best travel trailer interiors

24 Modern Interior Ideas For RVs & Campers (With Pictures)

We have remodeled to campers over the last 3-4 years. It’s amazing how you can transform a camper into a modern living space with few hacks and tricks.

These are the best inspirational ideas we found during the modern interior make-over of our two campers!

It’s a mix of ideas from our own two RVs, RVs we have filmed during the years, and other great ideas.

Table of Contents

Campervans and smaller RVs have become increasingly popular over the last decade.

More and more people are becoming geographically independent and life on the road part-time or full-time. We have heard about this change and the newspapers and local RV resellers. This means that more and more young people are choosing to live in campervans or tents .

Let’s take a look at some of those modern camper vans that have been rebuilt till look amazing.

Bright Colors For A Modern Feel

Let take a look at some good examples of brilliant use of colors in campers.

Here’s a good example of this with modern gray, white, and green colors around the seating area. The top shelves and the wood around the top of the curtains are just perfect in this camper.

Everything is so neat, and the green colors are a fresh touch when blended into the white interior .

As soon as you get rid of the dark and yellow surfaces you can start working toward a more modern and bright color palette.

This is always a good idea for small spaces as they will feel more spacious and bigger when you chose bright colors.

In the example below, they basically painted everything white and built up some new stories and shelving areas.

This is also a great example of how easy you can open up space by painting everything white. Just keep a couple of wooden colors here and there to create some contrast.

Let’s take a look at what we came up with for our own camper remodeling projects.

We started out with a tiny vintage camper from the ’70s and the idea was to turn it into a clean and minimalistic living space. It started out as a yellow and worn down camper and after a year and a lot of sweat and tears this is what it looked like:

We eventually sold the old tiny camper when we had Max who is 2 years old now. At that point, we really needed to be able to close the door between his nursery and our living space.

When we removed the old yellow and dark shelves we had the opportunity to do something else with the walls. We chose to have white walls with light blue colors on the wallpaper.

The back of the table is covered with the same wallpaper as the wall and you can see it to the right on the image above. It totally blends in with the wallpaper when it’s folded up.

Here you can see the table when folded down. We chose light blue colors because they are “cold” colors and we prefer to camp in warm areas during the summer. So it’s nice to have space feel a little colder.

You can see more pictures from inside this camper at the bottom of the post.

So we got a bigger caravan camper now which is 15 feet long (4,5 meter). It’s a pretty standard German caravan that you will see all over Europe.

You can see a full tour of the camper we currently use below.

It’s a Hobby caravan from 2004 which we have modified to include:

• Nursery (cot bed)
• Office space
• Change station for a baby

Interior Ideas For Sleeping Areas In Campers (And RVs)

The first example below is a rather small campervan where they have built a raised bed with storage underneath the bed.

This is a clever way of getting extra storage as you don’t need full ceiling height at the sleeping area.

This bed with built-in storage is really beautifully done. The light wood matches the floor and leaves the room with a spacious feeling. The use of wooden colors in this camper is also great. (We will come back to that!)

Everything is made with white and light wooden colors which adds to the spacious feeling in this campervan.

It’s also a really great idea to add some additional lighting around the lines of the ceiling. This adds a lot of coziness to the atmosphere and it can also be used as ambient light at night.

The picture below is taken from the back of a Volkswagen Transporter van.

This is a pretty popular model to turn into a moving living space. Especially if you are looking for a cheap solution.

The Volkswagen Transporter vans have a really good reputation because they tend to work well even when they have been driven a lot of miles.

This is yet another great DIY solution for a campervan with a sleeping area and two sofas in the back. This space can be converted in no time and you will have a nice queen size bed when you need to go to sleep. During the day you will have seating for up to four or five people inside the van if the weather does not invite you outdoors.

This solution is basically just a good idea for the sleeping area if you are rebuilding a van into a motorhome.

In the daytime, the area can be used for sitting, playing, dining and so forth, and in the night time you just fold down the backrest, and voila! You now have a queen size bed !

As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, I have rebuilt to campers with my wife. The bed below is from the camper we currently use.

When we bought the camper it had as U-shaped seating area in this end

We have pulled out the seating area in our camper and installed a modern sofa bed instead. It works just great and now we use this space as a seating area during the day and we can fold the sofa into a bed at night.

Here’s what it looks like during the day and the night:

The bed cost us around $800 so it wasn’t that cheap but it has a VERY nice and comfortable mattress that we really enjoy when we are on the road. You can see sofa beds like this one here .

We had the classic U-shaped sofa seating arrangement in this area before and we really felt like it had to go. It was too cramped and we didn’t like sitting there. When you have a 2-year-old toddler in the camper you will have to be on your feet all the time so you don’t want to squeeze in and out behind the table and the sofa.

It says sofa bed which we assembled inside the caravan camper because we couldn’t fit it through the door. It fits the camper perfectly and during nighttime and we can fold down the backrest in order to create a nice (almost) full-size sleeping area.

The Kitchen Space

The kitchen space is often also the main living area, so it’s important to keep it clean and clutter-free – both on a daily basis but also design-wise.

Here are some of the best interior ideas we have come by for remodeling RVs. Let’s start off with a great space for all of us who enjoy a white and minimalistic feel to our RV.

Everything is made to utilize the vertical space and the wallpaper goes well with the white finish on the cabins and the ceiling.

These wooden panels and storage solutions are also very well worked out:

This kitchen area is for the family that really enjoys cooking. There’s plenty of counter space, and everything is neatly organized.

It’s pretty cool to have the fronts of the cabinets and drawers painted white with wooden frames. It looks trendy and up-to-date.

Notice how the counter space is curved in order to fit inside the motorhome floor plan:

The next idea is a fine way to add some storage to the camper.

The sliding cabinet dorrs are stylish and look like the latest styles from the modern caravan and RV manufacturers.

We love these sliding doors as they don’t require space around to open them up. A very cool and innovative way of designing the drawers.

It’s important to be able to close off all the closets during transportation. By adding the little wooden molding on the front off the top shelf you can avoid things from falling out.

This is another fine example of how great it works with light wood colors in campers.

You don’t have to paint everything white. Just keep the natural colors of the wood or choose another light color like the green and blue nuances below.

The dark red/brown colors on the kitchen counters below work wonders for this camper. The kitchen solution utilizes the full width of the caravan and offers a double-sided counter space.

The dark wood really looks great in contrast to the white ceiling and wallpaper:

This is another good example of the effective use of natural wood colors and a white ceiling.

White Peel-off Tiles (Adhesive)

Another neat trick we have used is to cover the kitchen walls with white adhesive tiles.

These are pretty cheap and you can mount them directly on the wooden surface.

Here’s a picture of how it looks in our current camper. We found these adhesive tiles on Amazon. They are sold in sheets you can cut with a scissor.

Here’s a link to the ones we used (Amazon) .

They totally transformed the ugly yellow walls into shiny white tiles which looks a lot like the tiles you would find in a modern bathroom.

Ideas For The Toilet And Shower

The bathroom might not strike you as the most important room in the RV/Motorhome, but nevertheless, it’s most certainly a space you can improve.

Check out this great knitted wallpaper and interior:

If you need to cram in a toilet in a very tight space, you might consider this type of toilet.

It’s a solution we also often find in under-the-stairs bathrooms .

It’s a toilet where you use the spilled water from the sink for flushing the toilet. Many campers have a composting toilet but if you are going for a more regular toilet this could be a really cool solution.

The toilet seat is mounted sideways so you can mount the whole toilet sideways. This way you can access the sink as well. It’s a beautiful and modern design that we found while researching tiny toilet ideas.

Check out these amazing RVs with comfy recliners .

Interior Ideas For The Living Space

As we mentioned above the storage is always critical when it comes to RVs.

Many people forget to built-in enough storage space and then you have to keep boxes and bags in the RV. It’s much better to hide this inside bed furniture and inside seating areas.

This is a nice solution with the partial wall between the seating area and the front of the RV. The table and the seating furniture can be pulled out from under the bed which is a really nice twist!

Check out how cozy this 4-person dining area has turned out:

The storage sofa below is custom-made for a modern bus conversion we filmed in Florida a couple of years ago.

Instead of a backrest, they placed some big pillows for the back. This is a great way to create a comfortable seating area that you can easily turn into a sleeping area when you need to.

Underneath the sofa, there’s a ton of storage as you can see below.

You just grab the seat and lift it up.

Here they have placed batteries and other tools for the camper. You need to remember storage for tools and other things you need for maintenance on your RV or camper.

They have done a really good job of making sure every square inch is used in one way or another.

Normally the best option is to use the bed area for sitting during the day and then fold down/out the cushions when you need to sleep.

This vertical storage space is meant for laptops and magazines.

Everything is painted white and the mattress breaks up the white colors. It doesn’t feel small and claustrophobic as it sometimes is the case with a small space.

Just beside this sofa area, you find a built-in dog crate for a very cute (and rather big) dog. You can see it in the video below. As we mentioned, We found these ideas inside a nice modern bus conversion in Florida.

You can see the video tour of the space below where Maria guides you through the many ideas.

Don’t let the skin fool you with this one. It’s REALLY sweet and modern on the inside!

Ideas For Very Small Trailer Campers

We will start with a beautiful kitchen area from a sweet little teardrop trailer.

We have a nice walk-through of a bunch of teardrop trailers in this article . Check it out if you are into tiny camper spaces. There are some really great ideas as well!

Use Natural Wood Colors

This kitchen space is compact and stylish.

The natural colors of the wood look amazing and it adds a lot of atmosphere to a camper.

It’s a great idea to mix the use of natural wood with a couple of strong colors or darker wood. This will add some contrast to the wood.

If you paint everything white it often ends up feeling too sterile and impersonal.

Notice how they have hidden storage underneath the seating area as well as in the back of the van. Extra storage like this is really important if you choose to take down the upper shelves around the ceiling.

The little leather straps look great.

We use the same type of leather straps on our storage cabinets and they are both stylish and modern. We stole this idea from a Scandinavian design Maga zine.

Below you see a picture of our own tiny camper which we sold a couple of years ago.

We gutted the camper completely and built everything up anew. This bed is built around a very comfortable mattress and under the bed, we had a ton of storage.

We would keep all our clothes and personal items in here as well as some camping gear.

In tiny campers like this one, you have to sacrifice some space due to the wheels. So we built a bookshelf and a small cabinet for our laptops and electronic devices like cameras, phones, and chargers.

We also built-in power sockets in these shelves so we could leave the computers in there while they could charge.

This way we could get them out of sight and we could keep them hidden when we were out exploring so thieves couldn’t see them.

As we always work on the road when we travel we need to bring our laptops and electronic gear with us. So we had to think about storage for this and a place to charge the gear.

You cannot have too many power sockets and USB sockets in a tiny space.

In order to get cords and wires out of the way you should place power sockets in every corner and everywhere else, you can. Inside drawers, besides the bed, in the kitchen etc.

We had a power outlet in the corner of the bed so we could charge our baby unit and our phones during the night.

Change Station And Nursery In A Camper

We also built a nursery into our camper.

Max was around one year old when we started camping in Italy for a month. We needed a change station and a crib for him so we decided to put in a crib just like the one he has in our apartment at home.

This way he felt more at home when we were on the go because he recognized the space around his bed.

We placed a change station on top of the crib. It was made from wood from the camper. We throw out a lot of furniture and wood from the camper during the rebuilding process and we kept most of it in order to use it for projects like this.

That’s a great idea because you will need super light-weight materials if you are going to build new furniture and walls in your camper space.

And as you can tell, Max loved his little space inside our caravan.

We put up some heavy 3-layered curtains to keep the cold out during the night.

He has a habit of kicking off any sort of comforter we cover him with during the night we so had to keep the temperature high during the night.

The curtains we mounted in the ceiling and went all the way to the floor in order to keep him warm.

I hope you got inspired by these interior ideas. If you have a modern RV space you’d like to have featured on our blog just let us know. We are always open to that.

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The Wandering RV

7 amazing rv interiors & how to style your rv.

• Bill Widmer
• Updated: June 6, 2022

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Looking for inspiration to spruce up your camper?

Whether you’re looking to upgrade your own RV’s living space or you’re just bored and want to see some cool designs, you HAVE to see these jaw-dropping RV interiors.

Then at the end, we give some tips for you to spruce up your own RV interior and make it just as cozy (if not cozier) than the ones in these pictures!

Let’s dive in.

Table of Contents

1. 2008 thor jazz fifth wheel, 2. 1967 kit companion travel trailer, 3. thor citation renovation, 4. 2000 coachmen catalina, 5. airstream pottery barn, 6. jayco 2022 alante, 7. 2022 winnebago journey, pick a style, order your materials, start remodeling, frequently asked questions, 7 gorgeous rv interiors you have to see.

We found some of the most gorgeous RV interior designs out there and are excited to show you! The first four were renovated by RV owners and the final 3 are RVs you can purchase from dealers as they are! 

From the accessories and appliances, the paint on the walls, the ceiling lights and doors, and all other elements, we’re sure you’ll be inspired! Let’s dive in.

This gorgeous 2008 Thor was renovated by  Ann and Tom from RVing Dogs and Wine . They went for modern accessories, hung some  gorgeous  light fixtures, and it’s an interior that we cannot get over!

This vintage-inspired 1967 Travel Trailer will make any RV owner stare in amazement. It was renovated by  Allison and her husband at the start of 2020  – what started as a quarantine project turned into a renovating obsession! Don’t let this older RV fool you, the interior makes you feel like you’re in a brand new RV!

This camper renovation blew our minds –  Sarah’s vision for this Thor Citation  is full of life! The layout of this RV was amazing to begin with (the amount of windows makes the space bright and helps the room to look bigger). Each wall is different, the furniture is cute and functional, and the accessories make all the difference!

The interior of this RV is definitely a work of art!  Sarah from All Things with Purpose  did this renovation for a customer she found on Facebook marketplace and we’re probably just as blown away as they were with the results. The furniture is gorgeous and it really shows how big of a difference accessories can make in a small space. Check out the door to the bathroom, too! This layout is fully functional and is blowing our minds. 

Airstream RVs are gorgeous. The  Pottery Barn design is one of our favorites  and it’s easy to see why! The style of this vehicle is beautiful and the natural light coming into the RV makes the interior look phenomenal. 

Jayco is known to have gorgeous campers, but the new  2022 Alante has so many elements  that we love. From the amount of storage space to the interior of these RVs, it’s easy to fall in love.

This 2022 Winnebago Journey was designed for luxury travel and entertaining. It features stylish, modern refinements from front to back and we love all of the elements in this camper!

Related Post — 16 Best Small Travel Trailers Under 5,000 Pounds

How to Upgrade Your Own RV Interior

When it comes to upgrading your RV interior, there are a few things you need to take into account: the style of your camper, the type of furniture you want, and the materials you’ll need. 

There are all sorts of different styles you can go for when remodeling your RV interior. Some popular choices include:

• Contemporary
• Vintage 
• Bohemian 

But really, the sky’s the limit! You can choose whatever style speaks to you and makes you feel comfortable. 

Once you’ve picked a style, it’s time to order your materials. This can be done either through the internet or by visiting local home improvement stores. 

If you’re not sure what type of furniture or accessories you want, take a look at some online retailers or even Pinterest for inspiration. 

Once you’ve figured out your style and have the materials you need, it’s time to start remodeling! 

If you’re not sure where to start, check out this video from Adaline Zook on YouTube! She fully renovated the interior of her RV and takes you through the entire process.

