So you’ve taken the plunge and decided to buy a camper van. Awesome! You’re setting yourself up for some epic adventures and making memories that will last a lifetime. Before you head off, you’re probably anxious to make your new space feel like home. Decorating a camper van can be a daunting task, but adding the final touches is truly what makes it feel like the cozy home you’ve always dreamed of.
Whether you plan to live in your camper van or are simply using it to take road trips and vacations, you still want your camper van decor to make your camper feel like a home on wheels.
In this article, we’ll lay out five tips for utilizing space, working with the funky feel of a van rather than against it, and generally how to make your camper van feel like home while you’re out on the open road.
Table of Contents
1. Make Storage Space Fun
This is often the trickiest part of camper van life to nail. Storage is limited, and in such a small space, you have to come up with some creative ideas for storing necessities. And in a campervan, everything needs to have a dual purpose, so incorporating trendy storage ideas that can double as aesthetically pleasing decor is a great solution to make your home on wheels even homier.
If you’re doing your own DIY camper van conversion, you have many options for clever storage space solutions.
Here are a few of our favorite ideas:
Woven Baskets and Wooden Crates
Use stylish woven baskets or wooden crates to store kitchen essentials, blankets, or even shoes. They not only add a touch of boho charm but also keep things organized. Add a little velcro to them or a simple hook to keep them in place, and you have an affordable, cute storage space with easy access.
Vintage Suitcases
An unconventional yet fun option is using vintage suitcases as storage units that double as unique decorative elements. If you have somewhere that you store items for parts of the year, this can be a great solution for clothing and bedding rotation.
Mason Jars
One nifty storage hack is Mason jars that screw into the ceiling for kitchen storage. These versatile containers are the perfect vessel to store spices, dried goods, or even small items like stickers, dog treats, or vitamins. You can even dedicate one as the infamous “junk jar” for all of the random screws, bolts, and small gadgets you have nowhere else to put.
Hanging Organizers
Hang fabric or mesh organizers on the back of seats or doors to keep small items like toiletries, electronics, and snacks within reach. You could decorate a simple hanging canvas shoe organizer with fabric paint, giving it a more personal touch.
Decorative Cushion Covers
One of our favorite hacks, cushion covers filled with extra clothing and bedding, is a great way to add some flare to your van while adding storage space. Simply fill your cushion cover with your items instead of an actual pillow, and viola! Pillows and storage!
Other Storage Solutions
Storage boxes that fit under the driver and passenger seats or the bed are another. You can decorate the front of the box that’s visible to match the vibe of your van, making boring storage into a piece of art. A fun patterned wallpaper is a great solution.
A folding sofa bed that can be tucked away during the day is a great idea, allowing you to have a cute couch during the day with more interior living space.
A simple sink cover made from a butcher block cutting board gives you extra counter space and can be a beautiful addition to your kitchen.
If you plan to live in your camper van full time, paring down your belongings to the bare essentials can be helpful. Embracing this minimalist lifestyle is one of the reasons many people prefer van life to owning a home. A realistic inventory of your needs and lifestyle is a good idea before jumping full-time into van life.
2. Let There Be Light
Light is a crucial part of decor that many people overlook. A space that is lit will feel bigger, modern, and more uplifting, while dark spaces often feel claustrophobic or depressing.
The more natural light you can get into your camper van, the better. If you are doing your own van conversion, consider adding a skylight or extra window.
String Lights
If getting more natural light is not an option in your van, decor ideas like string lights and fairy lights can brighten and liven up a space. Make sure you get battery or 12v-powered lights (you can also get solar-powered string lights that look great both indoors and outdoors.) They add a warm and cozy ambiance and are not only functional but also make your campervan feel like a home away from home.
Curtains
If you will be living in your van full time, consider adding curtains to windows to give you more privacy. You can keep a variety on hand, like sheer curtains that still allow in natural light, and thick blackout curtains to keep heat out or in. Foil sunshades are also great for reflecting heat.
3. Weather and Plants
Another aspect of camper van decor that people overlook, because it is unique to van living, is accounting for the weather. When you decorate the interior of your home, you don’t necessarily need to consider inclement weather. However, when decorating your van, you may need to.
If you spend a lot of time in various climates, the interior of your van will fluctuate in temperature, no matter how well-insulated it is. This can pose challenges for those who like to keep a van-plant or two on board.
Here are some of our favorite hardy plants that seem to be able to withstand the variables of a campervan’s environment:
Succulents
These hardy plants are perfect for van life as they require minimal maintenance, withstand temperature fluctuations, and add a touch of greenery to your space. Examples include Aloe Vera, Echeveria, and Haworthia.
Spider Plants
Known for their air-purifying properties, spider plants can thrive in various conditions. If you like hanging plants, this is the perfect choice!
Snake Plants (Sansevieria)
These low-maintenance plants are almost indestructible, making them ideal for van dwellers. Plus, they come in various shapes and sizes to fit your interior.
Pothos
A popular choice for indoor spaces, pothos plants can tolerate low light and irregular watering, making them perfect for life on the road.
4. Making It Fun
Most importantly, your campervan decor should be a reflection of you. This is your space to play with. There’s no one right way to do camper van decor – give it your personal touch and make your wheels cozy. Camper vans are, by nature, sort of funky and offbeat. This is your chance to let your funky, offbeat side run wild.
Here are some fun, easy items you can add to your campervan decor to make your home a reflection of you and your personality:
- Peel-and-stick wallpaper squares to spice up small spaces
- Cute coffee mugs with vibrant colors
- Create a postcard collage of the places you visit
- A sticker space for your collection you’ll gain while traveling
- Artisanal bowls (use museum puddy to keep them in place!)
- Adventure-inspired throw pillows (stuffed with extra bedding, remember?)
On the other hand, just because Instagram is full of those things doesn’t mean your camper van interior has to be. Maybe you prefer a timeless look to a modern one. Maybe you want to paint the outside of your van with a funky pattern. Maybe you’re not so concerned about making your camper van a home on wheels and would rather it was more bare bones and functional. That’s fine! You do you. That’s what this is all about, after all.
What’s Your Favorite Decorating Tip?
It will take a little planning and effort while decorating your camper van to make it feel like your dream home on wheels, but it is surprisingly easy to turn a camper van into a cozy home.
We recommend checking out Instagram accounts to find van lifers who have vans that inspire you. Many of these people are happy to share their tips and tricks with new van owners.
Don’t forget that, primarily, your van should be comfortable and functional. Take some time to think about the activities you will be pursuing in your van, and design your decor accordingly. There is a fun way to do almost anything in a van – the decor ideas are endless! Let your imagination run wild.
