As we are now less than a month away from relocating to the 5th wheel camper my mind is almost consumed with how the “vibe” will be indoors. Our tiny house is (and obviously so) very customized and has our fingerprint all over it. The woodwork, the kitchen layout, the windows treatments, the flooring, etc. were all chosen by us because they made us feel at home. Not so in the 5th wheel though. This is due in part to the fact that we don’t own it. We are, after all, borrowing it from my very generous folks. That doesn’t mean however that we can’t make some changes that will result in a much more homey space.
If you’ve ever spent any time inside an RV of almost any sort then you know what I am talking about when I say panel seam strips, non-sensical geometric mirrors, wood veneer crown molding, hideous upholstery, aging formica, etc. The list is endless. But have you seen RVs like the most recent one owned and lived in by the Janssen family? It is beautiful and exudes personality. They didn’t get there overnight though. Modifying and renovating an RV can be tough work. Just ask my good friend Tara Wagner. Her family renovated a Winnebago motorhome in a major way.
So while we can’t really paint the walls or add solar power or rip out cabinetry and such there are quite a few things we can do to bring a bit more of the Tiny r(E)volution to a 28′-foot 5th wheel camper.
Replace the standard (and often boring) sofa-bed. Consider that done. In fact, because my dad didn’t like the couch either it wasn’t hard to convince him to pull it out. But instead of replacing it with the IKEA futon they are eyeing they are leaving the space (which happens to be the main slide out) empty for our stay so that our daughter can have a nice play area dedicated to her and her discovery.
Add curtains or window treatments. The 5th wheel came with aluminum mini blinds of all things. Lucky for us they come down with just the removal of a few screws. Once down we can replace with some easy sew curtain made out of fabrics that are of natural materials (we love tobaccos sheets and coffee bean bags).
Pick a theme for your RV. Now we don’t intend to theme the camper as we aren’t really theme people. However, if done right, a theme RV decorating scheme can be very attractive. A subtle touch here and there works much better than cramming every inch of the RV with nautical items or kitschy 50s diner items.
Get rid of clutter in your RV. This goes without saying. We cannot live with clutter and that includes toys, kitchen items, my computer stuff, etc. Just like preparing to live in a tiny house those desiring to live in an RV need to have a balance of throwing away, giving away, selling, and repurposing. This step not only allows for more room to breathe, it allows the space to feel more alive and balanced.
Replace your RV mattress with a better one. This was already done for us as my folks took out the springy Queen size mattress original to the rig with a Sealy Posturepedic King size. A good night’s sleep is essential and we are so thankful for this already being done!
Set up an awning outside your RV or a complete RV room. We are still debating this as we definitely want the space but aren’t sure we can afford a nice one. The benefit is that with these outdoor rooms you are expanding your living space infinitely. With an added folding table and chairs and perhaps even a fan (or heater depending where you are) you can find mingling with the neighbors a whole lot more enjoyable.
Use family photos to decorate and keep relationships fresh in your mind. We are planning to achieve this with an inexpensive digital frame. While away from our family here in North Carolina this will allow us to keep our daughters grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins just a photo away.
Add some plants and/or flowers. This is a fairly easy one and will (if nothing else) add color and life. It will also allow more fresh oxygen into the air and just lift the mood of the space. We are especially looking forward to more tropical plants since we will be in the sunshine state for what would have been a dreary winter.
Are we missing anything? Do you have any tips for our temporary space? Let us know!
I spent a year in an RV, more specifically a 1980 box like motorhome with 1980 style in cheap RV design and fashion…it was nightmare inducing…oh, not the travel and wonderful places i went but the interior of the RV and the constant breakdowns of critical components.
Were i ever to do so again the first step would be to completely gut the interior, new wood floors and refinished walls…an empty shell with a clean slate. There is nothing in an RV that i would live with again, all built ins must go, all fixtures must go, everything. Nothing made of plastic would remain, anything yellowed from age would be first on my demolition list.