Related Post — 27 RV Upgrades & Mods You HAVE To See

Looking to stay up to date with the times? Check out these FAQs to keep your RV modern! 

Pro Tip:  You can find inspiration on Pinterest to update the functionality of your rooms, how to rearrange your furniture, different appliances, how to update your cabinets, and more!

It can be a bit tricky to remodel an RV, but with the right instructions, it’s totally doable. There are tons of resources on YouTube and Pinterest to help you redesign the interior of your RV!

This will vary depending on the size of your RV, the type of materials you choose, and how much work needs to be done. As a general rule, expect to spend between $2000-$5000 on a full remodel.

Yes, you can paint over your RV’s wallpaper. However, it’s generally recommended that you sand the surface down and use a primer before painting. Painting is a great way to get the color scheme you want for the interior of your rig!

Wallpaper is a great way to add some personality to your RV interior, but it’s not recommended for everyone. Some people choose to use wallpaper because it can be easier and less expensive than painting, while others find that it can be difficult to remove if they decide they don’t like it later on.

Think about how pretty you can make the RV kitchen look with a bit of luxury wallpaper! The difference in the atmosphere will make your space feel more modern (and it’s always fun to decorate).

This really depends on your individual taste and what type of look you’re going for. However, some popular choices include:

• Air conditioners
• Ceiling lights
• Kitchen cabinets
• New light fixtures

Yes, you can hang items on your RV walls as long as you use the proper anchors and screws. Just make sure whatever you’re hanging is lightweight and won’t cause any damage to the wall. Accessories make your RV look incredible – don’t shy away from them!

Yes, you can put screws in RV walls as long as you use the proper anchors and screws. Just make sure whatever you’re hanging is lightweight and won’t cause any damage to the wall.

We hope this article gave you some inspiration for your next RV interior remodel! Whether you have a small motorhome or a large RV, there’s something for you here.

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Brilliant RV Interior Design Ideas

If you have an older RV, you may wish to consider a little interior design to give it a new lease of life. Even the most swish of RVs tend to look a little jaded after a while, and even if everything is still in good repair, there are still often plenty of things that you might want to do to improve the way your RV looks and feels, and to make it work better for your particular tastes and needs.

The good news is that RV interior design ideas can be found that suit all budgets and tastes. Giving the inside of your RV an overhaul does not need to break the bank – especially if you are prepared to get your hands dirty and do at least some of the work yourself.

In this article, we will begin with some general tips for RV interior design before looking at some simple, yet wonderful interior design ideas for each part of your vehicle. So, whether you live full-time in your RV, intend to do so, or are simply looking to improve your RV vacation experiences, you are sure to find inspiration below.

General Tips For RV Interior Design

Before we look at some of the brilliant ways that we can update and improve the different sections of an RV, it may be helpful to consider these general tips for RV interior design:

Pick a Stylistic Theme

A great place to begin when considering the interior design of your RV is by thinking about the general stylistic theme that you would like to follow. For example, you might consider one or more of the following themes to create a cohesive and beautiful look and feel for your space:

A Rustic/ Country Feel

Bare wood, natural materials and a relaxed, simple feel characterise this style. Often, there may be a home-spun, home-made kind of feel, and you might associate this look with a farmhouse or barn like feel.

A Shabby Chic Look

This look can be very homely. It is all about creating a home-made and lived-in feel in your RV. It might include distressed paint effects, upcycled furniture, and accessories that personalise the space in a cute and appealing way.

Arts & Crafts

This style also incorporates hand-crafted items, and also, like the rustic look, values natural materials and simplicity. However, it differs from the rustic look somewhat in that it often incorporates a range of organic and nature-inspired motifs, and emphasizes not simplicity but rather a somewhat higher level of artisan craftsmanship. Art nouveau elements work very well within this stylistic theme.

A Luxurious, Traditional Look

If you are a fairly traditional person, but would like a somewhat higher level of sumptuous luxury, then you might want to include some traditional style elements. In this style, natural materials are still the order of the day. But these natural woods etc. are combined with a more layered and complex feel – with ornate, rich fabrics, accessories and art.

An Eclectic, Bohemian Look

If the style above is too traditional, a layered and complex look can also be more eclectic and bohemian. This style is all about individuality, quirkiness and eccentricity – almost anything goes. Think clashing colours, textures and patterns, rich, jewel-like tones, and a very personal collection of items and accessories.

Hollywood Glam Design

If you love luxury but want a little more sophistication and glamour then the Hollywood Glam look, with gleaming silver or chrome, dazzling lights and some suggestions of sparkle could be for you. Think of the glamour of Hollywood’s golden age – perfect for those who want their name up in lights. Art deco elements could work well with this stylistic theme.

Mid-Century Modern

If you love the look of the 1950s and 60s then the sleek, organic shapes of mid-century modern could be perfect for you. If you are a would-be ‘Mrs Maisel’ or want to be one of the ‘Mad Men’ then this could be right up your street.

A Scandinavian Style

Moving away from the complexity of the above styles, a Scandinavian look is all about minimalism and a more pared back design. With a beachy vibe, cool colours, natural, wide-board wooden floors and perhaps some stencilling paintwork, this could be another great option for an RV.

An Industrial Vibe

Another quite pared back look draws its inspiration from the industrial age, with an almost factory-like feel. Think exposed metal, bare bulbs and pipework and stark, straight lines, with a bared down color pallette and fewer soft furnishings to break up the starkness.

An Ultra-Sleek, Contemporary Look

One final option is to go for an extremely sleek, pared back,minimalist, contemporary look, with no clutter , smooth lines and surfaces, modern materials and a simple color palette. Could this be a good solution in an RV with limited space?

Choosing a stylistic theme for your RV interior design can help you to develop a cohesive approach and to make sure that all of the elements that you include in your RV all work well together and achieve the atmosphere and appearance that you are going for.

Of course, your ideal look might be a combination of two or more of the above – a sort of transitional style. The key, whichever style or styles you decide to go for, is to stick with it and keep it in mind as you go about making all your design decisions and making any required purchases.

Pick a Color Scheme (& Stick to It)

In any interior design scheme, be it for a home or for an RV, picking a color scheme before you begin can also help you make sure that you create a cohesive and successful design. How many colors you include, and how exactly you include them, will of course depend on which style you are going for. A sleek, contemporary design, for example, will obviously have fewer colors/ a more limited color palette than a bohemian or other more elaborate and ornate styles.

In addition to thinking about which colors will help you achieve the style or styles that you are going for,you may also wish to think about how color affects mood. Color psychology can help you determine which colors might be best for a given space. For example, hot, passionate colors like red might be better for a space that you want to be energizing, greens can help you achieve balance, and cool blues can be calming too.

Whatever color scheme you decide upon, try to stick to it not only for walls, floors and furniture/ fixtures but also for any accessories, art or soft furnishings that you include within the space.

Consider Practicality as Well as Aesthetics

Before you go too far down the road of designing or redesigning the interior of your RV, it is important to make sure that you are considering the practicalities as well as the aesthetics.

For example, that white or cream carpet might look wonderful – but is it really practical when you are coming in with muddy shoes or boots after enjoying the great outdoors? You might love a particular kitchen worktop – but might it get stained, scratched or chipped too easily when you are cooking in your RV ?

Another thing to consider is weight. Of course, your RV is a road-going vehicle. It is important to make sure that any additions you make will not increase the load to an unfeasible degree. Of course, as you will be moving in the RV, you will also have to think carefully about any additions that might easily be broken or damaged on the road.

Design Specifically For You & Your Family

Another important thing to bear in mind during the design process is that what will suit one RV owner down to the ground may not necessarily work for another. It is important to make sure that you design specifically for you and your traveling companions, rather than just designing generically.

Think not only about you and your family ‘s aesthetic preferences, but also about how you will realistically use and interact with the space. Will you require more storage – or are you pretty good about traveling and living in a more pared down way? Are you neat and careful, or rather messy and chaotic? How you actually are as people will often dictate many of your interior design decisions.

Zone Your RV

When working out an interior design for your RV, it can be helpful to zone the space. Obviously, RVs come in a wide range of shapes, sizes and configurations. Some are more obviously divided into different rooms, while others are far more open-plan. No matter how your RV is laid out, zoning the space in such a way that it is immediately clear how each area is used and for what purpose can make it easier in terms of liveability and will often dictate the best design decisions.

Design From Patterns to Details

Another great tip for those working on the interior design of their RV is that it is always best to design from patterns to details. Rather than obsessing over one small detail, such as which handles to choose for kitchen cupboard , or the best tile for your RV bathroom, it is best to begin with the bigger picture, before working down to all the little details and minutiae of the design.

The big picture obviously includes the things above – the stylistic theme, color scheme, and practical considerations. But it also includes taking patterns into account.

Patterns that you can work from might include the way in which sunlight moves through the space, or the way in which people move through the space as they go about the different activities that they commonly undertake in the RV.

Select Options That Are as Eco Friendly as Possible

One final thing to think about when considering RV interior design ideas is that it is a good idea to select options that are as eco friendly as possible. Whether or not you are particularly interested in or knowledgable about green living and sustainability, being eco friendly is something that we should all be thinking about in this day and age.

Being eco friendly might include:

• Thinking about how interior design options might help us in reducing energy use in the RV.
• Considering how our interior design choices might impact how much water we use on our travels.
• Pondering how our interior design choices could help or hinder us in moving towards a zero waste lifestyle .
• Thinking about how our choices might impact wildlife and the environment.
• Incorporating plants in our interior design and perhaps even reducing our impact by growing at least some of our own food in our RVs .
• Reducing, reusing and recycling wherever possible.
• Considering the complete life-cycle of all of the materials that we choose.

Interior Design Ideas for an RV Kitchen

Now that we have discussed some general tips for RV interior design, it is time to turn our attention to your RV kitchen . Below you will find five simple interior design ideas that you could consider to completely change the look and feel of the space:

Update Kitchen Cabinets

One of the simplest and often most affordable ways to completely overhaul the look of a kitchen is to rejuvenate or replace the doors of the existing kitchen cabinets. If the existing cabinets are in good repair, it may only be necessary to give them a lick on paint in order the achieve a whole new look.

For example, you could use some distressed chalk paint to create a shabby chic or rustic look. Blackboard paint could allow you to create a more minimalist effect, or to decorate with chalk to create a bohemian effect. A glossy paint job could be perfect for an industrial or sleek, contemporary look. You could also consider adding stencil work to painted cabinets for a Scandinavian effect, for example.

Another option might be to sand down wooden, painted cabinet doors to take them back to bare wood, if you want a simpler and more natural look and feel in your kitchen.

If the cabinets in your RV are a little cheap and nasty – made from chipboard or something similar, then you might wish to remove the doors entirely and replace the fronts of the cabinets with solid wood, or another material. This can be a far cheaper and more eco friendly option than ripping out the whole kitchen and starting again.

Replace The Kitchen Worktop

Another way to completely change the kitchen in your RV without ripping out the whole thing and starting again is to replace the worktop with a surface that is more to your liking. An old, damaged plywood or laminate countertop could be replaced with a range of other options. And do, it does not have to be formica! For example, you might consider:

• A solid wood tree slice.
• A reclaimed wood (pallet or barn wood) countertop.
• DIY pine butcher-block worktops.
• A bamboo countertop.
• A stainless steel countertop.
• A ceramic tile worktop.

The material you choose for your worktop can really set the tone for your RV kitchen.

Create A New Tile Backsplash To Brighten the Space

Another way to breathe new life into a tired old RV kitchen is to add a new backsplash that will tie in with the style theme and color palette you have chosen. There are plenty of option that you could consider for your new backsplash. For example, you could:

• Use regular square or rectangular ceramic tiles.
• Create a ceramic mosaic, either from ceramic mosaic tiles, or from broken tile pieces for a more idiosyncratic and cheaper option.
• Use waxed wood offcuts/ blocks to create a wooden mosaic, either painted or unpainted.
• Use wood logs sliced into thin circles, wax or oil them and place these on the wall.
• Make a backsplash with bamboo canes or other thin,straight branches, either upright or horizontal, affixed to the wall.
• Create a mosaic using sea-smoothed glass/ glass tiles or beads.
• Use pebbles to make your own beautiful backsplash.
• Make a mosaic with pieces of plastic from food packaging, to save such plastic from heading to landfill.
• Create a DIY wine cork backsplash.

Those are just some of the many creative ideas you could consider.

Change the Quality of Light in Your RV Kitchen

Another way to change up your kitchen without doing a huge amount of work is to reconsider the lighting. The way a space is lit can make a big difference to the way it looks and feels. In fact, this is something to consider not just in the kitchen area but also throughout your RV.

In order to save energy in your RV , you should already be considering replacing your lighting with low energy LED options. But you might not have to stick to just the same old ceiling lights. You might also be able to consider installing low-energy lights beneath your upper kitchen cabinets, or even along a base rail at floor level.

The types of bulbs you select will make a big difference to the look and feel of your space. For example, inset bulbs will give a more modern or contemporary feel, while industrial bulbs or tiny fairy lights or strip lighting would make the space feel very different. Of course, you should also consider carefully the tone of the light that is emitted – is it a cold or a warm light? In certain schemes, colored lights might even be an option.

But even if you don’t want to change up the lighting in your RV kitchen, you could still change the quality of light entering the space by:

• Hanging or affixing stained glass panels in your windows.
• Using sheer blinds of curtains to diffuse bright light.
• Placing plants in your windows to create green dappled light.

Incorporate Plants in Your RV Interior Design

Even if you do not want to place plants in front of the windows in your RV, you could still consider placing plants elsewhere throughout your RV. Whether you are growing houseplants as ornamentals only, or growing some food while you are on the go, plants can really enhance your interior design.

An RV kitchen can be a good place to put some plants. They will be easier to water as they will be close to a water source, and if they are edible plants, they will be conveniently close to hand when you wish to use them.

Plants can be a great idea in other parts of your RV living space too. They are proven to boost mood and can help to create a calm and relaxing vibe throughout the space inside your RV. What is more, plants will keep you healthy as well as happy – cleaning the air and producing the oxygen we need to breathe.

In interior design, plants can be used to:

• Soften hard lines and edges.
• Add color, texture and interest.
• Create focal points and draw the eye.

Plants such as small succulents can even be used to create artworks for your RV walls, hanging wreathes, or planters, centrepieces, and more. Plants are currently a major trend in interior design and you can get in on the act in your RV.

Interior Design Ideas for an RV Living Space

Next, let’s turn our attention to the RV living space. An RV living space can vary considerably from vehicle to vehicle. It can be a space to relax and for entertainment. It can also be a place to socialise or entertain. It may be a place where you spend a lot of your time, and so it is important that you create an interior that you can be happy with, no matter how long you spend there. Here are some interior design ideas that you could consider for your RV living space:

Upcycle To Create a New Seating Area

In many RVs, the seating area can be old, outdated and unfashionable. It may be functional – but far from aesthetically pleasing. It may not really meet the needs of the RV’s users or inhabitants.

One way to change things up is simply to reupholster the old seats or benches. An eco friendly way to do so is using reclaimed materials. There may be many sources that you could turn to to find fabrics that could be used for this purpose. And you will only need basic DIY/ sewing skills to be able to tackle the project.

You could also consider taking out the existing built-in seating and replacing it with a new seating area. An affordable and green option involves using reclaimed materials to make the structure of your new seating. Wood from barns or old pallets could definitely be options to consider.

