re not only easy to install: they’re easy to remove. No matter your sense of style, there are plenty of lighting and decor options to choose from.
Try some of these DIY options and see how it transforms your space. If interior design isn’t your strength, have the Camping World team bring your vision to life with their renovation services.
Peel and Stick Backsplash Tiles
Peel-and-stick tiles are really easy to install and add visual interest to your kitchen or bathroom space. If your space is bland and uninspired, or if it just needs a little extra something, these tiles may be your answer. Many people find RV interiors to be lacking but they don’t want to do a full remodel and tear apart their RV. With a peel-and-stick solution like this, they have the ability to dramatically alter the look of their RV without doing a full remodel. The Rollin’ Boles claim peel-and-stick installation can take as little as 10 minutes and dramatically change the look and feel of a room.
Appliance Covers
Old, ugly appliances in your camper can be covered up inexpensively and fast with covers. Offered in stainless steel, black, white, and other options to match the rest of your appliances and decor. Additional countertop space can be added with this hardwood stovetop cover, which can also be altered using peel-and-stick covers to change the look to better accent your space. This also gives you more prep space in what’s likely a tight kitchen area.
Removable Wall-Paper and Wall Art
If you’re looking for a more dramatic change, there are tons of removable wallpapers. Any pattern your heart desires, it’s probably out there: and if it isn’t, you can design and print your own! Most websites offer a sample size, which is helpful when matching your wallpaper to another type of decor. There are some particularly beautiful botanical designs to be found, alongside polka dots, ginghams, terrazzo, minimal dashes and lines, and more. Chalkboard Wallpaper is a fun addition for campers with children.
Removable wallpapers are designed to remove cleanly from surfaces, with no additional clean-up. They’re essentially a giant sticker that can be repositioned, which is fortunate, as they can be tricky to apply evenly. Try using a squeegee as you apply, and pre-cut your wallpaper with a straightedge and a utility knife.
Additionally, wall art is a very smart addition to your camper and can be added to help transform your space. A fun sign or an interesting wall sculpture or art piece picked up at one of the places you have visited can really help your camper feel more like home. Use Command Hooks to avoid drilling into the walls of your RV! Command hooks have a ton of uses around an RV, from hanging planters to hanging wall art.
Laminate and Vinyl Flooring
Changing your flooring is no longer a job best left to the pros. Some laminate and vinyl flooring can be cut with a utility knife or with a vinyl tile cutter (which looks exactly like an art teacher’s paper cutter), making it easy to produce specific sizes. The best part about today’s laminate and vinyl is that they can be installed in an afternoon or two by someone with little experience.
While the ugly vinyl flooring you’ve seen in your great-aunt’s basement does still exist, laminate and vinyl flooring are now offered in many chic, upscale options. A wide variety of colors, patterns, textures, and faux options are at your fingertips. Many finishes are available, however, you’ll want to look for a low-gloss or matte finish to hide scuffs, scratches, and every other abuse that flooring is on the receiving end of. For interesting visual texture in your camper, consider cork laminate, luxury parquet vinyl, or hand-scraped or grain-embossed wood laminate.
Groutable peel-and-stick vinyl flooring can look upscale and chic when installed in a herringbone pattern. Hex vinyl flooring is an improvement to most RV floors. Monochromatic patterns can add a down-stated flair to an otherwise bland space. For a more unique space, many unusual options can be found online. In addition to patchwork, geometric, and watercolor-style vinyl, more traditional options are available online and in stores. Moroccan, Cuban, French, and Spanish-style vinyl can be found with a simple Google search.
Peel and Stick Countertops
Most RV countertops are plain, which is fine for many folks. If you desire a more true-to-you homey space, you may find a fun project in peel and stick countertops.
Similar to laminate and vinyl flooring, peel and stick countertops are offered in a variety of effects and are fairly inexpensive. Faux marble, granite, stainless steel, wood, butcher block, concrete, and many other options are available to complete your desired style. These can be tricky to install, so a non-repeating pattern may be a newbie’s best option.
You’ll want to have a squeegee, an Exacto knife, a cutting board, and a measuring tape handy during installation. Take your time to make sure it fits perfectly and you’ll never even be able to tell that it’s not the real thing.
Lighting
The ultimate environment changer, this multi-color LED lighting allows you to create mood lighting at the touch of a button. Great for people with sensitive eyes, or simply a great way to set a softer tone for your evenings inside of your camper. Additionally, the directional head of this brushed nickel LED reading light allows users to place the light directly where it is needed and the on/off toggle switch is simple to use. The right indoor light fixtures can really change the look and feel of a space.
Low-hanging lighting doesn’t really work in most campers. Less than 3″ in-depth, this minimal dinette light is ideal for space-saving overhead ambient lighting. The brushed nickel finish and, white alabaster glass dome complement a variety of aesthetics.
This sleek, mission-style dinette light would enhance any dining space, especially if hung over the table. The right RV lighting not only adds creative flair to your space, but it also helps to deter theft.
The Details
Neutrals are an easy way to set a calm tone in your home away from home. Blankets and throws complement a variety of styles and color palettes and look great tossed over a classy, comfy chair or couch.
Custom day/night shades or roller shades will make your space appear larger and more orderly by minimizing wall clutter. For a more whimsical and kid-friendly space, add a color-changing indoor/outdoor block to your decor–a piece that doubles as lighting and portable campfire seating. A travel keepsake map allows you to display pins and other small memorabilia to the states you’ve visited. Add a clock to your space to quickly find the time, while giving your interior personal character.
Basically, think of interiors that make you feel happy, joyful, cozy, and at home. Maybe that’s farmhouse chic, Mediterranean coastal, Spanish revival, mid-century modern, or your own unique blend of styles.
Manufacturers build RVs to be a blank slate, and they’re just begging to be customized with fun decor and personal touches. Don’t leave your walls bare when you can customize your RV’s interior with fun and original accents. Craft your own special space and you’ll live happier on the road.
Camping World Design Center
Interested in reimagining what the interior of your RV could look like? Camping World Design Centers exist to help RVers plan and complete interior design projects. With the assistance of a Design Specialist, you’ll have access to the products, resources, and installations you need to plan and execute your ideal interior design projects with the latest offerings from exclusive brands. Explore what options might be perfect for your interior setup today!
Can’t get enough of these tips? Check out 5 easy ways to make your camper feel like new.
How have you made your RV your own space? Leave a comment below!
Go to your local RV Show or Dealer and look at the new models. The manufacturers will have added features/equipment which you can retrofit to your own rig. (Or you may even find a great replacement RV)
Peel-n-stick tiles in the bathroom or kitchen add a very homey feel to RV’s BUT… if the bottom edge will be exposed to any liquids, be sure to seal that edge with a caulk or similar product!
Speaking from experience here…
Great pro tip, Steve! Peel-n-stick tiles are a great solution for RV’s, with a few simple hacks like this one they can really last.