A full sized bathroom and fixtures are worth double the space given over to it. Real furniture, not RV furniture. I don’t like anything built in…it’s actually a waste of space. Freestanding fridge and a chest freezer, the small washing machine size. A kitchen made from a table or a waist high shelf modified for a sink and a propane countertop cooker.
Having the freedom to rearrange things when you have spent some time living in it is priceless. There are tie down tracks used in trailers and trucks that make it easy to immobilize things while travelling though it takes a bit of research to find them and decide on a system. Open shelving instead of closed cabinets relieves claustrophobia inducing space hogs. Packing things into bins when moving is simple and honestly these things aren’t in motion very much at all.
Every chance you have to even create the illusion of space and not being in an RV should be embraced in my opinion for your long term psychological well being.
For me, not having anything above waist level that mounts to the walls and is enclosed (like cabinets) is a great illusory way to make any room seem larger than it is. Open shelving works fine. A dresser makes a fine kitchen with drawers for storage, the top drawer can be removed for plumbing and a sink.
Not owning the RV in question certainly limits what modifications you can make…and if it’s only used for the occasional weekend or yearly vacation many of the things i would modify simply aren’t worth doing…there is a large difference in perspective from ‘fulltiming’ and occasional holiday travel.
On a side note, Florida is perfect for solar hot water and electric…the long term cost benefits are outstanding, again for long term living and not simply weekend activities. The beaches are also great for small wind turbines with 24/7 offshore sea breezes to run them. An RV plugged into shore power is going to cost you money you could be saving with free wind and sun energy.
Last tip….get a big awning and live under it as much as possible, when space is limited outdoor living areas can double the size of your home and eliminate cabin fever.
Great stuff jparkes. Thank you so much for commenting. Because we are borrowing right now we are limited. However, if we enjoy ourselves we are seriously considering full-timing for the year of 2015 in which we WILL gut and renovate (including off-grid components).
Adding a theme isn’t as obnoxious as people think. It’s a tailsman, something to measure what you bring in and take out against.
For instance, you can theme with a color. Not that everything is that color, but everything goes with and enhances that color.
Or your theme could be harmony, as in you want your place to be harmonious and tranquil. You’ll decorate in even numbers rather than traditional odds, but vary size. You’ll mirror objects (but I’m not talking about actual mirrors) You may want a water feature (yes, there are small water features) and decide the loss of space is worth it.
There are many themes a person can go with, but in any decorating situation, a theme that all members agree on is needed to ensure the place looks pulled together and everything fits.
Our current theme is, “She’s two. That’s what they do.”
Nice read you’ve offered Cara, made me think for smaller spaces, 🙂
I wonder if you’re familiar with “glamping.” Sisters on the Fly, and other similar organizations, are populated by many people who live in their RVs full time and have made a real art of decorating them to reflect a theme and the owner’s personality. One that I saw recently used a free-standing EZ Up canopy tent instead of an awning. Butted right up against the trailer, but still freestanding, it was almost like having an extra room! Even the ones with walls are available for less than $200, and when you aren’t in the 5th wheel, it can serve double duty around the house for gatherings etc. They pack away in a fairly small bag that could be stored on top of the RV. I actually like my friend’s EZ Up better than I like my own awning!
I am familiar with glamping and absolutely love the concept. In fact Cara Schulz (below in the comments) was a guest on the r(E)vo Convo podcast not too long ago and we had a great talk about the similarities between the two; tiny houses and glamping. You are right though. Those folks have elevated camping to an art form!
I do like the photo of your camper, it’s perfect comfort, congrats, 🙂
I wish I could lay claim to it Cyndi. It is actually the 5th wheel of Sara Janssen.
Sara Janssen should be getting the compliments then, OK, Thanks for sharing, would really appreciate getting out of this old townhouse and all the stairs at my 75 yrs, love this 5th wheel the way it is,….. and most of the Tiny Houses that I view, 🙂
Sara is a friend of mine and she has renovated 3 or 4 RVs now and each one is so fun and inviting. Her family is now “grounded” though on a small farm in Colorado. The house though is, of course, adorable!