Another interior design idea for RV living spaces is to reconfigure the entire space, and place free-standing pieces of furniture rather than a completely built-in seating area. This could be a great way to give your RV a more homely feel, and to make it more flexible, so it is better suited to your own particular needs. For example, it would make it possible to clear items to one side to create more floor space for kids to play, for a social gathering – or to dance the night away with your loved one.

There are lots of ways to upcycle old chairs, side tables etc. for use in your RV. For example, wooden pieces can be sanded down, waxed, varnished,painted or re-painted. Of course soft chairs or sofas could be reupholstered too. Incorporating free-standing pieces of living room furniture in your RV could give you more flexibility when it comes to creating the stylistic theme that you prefer.

Add Additional Living Space Storage

Depending on your own specific needs, you could also consider reconfiguring the living space layout of your RV in order to create additional living space storage. For example,you could:

• Add bookshelves to a wall.
• Create storage beneath new built-in seating, or improve the storage in and around your existing seating area.
• Add high-level lockers (like those found on a plane, perhaps) above your seating area.
• Add fabric hammocks for high-level storage of soft items.
• Add an extra hideaway/ roll out bed beneath a new sofa or bench.

Add Area Rugs To Break Up The Space

One way to quickly and easily improve an RV living space is to add area rugs. These will help to create division between different zones in an open-plan space, and can really tie the room together.

A rug can set the colour palette for the rest of the interior design. You can pick up the tones in the rug with your furniture upholstery and on the walls, and, of course, in any artwork and accessories that you choose to include.

Create a Feature Wall Focal Point

One great way to enhance your living space is to create a feature wall or another focal point that will draw the eye and make the space feel more appealing. Ways to create a feature wall include:

• Using wallpaper (A bold design on one wall can sometimes make the space feel bigger.)
• Painting one feature wall a brave, bright or rich color. (You might think that darker shades will make a room feel smaller, but sometimes the opposite can be the case.)
• Using wood cladding to create a warm, homely feel.

You can create a focal point on this feature wall by:

• Placing a small wood-fired stove .
• Creating shelving for potted plants, books or other cherished items.
• Hanging a tapestry or fabric hanging.
• Hanging a painting, or other favourite visual artwork.
• Placing your favourite photographs and creating a memories wall.

Add New Partitions To Create Different Room Configurations

While area rugs and other features of the layout can help to create different zones in an RV living space, you may sometimes still feel the need to divide up the space a little more. Adding partitions that can be drawn across or removed as required can be another handy interior design feature. For example, you might consider:

• Hanging a curtain across the space to divide one area from another.
• Creating a folding partition from fabric strung frames.
• Creating a bamboo garden-style lattice to divide the space.

Interior Design Ideas for an RV Bedroom

The RV bedroom is another important part to consider in any interior design scheme. Whether you have a permanent bed, in the main body of the vehicle or even in its own separated bedroom, or just a fold out bed that turns into seating or something during the day, getting the design right is important. Here are some ideas to help you to do just that:

Use a Soothing Color Pallet to Aid Sleep

In a bedroom area, as nowhere else in your RV, color is vitally important. No matter what style you are going for, a sleeping area should be calm and soothing – not too stimulating or energizing, as this could make it far more difficult to get a good night’s sleep. Choose colours like greens and blues for a soothing atmosphere, and make sure that your interior design scheme is not too busy.

Use Soft Lighting For a Relaxing Feel

It is also particularly important in a sleeping area to make sure that there is soft lighting for a relaxed feel and to make it easier to get to sleep when you retire for the evening. As in the kitchen, you can change the quality of the light by switching out the bulbs and trying out different lighting solutions. Again, the window treatment in the areas of glazing (if there are any) will also make a difference.

Consider adding small lights to side tables so that you can still have some gentle light after you turn out the main light. This will also mean that you can turn out the light from the bed after you finish reading and want to go to sleep.

Create a DIY Headboard For Your Bed

Another cool interior design idea that could suit a wide range of RVs is creating a cool DIY headboard. For example, you could consider:

• Creating a DIY headboard from reclaimed wood.
• Making a natural log headboard.
• Creating a headboard from bamboo canes.
• Using fabric to make your own hanging headboard. (Use natural, organic options or reclaimed materials for a more eco-friendly option.)
• Sewing your own padded, quilted headboard with scrap materials.

Use Fabric Creatively To Give a Cosier Feel

A bedroom should be a cosy space, like a cocoon that you can retire to at the end of each day and awake from feeling like a beautiful butterfly. Well, maybe not! But a cosy bedroom can make anyone feel more comfortable and happy.

One way to soften hard edges in a bedroom is to recreate a canopied bed or four-poster bed feel by draping fabrics up the walls and over the ceiling above the bed. This cannot only truly enhance the visual appearance of the space, it can also improve the insulation and the acoustics.

Create Better Under-Bed Storage

Finally, no matter what the size and layout of your RV, creating better under-bed storage should also be an interior design priority. For example, you might be able to put under-bed storage on wheels or sliding rails, so you can draw it out more easily.

Interior Design Ideas for an RV Bathroom

Finally,let’s take a look at what is almost certainly a very small but very important part of your RV – the toilet, shower room or bathroom. No matter how large or small this section of your RV may be, here are a few interior design ideas for your RV bathroom:

Replace Tiles for an Instant Facelift

If your RV toilet, shower or bathroom is looking tired, old or outdated, replacing the tiles could be a way to instantly improve the look and feel of the space. You could simply replace the tiles you have removed with different tiles that are more to your liking. However, you could also consider a different solution – like using metal sheeting, or even marine ply in certain situations, to line the space.

Replace Your Old Toilet & Sink

Of course, another way to overhaul your RV bathroom is to replace your toilet, sink and tub if you have one. To keep costs down, you could consider a second hand option, and visit a reclamation yard or look for options online.

To save water in your RV, you could consider getting a low flush toilet, or even doing away with a traditional flushing toilet altogether and opting for an eco-friendly composting toilet instead.

Replace Faucets To Update The Space

If you don’t have the money right now for major interior design changes, you could consider making small cosmetic changes that can make a surprisingly big difference. Switching out old faucets in your RV bathroom can not only help you save water, but can also make the place look and feel very different. For example, you could:

• Replace boring grey/silver faucets with faucets in bronze or copper, for example.
• Replace cheap faucets with classier traditional,19th Century style designs.
• Switch out outmoded faucets for classy contemporary options, such as sleek lever and/or mixer options.

Add Extra Shelving & Hooks

Another cheap and easy way to enhance the interior design of your RV bathroom is by adding additional shelves or hooks. These cannot only be selected to look good, and to tie in with your overall style theme. They will also improve the functionality of the space.

Replace Unattractive Frosted Glass With Stained Glass

RV toilets and bathrooms sometimes protect the privacy of those using them with unattractive and outdated frosted or dimpled glass panels. One exciting and innovative way to maintain privacy while ridding yourself of this eyesore is to replace this glass with a beautiful piece of stained glass that can be not only functional glazing but also a breathtaking work of art.

Of course, the RV interior design ideas included in this article are not intended to be a comprehensive list. There is no possible way to include all the interior design ideas out there. However, by now you should have a much clearer idea of the direction you would like to go in when it comes to your RV interior, and how you might go about getting the perfect RV interior for you.

Jill Miller is the founder of Your RV Lifestyle. Trading corporate America for the open road, Jill, along with her partner Jose, began their RV journey, making an unconventional start by wintering in New Jersey. A natural adventurer, she was motivated by a desire to explore the USA and beyond, embracing the varied landscapes, communities, and cultures across the country.

For Jill, the allure of RV living was not about material accumulation, but rather the pursuit of an adventurous, fulfilling lifestyle. A lover of golf, bicycling, hiking, and line dancing, she has carried her passions across the country, engaging with them in diverse settings. Jill’s commitment to the RV lifestyle came after years of careful research, numerous consultations with RV owners, and personal trials, including living in a rental RV.

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7 RV Interior Design Styles and How to Do Them

Mountain Rustic

The styles of a mountain cabin will feel at home on an RV that frequents elevation, like trips to the Rockies or the Blue Ridge . Make your RV into your own cabin getaway by adding cozy touches like flannel blankets, wood accents, and woodland animal decor. Add wall hooks made of horseshoes or other accents you might find salvaged from a barn or cabin. Outfit your kitchen with over-the-fire staples like cast iron pans and a cowboy kettle.

Wood paneling, shiplap, country florals, and farmhouse check are all patterns and textures reflective of a countryside aesthetic. Traditional style furniture sets the foundation to build and layer country decoration. Hit a rural flea market for inspiration. Pick up tea towels to use as kitchen curtains. Use hand-woven baskets for extra storage. Search for vintage tins and kitchen items that can be functional and charming out on display. Add wall art of pastoral prints to finish off your bucolic rolling home.

No doubt about it–beach condos are pricey. What if you could pick up your beach cottage and take it to any coast your heart desires? Park your RV at some of the best beachfront campgrounds and you’ve got yourself the prime real estate without the hefty price tag. If you deck out your RV interior with a coastal vibe you can use your camper as a vacation getaway to sunny shores.

Add custom curtains or window treatments in your RV using light and breezy fabrics. Consider altering interior colors with indigo, blues, teals, whites, and golds. For a challenging DIY project, paint your RV kitchen cabinets white and brighten up the space. Add small touches using seashells, lighthouses, or sailboats. For a more tropical vibe, Palm fronds in vases and coconuts in a woven basket will take you to your island of choice. Soon enough, your RV will be your beachy happy place.

Bohemian style ( or just Boho) is a reflection of global adventures, nomadic expeditions, and a well-traveled lifestyle–just like your RV and you! Recollect this wanderlust in your interior design using bold colors that bring to mind your favorite destinations–the red cliffs of Sedona, the teal shores of the Gulf Coast, the verdant greens of the Olympic National Forest. Add earthy textures in layers. Use a piece of salvaged driftwood for an entryway coat rack. Decorate with woven wall hangings, wicker, and plants––lots of plants. As you travel around in your RV, hit the antique and vintage markets to find unique collected items that will add to the whimsy of this lived-in interior design style.

Midcentury Modern

The mid-century style of the ’50s and ’60s, with its clean lines and Danish functionality, never goes out of fashion. Low-profile furniture, organic curved shapes, and a simple and functional aesthetic contribute to the midcentury modern look. Pops of vibrant color give a room life and make a statement.

To bring the midcentury modern look into your RV, search for furniture and decor with rounded edges and a retro vibe. Choose 1-3 vibrant accent colors, and add them throughout your RV with pillows, light fixtures, wall art, or a painted statement wall. Think about functionality and design. Accent with natural, unstained wood like teak or walnut. Add in accents of polished chrome. Switch out your light fixtures for bold lighting with rounded bulbs.

Industrial Modern

Industrial style is defined by sturdy, yet elegant construction materials. Think mixed metals, glass, stainless steel, and raw Edison bulbs. These unadorned materials are made to take center stage in this contemporary style.

Add an industrial look to your RV with a neutral color palette that includes organic materials mixed with modern amenities. Light your RV with LED lighting and look for metallic accents and modern appliance upgrades to make your RV feel like a brand new apartment.

Browse and find all the items for inside your RV at Camping World online. If you’re ready to renovate, book your design consultation at Camping World’s Design Center. With over 46 locations nationwide, Camping World Design Centers have Design Specialists available to help RVers plan and create custom interior design projects unique to their RV. Explore what options might be perfect for your interior design style!

Find inspiration for more ways to customize your RV interior:

• Easy RV Interior Lighting Updates
• 7 Excellent Ways to Customize Your Camper’s Interior
• How Different Window Treatments Can Transform Your RV’s Interior
• 5 Ways to Personalize Your RV’s Interior

How would you define your RV style? Tell us in the comments below, or join the conversation on Camping World’s Instagram.

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RV Interiors | Are there any that look modern?

Posted on Published: January 19, 2021

Modern RV Interiors

Well before I even started this blog back in 2017, I have loved looking RVs; pouring over plans, scrolling through every photo available and picking out all the little details I could see.

My particular interest was always in the unique layouts, use of space and clever storage solutions , especially for the kitchen and bathroom .

But I had never really taken too much notice of the RV interior decor, except to note how brown and old-fashioned it is.

But a while back, my friend Ashley over at RVinspiration.com wrote about the moves that Keystone are making to upgrade their RV interiors. They’ve started with the Fuzion toy haulers and the Bullet travel trailers; and they look great! Click here to open up a new tab to read the article.

The response to these new RV interior decor colors and style has been overwhelmingly positive ( we’re not surprised by that, are we!) so hopefully that means more and more RV manufacturers will follow suit.

I’m pleased to be able to say that here in Australia, we don’t have such a problem with old RV interior decor.

Most brand new caravans, motorhomes, fifth wheels and campervans are a light and contemporary style, with neutral tones. That’s not to say that all of them have modern RV interiors, just most of them.

So I feel for my North American friends who have a cacophony of brown to choose from.

Just a look at one decor board for an RV interior reveals a lack of color (except brown) or lightness.

And, well, I’m no designer, but isn’t that waaay too may patterns for just one space? It’s kinda like wearing a polka dot blouse with a floral skirt… it doesn’t work so it shouldn’t be done!

So surely, there are other big name manufacturers in the USA that have moved on from the brown / beige / all wood / swirls and patterns of the eighties?

I decided to search, and this post shows you the RV manufacturers that I was able to find.

There are not as many as I would have hoped.

I’m sure there are more, but that would mean I would need to look at ALL the models of ALL the RV manufacturers. I’d never get this post finished if I did that!

For this list, I’ve once again decided to limit the brands I look at, based on the RV length. We could explore some of the massive Class A motorhomes that cost half a million dollars, (and for that price, I’d demand a modern interior!) but I’m just going to look at the small to mid-range size of RVs. Let’s keep it between 20-30 ft RVs.

Airstream – Timeless RV decor interiors

www.airstream.com

Have Airstreams ever been out of fashion?

With such an iconic shape, it would be easy for Airstream to ‘rest on their design laurels’ and not bother updating their interior.

But then, I think we’d fall out of love with them pretty quickly!

The sleek design on the outside, carries through to the RV interior, and they continue to incorporate the latest materials, design and technology.

Here are some examples: 

Airstream | International – light and calming decor

Airstream | Bambi – even the smallest trailers in the Airstream range have great attention to detail and pleasing interiors

Airstream | Classic – not doing away with that luscious wood completely… but no overdoing it either!

Jayco – providing new RV interior decor styles

www.jayco.com

Jayco have a section on their website called: True Interior Design (it’s in the ‘About Jayco’ menu tab) where you can see the four decor styles they have available.

They are Modern Farmhouse, American Tradition, Cashmere Cottage and Vintage Washed Grey.

Modern Farmhouse – decor by Jayco

American Tradition – decor by Jayco

Cashmere Cottage – decor by Jayco

Vintage Washed Grey – decor by Jayco

While these decor options are certainly a step in the right direction (and I’m super glad to see that there is no longer a cacophony of patterns) it’s just not as new and exciting as I would have hoped.

Dutchmen – Farmhouse chic

www.dutchmen.com

Last year (2019) when I first wrote this article, I was a bit disappointed with the modern decor options in the RVing industry. 

Looking at Dutchmen, I could see that their Voltage line had contemporary decor, but the Voltage was marketed as a ‘luxury’ brand.

If you take a look at the Dutchmen now (January 2021) you’ll see that they’ve really upped their game!

Dutchmen | Aspen

Winnebago – unique RV interiors

Winnebago | Brave – no longer in production

www.winnebago.com

The Winnebago Brave came out in 2015 (well, the second version of it; the first was in the late 60’s & 70’s), and it was the first RV that made me think that maybe the RVing industry was willing to change their interior decor.

There were still some outdated elements, but at least they went out on a limb a little bit with some of their retro features like the bold color accents on the upholstery and frosted glass sliding door cabinets.

But the Brave is no longer in production. Maybe there weren’t enough people that we into the retro vibe?

But all is not lost!

While many of the Winnebago lineup is still stuck in the 90’s, some of their newer, smaller (and possibly appealing to the younger buyer) RVs are coming into the current era.

For example, the Era camper van…

Winnebago | Era

And I couldn’t resist sharing the unique look of the brand new Winnebago EKKO.

Winnebago | EKKO – a decor style we haven’t seen before!

Forest River

forestriverinc.com

Forest River | Sunseeker TS – While not terrible (at least it’s light and neutral) it is not exactly contemporary.

Fleetwood RV

www.fleetwoodrv.com

Ahh, the Fleetwoods have some quite nice interiors.

Fleetwood | Flair – manages to keep some wood (and even some browns) without overdoing it.

www.roadtrek.com

You know, it seems like it’s either the really big Class A motorhomes (that cost a small fortune) or the small Class B RVs that are the most likely recipients of an interior makeover. Anything in the middle is left to stay in whatever era it was first designed.

We have another Class B manufacturer here that has some really nice looking interiors.

Roadtrek | Zion SRT – there’s not a whole lot of room in there, so keeping the decor simple works best

So things are changing.

Just not as quickly as we would like, but there is hope that we’ll be able to buy brand new RVs with modern interiors… soon.

In the meantime, you can always renovate a used RV or get some travel trailer remodel ideas here , and make the RV interior look exactly the way you want!

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19 Best Decorating Ideas For Travel Trailers or RVs

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Thanks for your support! If you make a purchase using our links in this article, we may make a commission. And, as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See the full disclosure here .

Updated April 18, 2024

When you’re on the road, it’s a great feeling when your camper feels like home. Decorating ideas for travel trailers or RVs can make it feel this way. No matter which you choose, campers come with fairly standard and overall boring interiors. Give your camper a personal touch to make the place feel more like home. Having a personalized space, no matter where you park, is a great feeling.

Keep in mind your RV décor needs to be light to keep from going overweight. In some cases, you can reduce your camper weight by replacing some of the dull décor with a lightweight modern style. If you think something may be too heavy, best to leave it behind. For more info check out our article called 20 Best Ways to Reduce RV Weight .

Here are 19 decorating ideas for travel trailers and RVs to get you started.

Why Do All RV Interiors Look The Same?

Aesthetics are usually not the primary point throughout the manufacturing process. One of the closest comparisons to RVs you can make is a yacht. After all, yachts are nothing if not RVs on water. Yachts tend to have a refined, bougie, impressive aesthetic, whereas RVs tend to be more practical in design. 

That’s not to say that the question isn’t a little bit disingenuous. RV floorplans are similar across manufacturers but only similar within their respective classes. You will find that long fifth-wheels almost always share identical floorplans, with a few things changed here and there. The same goes for Class As, Bs, Cs, travel trailers, and teardrops. 

RVs are also victims of trends. As of right now, there are nine or ten trends, depending on where you look, that encompass each space on an RV. For example, the latest trend across the board is the use of lighting in an aesthetically artsy fashion. Trends of this nature often give the impression that RV interiors look the same.

Even the newer more modern interiors can look the same so decorating ideas for travel trailers will continue.  

1. Paint the Interior Walls

Painting your camper walls is a great way to add a personal touch without worrying about going overweight. Choosing your color scheme is a great way to make your camper feel more like a home away from home.

Softer lighter colors can make a small space like a camper feel bigger than it really is. Adding an accent wall with a darker color can make a small room feel larger too!

2. Add Throw Pillows And Blankets to Accessorize Your Travel Trailer

Adding throw pillows and blankets to your RV bedroom or living space makes your RV more comfortable and they look great too. Decorating ideas for travel trailers don’t have to be expensive.

Choose a theme for your blankets and throw pillows that fit your camper design. Make your throw pillows bold and bright to liven up the space. Throw pillows and blankets are an easy inexpensive and fun travel trailer decorating idea!

3. Install Wall Decals Inside Your Camper Trailer

Wall decals give a space a unique look and allow you to express your individual style. I would put up wall Fathead wall decals of the Baltimore Ravens but Susan would kill me! Choose something small and light like stickers or get creative and paint your own with stencils. There are many wall decal options to choose from, or you can create your own.

4. Use Peel and Stick Flooring Inside Your RV or Travel Trailer

Similar to wall decals, peel-and-stick tile or wood flooring can add style to your place without a significant investment. Accent a kitchen wall with peel-and-stick tile sheets for a personal touch. Peel and stick sheets are easy to use and inexpensive. You can also use them on the ceiling for an easy wood plank ceiling look.

5. Maybe It’s Time for Some Cool Clocks to Decorate Your Travel Trailer

There are some cool clock designs that can add character to your camper. Not only are clocks decorative but they are also practical at the same time. Hanging a lightweight basic clock above the kitchen area can make a place feel more like home. If your camper has a theme, just choose a clock to go along with the theme.

6. Use Decorative Towels to Enhance the Look of Your RV Bathroom or Kitchen

Decorative hand and dish towels are great to have when camping. Why not choose fun patterns and designs to match the décor of your camper? Add a pop of color to your kitchen or bathroom with bright-colored towels.

7. New Curtains Can Dress Up Your Camper Trailer Decor

Your travel trailer or RV probably came with a standard set of boring curtains or valances. Change things up by replacing them with new colorful designs. It’s incredible how much a fresh set of curtains can brighten up a place. Add your curtains into the pattern theme you choose for decorating your camper.

8. Flameless Candles Can Add Ambiance to Your RV

It’s tough to have candles in a small space like a camper. With flameless candles , you can set the mood without worrying about setting your camper on fire. Flameless candles add great ambiance and soft lighting inside and outside while camping.

9. Roll Out the Welcome Mat

Having a personalized welcome mat when you walk into your camper is a great touch. Not only does it add personal style to your camper, but it helps keep the dirt out. It’s always a constant battle keeping dirt, sand, and mud out of the camper while camping. This can also be a part of the decorating theme you choose.

10. Wallpaper Maps Make a Great RV Travel Decor Idea

Another way to add color and flair to your camper is by hanging maps of places you’ve been. Choose some of your favorite places and use the maps of those areas to decorate your walls. This way you’ll never leave home without a map of where you’re going when you lose cell service!

11. Install New Cabinet Knobs in Your Trailer’s Kitchen and Bath

Installing cabinet knobs is easy to do and will make your camper’s bath and kitchen cabinets feel like new. Shop around at your local hardware store and pick out cabinet knobs and handles that you like. Swap those out with what your camper currently has. A small touch goes a long way to making a place feel homey. Cabinet handles don’t have to be boring, pick out something fun!

12. Adorn Your Travel Trailer for the Holidays

Have fun and decorate your travel trailer or RV for the holidays! Susan’s favorite holiday to decorate for is Halloween! But you can decorate for whatever holidays you like. And Christmas lights don’t need to be used only at Christmas time. They can provide excellent soft lighting while camping at any time of the year.

String lights around your living space or bedroom to give your camper a good ambiance or provide accent lighting. Lamps can be rather heavy and only provide light in a single area. Plus you have to stow them away when on the road. Christmas lights are much lighter and provide even lighting.

13. Install Bunk Beds to Gain Space for Your RV

Stacking beds in your camper gives you more space for activities. You’ll have more space to sleep and hang out with the family. Plus, bunk beds can add a cozy cabin feel to your camper. Take the cabin feel with you wherever you go.

14. Install Hanging Wicker Baskets in Your Travel Trailer

Rather than building shelves, you could hang wicker baskets on the walls for added storage. These are great for bathroom items or pantry storage. Shelves can be heavy, and that weight adds up quickly. Baskets are a much lighter option. Plus, everything will fall off of a shelf!

15. Install New Upholstery to Update Your Camper or RV

Most campers are going to come with pretty boring upholstery on the dining booth and other seating areas. Reupholster your living space with a pattern of your choosing. Bright colors help liven up a camper. This should also fit into the décor and theme of your camper.

16. Decorate Your Camper Trailer with a Coffee Mug Set

If you’re camping, you should be enjoying a cup of coffee in the sunrise every morning. A mug set is a great way to show your personality in something that will be useful every day. If your camper is going to be stationary for a while, set up a display so that your mugs can be decorative and functional.

17. Paint the Exterior of Your RV, Travel Trailer or 5th Wheel

While there’s plenty of decorating to be done on the inside of the camper, the exterior is what everyone else sees. A simple stripe down the side of a plain camper can really add style to your camper. Be careful about going too overboard on the outside. Sometimes simple is better.

18. Spruce Up Your RV Bathroom with a Decorative Shower Curtain

If your shower curtain at home isn’t boring, why should your camper shower curtain have to be? A decorative shower curtain is a great way to personalize your bathroom without a big investment. Pick out a curtain that matches the towels you have for the bathroom.

19. Install A Custom Neon Sign to Create Your Personalized Space

Custom neon signs create a warm and cozy lighting atmosphere for your RV. Customize your favorite quotes or words of passion to hang in your RV’s bedroom or on the walls and experience what feels like home. No matter where you are or what time of day it is you have a colorful light that illuminates you like a real home.

Can You Paint The Exterior Of An RV?

You can certainly paint the exterior of an RV. However, it’s not the job that it reads like on paper. Painting an RV is a labor-intensive task that requires the right ambient temps and weather, a lot of prep work, decal removal, the right paint, and the right finish. 

It’s a meticulous process. However, if done right, it will make your RV stand out like a brilliant candle flame against a midnight sky. To offer an early answer to the next question, it often raises the resale value of the RV as well. Exterior aesthetics are the first things used-RV consumers look at. 

This is especially true if you maintain and even improve the decals. Decals give the underlying paint scheme its three-dimensional pop, and are the primary, stand-out feature on an RV, regardless of the class. 

Does Renovating An RV Hurt Resale Value?

Well, this depends on what you’re renovating. If you go to work on a 2018 fight-wheel, probably not much. However, if you take a completely stripped-out classic camper that might bring in $1,000 bucks on a good day, you can easily sell it for a lot more than it was worth before. 

Renovating an RV can even be thought of as a downgrade, depending on what you’re doing and even if you’re improving something or think you are. For instance, if you renovate an RV to suit your own needs, you can’t expect prospective buyers to share in those same needs. 

Your experience plays a role as well. You can always hire a professional to renovate, however, if the renovation is not too extensive, the cost of the professional may completely offset the profit from the sale you’re planning to make.RV renovation should be a careful and deliberate consideration prior to getting started. 

Extra Tips For Decorating Your Travel Trailer or RV

Choose a Theme and Stick With It

Choose a theme for decorating the interior of your camper. Themes give the space a personal touch and a homey feel. Campers are small spaces, so if you want to go with a theme, keep that theme consistent throughout the camper. Keep your theme in mind when choosing colors, wall decals, towels, throw pillows, etc.

Add Storage to Your RV or Travel Trailer While Adding Decorations at the Same Time

Why choose form over function when you can have both! Added storage is always a plus in a camper. When you hit the road, it’s best to have everything tucked away. This way, you don’t worry about things moving around while driving.

Think about how your decorating can also incorporate some form of storage. Add storage compartments under the bed or under couch cushions, for example. This is a great way to tuck items out of the way until you need them.

Final Words About Decorating Ideas For Travel Trailers

Having a customized space on the road makes your RV or travel trailer feel like your own. No matter where you go, you always feel like you are in your home away from home. Happy Decorating!

Do you have any decorating ideas for travel trailers or RVs you would like to share? Please tell us your ideas in the comments below!

Below are some more helpful articles we have written about travel trailers.

Related Reading:

– 16 Best RV Campsite Setup And Decorating Ideas – RV Window Tinting – Increase Privacy and Reduce Heat – Corner Cut RV Mattress Replacement: Your Buying Guide – 250+ Perfect Names for Your RV or Travel Trailer – 25 Beginner Tips for Travel Trailer Camping

Mike Scarpignato – Bio

Mike Scarpignato created RVBlogger.com over five years ago in 2018 to share all we have learned about RV camping.

Mike is an avid outdoorsman with decades of experience tent camping and traveling in his 2008 Gulf Stream Conquest Class C RV and 2021 Thor Challenger Class A motorhome.

We attend RV Shows and visit RV dealerships all across the country to tour and review drivable motorhomes and towable trailers to provide the best evaluations of these RVs in our blog articles and YouTube videos.

We are 3/4-time RVers who created RVBlogger.com to provide helpful information about all kinds of RVs and related products, gear, camping memberships, tips, hacks and advice.

10 thoughts on “19 Best Decorating Ideas For Travel Trailers or RVs”

Is it really okay to paint the interior?!?

Yup it sure is…

We feel like we have a hotel on wheels so we call it our Mobile Marriott. Since it’s our third one we abbreviate it as MM III.

I love to put up the beautiful written peel and stick Wall decals. I buy mine from dollar tree! Now I think they’re $1.25. But they have stayed up on the doors for about three or four years now. Light on the walls and light on the Wallet!

Great ideas. Thank you

Great article Mike & Susan. Gotta get me one of those wicker baskets. 🙂

I just aquired a 1971 open road my son and I are planning on fixing it up, so you’re ideas help allot. We’ve already decided to call it Dessert Rose, so the inside theme will be southwestern.

I’m curious about the couch in the picture. We’re considering ditching the couch that came with our RV in favor of something more comfortable. Where did y’all find that? Thanks!

Love the great ideas about decorating a travel trailer, I am thinking of doing some of these and thank you for the great suggestions.

Glad you liked the article!

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Last updated on: July 26, 2022

25 Beautiful RV Decorating Ideas (for Interior, bedroom, kitchen, etc)

by Barbara McCoy

www.rvtalk.net is reader supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Let’s explore 25 ways to decorate an RV or Camper. Who says our RV cannot reflect our style?  Whether you just want to add small details or larger projects, you can decorate your RV to feel comfortable, just like home. When you walk into your room at a hotel or resort, you immediately know if you will feel like you are on vacation or just another work conference. Walking into your RV should always make you want to stay and enjoy yourself as long as possible. 

We have ideas no matter if your style is Farmhouse Chic, Rustic, Industrial, Whimsical, or Minimalist. We know there is limited space, but there are still ways to add personality without losing space and functionality. Choosing functional decor is essential. 

Let’s dive right in.

1. Add Wallpaper

2. personality with pillows, 3. baskets and bins, 4. curtains, curtains, curtains, 5. knobs, pegs, and hooks, 6. fixtures, 9. blankets and throws, 10.  art, 11. hanging your towels as decor to free up storage, 12. light fixtures and lamps, 13. lighting accents as decor. string lights, 14. incorporating your appliances into the decor., 15. mirrors, 16. make lifestyle choices decor: coffee, tea, music, office, faith, humor, 17. add vinyl and lettering, 18. furniture covers , 19. functional furniture, 20. decorating your entry, 21. bedding, 22. plants and flowers, 23. countertop makeovers.

This RV owner likes boats. They chose a bold wallpaper to represent this. Adding wallpaper can take a space and change its vibe quickly. Pops of geometric patterns, flower prints, or even plaids can add color with little effort. 

This delicate flowery pattern adds femininity without being overwhelming. It reflects a sweet, pure, quiet environment. This is a place I would love to read a book on a spring day.

Adding wallpaper or sticky tile to a backsplash can be a wow for minimal effort. Backsplashes are a great design feature. Choose materials that are easy to clean and resist heat and oils for the best results.

Decide what walls you want to wallpaper, and remember less is more in small confined spaces. Most RV walls are safe to wallpaper, but a sample test will help you decide on the print and material compatibility.

Adding wallpaper to the front of a step up into your bedroom or 5th wheel can add character and look expensive.

The interior of an RV is a compact space packed with furniture and essentials, so it’s best to avoid large walls and dark-colored or busy patterns. It may be time to ditch the dark browns for lighter colors to create the illusion of space. White or light-toned wallpaper usually works best for campers and RVs. Check out this before and after.

Every amateur decorator knows that you can add pops of color, whimsy, and philosophy with just a few throw pillows. No matter your personal style, there is a throw pillow that will reflect it. 

Remember to add pillows in moderation. When you want to use your dinette seats, pull-out sofa, or even your bed, those pillows have to go somewhere, and space is limited. Pick patterns, colors, or phrases that you love and bring you joy.

Throw Pillows can be changed with your mood. Funny expressions, vibrant colors, and even holiday pillows can be added and removed. I like to buy pillow shams so that the slips not used can stay on the pillows and just switch around. Storage issue averted. 

Everything you can do to add storage is a great idea. When you purchase an RV, you may look around and be so pleased with all the storage it offers, but I promise you will always need a little more. Baskets and bins are a great way to decorate and add organization.

Organizing food into bins can be very helpful. As a 5’ 4” person, I find it challenging to reach those top shelves even with a small stool. Having bins that you can pull out for spices can be a lifesaver or at least a fall saver. I wholly recommend bins.

Baskets control the clutter and add homey touches. Need a nightstand but do not have room, hang a basket. You can find baskets in various styles and sizes. Fitting baskets into your decor is easy.

This wire basket is perfect for spices besides the stove. It adds storage and keeps things tidy, which keeps you from feeling claustrophobic. Because of the small space, it feels even smaller when an RV has clutter.

The bathroom is the smallest area of most RVs and campers. It also needs lots of storage. Usually, there is very little room in the bathroom vanity to store more than a towel or maybe two. Hanging baskets on the towel bar adds storage for all those bathroom must-haves like hair and makeup products.

These wire bins are a great way to keep clutter corralled in a bathroom. It also makes it easy for guests to find necessities.

Curtains can be a bold focal point in an RV space without seeming like the room is closing in. Curtains can add texture and color without adding to the busyness of the room.

Hanging fabric to divide and define spaces can make your RV feel cozier. Sometimes a curtain is needed for privacy, and sometimes it is required to block light for better sleep.

You can also use fabric to hide unsightly storage. Not everything fits into baskets and bins. Hanging fabric on this bottom bunk can create hidden storage or private sleeping quarters.

When using a theme to decorate, fabric can be an easy solution. You can find fabrics in thousands of colors, prints, textures, and thicknesses on the internet and at your door the next day.

Don’t forget your shower curtain when you are considering your decorative style. This is another DIY or purchase that can reflect any style, theme, or notion. Even if your shower has a door, you can add a pop of color to the side to soften the whole look.

Fabric patterns can be mixed to add interest. These pieces of red, green, and white prints coordinate perfectly for a vintage feel. The most important thing is for you to love it.

A quick and easy weekend project can be trading dated knobs and pulls in for newer or themed ones. Also, pegs and hooks can add storage without losing style. This decorator uses a deer rack to hang essential items.

Updated cabinet hardware can quickly transform your RV look with little effort or know-how needed. This trick works even if you choose to paint your cabinets or not.

Hooks can be practical and needed. Very useful in an entrance, hooks can be installed to corral everyone’s shoes. This is a genius idea.

Hooks in the kitchen can display your cookware or utensils. This puts things at your fingertips but also adds decor.

Pegboards can be added to a wall or even a storage bin to help with optimizing and organizing spaces. This is a great way to organize all the tools in a small area that can get cluttered quickly, and you can lose tools into the abyss. 

Changing fixtures can be a noticeable transformation in the look and feel of an RV and its function. Sometimes RV manufacturers overlook the need for a tall faucet for washing dishes. And most of us like a shower head that can handle water pressure and has a massage feature. 

This bathroom fixture transformation makes a big difference in eye appeal and feels more like a spa than a small RV shower. Whether you live full-time in your camper or just on weekend getaways, who doesn’t like a great shower.

Lovely fixtures can add a modern, sleek finish. It feels expensive and tranquil. Bathrooms that are frequently visited should be comfortable and clean.

This outdated bathroom sink remodels added the feel and look of luxury. The bathroom can be a place to add nice touches to add value if resale is an option.

Rugs are a great way to express your personal style. This decorator added an Aztec pattern to make it have a southwestern feel. Rugs can be replaced or changed frequently and quickly. I tend to get tired of looking at the same things, so I redo or rearrange often.

This example shows a soft filigree motif to brighten a dark brown interior. It adds a stark difference to its background, making it the room’s feature.

Rugs and corresponding pillows can add themes. Here we have a striped pattern displayed with the added stylized pillows in complimentary colors. The lines draw your eyes to the pillows and comfy sofa.

Open shelves are a trendy design now. There are not many surfaces to decorate in a camper due to space, so adding a shelf or open shelving can be a great way to display items you love or dishes.

These Boho shelves give this small space a sense of openness that closed cabinets could not attain. I love the neutral colors and textures.

This tiny shelf adds dimension and detail to a plain kitchen window. It is the perfect place for a pop of color and personality. It even adds a bit of privacy without adding a curtain or valance.

This beautiful vintage crocheted afghan was probably the inspiration for this hombre design. It is gorgeous and coordinated perfectly. It makes you want to curl up with a good book.

Notice this example of a neutral background with the only color coming in the throws and pillows. The style of this whole room can be transformed into any color or pattern you wish in a few minutes. I love the versatility.

This RV owner mixed beige and gray for a modern color scheme but added a lovely soft, snuggly blanket to soften those lines and colors.

Mixing more than one complimentary throw can be an excellent way to add textures, and a soft throw adds a comfortable accent.

A black framed monotone picture can make a focal point on a white wall. It can add inspiration and a trendy farmhouse look.

Mixed frames and pictures work perfectly with Boho, whimsy, or eclectic designs. My only requirement for decor is that I love it. It must bring me joy when you have many things to keep clean or dust. That does not bring me joy. 

Framed or not, words of humor or inspiration can add a relaxed, homey feeling. It will help you make your RV inviting to family and guests. It also reveals a bit of personality, which can be significant.

This is one of my favorite finds! Turkish towels solved a couple of problems for me. One, it is so much thinner than a regular towel, so storage was a lot easier to manage and the second is my RV has a washer and dryer combo, but they are small. Washing 6 traditional towels would take me 2-3 loads. I can wash all 6 of my towels in one wash with Turkish towels. And they look great hanging in a bathroom.

These are my favorites. They dry and are very absorbent and dry quickly.

(Set of 6) 100% Turkish Cotton Bath Beach Hammam Peshtemal Towel Throw Fouta Blanket Set XL Prewashed (Navy)

These towels also conserve water by hanging them to dry and reuse. We each have our own towel and hanger. I also think these are so pretty when displayed.

You can find them in neutral or coordinating colors. They look expensive and luxurious without being. These towels are comparable to cheap towels but with higher quality.

When you are using traditional towels, a wine rack can display them neatly. Many use this trick in their RV and their homes also. It is an excellent way to add color and texture. They can also be changed when you change your colors.

This is one of my favorite updates or decorating tips. Changing your lighting fixtures is the perfect way to update or change your look. It can also be challenging. When changing your fixture, please remember to check the voltage and replace it accordingly.

I love this chandelier. It has an expensive but rugged, simple look. It matches the design of this RV. I love the stark difference between white and black. With this canvas, you could pop any color you want and change it on a whim.

This is a genius idea when you cannot change your fixture. You can update those fixtures with details like a basket.

This DIYer places fabric pieces around the lights to resemble and hombre fringe. This is so cool and would fit several different decorating styles.

RecPro RV Decorative Ceiling Light | 12V LED Light | Island Light Fixture with Drilled Acrylic Cage | Ceiling Fixture

This fixture would be perfect for an island in an RV. It is a 12-volt fixture specific for campers and RVs. Its style is very versatile.

This set of fairy lights on a dreamcatcher sets a tranquil mood for relaxing and falling asleep. It would be a fantastic nightlight. 

These string lights create a romantic feel and could also serve as a nightlight. I love the neutral scheme and the softness of the string lights.

Soft string lights are a warm touch, especially where light fixtures are unavailable. Many enjoy fairy and string lights near sleeping areas.

String lights are practical for your outside area when you are camping. It is welcoming and allows you and your guests to navigate the site without accidents.

Appliances do not have to be unsightly or plain. They can be a focal point in your design. I love the addition of vinyl to this fridge. The dandelion pattern is beautiful and art all on its own.

If your Refridgerator needs an update, this chrome vinyl is a cheap way to make a significant impact. Chrome is just one option of many.

This fridge has added blackboard vinyl to allow its surface to be changed and styled as you desire. I love this idea for children! I know one little girl who would love to create a piece of art here.

Mirrors can be an RVers best friend if you need to feel like you need the space to feel more prominent or even lighter. When mirrors reflect light, it tricks your eyes into seeing double the space and light. If your camper uses a lot of dark browns, mirrors can be just what you need.

We expect to find mirrors in bathrooms, but updating one in an RV can add value and make a tiny bathroom feel expanded.

Including your daily life into your decor makes life so much simpler. Not having to move things around in order to work, cook, or even do yoga makes those things less of a chore and more enjoyable. This desk replaced the dinette set that was never used. Now going to work is easy without feeling cramped.

If you are a dedicated coffee drinker, your coffee pot and accessories will always be on display in a convenient place. Embrace this and include a coffee station in your decor.

Adding quotes and words that support your faith or philosophy is a great way to add your personality and bring joy to your space.

There are a lot of funny idioms and quips. Adding these touches to your decor becomes great conversation starters with guests.

Adding vinyl lettering and images has become a popular way to label, decorate, and add personality. I love this welcome chandelier added to this door. It is so inviting.

Lettering can be added to a dining table. This would be a great place to put family names, camping recipes, or even websites for takeout. 

Vinyl decals are also a current trend for the outside of your RV. Everyone loves customization. 

If you are not particularly fond of your sofa pattern, you can quickly use a furniture cover or even a thin blanket to change its look. This is also a great idea because you can easily throw it into the washer and not worry about the kids soiling it.

This is a great way to change your fabric colors without using a sewing machine. Also, I can tell you upholstery fabric is not cheap. It is cheaper to buy a cover.

Ok, let’s admit that sometimes RV furniture is not the most comfortable. Don’t be afraid to change out your furniture for traditional pieces. I ditched a sofa for a couple of small recliners because it made more sense for our family.

This owner has traded their RV furniture for a lovely sectional. Just keep in mind your furniture must come apart and fit through the door to be reassembled. 

I love this door!! It is a great way to make a statement before your guests enter your rig.

It’s also an excellent way to impress the neighbors.

I am in love with a good screen door, and this one is amazing. Everyone does not have the skill to create this, but if you do, I would. It will have the campground buzzing.

Adding a vintage wallpaper to your door will make a statement and lend some authenticity to your vintage design. Color coordinating patterns will add whimsy and style.

Also, if you want to impress your neighbors, you can accessorize your outside area to match your rig and show off your personality.

Bedding is essential to me. When I lay down, I want to lay down in a cushy bed with a soft, comfy blanket that feels like a luxury hotel. Sheets are nothing to skimp on, even in your camper.

Color coordinating bedding and pillows are a must when you are decorating. It may be the most important. Everyone wants their camping vacation to have some luxury.

Neutral beige or white are perfect for a minimalistic style. It looks clean and luxurious. 

Adding a striped pattern to neutral bedding adds depth and a pop of color. I love the look of this vintage navy stripe.

Placing plants strategically around your rig can give it an outdoor feel. I have never been successful growing anything, so I will have to choose silk.

Succulents can be grown just about anywhere. They are also very hardy and easy to take care of. This hoop and succulent combo are charming.

If you choose hanging plants, they can be hung inside or out, depending on the weather. They can brighten up your entry or your living area.

Revamping countertops has become easier with better options than replacing them. You can use vinyl as they have here. It is very durable and doable with thicker professional vinyl.

 You can also recover the countertops with a sheet of Formica veneer like they did in this video.

The new countertops look amazing, but it does require a bit of skill.

Painting your countertops with a special paint made expressly for that purpose is the option that takes the least amount of talent and money. 

I love this 50’s teal! The white with black and some copper is classy, but the pop of teal makes it fun. These teal touches could easily be changed to yellow or red without too much thought.

Here is that teal with the fore mentioned yellow and red. I know it is a little much for some, but I love it. It reminds me of the 50s and my granddaughter’s dollhouse. It is so sweet.

This design makes me think back to camping as a child. These are the patterns and colors that accompanied those campouts at the river. It makes me miss my grandmother.

There is nothing that will change a look faster than paint. It can also be the best bang for your buck. It will take patience and many coats, but the result is worth it.

Most campers and RVs start with wallpaper. I have painted wallpaper, and it is doable, but it will take you four or five coats. There is a coating and paste on wallpaper that will require many coats. Patience is key. The painting will not be a quick fix.

Painting cabinets can be rewarding. I love the white at the top contrasted with the black on the bottom cabinets. Cabinets like RV wallpaper will take many coats, even with a good primer.

I picked this example because of the stark difference displayed from everything else I have seen. I don’t know if I could live in this style, but I would love to camp in it for a weekend. It is beautiful.

Paint isn’t just for the inside of a camper. You can paint the outside too. I know this rig gets eyed everywhere it goes. It would make me want to see the inside. Anyone who paints their camper this way is begging for company. 

You can see the drastic difference white can make in a small space before and after. It looks so clean and open. The focal point becomes the accents you add that bring you joy.

Look at this pastel mint on the bottom cabinets with the floral rug. It is so precious. It is just enough color to give the room some depth. We have to mention how the gold hardware sets it all off.

Decorating your RV or camper can be a lot of fun. The most important thing is to make it feel like a vacation or holiday. When it is designed and decorated to be comfortable and inviting, you will want to use it more often. If like me, you are a full-time RVer, you know that comfort and function trump all. Everything has to have a purpose or function because the space is tiny. 

Clutter is not your friend. I have chosen this minimalistic lifestyle because I do not want to collect stuff but memories. I do not wish to dust daily, so I do not have a lot of decor sitting around. I have a pretty large RV, but I still discard things that are not useful or do not bring me joy. Cleaning does not bring me joy. My life is about the moments that bring me joy and having more of them.

About Barbara McCoy

Barbara McCoy is a teacher, a writer and avid camper. Over the past 30 years, she has camped in everything from a tent to an RV. Her and her husband enjoy remodeling and flipping RVs. Currently they are living the retirement life residing in their remodeled 40ft 5th wheel.

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20 Best Campervan Interiors [2022 Design Inspiration Guide]

Van conversion guide.

last updated: Feb 18, 2022

Currently building your own conversion , but looking to spruce up your campervan’s interior?

Look no further, because I’ve rounded up the best of the best for you right here.

This list has van interior elements you’ve never even heard of.

Ski Chalet Van? Check!

High-Tech Adventure Van? You bet!

Whether you’re looking for the perfect off-grid van design, or a luxurious and modern campervan layout , it’s all here.

Get ready to feel inspired by these custom van interiors. A quick heads up … they’re pretty epic!

First up …

1. Ultimate Family Van

If you’re looking for the ultimate family van conversion, look no further- we’ve found it. This family van, named Everest, is fully equipped with 6 seatbelted seats, a double bed, and three bunk beds.

The 4 back seats face each other around a full-size table. The four seats also conveniently fold down into a double bed. 

Behind the table is a full stereo set. This feature is ideal for keeping kids entertained in the back, as it is fully controllable from the back seats.

This conversion also features a full campervan bathroom . This is perfect for a family-friendly van, so the kids don’t have to wake someone to go outside with them!

The most unique and family-friendly aspect of this van is a triple bunk bed. 

Each bed is 6 feet long, so this van could sleep not only kids, but also adults! 

Each bunk also has its own reading light, storage pocket, and curtain- allowing the kids to sleep peacefully if the adults want to stay up with the lights on.

2. Self-Build Van

An elegant design, intricate details, and a raised floor make this van conversion distinctively beautiful and functional.

Modeled after a boat, the entire floor of this van is raised, leaving a whopping 15 cm of storage underneath the entire floor. 

This storage space is conveniently accessed through two hatches in the floor. For extra safety and security, there is even a safe located deep underneath the floor!

Rope lines the edge of the walls, serving as an elegant finish. 

The shower door and kitchen drawer also are delicately marked by a ball of rope that dually functions as a handle. 

The fixed double bed not only has a reading light, but is lined with LEDs that are adjustable through a touch sensor. 

It’s the little details that really make this van so great.

3. Off-Grid Van  

Complete with solar panels and cozy, double insulated reclaimed wood, this sustainably sourced van named Herb is ready to get off the grid. 

Stepping into Herb feels like stepping into a log cabin. Homey, comfortable, and warm. 

The interior of the van is lined with reclaimed wooden pallets, shaved down and varnished to achieve a polished look. 

The wood isn’t the only thing recycled in Herb either. All of the light fixtures are reclaimed. The kitchen light is an old desk lamp, and one light was once part of a fire hydrant!

Many of Herb’s key features are sourced naturally from local artists- The dream catchers are vegan from an artist in the United States, and the iodized copper sink is from Turkey. 

A macrame curtain divider separates the cab from the back, carefully crafted from a woman in Wales. 

All of these personal, artistic touches make this van not only sustainable, but also commemorate all Herb’s adventures.

4. Climbing Van

Next up, the Climbing Van. One of our all-time top van builds, and one of the top picks in our round-up of the best Sprinter van conversions .

I’m sure you’re already dreaming of all the delicious meals you can make in this van’s beautiful, large kitchen! This interior really prioritizes kitchen space. 

With a large, L-shaped kitchen, mini Belfast sink, drawers and overhead cabinets for cooking utensils, you’ll be able to prepare almost anything your heart desires while on the road. 

You won’t have a lack of entertainment in this van, either. 

A projector screen hooks to the wall above the sink, dropping down for your own person at home cinema.

At the foot of the bed lies two comfy bench seats that conveniently form into a mini bed! Also, in between the bench seats is a slide out table offering the perfect space to share meals, or get some work done.

5. Professional Kitchen Van

This might be the first camper van I’ve ever seen that’s designed by a professional chef! 

This kitchen not only features a massive refrigerator, slide out pantry shelves, and large chopping block, but also a 21 inch Furrion oven. 

With a gorgeous blue porcelain splashback lining this kitchen wall, no detail was spared.

The kitchen isn’t the only luxury in this van. 

The full sized shower is lined with subway tiles from ceiling to floor. 

The floor is a beautiful Brazilian hardwood that is conveniently fully removable. This is only one of two showers in this van- there’s also a second gas powered shower in the back. With this van, you’ve got options! 

6. Dog Friendly Gaming Van

This van conversion has the best of both worlds- it’s dog and gamer-friendly. It’s not a combination I’ve seen until now, and I’m thoroughly impressed. 

There’s a built-in shelf above the campervan bed to support a gaming setup, and the entire system is solar powered. How cool is that? 

Underneath the full size fold-out bed, there is also a large bed where your furry friend can sleep-equipped with a light to boot! There is also a detachable ramp at the door, so dogs can exit/enter with ease. 

This conversion is also quite stylish. Multiple porthole windows give it a nautical feel, while special touches like a chain-hanging shelf secured by copper pipe really complete the interior. 

There’s also a full shower, and the walls are entirely handmade with blue glass tiles.

Little details like the copper pipe, and blue tiles in the shower really turn this van into a home.

7. All Inclusive Van

This van conversion has a bunch of unique ideas that help emulate all the comforts of a modern and chic home. 

The very first thing you see when walking into this van is a full length shower- complete with a skylight! 

I love how the skylight not only provides ventilation, but also allows you to shower under the stars, or in the sunshine. The shower is also complete with blue tile that matches the kitchen walls, and a teak bath mat. 

The kitchen in this van is chic, large, and has everything you could need to cook meals on the road. A large fridge, oven, and triple burner Dometic stove make meal options absolutely limitless.

A large lounge area is the highlight of this van. Comfortable, stylish benches combined with a Lagun swivel table stand create the perfect work, dining, and relaxation space.

Conveniently, the lounge also converts into a queen size bed. 

You won’t be lacking comfort with this van interior.

8. Nature Van

This van conversion was built and designed with love. Little hearts are etched in the cabinets and drawers, and the color scheme is airy and pleasant. 

The interior has a very natural theme, from the plants, to the flowers on the mugs. Even the curtains have a flowery, natural print. 

The cabinets and ladder are made from recycled whiskey barrels, giving the van a vintage look and quaint feel.

A fixed double bed with a single bunk makes this van perfect for relaxing after a long day of hiking and exploring. 

Natural light flows in through its many windows, and if that’s not enough, worry not, because there are seven total light fixtures in this van.

The walls are elegantly decorated with recycled coasters and tile samples that pair together quite nicely and add a decorative touch to the wood interior. 

Everything about this van’s interior evokes feelings of peace and serenity. 

9. Ski Chalet Van

This van truly is a Ski Chalet on wheels. It was designed to spend several months at a time up in the mountains, and it is perfect for exactly that. 

The entire interior of this van is fitted with wooden cladding, making you forget you’re even in a van at all and not in a Chalet in the Alps. 

Comfort is king in this van. A fixed, king sized bed rests in the back, offering the perfect place to rest after a day on the slopes. 

You might also like: Best Ram Promaster Van Conversions

Bed space is prioritized in this van’s interior, and the result is a very functional and creative kitchen. 

The need for kitchen counter space is creatively reduced here, with a cutting board that screws on over the sink. 

A large table slides out from under the bed, and the surrounding benches comfortably seat three. 

The benches themselves are handmade, and have a red plaid upholstery that fits perfectly along with the cozy, Ski Chalet theme of this van.

10. Bohemian Van

Rustic, bohemian, and functional are all words that come to my mind regarding this van. 

The interior is meticulously decorated. The van is filled with stylish accents: the brass kitchen backsplash, yellow embroidered tea towels, as well as a Moroccan accent pillow that doubles as bedding storage.

A very important feature of this van’s interior is a small rectangle grate in the kitchen. This small grate serves as an access point between the back of the van and the cab, which is an incredibly important safety feature, particularly for solo female travelers.

The countertop is made of reclaimed wood, and has a built in green waste compartment, perfect for the eco-friendly traveler who loves to cook! 

This van is not only beautifully decorated, but also has a large workspace, double bed, small toilet and outdoor heated shower. Every component needed for vanlife is here, and the style is an added bonus.

11. Luxury Box Van

This luxury box van conversion is incredibly spacious and has a nice, homey feel.

The interior has an oak theme, contributing to the warm and cozy feel. Additionally, this interior is very outdoorsy, with a garden-style sink faucet.

Two large sofas provide plenty of space for lounging, and comfortably convert to a single bed. The pink flamingo print on the sofas is quite pleasant and cheery! 

I particularly like that this conversion is accessible from the cab. Access from the cab is always convenient, particularly when it is stormy, and you can leave your muddy shoes and clothes in the cab rather than inside the van.

The coziest feature of this interior is it’s heater: a cast iron wood burner. This isn’t something you see in every van, and it adds a nice homey touch.

12. Artist Van  

This artist’s van conversion is chic, spacious, and clever. The color combination of blues and browns gives it a very warm feel, while two aptly placed skylights provide just the right amount of natural lighting to work with.

I love the handmade window blinds in this van. They’re far more cost-effective than alternatives, and the shades are lovely, and pair well with the blues in the van.

A custom made Murphy bed is a major space saver in this van’s interior. Tucked perfectly out of the way during the day, it easily folds down from the wall to have a fully fixed bed in seconds. 

The Murphy bed is a great middleground for those wanting a fixed bed, but still wanting to save space in the van. It really is the best of both worlds.

Next to the bed, is a large workspace, complete with an adjustable Lagun table. The fold-down Murphy bed leaves this area very spacious during the day-the perfect artist’s workspace!

P.S Still trying to choose your van? Check out our guide to be best vans for camper conversions !

13. Natural Family Camper Van  

Get ready to fully immerse yourself in nature with this family camper van. 

The interior of this van is carefully handcrafted with all natural materials! No plastics or glues here. 

The beds, interior cladding, and cabinets were all lovingly made from different types of wood. I particularly love the use of Western Redwood Cedar- it has a gorgeous look and is a light material.

This van is perfect for family van life, as it has three beds! 

A double bed on the bottom for the adults, and two bunks on the sides for children. 

The bunks even have a clever fabric constraint for safety. 

The lighting in this van is a wonderful combination of fixtures and windows. 

The kitchen window particularly has a very cheerful, rustic feel. The large kitchen is great for preparing family meals.

With an abundance of places to sleep, eat, and be merry, I just love this natural family camper van.

14. Home-Cinema Van

This is one of my favourite van tours , as the decor and style of this van is breathtaking. I love the soft cream color scheme, with a touch of green to make it feel natural. 

Not only is it beautiful, but it is also complete with a full  hot water shower, porta potty, and kitchen.

Surfboards themselves are a work of art, and I like how this interior has a hanging contraption to store, and showcase the surfboard. 

This is a nice storage solution for surfboards, especially for longboards.

At night, this van transforms into an in-van movie theatre. 

The curtains close, Magnasonic mini projector turns on, and cozy movie nights are on! You can enjoy watching movies from the double fixed bed, and also the large lounging area at the foot of the bed.

Not only is this van beautiful and fully-equipped, it is also very safe and secure due to its security cameras. The wi-fi security system is a great touch to any van, and it makes this van just that much safer.

15. Modern Minimalist Van  

This van conversion has a very unique and clever table set up. The driver and passenger seats in this van  turn around to face the rear seats, with two adjustable tables in the middle. 

This set-up is not only a space saver, but also very nice for meal times, and serves as a great work space. 

The tables even swivel all the way outside the van, so if the sun is shining, you can use them outside, which I think is a very nice feature.

The kitchen in this van is minimalistic, but beautiful. The countertop is a piece of live edgewood, a nice rustic feature that contrasts with the rest of the interior’s modern look.

The shower in this van is modern and luxurious. It is full-sized, and even has its own sink! 

Opening porthole windows are scattered throughout this van, which conveniently offer both light and ventilation. They are also very sleek, and stylish. 

The heater of this van is a gorgeous wood burner, which also adds a nice rustic contrast to the otherwise shiny, white modern interior of this van.

16. High-Tech Adventure Van

This sweet, sleek, high-tech adventure van is fully equipped and ready to go. One of our top picks as the best Ford Transit van conversions out there!

It has a full shower and toilet behind a mirrored wall, and a curtain in the shower allows you to keep towels and clothes dry and hanging while you shower. 

The beautiful handmade ambrosia maple countertop is a whopping eight feet long, thanks to a crafty extension. I like how all of the cabinets have a nice matte-black finish, it really gives this van a sleek feel.

There’s a 28 inch television in this van, which swivels out so you can watch either from the large, fixed bed, or from the sweet workspace in the front of the van.

This comfy chair serves as a great workspace, complete with a Lagun swivel table for extra convenience. 

The chair even folds completely flat up against the wall, giving you full access through this van’s sliding doors.

17. Dream Van  

This dreamy van has a mostly wooden interior, with some artistic touches that make it very special.

One truly admirable feature of this van is a stone sink. 

The sink’s black faucet is intricately wrapped in tree roots that match the wooden interior of the rest of the van. 

The cab and kitchen are partially separated by more stone slabs, a nice and unique touch.

I appreciate that a great deal of wood in this van is repurposed- the cabinets are all made from old wine boxes.

This van comfortably seats 4 people inside its lounge area. 

Underneath the bed, a beautiful, wooden table slides out, with an emerald green epoxy resin inlay. The table even comes completely out of the van and can be set up outside!

Plants throughout the interior provide a nice touch of greenery, and between the plants and the wood, this van has a very nice rustic look.

18. Surfer’s Van  

I’m absolutely delighted by all the fabrics and colors of this surf van’s interior. 

The cab is completely open to the van, and the front seats swivel around and meet a table to form a nice seating area. 

The cab has been painted, and seats have been stapled with beautiful fabrics that perfectly match the rest of the van.

The kitchen is also bright and cheery, and the centerpiece is a blue basin-style sink, with a garden hose faucet. 

Behind the sink is a tile backsplash, consisting of all hand-painted tiles.

The back of the van has a very large lounge area, which seats 4 people, and transforms into a large bed. Exquisite, colorful fabrics make this space very pleasant to relax in. 

Two surfboards can be strapped to the roof, functioning  great as both storage and a display for the boards. 

A peacock shaped headboard is the highlight of the lounge area. It is of course made of more beautiful fabrics, and is a piece of art in itself. 

19. Photographer’s Van  

I’m a big fan of the design of this van’s interior. 

It’s got a nice boho look, with some real statement features, including a large golden mirror, with a sun spiraling around its perimeter.

The kitchen in this van is gorgeous. 

A large backsplash of sliced pieces of wood gives it a very earthy feel, while the white tiles and large, bartender’s sink keeps it modern. A large window filters in ample light.

Mason jars filled with spices line the underside of the kitchen cabinets, a clever, and aesthetically pleasing storage solution. 

Utilization of space is huge in this van. Underneath a fixed queen bed, slides out a nature’s head toilet.

Additionally, a large, wooden table slides out from under the bed. It’s accompanied by a bench seat for two, creating a great space to work, eat, or just hang out and enjoy yourself!

20. Budget Van  

I’m happy to show you a van that proves that van life doesn’t need to be terribly expensive. There are tonnes of cheap van conversions out there that are unique, cozy, and highly desirable to live in. This funky, eclectic van was purchased and converted for a grand total of only £2,000! 

The interior is cladded with pallet wood, which I think is a great budget option for those wanting to design their van with a wooden interior! The cabinets are also made from pallet wood, and are sturdy and look great. 

The kitchen has a vintage tile backsplash that adds the perfect pop of color to this wooden van interior.

For heating, this van has a massive log burner. It keeps the van’s interior very warm, and also doubles as an awesome piece of vintage decor. 

Which Camper Interior Will You Choose?

I hope you’re feeling inspired after seeing all these fantastic interior designs. 

There are a plethora of options when it comes to designing your van’s interior, and it doesn’t have to break the bank either. 

It’s absolutely possible to have an interior that not only has all of the essentials, but is also great to look at and spend time in! 

Now that you’ve seen all these radical van interiors, which one will you base your van’s design on?

You might also like:

• How much does a van conversion cost?

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He has successfully done this for years and he teaches his friends and students to do exactly the same. It is not obvious, but anyone can do it if they have the knowledge!

Join Nate at his free online training (running today) and he will teach you exactly how he does this!

The Van Conversion Guide (14th Edition)

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• Destination Guides

The 7 Best Things to do at Night in Moscow

By Chris Boyle

Moscow nightlife can be both fun and very confusing.

Restaurants often turn into clubs, and of course there’s the infamous ‘face control’ door policy which only admits the most beautiful, the most cash-laden and the most cultured – and very much depends on the whim of the ‘face master’ on the door at each club.Head to the right venue though, and you’ll find them full of beautiful people up for a crazy party.

Asking your hotel to phone ahead can help, as well as taking a few glamorous faces – and the ability to spend. Face control is simple; those who look cultured, wealthy and beautiful get in, those that don’t, won’t.

Cuisine: European, Japanese

RAI. It’s not just the name of a club – it’s the benchmark of glamour, the pinnacle of hedonism and the definition of an entire clubbing era.

The 8 Best Restaurants in Moscow

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A growing organism, RAI is always developing to remain at the forefront of club culture. Since hitting the Moscow scene four years ago, the club has refined its cutting edge vibe and today you’ll find a trendsetting venue that competes with the world’s most distinguished nightspots.

RAI sits at the heart of the Russian capital and pulsates with the beat of this legendary city. Loud and lavish, the parties here attract some of the most beautiful people on the planet.

Always evolving and moving with the times, RAI last year launched Evolution, a brand new program of quality music, stunning shows and an atmosphere you won’t find elsewhere. Trendy, tasty and utterly irresistible, RAI is the club of choice for those in the know.

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Opening hours: Thu, Fri, Sat 11pm – 7am

Type of music: House, vocal house, deep house, progressive house, mash-up

Metro: Kropotkinskaya

Guarded parking

Bolotnaya Embankment, 9 (near the Red October chocolate factory)

+7 985 364 0101

www.raiclub.ru

CITY SPACE BAR

The top floor of the luxurious Swissôtel Krasnye Holmy is home to one of Moscow’s trendiest bars. Chic, stylish and ultra-modern, City Space Bar is a great place to start and finish your evening.

Floor-to-ceiling windows offer a breathtaking 360 view of the Moscow skyline, while the expert bartenders mix up a selection of fabulously extravagant cocktails; classic drinks have been given a modern twist by these ‘cocktail designers’. Winner of several awards, including the coveted World’s Top Ten Bars (by the Bartender’s Guide 2008), City Space Bar is a hotspot for the city’s fashionable elite.

+7 495 221 5357

[email protected]

34th floor Swissôtel Krasnye Holmy, Kosmodamianskaya Nab, 52, 6, Moscow 115054

cityspacebar.com

Rivalling Imperia Lounge for the toughest door policy in Moscow, Soho Rooms attracts Russia’s social elite.

Models and celebrities are in abundance, as well as the capital’s movers and shakers. The club consists of four different rooms: the Dining Room, Disco Room, Bar Room and the Summer Terrace. The Disco Room is where the action happens and where you’ll find top DJ’s David Guetta and Alex Gaudino luring the likes of Naomi Campbell, Gerard Butler and Roman Abramovich onto the dance floor. Located on the banks of the River Moscow, Soho Rooms is one of Moscow’s premier clubs and is highly recommended.

Manager: Dmitry Braude, Managing Director

+7 495 988 7474

[email protected]

Savvinskiy Embankment, Pereulok 12, Str 8, Moscow

www.sohorooms.com

BOLSHOI THEATRE

One of the world’s finest opera and ballet halls is returning to active service this year.

The Bolshoi Theatre, the second largest opera house in Europe, is one of the most instantly recognizable monuments in the Russian capital. The opera house has been in existence since 1776, and despite several fires and a bomb attack, the theatre’s Classical Greek design is still very impressive. The Theatre has a varied ballet and opera program, many of which are traditional Russian performances, such as Swan Lake and the Nutcracker. Currently, the main stage of the Bolshoi Theatre is closed while it undergoes a $730m renovation that will see the theatre reemerge as one of the world’s top opera halls. During the early part of 2011, shows will still be available at the Bolshoi Theatre’s New Stage.

+ 7 495 692 0818

[email protected]

1 Teatralnaya Square

www.bolshoi.ru

Considered by many Russians to be the best place to start your evening before heading for the slightly wilder clubs, Kalina is a stylish bar with a fabulous view.

Located on the 21st floor of a Moscow high-rise and just a few minutes walk from Old Arbat street, the bar offers a breathtaking view of Moscow and an elegant and sophisticated interior. The bar has an excellent drinks menu that includes a vast array of cocktails, expertly prepared for you by the resident mixologists.

+7 495 229 5519

[email protected]

8, Novinskiy Boulevard, Lotte Plaza Shopping Center, 21st floor

www.kalinabar.ru

IMPERIA LOUNGE

When the company that produces Imperia Vodka announced that it would be opening a club in Moscow in 2010, it caused a stir amongst Muscovites.

Since vodka is the national drink in Russia, any announcement from one of the country’s main distributors was likely to create a buzz, and with Imperia Lounge, the hype was justified. Floor-to-ceiling screens project lasers and graphics onto the walls and the clientele is almost entirely made up of Russian models and celebrities. The club has one of the toughest door policies in town and exercises the legendary Moscow face-control, so you’ll really have to impress to get past that velvet rope. Once inside you’ll see why Imperia Lounge is the place to see and be seen. The multi-level industrial space features wall-mounted LCD displays and go-go dancers suspended on circular pedestals above sunken lounge spaces, together with a cool VIP deck. The music is supplied by some of the hottest DJs around, making it one of the coolest dance floors in Moscow. It gets hot and sweaty so be prepared for a crush!

Olga Milenina, VIP Manager

+7 495 967 0990

[email protected]

5 Mantulinskaya Ul, Building 7, Moscow 121151

www.russianstandard.com

Housed in a cavernous 17th century converted warehouse, GQ Bar is the brainchild of restaurateur Arkady Novikov.

The entrepreneur owns a string of restaurants and bars across Russia, all of which have a reputation for the high-class clientele they attract and the quality of food and drink on offer. GQ Bar continues this theme with the clientele seemingly pulled from the magazine images that adorn the walls of the restaurant. The bar has a timeless décor of dark oak and white walls, and the large windows provide plenty of light. A great place to start your evening, GQ Bar is located in the Baltschug area, close to many of Moscow’s finest hotels and tends to attract a more mature, business-minded crowd.

+7 495 956 7775

Ulitsa Baltschug Dom 5, Moscow

eng.novikovgroup.ru

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2018 Primetime Emmy & James Beard Award Winner

In Transit: Notes from the Underground

Jun 06 2018.

Spend some time in one of Moscow’s finest museums.

Subterranean commuting might not be anyone’s idea of a good time, but even in a city packing the war-games treasures and priceless bejeweled eggs of the Kremlin Armoury and the colossal Soviet pavilions of the VDNKh , the Metro holds up as one of Moscow’s finest museums. Just avoid rush hour.

The Metro is stunning and provides an unrivaled insight into the city’s psyche, past and present, but it also happens to be the best way to get around. Moscow has Uber, and the Russian version called Yandex Taxi , but also some nasty traffic. Metro trains come around every 90 seconds or so, at a more than 99 percent on-time rate. It’s also reasonably priced, with a single ride at 55 cents (and cheaper in bulk). From history to tickets to rules — official and not — here’s what you need to know to get started.

A Brief Introduction Buying Tickets Know Before You Go (Down) Rules An Easy Tour

A Brief Introduction

Moscow’s Metro was a long time coming. Plans for rapid transit to relieve the city’s beleaguered tram system date back to the Imperial era, but a couple of wars and a revolution held up its development. Stalin revived it as part of his grand plan to modernize the Soviet Union in the 1920s and 30s. The first lines and tunnels were constructed with help from engineers from the London Underground, although Stalin’s secret police decided that they had learned too much about Moscow’s layout and had them arrested on espionage charges and deported.

The beauty of its stations (if not its trains) is well-documented, and certainly no accident. In its illustrious first phases and particularly after the Second World War, the greatest architects of Soviet era were recruited to create gleaming temples celebrating the Revolution, the USSR, and the war triumph. No two stations are exactly alike, and each of the classic showpieces has a theme. There are world-famous shrines to Futurist architecture, a celebration of electricity, tributes to individuals and regions of the former Soviet Union. Each marble slab, mosaic tile, or light fixture was placed with intent, all in service to a station’s aesthetic; each element, f rom the smallest brass ear of corn to a large blood-spattered sword on a World War II mural, is an essential part of the whole.

The Metro is a monument to the Soviet propaganda project it was intended to be when it opened in 1935 with the slogan “Building a Palace for the People”. It brought the grand interiors of Imperial Russia to ordinary Muscovites, celebrated the Soviet Union’s past achievements while promising its citizens a bright Soviet future, and of course, it was a show-piece for the world to witness the might and sophistication of life in the Soviet Union.

It may be a museum, but it’s no relic. U p to nine million people use it daily, more than the London Underground and New York Subway combined. (Along with, at one time, about 20 stray dogs that learned to commute on the Metro.)

In its 80+ year history, the Metro has expanded in phases and fits and starts, in step with the fortunes of Moscow and Russia. Now, partly in preparation for the World Cup 2018, it’s also modernizing. New trains allow passengers to walk the entire length of the train without having to change carriages. The system is becoming more visitor-friendly. (There are helpful stickers on the floor marking out the best selfie spots .) But there’s a price to modernity: it’s phasing out one of its beloved institutions, the escalator attendants. Often they are middle-aged or elderly women—“ escalator grandmas ” in news accounts—who have held the post for decades, sitting in their tiny kiosks, scolding commuters for bad escalator etiquette or even bad posture, or telling jokes . They are slated to be replaced, when at all, by members of the escalator maintenance staff.

For all its achievements, the Metro lags behind Moscow’s above-ground growth, as Russia’s capital sprawls ever outwards, generating some of the world’s worst traffic jams . But since 2011, the Metro has been in the middle of an ambitious and long-overdue enlargement; 60 new stations are opening by 2020. If all goes to plan, the 2011-2020 period will have brought 125 miles of new tracks and over 100 new stations — a 40 percent increase — the fastest and largest expansion phase in any period in the Metro’s history.

Facts: 14 lines Opening hours: 5 a.m-1 a.m. Rush hour(s): 8-10 a.m, 4-8 p.m. Single ride: 55₽ (about 85 cents) Wi-Fi network-wide

Buying Tickets

• Ticket machines have a button to switch to English.
• You can buy specific numbers of rides: 1, 2, 5, 11, 20, or 60. Hold up fingers to show how many rides you want to buy.
• There is also a 90-minute ticket , which gets you 1 trip on the metro plus an unlimited number of transfers on other transport (bus, tram, etc) within 90 minutes.
• Or, you can buy day tickets with unlimited rides: one day (218₽/ US$4), three days (415₽/US$7) or seven days (830₽/US$15). Check the rates here to stay up-to-date.
• If you’re going to be using the Metro regularly over a few days, it’s worth getting a Troika card , a contactless, refillable card you can use on all public transport. Using the Metro is cheaper with one of these: a single ride is 36₽, not 55₽. Buy them and refill them in the Metro stations, and they’re valid for 5 years, so you can keep it for next time. Or, if you have a lot of cash left on it when you leave, you can get it refunded at the Metro Service Centers at Ulitsa 1905 Goda, 25 or at Staraya Basmannaya 20, Building 1.
• You can also buy silicone bracelets and keychains with built-in transport chips that you can use as a Troika card. (A Moscow Metro Fitbit!) So far, you can only get these at the Pushkinskaya metro station Live Helpdesk and souvenir shops in the Mayakovskaya and Trubnaya metro stations. The fare is the same as for the Troika card.
• You can also use Apple Pay and Samsung Pay.

Rules, spoken and unspoken

No smoking, no drinking, no filming, no littering. Photography is allowed, although it used to be banned.

Stand to the right on the escalator. Break this rule and you risk the wrath of the legendary escalator attendants. (No shenanigans on the escalators in general.)

Get out of the way. Find an empty corner to hide in when you get off a train and need to stare at your phone. Watch out getting out of the train in general; when your train doors open, people tend to appear from nowhere or from behind ornate marble columns, walking full-speed.

Always offer your seat to elderly ladies (what are you, a monster?).

An Easy Tour

This is no Metro Marathon ( 199 stations in 20 hours ). It’s an easy tour, taking in most—though not all—of the notable stations, the bulk of it going clockwise along the Circle line, with a couple of short detours. These stations are within minutes of one another, and the whole tour should take about 1-2 hours.

Start at Mayakovskaya Metro station , at the corner of Tverskaya and Garden Ring,  Triumfalnaya Square, Moskva, Russia, 125047.

1. Mayakovskaya.  Named for Russian Futurist Movement poet Vladimir Mayakovsky and an attempt to bring to life the future he imagined in his poems. (The Futurist Movement, natch, was all about a rejecting the past and celebrating all things speed, industry, modern machines, youth, modernity.) The result: an Art Deco masterpiece that won the National Grand Prix for architecture at the New York World’s Fair in 1939. It’s all smooth, rounded shine and light, and gentle arches supported by columns of dark pink marble and stainless aircraft steel. Each of its 34 ceiling niches has a mosaic. During World War II, the station was used as an air-raid shelter and, at one point, a bunker for Stalin. He gave a subdued but rousing speech here in Nov. 6, 1941 as the Nazis bombed the city above.

Take the 3/Green line one station to:

2. Belorusskaya. Opened in 1952, named after the connected Belarussky Rail Terminal, which runs trains between Moscow and Belarus. This is a light marble affair with a white, cake-like ceiling, lined with Belorussian patterns and 12 Florentine ceiling mosaics depicting life in Belarussia when it was built.

Transfer onto the 1/Brown line. Then, one stop (clockwise) t o:

3. Novoslobodskaya.  This station was designed around the stained-glass panels, which were made in Latvia, because Alexey Dushkin, the Soviet starchitect who dreamed it up (and also designed Mayakovskaya station) couldn’t find the glass and craft locally. The stained glass is the same used for Riga’s Cathedral, and the panels feature plants, flowers, members of the Soviet intelligentsia (musician, artist, architect) and geometric shapes.

Go two stops east on the 1/Circle line to:

4. Komsomolskaya. Named after the Komsomol, or the Young Communist League, this might just be peak Stalin Metro style. Underneath the hub for three regional railways, it was intended to be a grand gateway to Moscow and is today its busiest station. It has chandeliers; a yellow ceiling with Baroque embellishments; and in the main hall, a colossal red star overlaid on golden, shimmering tiles. Designer Alexey Shchusev designed it as an homage to the speech Stalin gave at Red Square on Nov. 7, 1941, in which he invoked Russia’s illustrious military leaders as a pep talk to Soviet soldiers through the first catastrophic year of the war.   The station’s eight large mosaics are of the leaders referenced in the speech, such as Alexander Nevsky, a 13th-century prince and military commander who bested German and Swedish invading armies.

One more stop clockwise to Kurskaya station,  and change onto the 3/Blue  line, and go one stop to:

5. Baumanskaya.   Opened in 1944. Named for the Bolshevik Revolutionary Nikolai Bauman , whose monument and namesake district are aboveground here. Though he seemed like a nasty piece of work (he apparently once publicly mocked a woman he had impregnated, who later hung herself), he became a Revolutionary martyr when he was killed in 1905 in a skirmish with a monarchist, who hit him on the head with part of a steel pipe. The station is in Art Deco style with atmospherically dim lighting, and a series of bronze sculptures of soldiers and homefront heroes during the War. At one end, there is a large mosaic portrait of Lenin.

Stay on that train direction one more east to:

6. Elektrozavodskaya. As you may have guessed from the name, this station is the Metro’s tribute to all thing electrical, built in 1944 and named after a nearby lightbulb factory. It has marble bas-relief sculptures of important figures in electrical engineering, and others illustrating the Soviet Union’s war-time struggles at home. The ceiling’s recurring rows of circular lamps give the station’s main tunnel a comforting glow, and a pleasing visual effect.

Double back two stops to Kurskaya station , and change back to the 1/Circle line. Sit tight for six stations to:

7. Kiyevskaya. This was the last station on the Circle line to be built, in 1954, completed under Nikita Khrushchev’ s guidance, as a tribute to his homeland, Ukraine. Its three large station halls feature images celebrating Ukraine’s contributions to the Soviet Union and Russo-Ukrainian unity, depicting musicians, textile-working, soldiers, farmers. (One hall has frescoes, one mosaics, and the third murals.) Shortly after it was completed, Khrushchev condemned the architectural excesses and unnecessary luxury of the Stalin era, which ushered in an epoch of more austere Metro stations. According to the legend at least, he timed the policy in part to ensure no Metro station built after could outshine Kiyevskaya.

Change to the 3/Blue line and go one stop west.

8. Park Pobedy. This is the deepest station on the Metro, with one of the world’s longest escalators, at 413 feet. If you stand still, the escalator ride to the surface takes about three minutes .) Opened in 2003 at Victory Park, the station celebrates two of Russia’s great military victories. Each end has a mural by Georgian artist Zurab Tsereteli, who also designed the “ Good Defeats Evil ” statue at the UN headquarters in New York. One mural depicts the Russian generals’ victory over the French in 1812 and the other, the German surrender of 1945. The latter is particularly striking; equal parts dramatic, triumphant, and gruesome. To the side, Red Army soldiers trample Nazi flags, and if you look closely there’s some blood spatter among the detail. Still, the biggest impressions here are the marble shine of the chessboard floor pattern and the pleasingly geometric effect if you view from one end to the other.

Keep going one more stop west to:

9. Slavyansky Bulvar.  One of the Metro’s youngest stations, it opened in 2008. With far higher ceilings than many other stations—which tend to have covered central tunnels on the platforms—it has an “open-air” feel (or as close to it as you can get, one hundred feet under). It’s an homage to French architect Hector Guimard, he of the Art Nouveau entrances for the Paris M é tro, and that’s precisely what this looks like: A Moscow homage to the Paris M é tro, with an additional forest theme. A Cyrillic twist on Guimard’s Metro-style lettering over the benches, furnished with t rees and branch motifs, including creeping vines as towering lamp-posts.

Stay on the 3/Blue line and double back four stations to:

10. Arbatskaya. Its first iteration, Arbatskaya-Smolenskaya station, was damaged by German bombs in 1941. It was rebuilt in 1953, and designed to double as a bomb shelter in the event of nuclear war, although unusually for stations built in the post-war phase, this one doesn’t have a war theme. It may also be one of the system’s most elegant: Baroque, but toned down a little, with red marble floors and white ceilings with gilded bronze c handeliers.

Jump back on the 3/Blue line  in the same direction and take it one more stop:

11. Ploshchad Revolyutsii (Revolution Square). Opened in 1938, and serving Red Square and the Kremlin . Its renowned central hall has marble columns flanked by 76 bronze statues of Soviet heroes: soldiers, students, farmers, athletes, writers, parents. Some of these statues’ appendages have a yellow sheen from decades of Moscow’s commuters rubbing them for good luck. Among the most popular for a superstitious walk-by rub: the snout of a frontier guard’s dog, a soldier’s gun (where the touch of millions of human hands have tapered the gun barrel into a fine, pointy blade), a baby’s foot, and a woman’s knee. (A brass rooster also sports the telltale gold sheen, though I am told that rubbing the rooster is thought to bring bad luck. )

Now take the escalator up, and get some fresh air.

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21 Things to Know Before You Go to Moscow

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TravelAwaits

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19 Unique And Fabulous Experiences In Moscow

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Thinking of visiting Russia? When visiting such a famous city, one must, of course, visit the iconic landmarks first. Moscow has plenty of those, most of them in the center of the city, which is very well-planned for tourists. Once you’ve seen the sights that are on most travelers’ lists, it’s time to branch out and visit some of the lesser-known sites, and there are some fascinating places to see and things to do.

I know this list is long, but I just couldn’t help myself. You probably won’t have the time to see them all. But that’s okay. Just scroll through the list and choose what sounds the most interesting to you. Where possible, make sure to book in advance, as things can get crowded, especially during high season.

1. The Red Square, Kremlin, And Surroundings

Red Square (Krasnya Ploshad) is the heart and soul of Russia, and where much of the country’s history has unfolded. This is the most famous landmark in Moscow and indeed the whole country, it’s an absolute must-do! The square is always full of people and has a rather festive atmosphere!

Saint Basil’s Cathedral

This is the famous church with the rainbow-colored, onion-domed roof. The cathedral was commissioned in the 1500s by Ivan the Terrible and according to legend, the Tsar thought it was so beautiful, that he ordered that the architect’s eyes be cut out afterward, so he could never build anything more beautiful! He wasn’t called Ivan the Terrible for no reason!

Lenin’s Mausoleum

The “love-it-or-hate-it” of tourist attractions in Russia. A glass sarcophagus containing the embalmed body of Russian revolutionary, Vladimir Lenin. It may seem a bit bizarre to display the mummy of a person, but it has been there for almost half a century and the 2.5 million visitors who come each year, clearly feel the queuing and thorough body search are worth it, to be in Lenin’s presence.

Pro Tip: no photos and no loud talking are allowed inside the Mausoleum.

Eternal Flame

There is an Eternal Flame in honor of an unknown soldier on the left side of Red Square. The hourly changing of the guards is worth seeing.

The Kremlin is the official residence of the Russian president. You can see it from the outside, or you can take an excursion to one of the museums located inside. This is the biggest active fortress in Europe, and holds a week’s worth of attractions! Once behind the 7,332-feet of walls, there are five squares, four cathedrals, 20 towers, various museums, and the world’s largest bell and cannon to see. Worth a special mention is the Armory Chamber that houses a collection of the famous Faberge Eggs.

Pro Tip: You can only go inside the Kremlin if you are part of a tourist group.

2. Bolshoi Theatre

Bolshoi Theatre translates to “The Big Theatre” in Russian, and the building is home to both the Bolshoi Ballet and Bolshoi Opera — among the oldest and most famous ballet and opera companies in the world.

Pro Tip: It’s hard to get an inexpensive ticket, so if you’re reading well in advance of going to Moscow then try buying tickets on the official website . Last-minute tickets cost around $250 per person. If this is out of your budget, about an hour before a performance, you can try buying a ticket at the entrance from a reseller. Most can speak enough English to negotiate the price.

Tour the Bolshoi Theatre: You can take a group guided tour of the Bolshoi Theatre which focuses on the history and architecture of the theatre and behind the scenes. There’s an English language tour that lasts 2 hours and costs around $300 for a group of up to six.

3. Luxury Shopping At GUM And TSUM

Russia’s main department store, GUM, has a stunning interior that is home to over 100 high-end boutiques, selling a variety of brands: from luxurious Dior to the more affordable Zara. Even if shopping is not on your Moscow to-do list GUM is still worth a visit; the glass-roofed arcade faces Red Square and offers a variety of classy eateries. TSUM, one of the biggest luxury malls in town, is right behind the Bolshoi and GUM. It’s an imposing building with lots of history, and worth a visit just for its design and its glass roof.

4. Christ The Savior Cathedral

This is one of Russia’s most visited cathedrals and is a newer addition to the gorgeous array of Muscovite cathedrals, but don’t let its young age fool you. After perestroika, in the early 90s, the revived Russian Orthodox Church was given permission to build a cathedral on this site. It did the location honors and built the largest temple of the Christian Orthodox Church. The façade is as grand as you’d expect, but it’s the inside that will mesmerize you, with its domes, gold, gorgeous paintings, and decor!

The cathedral is located just a few hundred feet away from the Kremlin and was the site of the infamous Pussy Riot protest against Putin back in 2012.

Pro Tip: Bring a shawl to cover your hair as is the local custom.

5. Gorky Park

Moscow’s premier green space, Gorky Park (Park Gor’kogo) is the city’s biggest and most famous park. There is entertainment on offer here for every taste, from outdoor dancing sessions to yoga classes, volleyball, ping-pong, rollerblading, and bike and boat rental in summer. In winter, half the park turns into a huge ice skating rink. Gorky Park is also home to an open-air movie theater and the Garage Museum of Contemporary Art. There is also Muzeon Art Park, a dynamic contemporary space with a unique collection of 700 sculptures. It is located right in front of Gorky Park.

6. Sparrow Hills Park

If you take a walk from Gorky Park, along the Moscow River embankment, you’ll end up in the city’s other legendary park, Sparrow Hills. Although the park doesn’t offer as many activities as its hip neighbor, it has a great panoramic view of the city

Pro Tip: You can take a free walking tour to all of the above attractions with an English-speaking guide.

7. River Cruising

One of the best ways to experience Moscow, and see all the famous landmarks, but from a different angle, is from the Moscow River. Take a river cruise. Avoid the tourist crowds. There are little nameless old boats that do the cruise, but if you are looking for a more luxurious experience take the Radisson Blu cruise and enjoy the sights with some good food and a glass of wine.

8. Metro Hopping

Inaugurated in the 1930s, the Moscow Metro system is one of the oldest and most beautiful in the world. Started in Stalinist times, each station is a work of art in its own right. I’d recommend touring the stations between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. This way, you’ll be able to properly see it without the crowds. Ideally, I’d recommend taking a tour with a knowledgeable guide with GuruWalk, who will tell you stories of forgotten stations and how the history of the country is interconnected with the metro development. If going by yourself, then I definitely recommend checking out: Mayakovskaya, Ploschad Revolutsii, Kievskaya, Kropotkinskaya, Kurskaya, and Novoslobodskaya stations.

Visit the free Moscow Metro Museum: For real train enthusiasts, located in the southern vestibule of Sportivnaya station is a small free museum. Here you can take a peek into the driver’s cabin, see a collection of metro tokens from different cities, and see different models of a turnstile, traffic lights, escalator, and more.

9. Moscow State University View

In his effort to create a grander Moscow, Stalin had seven skyscrapers built in different parts of town; they’re called the Seven Sisters. The largest of these buildings and the one with the best view is the main building of the Moscow State University. Although this is a little outside the city center, the view is more than worth it.

10. Izmailovsky Market

Mostly known for the city’s largest flea market, the district of Izmaylovo is home to a maze of shops where you can get just about anything, from artisan crafts to traditional fur hats, handcrafted jewelry, fascinating Soviet memorabilia, and antiquities. It’s also one of Moscow’s largest green spaces. There are often no price tags, so be prepared to haggle a bit. Head to one of the market cafes for a warming mulled wine before continuing your shopping spree.

The History of Vodka Museum is found here, and the museum’s restaurant is the perfect place to sample various brands of the national drink.

Once you’ve covered the more touristy spots, Moscow still has plenty to offer, and the places below will also be full of locals! So for some local vibes, I would strongly recommend the spots below!

11. Moscow City

With a completely different vibe, Moscow City (also referred to as Moscow International Business Center) is like a mini Dubai, with lots of impressive tall glass buildings. Here is where you’ll find the best rooftops in towns, like Ruski Restaurant, the highest restaurant both in Moscow City and in Europe. Moscow City is great for crowd-free shopping and the best panoramic views of the city.

12. Tretyakov Gallery

Tretyakov Gallery started as the private collection of the Tretyakov brothers, who were 19th-century philanthropists. They gave their private collection to the government after their deaths. If there is just one museum you visit in Moscow, I recommend this one!

13. Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve

Tsaritsyno was a residence of Catherine the Great more than two centuries ago. It became derelict during the Soviet era but has now been fully renovated. With its opulently decorated buildings, gardens, meadows, and forests, Tsaritsyno Park is the perfect place for a green respite in Moscow.

14. Kolomenskoye

A 10-minute metro ride from the city center is Kolomenskoe Museum-Reserve, where you can get an idea of what Russia looked like 200 years ago. You’ll find ancient churches (one dating back to the 16th century), the oldest garden in Moscow, and the wonderful fairytale wooden palace of Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich, father of Peter the Great.

15. Ostankino TV Tower

Built in 1967, Ostankino TV Tower was the tallest free-standing construction in the world at the time, it’s still the 8th tallest building in the world and the highest in Europe. It’s also the best observation deck, with a glass floor and 360-degree views. The speedy elevators take you 1,105 feet in next to no time.

Pro Tip: You need to book in advance; entrance is based on specific ticket times and the capacity is limited and only a certain number of tourists are allowed per day. Don’t forget your passport, you’ll need it to get through security.

16. Zaryadye Park

Zaryadye is a newly opened, landscaped urban park so new you won’t find it in a lot of tour guides. The park is near Red Square and is divided into four climatic zones: forest, steppe, tundra, and floodplains, depicting the variety of climatic zones in Russia.

These last three suggestions are a little quirky, but all are really worth checking out.

17. Museum Of Soviet Arcade Games

Release your inner child playing on 66 arcade machines from the Soviet era! What a great way to spend a couple of hours when tired of visiting museums and palaces. The staff speaks excellent English and are happy to explain how the games work.

18. Moscow Rooftop Tour

Take a 1-hour private Moscow rooftop tour with an experienced roofer. I can just about guarantee none of your friends will be able to say they’ve done it! For your comfort, I recommend wearing comfortable shoes. Take your camera, there are some amazing photo opportunities out there!

19. Sanduny Banya

This classical Russian bathhouse opened its doors in 1808 and is famous for combining traditional Russian banya services with luxurious interiors and service. If you enjoy spas and saunas, then you should experience a Russian bathhouse at least once in your life! Go with an open mind and hire a specialist to steam you as it’s meant to be done — by being beaten repeatedly with a besom (a leafy branch)! This is said to improve circulation, but is best done by a professional!

So there you have my list of things to do in Moscow. I could have gone on and on and on, but I didn’t want to try your patience! There are so many things to do in this vibrant city that you’ll definitely need to allocate several days for exploring.

Here are some other reasons to visit Moscow and Russia:

• 7 Reasons To Put Moscow On Your Travel Bucket List
• Russia 30 Years (And 30 Pounds) Ago
• Massive Mysterious Craters Appearing Again In Siberia

Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, before moving to Africa at the age of 21, Sarah Kingdom is a mountain climber and guide, traveler, yoga teacher, trail runner, and mother of two. When she is not climbing or traveling she lives on a cattle ranch in central Zambia. She guides and runs trips regularly in India, Nepal, Tibet, Russia, and Ethiopia, taking climbers up Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro numerous times a year.